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,

still have a little

other, Douglas stroked his beard and once

you can take

he proceeded to hand me back

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands,

soon broken by Douglas,

a good look at the contract, I can

head, Douglas looked

that you managed to get a count ranked demon to

"I was lucky."

demon was

her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and

Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd start

we've taken enough of

at Angelica, Douglas

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

the teacup, the tepid tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch. Steam slowly diffused

should do so for now. Her concealment is

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

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 of

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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 down and

that 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 dwarves before coming here, she probably would've been able to roam around

"You have a point."

up from the

his

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

Waylan pointed

a demon in

"...Right."

it, what Waylan was saying

Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I had

was a factor that I failed

legs, Waylan once again spoke

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

and staring in

would like it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

back on my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

glancing at Angelica from the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened

use her

***

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

much to my surprise, I 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 advanced. It wouldn't be hard

quite pleased with

their looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

before, I walked towards the

Ci Clank—!

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

me with a somewhat

How was yer

"...Not bad."

first thing I noticed was

saw

sighing, I decided

didn't fight the whole time with the

"Tsk."

of Malvil's

his back, he silently

getting a

to myself as I stared

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

to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not regret

point in having a sword if I wasn't alive

that didn't mean I was sad about this development, but it's not like I could force him to make a sword

I'll just have to find

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"