After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 33

One o’clock in the afternoon.

The streets were becoming increasingly crowded as more visitors gathered around the amusement park.

It was almost time for the haunted house to open.

Yet…

Lucifer still hadn’t appeared.

Although Chiba could complete her objective without him, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling growing inside her.

…Something feels wrong.

“Chiba.”

“We’re leaving.”

Hearing Yuichi’s voice, Chiba suddenly realized she had fallen behind the rest of the group.

Maybe I’m just overthinking things.

She lightly shook her head, pushing those thoughts aside before hurrying after everyone else.

After entering the haunted house, the first person they encountered was a young receptionist standing behind the front desk.

Without much expression, she began explaining the attraction.

“This haunted house is based on an abandoned hospital.”

“Years ago, a mysterious fire consumed the entire building.”

“Many patients and staff lost their lives.”

“According to local rumors…”

“Their restless spirits still wander these halls, searching for new victims.”

“As participants, you’ve accidentally entered this abandoned hospital.”

“Your objective is simple.”

“Find the clues.”

“Escape alive.”

Her voice remained perfectly calm throughout the explanation.

Unfortunately…

Not everyone was listening.

Yota Sasaki couldn’t stop staring at the receptionist.

“…”

“…I wonder what it’d feel like to get hugged by those soft breasts…”

He muttered the thought out loud without even realizing it.

Yuichi nearly buried his face in his hands.

Hey!

Don’t say everything that comes into your head!

At least pretend to have some self-control!

More importantly…

Chiba was standing right beside them.

Yuichi absolutely refused to be mistaken for the same kind of idiot.

“Sakai.”

“What do you think?”

Yota asked with a grin.

Yuichi immediately took several steps away from him.

“Please don’t include me in your nonsense.”

After finishing the introduction, the receptionist led everyone deeper into the attraction.

The atmosphere grew increasingly unsettling.

The narrow corridors were eerily silent.

Even the sound of water dripping somewhere in the darkness echoed through the building.

Eventually, they arrived before a rusty iron door.

The receptionist suddenly smiled.

It was the first expression she’d shown all afternoon.

“You little pigs…”

“Go inside.”

“If anything happens…”

“Just scream.”

“I’ll come rescue you.”

“…Wait.”

Before Yuichi could react—

Someone shoved him forward.

Bang!

The heavy iron door slammed shut behind them.

“…Seriously?”

Yuichi looked around in panic.

The room was completely dark.

He couldn’t see anything.

“Ch-Chiba?”

“Are you here?”

“I’m here.”

Her calm voice came from beside him.

Only then did Yuichi finally relax.

Even in complete darkness…

Chiba’s crimson eyes glowed faintly like gemstones.

They were surprisingly reassuring.

Yuichi quietly moved closer.

“Stay beside me.”

“Don’t get separated.”

Chiba was about to tell him not to order her around.

But after noticing the nervous expression on his face…

She understood.

“…Alright.”

“I will.”

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

At some point, the rest of Yuichi’s coworkers had disappeared.

Whether they’d taken another route or simply gotten lost…

No one knew.

Now only Yuichi and Chiba remained together.

Fortunately…

Darkness posed no obstacle for Chiba.

Her demonic vision allowed her to see everything clearly.

Following several scattered clues, the two quickly searched an abandoned pharmacy.

Hidden inside a dusty medicine cabinet…

They discovered the first key.

“…We found it.”

Just as Yuichi was beginning to feel relieved—

“AAAAAAAHHHHH!!”

A terrified scream echoed through the hospital.

It was unmistakably Yota Sasaki’s voice.

His screams rose and fell repeatedly, suggesting he’d encountered something horrifying.

Yuichi instinctively looked toward the sound.

At that moment…

Chiba suddenly spoke.

“…Yuichi.”

“I think…”

“My magic has recovered a little.”

Yuichi blinked.

“…That’s what you wanted to tell me?”

Chiba nodded.

“Fear seems to strengthen the emotions around us.”

“It helps me recover magical energy.”

Yuichi immediately brightened.

“Really?”

“Then that’s easy!”

“If being scared restores your magic…”

“I’ll help scare you too!”

Chiba looked at him helplessly.

“I already tested that.”

“…It doesn’t work.”

“Huh?”

“When I’m with you…”

“The only emotion I sense…”

“…is excitement.”

“…”

Yuichi froze.

“…Wait.”

“…Seriously?”

He scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“So…”

“Does that mean…”

“I’m the weird one?”

Chiba simply looked at him without answering.

Her silence…

Said everything.