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

still have a little

other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked

can take this

to hand me

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands, I put it

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

can

head, Douglas looked at Angelica

get a count

"I was lucky."

demon was when she tried to fight

rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and

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

enough of your time. You can go rest

at Angelica,

turn back into

I nodded my head.

still be able

"I see."

re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch. Steam slowly diffused in the

for now. Her concealment is excellent. However, it's not

Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small

a small sip

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the

then put the

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

"You have a point."

up

his chair,

of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's

Waylan pointed at my

in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was

me. Everything

factor that I failed to take into

legs, Waylan once

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

head and staring in his direction, I

if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

my chair, I tapped

"Why?"

Angelica from the corner of my

can use her presence to our

***

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

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

that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips of how

then, I was quite pleased with the

of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts

road as before, I

Ci Clank—!

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

me, he greeted me

human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

the first thing I

probably saw

decided to come

I didn't fight the whole time

"Tsk."

Malvil's

around with his hands behind his back, he silently walked back

my chance at getting a sword forged from

as I stared at Malvil's

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

to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the

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

about this development, but it's not like I could force him to make a sword

just have

be ye

"Huh?"