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

still have a little over three years of

their heads to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once

you can

he proceeded to hand me

"Thank you."

from Douglas's

silence that was soon broken by

at the contract, I can tell that

his head, Douglas looked at Angelica

managed to get a

"I was lucky."

ranked demon was when she

she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and

Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd

seems like we've taken enough of your time.

at Angelica,

she still turn back into a

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

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

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

leaked out of Angelica's body suddenly

took a small

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.

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

Elves can probably also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably

put the

worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before

"You have a point."

up from the

back on his chair,

working together with the dwarves. So it's not that

face me, Waylan pointed at

hide a demon in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan

hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me.

was a factor that I

Waylan once again spoke

out of the bag, are you planning on

in his direction, I

it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes,

her presence

***

I needed to sell the demon cores that I had harvested

there, much to my surprise, I was met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or

quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the

I was quite pleased with

were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts paid

I walked towards the utility center's main

Ci Clank—!

I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty forehead with the large apron in

seeing me, he greeted me with a somewhat

human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

Malvil, the first thing I noticed was

probably saw

decided to

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

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue clicking

around with his hands behind his back, he silently walked

chance at getting a sword forged from

myself as I stared at Malvil's

moment I took out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen to Malvil's

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

sword if I wasn't alive to

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

have to find

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"