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,

a little over

each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once

you can take

the scroll, he proceeded to hand me back the

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands, I

a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by Douglas, who's face

at the contract, I can

looked

you managed to get a

"I was lucky."

even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight Kevin

the injuries she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I were able to

Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a

enough of your

Angelica, Douglas

turn

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

teacup, the tepid tea re-heated instantly at

you should do so for now. Her

hand, the demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped,

small sip of the

subtle, 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,

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

till now was probably because

then put the teacup down

about it, cases in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here, she probably would've been able to roam around

"You have a point."

up from the

back on his

the dwarves. So it's not that strange.

me, Waylan pointed at

to hide a demon in your

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me.

that I failed to

Waylan once

out of the bag, are you planning

staring in his direction, I

I would like it if her presence

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

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

use her presence to our

***

utility center. I

met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction before going on about their

thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips

I was quite

were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts paid

the same road as before, I walked towards the utility center's

Ci Clank—!

I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the reception,

seeing me, he greeted me with a

How was

"...Not bad."

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

probably saw it,

I decided to

fight the whole time with the sword you

"Tsk."

Malvil's

back, he silently walked back

goes my chance at getting a sword forged from

as

I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all,

too, wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not regret

sword if I wasn't alive to

that didn't mean I was sad about this development, but it's not like I could force him to make

guess I'll just have

be ye

"Huh?"