After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 8

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

On a quiet morning, Yuichi Sakai and Chiba walked side by side through the bustling shopping district.

Chiba stayed so close to him that she barely left his side.

To any passerby, they looked less like strangers and more like a young couple out on a date.

Of course…

The reality couldn’t have been more different.

The reason Chiba had come was not for shopping or sightseeing.

She was searching for someone.

Or rather—

Not a person at all.

She was looking for another demon.

Earlier that morning, Chiba had received an emergency message through her magical pendant.

Lucifer had somehow gotten into an argument with a “foolish green beast” and claimed that he had been imprisoned inside the “Gates of Hell,” desperately requesting assistance.

Chiba had spent several minutes trying to decipher his incomprehensible explanation.

Eventually, she gave up and sought Yuichi’s help.

After listening to the story, Yuichi rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“If I had to guess…”

“I think your friend was arrested and taken to a police station.”

“As for why, I have absolutely no idea.”

As it turned out—

He was exactly right.

The moment they arrived at the local police station, a plainclothes officer approached them with a serious expression.

“Are you the guardians of that crazy man?”

Chiba remained completely expressionless.

Although calling Lucifer a madman sounded rather strange, he was almost certainly the person she had come to rescue.

Yuichi answered before she could.

“Yes.”

“That’s correct.”

The officer nodded and began typing something into his computer.

Judging by his movements, he was probably recording a statement.

After a moment, he looked back at them.

“Do you know why he was brought in?”

Yuichi shook his head.

“No idea.”

The officer sighed.

“Well, here’s what happened.”

“He was wandering around the shopping district when someone dressed in a green monster mascot costume offered him cotton candy.”

“For some reason, your companion believed he was being insulted and immediately started a fight.”

The officer couldn’t help laughing.

“I’ve handled strange cases before, but this one is truly ridiculous.”

Yuichi finally understood.

So the “foolish green beast” Lucifer mentioned…

…was actually just someone wearing a mascot costume.

The officer continued.

“He verbally threatened the victim and physically assaulted him.”

“As a result, he’ll be detained for fifteen days and will likely have to pay compensation for emotional damages and medical expenses.”

He looked prepared to continue explaining.

But Chiba had already lost her patience.

“So noisy.”

Her expression never changed.

Yet the moment she spoke—

A crimson light flashed across her eyes.

The police officer froze.

His body swayed slightly before collapsing unconscious onto the floor.

Yuichi stared in complete disbelief.

“…You just…”

Chiba calmly looked down at the sleeping officer.

“He’ll be fine.”

“I merely put him to sleep and erased his memory of our visit.”

“Now let’s hurry.”

“We don’t have time to waste.”

“…O-Okay.”

Without another word, Chiba confidently walked deeper into the station.

Yuichi hurried after her.

Although he already knew she possessed supernatural abilities, witnessing them firsthand was still difficult to accept.

“This is a police station…”

“You really shouldn’t wander around like this.”

Chiba answered without slowing her pace.

“I already know where Lucifer is.”

That single sentence left Yuichi speechless.

After passing through several corridors and secured rooms, they finally reached the detention area.

Behind one of the steel-barred cells stood a tall man with long silver hair and crimson eyes.

It was Lucifer.

The infamous Demon Grand Marshal.

Chiba stepped forward.

“Lucifer.”

“Are you here?”

The response came immediately.

“My Lady.”

“I am here.”

“I sincerely apologize for forcing you to come personally.”

To anyone else, the conversation sounded like children enthusiastically acting out a fantasy role-playing game.

But Yuichi had already learned the painful truth.

When Chiba produced a key from somewhere inside her cloak and effortlessly unlocked the cell door, any remaining doubts vanished.

The silver-haired man stepped outside.

Towering at over six feet tall, his imposing physique and disciplined posture made him look every bit the legendary warrior Chiba had described.

The instant he saw her, Lucifer dropped to one knee.

“Greetings, my Lady.”

Chiba simply nodded.

“You may rise.”

Watching the scene unfold, Yuichi instinctively took two steps backward.

His movement did not escape Lucifer’s notice.

Trying to ease the awkward atmosphere, Yuichi forced a smile.

“Well…”

“Now that we’ve rescued you, should we head home?”

The moment he casually addressed Chiba by name—

Lucifer disappeared.

In the blink of an eye, he reappeared directly behind Yuichi.

“How dare a mere human address my Lady so disrespectfully!”

“Unforgivable!”

His fist shot forward with terrifying speed.

Yuichi couldn’t even react.

To an ordinary human, that single punch would have meant certain death.

But before it could connect—

A small figure stepped between them.

Chiba blocked the attack.

Both Yuichi and Lucifer froze.

Her crimson eyes remained calm.

“I permitted him to call me by my name.”

“If you have a complaint, direct it toward me.”

Lucifer immediately lowered his head.

“My Lady… I would never question your judgment.”

“But—”

“There is no ‘but.'”

She interrupted him.

“He saved my life.”

For a brief moment, Chiba glanced toward Yuichi.

Only then did Lucifer fully understand.

He slowly turned toward the human and bowed.

“My name is Lucifer.”

“I sincerely apologize for my earlier hostility.”

Yuichi awkwardly waved both hands.

“N-No, it’s fine.”

“You were just trying to scare me… right?”

Lucifer gave a faint smile.

“…If saying so puts your mind at ease.”

After Chiba’s intervention, the atmosphere finally relaxed.

She quietly let out a small sigh of relief.

At least for today, disaster had been avoided.

Though somehow…

She had a feeling that life in the human world was only going to become more troublesome from here onward.

Bonus Fact

Both Chiba and Lucifer possess a powerful form of hypnotic magic capable of influencing another person’s thoughts and actions.

However, using this ability consumes a considerable amount of magical energy, preventing them from relying on it indiscriminately.