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

still have a little over three years of contract with

face each other, Douglas stroked

can take

the scroll, he proceeded to hand

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I

was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned to its

can tell that what you were saying was

Douglas looked at Angelica with

you managed to get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

reality, Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried

she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of

Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in

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

at Angelica, Douglas

turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still

"I see."

re-heated instantly at Douglas's

so for now. Her concealment

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

small sip of

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,

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because

the teacup

cases in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If

"You have a point."

up

his

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

to face me, Waylan pointed at

demon in

"...Right."

I thought about it,

had Angelica with me. Everything would've been

that I failed

Waylan once

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

and staring in his direction, I shook my

if her

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped

"Why?"

of my eyes, I

her presence to

***

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

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 going on about

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

was quite

were a sign of acknowledgment.

the same road as before, I walked

Ci Clank—!

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

me with

here, human. How was

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed

saw it, didn't

sighing, I decided

the whole time with the sword you

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue

his hands behind his back, he silently walked back to his

my chance at getting

muttered to myself as I stared

sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did,

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

sword if I wasn't alive to

this development, but it's not

I'll just have to find another

ye

"Huh?"