After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 25

Night had already fallen.

Normally, Yuichi should have been home by now.

Instead…

He was still standing alone in his supervisor’s office, enduring an endless lecture.

Every few seconds, another spray of saliva landed on his face.

Yet all Yuichi could do was force an awkward smile while silently enduring it.

At this point, he genuinely felt like crying.

Seriously…

Why am I the only one getting scolded?

Lucifer was late too!

Earlier that morning, Yuichi had believed he had escaped punishment.

Unfortunately, just before the workday ended, his supervisor had summoned him into the office.

Two full hours had passed.

The lecture was still going.

With nothing else he could do, Yuichi narrowed his eyes and let every word go in one ear and out the other, patiently waiting for it to end.

At that moment, the supervisor suddenly stopped talking and stood up.

Yuichi’s eyes lit up.

Finally…

But instead of dismissing him, the man simply walked over to the coffee table, picked up a glass of water, took a sip…

Then continued.

“I don’t pay you to fool around!”

“I trusted you!”

“You were one of my most reliable employees!”

“And yet you arrived late on such an important day!”

“I’m deducting five hundred yen from your salary!”

“Consider this your only warning!”

…Here we go again.

Yuichi lowered his head.

“I’m very sorry.”

“It won’t happen again.”

By the time he finally left work…

The sky was completely dark.

Yuichi dragged himself home with exhausted steps.

Why did today’s lecture last so long…?

What did I even do to deserve this…?

Still grumbling to himself, he eventually reached his apartment building.

As he looked up…

He froze.

A faint light was shining through the window of his second-floor apartment.

“…That’s strange.”

“I’m sure I turned off the lights before leaving.”

His expression immediately changed.

A burglar…?

Without another thought, Yuichi sprinted toward the staircase.

First the lecture…

Now a thief?

Today’s luck really couldn’t get any worse.

Clutching the broom that was leaning beside the apartment entrance, he rushed upstairs and threw the door open.

“Don’t move!”

“Hands where I can see them!”

…

The moment he saw who was inside…

He froze.

“…You two?”

Standing in the middle of his living room…

Were Alice and Jebecald.

The two Heroes.

Alice looked mildly surprised by his sudden entrance but quickly regained her composure.

“You’re back earlier than I expected.”

“Perfect.”

“We wanted to ask you something.”

Yuichi almost laughed from sheer disbelief.

“You broke into my apartment…”

“…and you’re acting like you’re the host?”

“Did I go too easy on you this morning?”

“If you answer our question…”

“We’ll leave immediately.”

Yuichi tightened his grip on the broom.

“If you don’t leave right now…”

“I’ll make sure today becomes a memory you’ll never forget.”

“You…!”

Alice looked ready to argue again.

Before she could, Jebecald stepped forward.

He bowed deeply.

“We sincerely apologize for entering your home without permission.”

“But…”

“We truly need your help.”

His apology was so genuine that Yuichi’s anger gradually faded.

After letting out a long sigh, he lowered the broom.

“…Fine.”

“I’m still angry.”

“But since you actually apologized…”

“I’ll hear you out.”

Alice took a deep breath.

Then asked the one question she had come for.

“The demon you protected that day…”

“Was she really your wife?”

Yuichi answered without hesitation.

“No.”

“Chiba was only staying at my apartment for a while.”

“She moved out yesterday.”

For the first time since arriving, Alice visibly relaxed.

“…Really?”

“That’s a relief.”

She quietly let out the breath she’d been holding.

The last thing she wanted was for a human to become entangled with demons.

If Yuichi and Chiba had truly become husband and wife…

Things would have become far more complicated.

Fortunately…

There was still time to set everything right.