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 confidently

I still have a little over three

heads to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard

can take

to hand

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I put

subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned to its

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

looked

that you managed to get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

Baron ranked demon was when she

downgraded to that of an untitled demon,

that Angelica had gone from Baron to

it seems like we've taken enough of your

at Angelica, Douglas

turn back

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

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

for now. Her concealment

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

took a small sip

subtle, she does leak demonic 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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

put the teacup down

have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming

"You have a point."

up from

his

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

Waylan pointed

in your

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan was

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

I failed to take

Waylan once again spoke

bag, are

staring in his direction, I shook

like it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped

"Why?"

at Angelica from the corner of my eyes,

we can use her

***

I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to

of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction before going on

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

I was quite pleased with

their looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my

the same road as before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

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

greeted me with a somewhat cold

human. How

"...Not bad."

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

saw

decided to come

fine. I didn't fight the whole time with the sword

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue clicking

back, he silently walked back to his

goes my chance at getting a sword forged

as

took out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen to Malvil's

for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not regret

the point in having a sword if I wasn't

but it's not like I could force him to make

guess I'll just have to find

be ye doing?

"Huh?"