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,

have a little over three years of contract

heads to face each other, Douglas stroked his

you can

he proceeded to hand

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put it

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

good look at the contract, I can

Douglas looked at Angelica

managed to get a count ranked demon to ally with

"I was lucky."

ranked demon was when she

of an untitled

Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd start to grow

enough of your time.

Angelica,

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

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

so for now. Her concealment is excellent.

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

small sip

was because of these subtle traces that I realized that she was a demon. This little protection I added

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was

the

that I think about it, cases in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had

"You have a point."

up from the

his

together with the

face me, Waylan pointed at

a demon in your

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was saying

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

was a factor that I failed to

Waylan once again spoke

of the bag, are you planning on telling

staring in his direction, I shook my

like it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

back on my chair, I tapped

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened my

we can use her

***

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

to my surprise, I was met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads

was a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips of

then, I was quite

looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant

road as before, I walked

Ci Clank—!

leaning by the side of the reception,

seeing me, he greeted me

human. How

"...Not bad."

glimpse at Malvil, the first thing I noticed was

probably saw

decided to come

fine. I didn't fight the whole

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue clicking

with his hands behind his back, he

at getting a sword forged

as I stared at Malvil's

my sword, I sort of expected this outcome.

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

sword if I wasn't alive to

didn't mean I was sad about this development, but it's not like I could force him to make

I'll just have to find

be ye doing?

"Huh?"