After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 23

A new day began.

Chiba woke up early and slowly sat up in bed.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she looked around the room before quietly confirming one thing.

“…This isn’t Yuichi’s apartment.”

The unfamiliar surroundings reminded her of what had happened the previous night.

She had said goodbye to Yuichi.

Then Lucifer had brought her here.

Objectively speaking, this place was far better.

The room was spacious.

The bed was soft.

Everything was clean and neatly arranged.

Compared to Yuichi’s tiny apartment, this was practically a luxury suite.

She should have been perfectly satisfied.

Yet…

For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

…Why?

As Chiba sat there lost in thought, the bedroom door slowly opened.

“Good morning, my Lady.”

Lucifer bowed respectfully.

“Did you sleep well?”

Chiba remained silent.

Seeing her absent-minded expression, Lucifer immediately became anxious.

This is bad…

My Lady still isn’t comfortable here.

Although he remained expressionless on the outside, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

What should I do?

Would she be happier in an even bigger house?

…Should I rob a bank?

Before he realized it, Lucifer had already begun seriously considering an extremely dangerous solution.

Fortunately…

Chiba interrupted his train of thought before it could go any further.

“Lucifer.”

“Have you received your salary?”

“…My salary?”

Confused, Lucifer reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick envelope.

“Yes.”

“I received my first month’s wages yesterday.”

“There is one hundred thousand yen.”

Chiba nodded.

“Good.”

“Then give it to Yuichi.”

Lucifer blinked.

“…Excuse me?”

He wondered if he had misheard.

“My Lady…”

“Did you just say…”

“…give all of it to Yuichi?”

“I did.”

Chiba answered calmly.

“We owe him that much.”

Lucifer hesitated.

“But…”

“If we give him all of our money…”

“We won’t be able to pay next month’s rent.”

“Shouldn’t we reconsider?”

Chiba quietly looked at him.

“Without Yuichi…”

“Would you have found this job?”

Lucifer fell silent.

The answer was obvious.

If Yuichi hadn’t introduced him to the factory…

He would probably still be wandering the streets with nowhere to live.

No matter how reluctant he was to admit it…

He owed that human a great deal.

Chiba continued.

“I promised I would repay him.”

“As a demon…”

“I will not break my word.”

Lucifer slowly lowered his head.

“…Understood.”

“I will personally deliver the money to him.”

Meanwhile…

Back at the factory.

The employees had all gathered inside the office.

Their supervisor—a heavyset middle-aged man—stood at the front of the room.

“I have an important announcement.”

Everyone was present.

Everyone…

Except Yuichi and Lucifer.

Standing nearby, Yuichi’s coworker, Yota Sasaki, grew increasingly nervous.

This is bad…

If those two don’t show up soon…

The boss is definitely going to explode.

As the minutes ticked by, the supervisor’s expression became darker and darker.

Just as he was about to unleash a furious lecture—

“I-I’m here!”

The office door burst open.

Yuichi staggered inside, breathing heavily as he leaned against the wall.

“…Sorry…”

“I got delayed on the way.”

He had practically sprinted all the way to work.

That was close…

I almost arrived late.

Relief quickly gave way to frustration.

If those two Heroes hadn’t stopped me this morning…

I would’ve been here ages ago.

Thinking about Alice made his eye twitch.

Next time she gets in my way…

I’m definitely going to make her regret it.

Before Yuichi had fully caught his breath, another voice came from the hallway.

“…Sorry.”

“I was delayed as well.”

Yuichi turned around in surprise.

“…Lucifer?”

Under normal circumstances, Lucifer always arrived before everyone else.

Seeing him late for work was almost unbelievable.

What happened to him?