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,

still have a little over three years of contract

face each other, Douglas stroked his beard

you can take this

the scroll, he proceeded to hand me

"Thank you."

Douglas's hands, I put

a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon

contract, I can tell that what you

Douglas looked

a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight Kevin and

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

from Baron

taken enough of your time. You can go

Angelica,

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still be

"I see."

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

do so for now. Her concealment is

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

small sip of

leak demonic 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,

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they

then put the teacup down

think about it, cases in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you

"You have a point."

spoke up

back on his

of demons working together with the

Waylan pointed at my

in your finger. That's

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan

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

a factor that I failed to take

his legs, Waylan once

that the cat is out of the bag, are you planning on

and staring in his direction, I

it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped on the

"Why?"

corner of my eyes, I calmly

we can use her

***

the utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores

it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever

I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for

I was quite

a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my

before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

soon as I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by

greeted me with a

How

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look on his

probably saw it,

sighing, I decided

fight the whole time with the sword

"Tsk."

of Malvil's

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

chance at getting a sword

helplessly muttered to myself as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen to Malvil's

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

was the point in having a sword if

course, that didn't mean I was sad about this development, but it's not

have

ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"