After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 45

The emergency alarm echoed throughout the haunted house.

Its shrill sound filled every corridor.

By the time Jebecarred rushed over…

The laboratory was already empty.

Only Alice remained standing silently in the doorway.

Her head was lowered.

She didn’t say a word.

“…What happened?”

Jebecarred looked from the broken laboratory door to Alice.

Then…

He immediately understood.

“…You let them go.”

It wasn’t a question.

It was a statement.

Alice quietly nodded.

“…Yes.”

Jebecarred’s expression darkened.

“…Why?”

After a long silence, Alice answered softly,

“…I don’t know.”

Jebecarred let out a deep sigh.

He simply couldn’t understand.

Alice…

The Hero who hated demons more than anyone.

The Hero who had sworn to eradicate every last one of them.

So why…

Why would she release them?

This wasn’t some childish game.

He had already made his decision.

Even if Alice chose to abandon their mission…

His resolve would never change.

He slowly drew the greatsword from his back.

The cold steel reflected the dim light.

“Alice.”

“I don’t want to become your enemy.”

“So…”

“Don’t force me.”

His voice remained calm.

He wasn’t threatening her.

He was pleading.

As comrades who had fought side by side for years…

Jebecarred wanted to believe there was a reason behind her actions.

Any explanation.

No matter how unbelievable.

But after waiting for several moments…

The only reply he received was—

“…I’m sorry.”

Rain began falling from the darkening sky.

Pedestrians hurried home beneath umbrellas.

The streets gradually emptied.

Yet one small figure continued wandering through the rain.

She had no umbrella.

No destination.

Her clothes were soaked through.

Still…

She paid no attention to the cold.

That girl…

Was Alice.

The very person Yuichi had been searching for all day.

Eventually…

She stopped before a narrow alley.

It was dark.

Cold.

Damp.

The sort of place even stray cats rarely entered.

Without hesitation…

Alice walked inside.

She slowly slid down the wall until she was sitting on the wet ground.

Then she wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face.

Her thoughts returned to the conversation she’d had with Chiba after escaping the haunted house.

“Why did you save us?”

“You misunderstood.”

“I only came to rescue Yuichi.”

“Finding you two trapped with him was unexpected.”

“Even so…”

“I still want to thank you.”

“Without your help…”

“Lucifer and I might have died.”

“If you really want to thank me…”

“Then stand still and let me kill you.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“But…”

“May I ask why you hate us so much?”

“Is it because of your parents?”

“You already know the answer.”

“Then why ask?”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

“Back then…”

“I was still a child.”

“I’m not trying to make excuses.”

“But humans and demons were enemies.”

“An apology now?”

“Then bring my parents back.”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

“That’s the one thing I can’t do.”

The conversation replayed over and over inside Alice’s mind.

Why…?

Why did I save them?

She wasn’t regretting her decision.

She simply couldn’t understand it.

She had tried convincing herself…

Perhaps she just couldn’t bear to watch someone die.

But that explanation didn’t make sense.

Back in Anstertandin…

She had slain countless demons without hesitation.

Mercy had never stopped her before.

This single decision had nearly destroyed her relationship with Jebecarred.

And perhaps…

It had also cost her the chance to avenge her parents forever.

Should I just… give up?

Alice slowly looked up toward the gray sky.

“…Mom…”

“…Dad…”

“What should I do…?”

Her voice trembled.

For the first time in many years…

The Hero had lost her way.

Just then—

A familiar voice called out from the entrance of the alley.

“…There you are.”

“Phew…”

“I finally found you, Alice.”

Alice slowly lifted her head.

The voice…

She recognized it immediately.