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

little

other, Douglas stroked

can take

to hand me

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands,

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

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

looked at Angelica

managed to get a

"I was lucky."

reality, Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to

sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I were able

out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two

enough of your time. You can go rest

Angelica, Douglas

she still turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still

"I see."

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

you should do so for now. Her concealment is excellent.

energy that leaked out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a

a small sip of

from time to time. It was because of these subtle traces that I realized that she was a demon. This little

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

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

"You have a point."

up from the

back on his chair,

working together with the dwarves. So it's not that strange. What's strange, however,

Waylan

hide a demon in

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was saying

me. Everything would've been resolved

I failed

his legs, Waylan

cat is out of the bag, are you planning on telling the others

staring in his direction, I shook my

it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

at Angelica from the corner of my

can use her presence

***

center. 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 before going on about their

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

I was quite pleased

of

before, I walked towards the

Ci Clank—!

was currently leaning by the side

seeing me, he greeted me

How

"...Not bad."

I noticed

probably saw

sighing, I decided to come

fine. I didn't fight the whole time with the

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's

behind his back, he silently walked back to

chance at getting a sword forged from

helplessly muttered to myself as I stared at Malvil's

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

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

having a sword if I wasn't alive to

it's not like

I'll just have

ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"