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

little over three

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

can

to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's hands, I

silence that was soon broken by Douglas,

contract, I can tell

Douglas looked

you managed to get a count ranked demon to ally

"I was lucky."

Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight

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

that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two

of your time. You

at Angelica, Douglas

she still turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch. Steam slowly diffused

Her concealment

demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small transparent

small sip of

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.

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

the

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."

spoke up from the

his chair, he

together with the dwarves.

Waylan

in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just shown

a factor that I failed to take into

Waylan once

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

in his direction,

it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped on the

"Why?"

corner of my

can use her presence to

***

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

it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction before going on about their

was a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be

quite pleased

sign of acknowledgment. It meant

as before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

He was currently leaning by the

me

here, human. How was

"...Not bad."

I noticed was the

saw it, didn't

I decided to

didn't fight the whole time with

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue clicking

with his hands behind his back, he silently walked back to

goes my chance at getting

to myself as I stared at

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

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

in having a sword

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

just have

ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"