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 confidently

little over

stroked his beard and once again looked

can

scroll, he proceeded to hand me back the

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put it

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

the contract, I can tell

his head, Douglas looked

a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight Kevin

to that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I were able to beat

Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years,

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

Angelica, Douglas

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

should still be able

"I see."

at Douglas's touch. Steam slowly diffused in

do so for now. Her concealment is excellent. However, it's

his hand, the demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's body

small

a demon. This little protection I added should be able to hide her presence even better. Don't worry too much, though. Only

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

wait. Elves can probably also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the enemies rather

put the

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

"You have a point."

spoke up from the

on his chair, he

with the dwarves. So it's not

Waylan

to hide a demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

I had Angelica with me. Everything

was a factor that I failed to take

legs, Waylan once

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

and staring in his direction, I

like it if her presence still remains

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened my

we can use her presence

***

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

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 going on about

a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to

quite pleased with the

a sign of acknowledgment. It meant

the same road as before, I

Ci Clank—!

soon as I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side

me, he greeted me

How was yer

"...Not bad."

glimpse at Malvil, the first thing I noticed was the

probably saw it, didn't

I decided to

whole time with the sword you gave

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue

with his hands behind his back, he silently walked

chance at getting a sword forged from

myself as

my sword, I sort of expected this outcome.

were in 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

point in having a sword if I wasn't alive to

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

just have to

be ye doing?

"Huh?"