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

years. I still have a little over

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

can take

proceeded to

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands, I put it

soon broken by Douglas, who's

I can tell that what

looked

get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

reality, Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon

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

from Baron to

it seems like we've taken enough of your

Angelica,

still turn back into

I nodded my head.

still be

"I see."

instantly at Douglas's touch.

should do so for now. Her

Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and

took a small

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 presence even better. Don't worry too much, though. Only ranked individuals

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

till now was probably because they were too focused on the enemies

put the

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

"You have a point."

up from the

back on his chair,

the dwarves. So it's not that strange.

me, Waylan

to hide a demon in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

about it,

shouldn't have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just shown them

a factor that I failed to

his legs, Waylan once

is out of the bag, are you planning

head and staring in his direction,

would like it if her presence still remains

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes, I

her

***

from Waylan and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to sell the

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

dwarven technology was quite advanced.

I was quite

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

as before, I walked

Ci Clank—!

was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty forehead with the

me with a

human. How

"...Not bad."

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

probably saw

sighing, I decided to come

whole time

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue

around with his hands behind his back,

goes my chance at getting a

to myself as

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

to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of

the point in having a sword if

development, but it's not like I could force him to make a sword for me,

I'll just have

ye doing?

"Huh?"