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,

have a little over three years of

Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked through

can take this

the scroll, he proceeded to hand me back

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's

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

good look at the contract, I can

head, Douglas looked at Angelica with

to get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to

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

and Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count

of your time.

Angelica, Douglas

turn back

I nodded my head.

should still be able

"I see."

at Douglas's touch. Steam slowly diffused

you should do so for now. Her

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

took a small sip of the

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, though. Only ranked individuals can

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

then put the teacup down

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

"You have a point."

up from the

back on his

with the dwarves. So it's

Waylan pointed at my

demon in your finger.

"...Right."

about it, what

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

was a factor that I failed to

Waylan

out of the bag, are you planning on telling the others about Angelica's

in

if her presence

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

of my eyes, I calmly

we can use her presence

***

from Waylan and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I

I was met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in

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

then, I was quite

of acknowledgment.

road as before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

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

greeted me with a

here, human. How

"...Not bad."

I noticed was the unpleased look on his

saw

I decided to

I didn't fight the whole time with the

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue clicking

around with his hands behind his back, he silently walked

at getting a sword forged from

helplessly muttered to myself as I stared at

sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all,

for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did

the point in having a sword if I

mean I was sad about this development, but it's not like I could force him

have to

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"