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 years

stroked his beard and once again looked through

you can take this

he proceeded to hand

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's

a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken

contract, I can tell that what you

his head, Douglas looked at Angelica with

managed to get a

"I was lucky."

ranked demon was when she tried

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

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

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

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

do so for now. Her concealment

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

took a small

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. Only ranked

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

the teacup down

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 able

"You have a point."

spoke up from

his chair, he

with the dwarves.

to face me, Waylan pointed at

a demon in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

that I thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

me. Everything would've

factor that I

Waylan

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

staring in

would like it if her presence

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped on

"Why?"

corner of my eyes, I calmly

can use her presence to

***

made my way towards the utility center. I needed to

looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs,

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

I was quite pleased with the

their looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts

I walked towards the

Ci Clank—!

by the

seeing me, he greeted me with a somewhat

here, human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

first thing I noticed

probably saw it, didn't

sighing, I decided to come

I didn't fight the whole time with

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue

around with his hands behind his back, he

getting a sword

myself as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

this outcome. I

make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not regret what

having a sword if I wasn't alive to hold

mean I was sad about this development, but it's not like I could force him to make a sword for me,

have to

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"