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...'

head,

little over three years

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

can

scroll, he proceeded to hand me back

"Thank you."

from Douglas's

a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken

look at the contract, I can tell that what you were saying was

his head, Douglas looked at Angelica with

managed to get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

not even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to

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

Baron to Count in a mere

we've taken enough of your time. You can

at Angelica,

she still turn back

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

at Douglas's

should do so for now. Her concealment is excellent. However,

of Angelica's body suddenly stopped,

small

a demon. This little protection I added should be able to hide her presence even better.

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

then put the

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

"You have a point."

spoke up

his

seen a couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's

Waylan

demon in

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan was saying

Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved

that I failed

his legs, Waylan once again spoke

that the cat is out of the bag, are you planning on telling the

and staring in his direction, I shook

I would like it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes,

can use her

***

from Waylan and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I

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

that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite

then, I was quite pleased with the

sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts paid

same road as before, I walked

Ci Clank—!

He was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty

me with a somewhat

here, human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look

probably saw it, didn't

I decided

I didn't fight the whole time

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue

around with his hands behind his back, he

my chance at getting a sword forged from

muttered to myself as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen

for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did

in having a sword if I wasn't alive to

sad about this development, but it's not like I could force him to make a sword

just have to find another

be ye doing?

"Huh?"