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 still have a little over three years of contract with

face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked through

can take this

to

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands,

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

contract, I can tell that what

head, Douglas looked at Angelica with

think that you managed to get a count ranked demon to

"I was lucky."

Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to

death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon,

Douglas and Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in

of your

Angelica, Douglas

turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still

"I see."

at

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

Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small transparent film

took a small sip of

This little protection I added should be able to hide her

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the enemies rather than

the teacup

all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves

"You have a point."

spoke up from

on his chair, he

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

Waylan pointed

hide a demon in

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was

me. Everything would've been resolved if I

that I

legs, Waylan

out of the bag, are you planning on telling the others about Angelica's

in

if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

back on my chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

glancing at Angelica from the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened

we can use her presence to our

***

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

elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction before going on about

a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced.

then, I was quite pleased with the

were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

as before, I walked

Ci Clank—!

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

me, he greeted me with a somewhat

human. How was

"...Not bad."

at Malvil, the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look

probably saw

decided to come

I didn't fight the whole time with the sword

"Tsk."

Malvil's

back, he silently

getting

myself as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

I sort of expected this outcome. I did,

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

in having a sword if

it's not like I could force him to make a sword for

have to find another

ye doing?

"Huh?"