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

still have a little over

other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked

can

proceeded to hand me back

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I put it

that was soon broken by

the contract, I can tell that what you were saying was the

head, Douglas looked at

get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

even a Baron ranked demon was

her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon,

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

we've taken enough of

at Angelica,

she still turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still

"I see."

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

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

of Angelica's body suddenly stopped,

small sip

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

then put the

aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming

"You have a point."

spoke up from the

on his chair, he

seen a couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's not that strange. What's strange, however,

Waylan

in your finger.

"...Right."

about it, what Waylan was saying was

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

that I failed

legs, Waylan once again

are you planning on telling the

my head and staring in his direction, I shook my

it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

back on my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

at Angelica from the corner of my eyes,

can use her presence

***

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

to my surprise, 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

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

I was quite pleased

looks were a sign of

the 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 with the large

greeted me with a somewhat cold

human. How was

"...Not bad."

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

probably saw

I decided to

whole time with the sword you gave

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue

hands behind his back, he silently walked

goes my chance at getting a

muttered to myself as I

sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse

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

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

about this development, but it's not like I could force

just have to

be ye doing?

"Huh?"