After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 55
It was already mid-autumn.
Alice wandered aimlessly down a quiet street, absentmindedly taking in the scenery around her.
This place was familiar.
Especially the large tree standing before her.
When she had first arrived in this world…
Its leaves had been lush and green.
Now…
Only dry, yellow leaves remained.
“…It’s already been two months.”
Alice quietly murmured to herself.
Ever since arriving in this world…
Her hatred for demons had never faded.
If anything…
It had only grown stronger.
So why…
Why were those demons still alive?
Unable to find an answer…
Alice slowly sat beneath the tree and quietly lost herself in thought.
At that moment—
“Alice.”
“What are you doing here?”
A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up.
Standing before her…
Wasn’t Yuichi.
It was Jebecarred.
“…Jebecarred?”
Alice blinked in surprise.
“…How did you find me?”
Flustered by his sudden appearance, she instinctively began explaining herself.
“I…”
“About what happened before…”
“I…”
She couldn’t finish.
Back in Anstertandin…
Helping demons escape would’ve branded her a traitor.
She had already prepared herself to be blamed.
Instead…
Jebecarred smiled faintly.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“We’re comrades.”
“And comrades should trust one another.”
Alice stared at him in disbelief.
Even more surprisingly…
Jebecarred lowered his head slightly.
“…I was at fault too.”
“I should’ve discussed the plan with you beforehand.”
“I knew you and Yuichi had become friends…”
“But I acted on my own anyway.”
“I’m sorry.”
Alice’s eyes widened.
Never in a million years had she expected Jebecarred to apologize.
“N-No…”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“I’m the one who should be sorry.”
She smiled awkwardly before asking the question that had been bothering her all along.
“…By the way…”
“How did you know I’d be here?”
It couldn’t have been a coincidence.
Ever since leaving the haunted house…
Alice had nowhere to stay.
She had even tried visiting Yuichi.
Unfortunately…
He wasn’t home.
For the past several days…
She had wandered from place to place.
This park was nowhere near the haunted house.
So Jebecarred finding her here…
Couldn’t simply be luck.
Seeing her curiosity…
He answered honestly.
“I’ve been searching for you for days.”
“I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“So I thought…”
“If it were you…”
“…this is where you’d eventually come.”
He extended a hand toward her.
“Come with me.”
“You wanted revenge, didn’t you?”
“Last time…”
“Yuichi got in the way.”
“But this time…”
“…things will be different.”
Alice lowered her head.
That was true.
Yet…
Was that really the only reason she had hesitated?
After a long silence…
She finally nodded.
“…All right.”
“I’ll go.”
Then she looked back up.
“…How confident are you?”
Jebecarred smiled.
“Don’t worry.”
“Lord Miguel has already prepared everything.”
“Miguel?”
Alice tilted her head.
“The manager of the haunted house.”
“Our master.”
“…Why do you call him ‘Lord’?”
Jebecarred answered without hesitation.
“…Because he’s powerful.”
“And worthy of that respect.”
“I see…”
Alice quietly accepted the explanation.
As the autumn festival drew near…
The entire town grew livelier by the day.
To celebrate the occasion…
Hashimoto Ota announced several days off for everyone at the factory.
The atmosphere inside the workshop immediately became much more cheerful.
While working…
Yota Sasaki casually spoke up.
“Sakai.”
“What are you doing over the holidays?”
Yuichi shrugged.
“What else?”
“I’m staying home.”
Yota stared at him.
“…Seriously?”
“You spend every holiday like that?”
Yuichi rolled his eyes.
“What else am I supposed to do?”
Yota laughed.
“Come on.”
“Don’t tell me you’re making your girlfriend stay home too.”
“Think about her feelings.”
Yuichi froze.
He personally hated crowded places.
Too many people…
Too much noise…
Too many eyes watching him.
But Chiba…
She came from another world.
Maybe…
She’d actually enjoy seeing a festival.
Even if she wasn’t interested…
She’d probably stay home simply because he did.
Seeing Yuichi hesitate…
Yota pressed even harder.
“There’s a huge festival downtown.”
“They’re even setting off fireworks.”
“A few of us are going together.”
“Why don’t you bring your girlfriend?”
Yuichi scratched his head awkwardly.
“…I’ll think about it.”
“Thanks.”
Just then—
Lucifer, who had been quietly working the entire time, suddenly spoke in a cold voice.
“Yuichi.”
“Please stop referring to my master that way.”
“…She is not your girlfriend.”
“…!”
Yuichi froze.
Oh no…
I’ve been exposed.
He immediately buried his face in his work, pretending nothing had happened.
Beside him…
Yota slowly turned toward him.
A wicked grin spread across his face.
He leaned close and whispered,
“…You liar.”
“So you don’t actually have a girlfriend.”
Yuichi’s shoulders slumped.
He looked ready to cry.
Back then…
Lucifer hadn’t been present.
That’s why he’d confidently shown Chiba off as his girlfriend.
Now…
Everything had fallen apart.
Why…
Why couldn’t this guy just let me enjoy showing off for once?
It wouldn’t have hurt him at all…
Yuichi silently glared at Lucifer.
…Damn you, Lucifer.
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