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

have a little over three years of

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

can take

to hand me

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put

a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by Douglas,

a good look at the contract, I can

Douglas looked at Angelica with

managed to get a

"I was lucky."

a Baron ranked demon was when she tried

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

Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd start

enough of your time. You can

at Angelica, Douglas

still turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

teacup, the tepid tea re-heated instantly at

now. Her concealment is excellent. However, it's

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

took a small sip

time. It was because of these subtle 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, though. Only ranked individuals can

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the enemies

the

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, he

demons working together with the dwarves. So

to face me, Waylan pointed at my

demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was

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

was a factor that I failed

his legs, Waylan once

is out of the bag, are you planning on telling the others

in his

it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes, I

we can use her presence to

***

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

it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads

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

then, I was quite pleased with the

all, their looks were a sign of acknowledgment.

same road as before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

He was currently leaning by the side of the reception,

greeted me with

How was yer

"...Not bad."

thing I

probably saw it,

decided to

I didn't fight the whole time with

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's

back, he silently walked

my chance at getting a sword forged from

as I stared at

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

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

a sword if I wasn't alive

development, but it's not like I could

just have

ye doing?

"Huh?"