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,

years. I still have a little over three years of contract

each other, Douglas stroked his beard

you can

to

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands, I put

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

I can tell that what you were saying was

his head, Douglas looked

to get a count ranked demon to ally

"I was lucky."

Baron ranked demon was when she tried to

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

found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years,

we've taken enough of

Angelica, Douglas

turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still be able

"I see."

at Douglas's touch. Steam

Her concealment is excellent. However,

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

small

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 her

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

been caught till now was probably because they were too focused

put the teacup down

races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here, she probably would've been able to roam around

"You have a point."

spoke up from the

on his chair, he

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

me, Waylan pointed at

to hide a demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

it, what Waylan

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

a factor that I failed to take

his legs, Waylan once again

out of the bag, are you planning on

my head and staring in his direction, I shook

I would like it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped

"Why?"

of my eyes, I calmly opened

her presence

***

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

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

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

then, I was quite pleased with the

of

same road as before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty forehead

me

How was

"...Not bad."

thing I noticed was

saw it, didn't

decided to come

didn't fight the whole time with the sword

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue

his hands behind his back, he silently walked back to

goes my chance at getting a sword forged from

to myself as

I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after

make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his

in having a sword

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

have to find another

ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"