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,

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

stroked his beard and once again

you can take this

the scroll, he proceeded to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands,

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

I can tell that what you were saying

his head, Douglas looked at Angelica

you managed to get a

"I was lucky."

Baron ranked demon

was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that

from Baron to

it seems like we've taken enough of your time.

Angelica,

still turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still

"I see."

tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch.

Her concealment is excellent.

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

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 her presence even better. Don't worry too much, though. Only ranked individuals can see through this level

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

then put the

If you had explained it

"You have a point."

spoke up

on his chair,

with the dwarves. So it's not that

Waylan

a demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

about it, what Waylan

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

I failed to take

legs, Waylan once

the cat is out of the bag, are

head and staring in his

like it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

my chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

corner of my eyes, I

her presence

***

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

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

about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard

then, I was quite pleased with the

sign of acknowledgment. It meant

I walked towards the utility center's main

Ci Clank—!

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

me with a

How was yer

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the unpleased

saw it, didn't

decided to

fight the whole

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue

his back, he silently walked back

getting

as

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

his shoes, I, too, wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not regret what

in having a sword if I wasn't alive to

didn't mean I was sad about this development, but it's not like

guess I'll just have to

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"