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, I

a little

stroked his beard and once again

can take this

he proceeded to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands, I put

followed after was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken

the contract, I can tell that what you were saying

head, Douglas looked

that you managed to get a count ranked demon to ally

"I was lucky."

was not even a Baron ranked demon was

the injuries she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I were able

found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in

like we've taken enough of your time.

at Angelica, Douglas

turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still be able

"I see."

at Douglas's touch. Steam slowly diffused

so for now. Her concealment is

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

a small sip of

was a demon. This little protection I added should be able to hide her presence even better. Don't

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

caught till

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

"You have a point."

up from the

his chair, he

working together with the dwarves.

me, Waylan pointed at

a demon in your finger.

"...Right."

thought about it,

have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me.

I failed to take

legs, Waylan once again

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

staring in his direction, I

I would like it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I

"Why?"

of my eyes, I calmly opened my

use her

***

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,

dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips of

then, I was quite pleased with

a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my

before, I walked

Ci Clank—!

the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his

he greeted me

here, human. How

"...Not bad."

I noticed was the unpleased

saw

sighing, I decided to come

I didn't fight the whole time

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue clicking

his hands behind his back, he silently walked back

getting a sword forged

muttered to myself as I stared at

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

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

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

it's not like

I'll just have

ye doing?

"Huh?"