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, I confidently

have a little over three years of contract

to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once

can take this

proceeded to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I

a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by

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

his head, Douglas looked at

managed to get a count ranked demon to ally

"I was lucky."

even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried

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

had gone from Baron to Count in a mere

of your

Angelica,

turn back into

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

teacup, the tepid tea re-heated instantly at

Her concealment is excellent. However,

out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small

a small

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

then put the teacup

too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here,

"You have a point."

spoke up from

back on his chair,

the dwarves. So

Waylan pointed at my

hide a demon in your finger.

"...Right."

about it,

with me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just shown them

factor that I failed to take

Waylan once again spoke

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

and staring in his

it if

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

corner of my eyes, I

we can use her presence

***

utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I had harvested during my

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

technology was quite

I was quite pleased

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

I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

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

me, he greeted me with a somewhat

How was yer

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the

probably saw it,

decided to come

I didn't fight the whole

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's

his back, he silently

chance at getting

to myself as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

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

I, too, wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen

point in having a sword if I wasn't alive

sad about this development, but it's

just have to

be ye doing?

"Huh?"