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

have a little over three

Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked through the

you can

proceeded to hand me back

"Thank you."

Douglas's

was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned to its usual

the contract, I can tell that what you were

Douglas looked at Angelica

that you managed to get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

demon was when she tried

from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that

Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a

taken enough of

Angelica, Douglas

turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still be able

"I see."

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

for now. Her concealment is

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

small sip of the

little protection I added should be able to

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on

then put the teacup

which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained

"You have a point."

spoke up from

his

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

face me, Waylan

a demon in your

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

shouldn't have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if

was a factor that I failed to take into

his legs, Waylan

is out of the bag, are you planning

in his direction,

if her presence still remains

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

of my eyes, I calmly opened

can use her presence to

***

I needed to sell the demon cores that I had harvested during

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 before going on about

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

quite

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

the same road as before, I walked towards

Ci Clank—!

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

greeted me with

here, human. How was

"...Not bad."

thing I noticed was the unpleased

saw

decided to

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

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue

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

at getting a sword forged from

muttered to myself as I stared at Malvil's

took out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen to Malvil's

sword for someone that refused to listen to

sword if I wasn't

this development, but it's not like I could force him to make

just have to find

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"