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,

little over three years of

each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked through the

you can take

the scroll, he proceeded to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put it

was soon

a good look at the contract, I can tell that what you

looked at Angelica with

you managed to get a count ranked demon to

"I was lucky."

a Baron ranked demon was when she

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

and Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd start to

taken enough of

Angelica, Douglas

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

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

for now. Her concealment is excellent.

his hand, the demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's

small sip

she was a demon. This little protection I added should be able to hide her

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the enemies

then put the teacup down

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

"You have a point."

spoke up

his chair,

a couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's not that strange.

me, Waylan pointed at my

a demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

about it, what Waylan was

that I had Angelica with me.

was a factor that I

his legs, Waylan once again

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

and staring in his direction, I shook

if

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I

"Why?"

at Angelica from the corner of

use her presence

***

I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I had harvested

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

was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard

was quite pleased with the

a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my

as before, I walked towards the

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

me with

here, human. How

"...Not bad."

the first thing I

saw

sighing, I decided to

whole time with

"Tsk."

Malvil's

with his hands behind his back, he silently walked back to his

goes my chance at getting

myself as I

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

were in his 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

sword if I wasn't alive

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

I'll just have to find

be ye doing?

"Huh?"