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

a little

each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again

can take

to hand me

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's

silence that was soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned

at the contract, I can tell that what you

looked at Angelica

you managed to get a count

"I was lucky."

demon was when

she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of

that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in

it seems like we've taken enough of

Angelica, Douglas

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still be

"I see."

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

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

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

took a small sip of the

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 individuals can see through this level

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till

then put the teacup down and

cases in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had

"You have a point."

up from the

his

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

to face me, Waylan pointed

demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

that I thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just

factor that I

his legs, Waylan once again

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

and staring in his direction, I shook

I would like it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped

"Why?"

at Angelica from the corner of

her presence to our

***

towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon

with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod

technology was quite advanced. It

quite

a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts paid

before, I walked towards the utility center's

Ci Clank—!

by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty forehead with the large

me with a

human. How was

"...Not bad."

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

probably saw it, didn't

I decided

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

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue

around with his hands behind his back, he silently

getting a sword

as I

took out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after

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

a sword if I wasn't alive

it's not like I could force him to make a

guess I'll just have to find another

ye doing?

"Huh?"