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

still have a little over three years of

their heads to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and

can

the scroll, he proceeded to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands,

soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned

contract, I can tell that what

Douglas looked

a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

demon was when she tried to fight Kevin

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

found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd start

like we've taken enough of your time. You

Angelica,

still turn

I nodded my head.

still be

"I see."

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

so for now. Her

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

took a small sip

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably

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

"You have a point."

spoke up from

his chair,

seen a couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's not

face me, Waylan pointed at my

to hide a demon in your

"...Right."

that I thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

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

was a factor that I failed to take into

his legs, Waylan once

cat is out of the bag, are you planning on telling the others about Angelica's

and staring in his direction, I shook

it if

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened

can use her

***

Waylan and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon

of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod

that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite

I was quite pleased

all, their looks were a sign of

the same road as before, I walked

Ci Clank—!

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

he greeted me

human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

at Malvil, the first thing I noticed was

saw it, didn't

decided to come

I didn't fight the whole

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue clicking

hands behind his back, he silently walked back

getting a sword forged

as I stared

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

shoes, I, too, wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not

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

development, but it's not like I could force him to

I'll just have

be ye doing?

"Huh?"