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 confidently

years. I still have a little over three years

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

you can

he proceeded to hand me back the

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I put

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

contract, I can tell that what you were

his head, Douglas looked at Angelica with

a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

a Baron ranked demon was when she tried

that of an untitled demon, and that was how

Douglas and Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron

seems like we've taken enough of

Angelica, Douglas

she still turn back into

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

re-heated instantly at Douglas's

for now. Her concealment is excellent. However,

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

a small sip of the

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was

put the teacup

with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here, she probably

"You have a point."

up from the

back on his chair, he

working together with the

to face me, Waylan pointed

demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

about it, what

have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything

that I failed to take

his legs, Waylan once again

of the bag, are you planning

my head and staring in his direction, I

it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped

"Why?"

of my

use her

***

center. I needed to sell the demon cores that

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

I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the

quite pleased with the

sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my

as before, I walked towards the

Ci Clank—!

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

me with a

How was yer

"...Not bad."

Malvil, the first thing I noticed was the

probably saw it, didn't

I decided to

didn't fight the whole

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue clicking

hands behind his back, he silently walked

my chance at getting a

as I

I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen to

wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen

was the point in having a sword

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

have to find another

ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"