After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 35

“…How did it end up like this?”

Alice’s fingers trembled as the holy sword slipped from her grasp and clattered onto the floor.

Her face had turned deathly pale.

She could only stare blankly at the unconscious Yuichi lying in a pool of blood.

“…”

Throughout her entire life…

She had never harmed a human.

Much less someone who had once helped her.

Before she realized it, the blood flowing across the ground had already reached her boots.

“…Yuichi…”

Instinctively, Alice knelt beside him and reached out, hoping to stop the bleeding from his wound.

Before her hand could touch him—

Smack!

Chiba forcefully knocked it away.

“Don’t touch him!”

Her usually calm voice was filled with unmistakable anger.

“Stay away from him!”

Alice froze.

This should have been the perfect opportunity.

Chiba had exhausted most of her magic.

If Alice attacked now…

She could finally eliminate the demon she had spent her entire life hunting.

Yet…

She couldn’t move.

Because the expression on Chiba’s face…

Wasn’t hatred.

Nor cruelty.

It was grief.

Fear.

And desperation.

Everything Alice believed about demons began to crumble.

…Aren’t demons supposed to be heartless monsters?

Then…

Why was this demon grieving over a human?

Unable to understand what she was seeing, Alice could only watch in silence.

Ignoring everyone around her, Chiba carefully opened Yuichi’s blood-soaked shirt.

She gently placed both hands over the wound.

A faint crimson light slowly gathered around her palms.

Without hesitation…

She poured what little magical power she had left into his body.

The light spread through Yuichi’s chest.

Little by little…

The horrifying wound began to close.

The bleeding gradually stopped.

His breathing slowly stabilized.

Only after confirming that his life was no longer in immediate danger did Chiba finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Her own face had become noticeably paler.

She had exhausted nearly all of her remaining magic.

Just then—

“My Lord!”

“I’m terribly sorry I’m late!”

Lucifer’s voice echoed through the corridor.

He hurried toward them.

The moment Alice saw him arrive, she instinctively picked up her holy sword and assumed a defensive stance.

Lucifer didn’t even glance at her.

He walked straight past.

Kneeling beside Chiba, he spoke respectfully.

“My Lord…”

“I apologize.”

“I was delayed.”

“Are you injured?”

Chiba gently shook her head.

“I’m alright.”

“…But Yuichi…”

Lucifer’s gaze shifted toward the unconscious young man.

Then…

He noticed the blood.

The holy sword.

Alice.

Everything became clear in an instant.

“…I understand.”

“Leave the rest to me.”

Without another word, Lucifer carefully lifted Yuichi into his arms.

As Lucifer prepared to leave with Chiba, Alice finally regained her senses.

“Wait!”

“What are you planning to do with Yuichi?”

Lucifer looked back coldly.

“If you feel even the slightest guilt…”

“Then stop wasting our time.”

Alice bit her lip.

“…I’m not trying to stop you.”

“I just…”

“I just want to know where you’re taking him.”

Lucifer remained silent.

For a brief moment, he seemed unwilling to answer.

But after seeing the confusion and remorse in Alice’s eyes…

Even he hesitated.

At that moment, Chiba quietly spoke.

“…The hospital.”

Alice blinked.

“…The hospital?”

Chiba looked at her.

“We’ve stabilized his condition.”

“But he still needs proper medical treatment.”

“So…”

“Please move.”

“If we’re any later…”

“It may already be too late.”

Alice’s grip on her sword loosened.

She stepped aside without another word.

As Chiba and Lucifer disappeared into the distance with Yuichi…

Alice remained standing alone.

This…

Should have been the perfect opportunity.

Chiba had almost no magic left.

If she and Jebecarred attacked together—

The demon would have no chance of escaping.

The revenge she had pursued for so many years…

Could finally be fulfilled.

Yet…

Alice couldn’t bring herself to move.

She simply watched them leave.

“…Why?”

Her quiet voice disappeared into the empty corridor.

It wasn’t a question directed at Chiba.

Nor at Lucifer.

It was a question she asked herself.

Why…

Why would a demon risk everything…

…to save a human?