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

I still have a little over three

stroked his beard

you can

scroll, he proceeded to hand me

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put it

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

look at the contract, I can tell that what

head, Douglas looked

that you managed to get a count

"I was lucky."

even a Baron ranked demon was when she

her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I were

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

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

at Angelica,

she still turn

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

tepid tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's

now. Her concealment is excellent.

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

took a small sip of the

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.

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

put the teacup down

that I think 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 would've been

"You have a point."

spoke up

back on his chair, he

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

to face me, Waylan

to hide a demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

that I thought about it, what Waylan was saying

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

factor that I failed to take into

Waylan once again spoke

are

in his direction, I shook

if her presence still remains

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped

"Why?"

the corner of my

we can use her presence to

***

center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I had

of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction before going on about their

was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips of how

was quite

a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts paid

before, I walked

Ci Clank—!

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

me

here, human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

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

saw

decided

I didn't fight the whole

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue

his back, he silently walked back

goes my chance at getting

muttered to myself as I

I took out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen to Malvil's

for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end

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

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

just have to find

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"