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,

have a little over

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

can take this

the scroll, he proceeded to hand me

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's

soon broken by

contract, I can tell

head, Douglas looked

managed to get a count ranked demon to ally

"I was lucky."

reality, Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was when

of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I were able to

had gone from Baron to Count in a

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

at Angelica, Douglas

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

instantly at Douglas's touch. Steam slowly diffused in

you should do 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 enveloped

took a small sip

subtle, she does leak demonic energy from time to 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. Don't worry too much, though. Only ranked individuals can see

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

been caught till now was probably because they

then put the

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

"You have a point."

spoke up from the

back on his

together with the dwarves. So it's not that strange. What's strange,

Waylan pointed

demon in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

that I thought about it, what

that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just shown them the

factor that I failed

Waylan once again

out of the bag, are you planning on telling the

my head and staring in his direction,

like it if her

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped on

"Why?"

Angelica from the corner of my eyes, I

use her

***

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

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

was a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't

I was quite

were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

as before, I

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

he greeted me

How was yer

"...Not bad."

Malvil, the first thing I noticed was

probably saw it, didn't

I decided to come

I didn't fight the whole time with the sword you

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue

behind his back, he silently

chance at getting a sword

myself as I stared

I sort of expected this outcome. 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 regret

sword if I wasn't alive

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

I'll just have

be ye doing?

"Huh?"