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,

still have a little over three years of contract

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

you can

scroll, he proceeded to hand

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I

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

look at the contract, I can tell that what

his head, Douglas looked at Angelica

get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

Baron ranked demon was when she tried to

of the injuries she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an

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

of your time.

at Angelica, Douglas

she still turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch. Steam slowly

now. Her concealment is

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

took a small sip of the

little protection I added should be able to hide her presence even better. Don't worry too much, though. Only ranked individuals can

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were

the teacup down

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

"You have a point."

spoke up

on his chair,

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

me, Waylan pointed

demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

thought about it,

have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just shown them the

that I failed to

his legs, Waylan once again spoke

is out of the bag, are you

in

would like it if her presence still remains

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

of

use her presence to

***

and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I

approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or

was a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't

then, I was quite pleased with

were a sign of acknowledgment. It

same road as before, I walked towards the utility center's main

Ci Clank—!

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

greeted me with

How was yer

"...Not bad."

a glimpse at Malvil, the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look on

probably saw it,

sighing, I decided to come

whole

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue clicking

hands behind his back, he silently walked

at getting a

muttered to myself as I stared at

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

his shoes, I, too, wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but

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

I was sad about this development, but it's not like

have

ye doing?

"Huh?"