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

still have a little over three years of contract

their heads to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard

can take

scroll, he proceeded to hand

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's hands, I put

silence that was soon broken by Douglas, who's

taken a good look at the contract, I can tell that what you were

Douglas looked at Angelica

that you managed to get a

"I was lucky."

even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried

injuries she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I

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

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

Angelica,

she still turn back

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

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

you should do so for now. Her

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

took a small sip of

energy from time to 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.

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

put the teacup down and

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

on his chair, he

already seen a couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's

Waylan pointed at my

in your finger. That's

"...Right."

that I thought about it, what Waylan was saying

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

that I failed to

Waylan once again

is out of the bag, are you

in

I would like it if

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped

"Why?"

corner of

use her

***

towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores

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

it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't

then, I was quite pleased with

their looks were a sign of acknowledgment.

before, I walked towards the

Ci Clank—!

I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the

greeted me with

here, human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed

probably saw

I decided to come

fine. I didn't fight the whole time with

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue clicking

with his hands behind his back, he

goes my chance at getting a sword forged from

as I stared at Malvil's

this outcome. I did, after all, refuse

in his shoes, I, too, wouldn't want 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

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

guess I'll just have to

ye

"Huh?"