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

to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once

you can take

he proceeded to hand me back

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I put

was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by Douglas, who's face

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

head, Douglas looked

you managed to get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

ranked demon

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

Baron to Count in

of

Angelica,

still turn back into

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

teacup, the tepid tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch.

do so for now. Her concealment is excellent.

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

small sip of

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were

then put the teacup down

cases in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the

"You have a point."

spoke up from

on his chair, he

working together with the dwarves. So it's not that strange.

to face me, Waylan pointed at

hide a demon in your

"...Right."

about it, what Waylan was saying was

hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I

factor that I failed

legs, Waylan once again

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

my head and staring in his direction, I shook my

like it if her presence

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped

"Why?"

corner of my eyes,

we can use her presence to our

***

Waylan and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I had harvested during

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

I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It

quite pleased with

looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

as before, I walked towards the

Ci Clank—!

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

me, he greeted me with

here, human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the unpleased

probably saw it,

decided to

I didn't fight the whole time with the

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's

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

my chance at getting a sword forged

to myself as I stared at

my sword, I sort of expected this

want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the

the point in having a sword if I wasn't alive

was sad about this development, but it's

just have to find

be ye doing?

"Huh?"