After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 37

Evening.

Yuichi Sakai was lying comfortably in his hospital bed, fast asleep, when the ward door was quietly pushed open.

“Yuichi… are you feeling any better?”

Hearing the hesitant voice, Yuichi slowly opened his eyes.

…That wasn’t Chiba’s voice.

And Chiba would never speak to him so cautiously.

Still…

For some reason, the voice sounded familiar.

“…Alice?”

“Y-Yes… it’s me…”

“I didn’t come at a bad time, did I?”

Her timid response caught Yuichi completely by surprise.

So it really was Alice.

He never expected the first person to visit him would be her.

Alice nervously clasped her hands together before bowing deeply.

“I-I’m really sorry about what happened today!”

Yuichi blinked, then smiled bitterly.

“You don’t have to apologize.”

“If anything, I’m the one who stuck my nose into something that wasn’t my business.”

“It was originally between you and Chiba.”

However, instead of easing her guilt, those words only made Alice feel even worse.

“I’m so sorry!”

Her eyes became watery as she lowered her head even further.

Yuichi scratched his cheek helplessly.

“I already told you… I don’t blame you.”

Without another word, Alice carefully placed a plastic bag onto the bedside table.

Inside were several fresh fruits.

“I bought these on my way here.”

“I hope you don’t mind…”

Yuichi looked at the fruit, then smiled warmly.

“Thank you.”

Then something suddenly occurred to him.

“…Wait.”

“I thought you were short on money.”

“Where did you get enough to buy all this?”

Alice answered honestly.

“I’ve been working for the past few days.”

“So… I had a little saved.”

“I see…”

Yuichi let out a relieved sigh.

“That’s good.”

“Keep earning your living like this.”

“And try to live peacefully in this world.”

Alice froze.

“…What do you mean?”

Yuichi smiled.

“You’re still young.”

“You can’t spend your entire life wandering around chasing revenge.”

Those words struck Alice harder than she expected.

When she first arrived in this world…

Her only goal had been to kill demons.

Nothing else mattered.

However, reality had been far crueler than she imagined.

Because of the laws governing this world, she couldn’t openly attack demons during the day without causing panic among ordinary people.

Her opportunities to strike were already scarce.

Then…

The haunted house incident happened.

After accidentally stabbing Yuichi instead of Chiba…

Even her determination had begun to waver.

She had never once considered what kind of life she wanted for herself.

Even if she someday returned to Anstertandin…

There would be no family waiting for her.

No hometown.

No home.

The only companions she still had…

Were Jebecarred…

And the human lying before her.

Lowering her head, Alice whispered so softly she could barely hear herself,

“…I understand.”

The two continued talking for a long time.

Alice sat beside the bed while Yuichi quietly listened as she spoke about Anstertandin.

She told him about endless wars.

About villages consumed by flames.

About demons who slaughtered innocent people without mercy.

About the hatred she had carried since childhood.

Listening silently, Yuichi gradually began to understand why Alice hated demons so much.

If those stories were true…

Even he couldn’t help feeling anger toward those monsters.

Still…

No matter how hard he tried…

He couldn’t connect those cruel demons with Chiba.

The Chiba he knew wasn’t someone who massacred innocent people.

She wasn’t heartless.

“…Maybe I’ll ask her about it someday.”

The thought quietly crossed his mind.

Eventually the topic shifted.

This time…

Yuichi began telling Alice about the human world.

About convenience stores.

About fireworks festivals.

About video games.

About silly things that happened at work.

Alice listened with genuine fascination.

Little by little…

The unfamiliar world she had once rejected no longer seemed quite so frightening.

Perhaps…

For the first time…

She found herself looking forward to tomorrow.

Just as Yuichi started talking about the upcoming autumn festival…

Alice suddenly looked toward the window.

The sky outside had already grown dark.

“…I should go.”

She slowly stood up.

Yuichi looked puzzled.

“Hm?”

“It’s still pretty early.”

“You could stay a little longer.”

Alice smiled awkwardly.

“…I really can’t.”

The truth was…

Before coming here, she had secretly followed Chiba and Lucifer.

She had only dared visit because the two demons happened to be away.

By now…

They were probably already on their way back.

She couldn’t risk meeting them.

“Thank you, Yuichi.”

“Thank you for telling me so much.”

“But I really have to leave now.”

Yuichi could only nod.

“…Alright.”

“Take care of yourself.”

Alice walked toward the door.

Yuichi quietly watched her leave.

For some reason…

A strange feeling of loneliness lingered in his heart.

Just as he sighed and turned back toward the bed—

Alice suddenly stopped.

She slowly turned around.

This time…

There was no hesitation.

No guilt.

Only sincere gratitude.

“…Thank you.”

“Really.”

A gentle smile bloomed across her face.

It was the brightest smile Yuichi had ever seen from her.