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,

years. I still have a little

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

can take this

to

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's hands,

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

at the contract, I can tell that what

Douglas looked

that you managed to get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she

that of an untitled demon, and that was

found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in

taken enough of your time. You can

Angelica,

she still turn

I nodded my head.

still be

"I see."

tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch.

should do so for now. Her concealment is

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

a small sip of

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 see through

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

can probably also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the

then put the

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 to roam around

"You have a point."

spoke up from the

back on his chair,

the dwarves. So it's not

me, Waylan pointed at

a demon in your

"...Right."

it, what Waylan was

have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything

that I

legs, Waylan once again spoke

the bag, are you planning on

my head and staring in his direction,

would like it if her presence

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

corner of my eyes, I calmly opened

her presence

***

Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to

to my surprise, I was met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would

dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others

was quite

their looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

road as before, I walked towards the utility center's main

Ci Clank—!

currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty

he greeted me with

human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

first thing I noticed was the unpleased look on his

saw it,

sighing, I decided

I didn't fight the whole time with

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue

hands behind his back, he silently walked back to his

chance at getting a sword forged

myself as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

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

shoes, I, too, wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not

the point in having a sword if I wasn't alive to hold

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

have to find

ye

"Huh?"