The Author's POV

"So you're saying that you defeated her and in doing so convinced her to sign a mana contract with you?"

Douglas's clear voice echoed throughout the room.

"That's correct."

I replied with a nod.

Since the cat was out of the bag, I came clean about Angelica.

I told Douglas and Waylan everything that had happened between Angelica and me, from how I defeated her to how I made her sign a mana contract with me and how we came to the current working relationship.

I, of course, altered a few of the details about the story. After all, I couldn't just tell him that I defeated her through the use of the red book.

All I told him was that Angelica was heavily injured before fighting me, and that was how I was able to defeat her.

"…I see."

Stroking his beard, Douglas looked at Waylan, who looked back at him.

"Do you have a copy of the mana contract with you?"

Waylan asked from the side.

"I do."

"Can you let us see it?"

Turning to face Angelica and seeing her nod her head, I nodded back.

"No problem."

Tapping on my bracelet, an old-looking scroll materialized in my hand.

Unraveling the scroll, I took a brief look at it.

「Mana contract」

[Term 1]

Party A and Party B are prohibited from harming each other, regardless of means. If either party has any intention of harming the other party, the contract breached will suffer the consequences.

[Term 2]

If Party A is in danger, and Party B has the power to help, he/she must provide support to other party.

[Term 3]

The contract between the two parties will dissolve in five years. After five years, the two parties will no longer be bound by the terms of the contract.

[Term 4]

Parties are prohibited from harming each other's self-interest.

[Term 5]

.

.

.

"Here you go."

After taking a good look at it, I proceeded to hand it to them.

"Thank you."

Taking the contract, Waylan and Douglas unscrolled it and took a good look at it.

The silence that ensued after that felt almost suffocating.

But I remained calm.

I had gone through too much shit to get fazed from something like this. At the end of the day, given Douglas's personality, there shouldn't be any worries.

...I hope.

"How long do you have left in the contract?"

Douglas suddenly asked.

"How long?"

Frowning, I mused.

'If we're talking about time, counting the eight months I spent at the Monolith, the four months I used to get here to Henolur, and the additional four months that I spent with her before the Monolith incident, it should be about...'

my head, I

little over three

face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked through

you can take this

proceeded to

"Thank you."

Douglas's

was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by Douglas,

at the contract, I can tell that what you were

his head, Douglas looked at

that you managed to get a count ranked demon to ally

"I was lucky."

was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to

downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I were able to beat

had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd start

enough of

at Angelica,

turn

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

instantly at Douglas's touch. Steam

so for now. Her

Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small transparent

a small sip of

It was because of these subtle traces that I realized that she was a demon. This little protection I added should be able to hide her presence even better.

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

wait. Elves can probably also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably

the teacup

think about it, cases in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If

"You have a point."

up from the

his chair,

seen a couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's not that strange. What's

me, Waylan pointed

a demon in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

about it, what Waylan was

have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just

I failed to take

Waylan once

is out of the bag, are you

in his direction, I shook my

would like it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

back on my chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

glancing at Angelica from the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened my

use her presence

***

Waylan and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I

met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they

a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It

was quite pleased with the

looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

same road as before, I

Ci Clank—!

soon as I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side

he greeted me with a

How was yer

"...Not bad."

Malvil, the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look on

saw it, didn't

sighing, I decided

I didn't fight the whole time with the sword

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue

around with his hands behind his back, he silently walked

at getting

to myself as

sword, I sort of expected this

wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end

was the point in having a sword if I wasn't alive

sad about this development, but it's not

have

ye

"Huh?"