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

a little over three years

to face each other, Douglas stroked

you can

scroll, he proceeded to hand

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands,

followed after was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by

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

looked at Angelica with

managed to get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was when

she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled

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

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

Angelica,

still turn back into

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

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

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

leaked out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small transparent film enveloped

took a small sip of the

realized that she was a demon. This little protection I added

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

wait. Elves can probably also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused

the teacup down and

that I think 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

"You have a point."

up from

back on his chair,

already seen a couple of demons working together with the

me, Waylan

demon in

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan

have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've

factor that I failed

legs, Waylan

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

in

it if her

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped on

"Why?"

of my eyes, I calmly opened my

her presence to

***

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

Be it dwarves, elves, or

bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard

then, I was quite pleased with

their looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant

I

Ci Clank—!

I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the

me, he greeted me with

human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

Malvil, the first thing I noticed

saw it, didn't

decided

fight the whole time with

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue

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

getting a sword forged

myself as I stared

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

wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to

in having a sword if I wasn't alive

it's not like I could

just have to

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"