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

I still have a little over three years

Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked

can take

to hand

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's hands, I put

after was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by

contract, I can tell that

Douglas looked at Angelica

think that you managed to get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

reality, Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was

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

Baron to Count in

we've taken enough of

Angelica, Douglas

still turn back

I nodded my head.

should still

"I see."

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

should do so for now. Her concealment is excellent.

the demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's body

small sip of the

that I realized that she was a demon. This little protection I added should be able to hide her presence even better. Don't

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

been caught till now was probably because they were too

the

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

"You have a point."

up

back on his chair,

couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's not that strange. What's

face me, Waylan pointed at my

to hide a demon in

"...Right."

about it, what

I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just shown them the

that I failed

Waylan

the bag, are you planning on telling the others

my head and staring in his direction, I shook my

I would like it if her

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

back on my chair, I tapped on

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened

her presence to our

***

utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I had harvested

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

that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite

then, I was quite pleased with the

of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts

I

Ci Clank—!

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

he greeted me with a

here, human. How was

"...Not bad."

I noticed

probably saw it, didn't

sighing, I decided to

whole time with the sword you gave

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue clicking

his back, he

chance at getting a

as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

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

to listen to his instruction, but at

the point in having a sword if

this development, but it's not

guess I'll just have to find another

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"