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 confidently

I still have a little over

stroked his beard

can

he proceeded to

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands, I put it

soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned to its

taken a good look at the contract, I can tell

head, Douglas looked

that you managed to get a count ranked demon to ally

"I was lucky."

ranked demon

death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that

Douglas and Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd start to

taken enough of your time. You can go rest

at Angelica, Douglas

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

instantly at Douglas's touch. Steam

do so for now. Her concealment is excellent. However, it's not

leaked out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small

small sip of

she does leak demonic energy from time to time. 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. Don't worry too much, though. Only ranked individuals can

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were

then put the

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

"You have a point."

spoke up from

his

with the dwarves. So it's not that strange. What's strange,

me, Waylan pointed at my

a demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was

fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if

was a factor that I

legs, Waylan

of the bag, are you planning on telling the others about Angelica's

my head and staring in his direction,

it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

corner of my eyes, I calmly opened my

use her presence

***

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

my way there, much to my surprise, I was met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction

it, dwarven technology was quite

was quite pleased with the

all, their looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It

as before, I walked towards

Ci Clank—!

He was currently leaning by the side

he greeted me

here, human. How was

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look

probably saw it,

sighing, I decided to

didn't fight the whole time with the

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue clicking

behind his back, he

my chance at getting a sword

as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did,

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

a sword if I wasn't

that didn't mean I was sad about this development, but it's

just have to find

ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"