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

have a little

to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and

you can take this

scroll, he proceeded to hand me back

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I put

that was soon

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

head, Douglas looked at Angelica with

managed to get a count ranked demon to ally with

"I was lucky."

even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight

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

Angelica had gone from Baron to Count

seems like we've taken enough of your time. You can go

at Angelica,

still turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still

"I see."

at Douglas's

so for now. Her concealment

the demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's body

took 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 added should be able to hide her presence even better. Don't worry too much, though. Only ranked individuals

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

the teacup

about it, cases in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here, she probably would've been able

"You have a point."

spoke up from

his chair, he

demons working together with the

me, Waylan pointed at my

in your finger.

"...Right."

thought about it,

shouldn't have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything

a factor that I failed to take

Waylan

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

and staring in his direction, I shook

like it if her

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped

"Why?"

corner of my eyes, I calmly

can use her presence to our

***

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

approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction

technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see

was quite

sign of acknowledgment. It

road as before, I walked towards the utility center's

Ci Clank—!

He was currently leaning by the side of the

me, he greeted me with a somewhat

here, human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

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

saw it, didn't

I decided to

the whole time with

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue

behind his back, he silently

my chance at getting a sword forged from

helplessly muttered to myself as I stared at

took out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did,

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

point in having a sword if I

this development, but it's

I'll just have to

be ye doing?

"Huh?"