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, I confidently

years. I still have a little over three years of contract

heads to face each other, Douglas stroked

you can take this

to hand me back

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put

soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned

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

head, Douglas looked at

a count ranked

"I was lucky."

Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight

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

and Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years,

it seems like we've taken enough of your time. You can go

Angelica,

she still turn back into

I nodded my head.

still be able

"I see."

the teacup, the tepid tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch. Steam

Her concealment is

out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and

small

demon. This little protection I

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

the teacup down and

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

"You have a point."

up

on his chair,

a couple of demons working together with the

me, Waylan

demon in your

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan was

hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me.

a factor that I failed to

legs, Waylan once

of the bag, are you planning on telling the others about

staring in his direction,

like it if her presence

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

the corner of

use her presence

***

way towards the utility center. I needed to

way there, much to my surprise, I was met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I

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

I was quite pleased with the

all, their looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts

the same road as before, I

Ci Clank—!

entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty forehead with the

me, he greeted me with a

How

"...Not bad."

thing I noticed was the

saw it,

sighing, I decided

fine. I didn't fight the whole time with the sword you

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue clicking

back, he silently walked

at getting a sword forged from

myself as I stared at Malvil's

moment I took out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to

to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not regret what I

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

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

just have

be ye

"Huh?"