"I'm starving."
The moment Ieyasu heard Sayo say they were going to eat, he immediately went from listless to full of energy.
After running around all day and questioning hundreds of people, he felt even more tired than when he went hunting outside the village.
"You really are such a glutton."
"Why don't you look this energetic when we're investigating a case?"
Sayo glanced at Ieyasu helplessly. She had long since grown used to her companion acting like a foodie.
"You know how I am."
"I don't like using my brain. The moment I have to think, I feel like I have no energy left."
Following behind Yorii Tsugikuni and Sayo, Ieyasu explained himself. This was the first time he had done something as mentally taxing as investigating a case.
As they slowly walked forward, Ieyasu's attention was drawn to a figure on the wall. "That little cat seems to be seeing us off."
"What a cute little cat."
Hearing Ieyasu's words, Sayo turned around. She had liked small animals ever since she was little.
If I remembered correctly, that cat should have had one fewer whisker on the left than on the right.
Chapter 28: Chelsea's Panic, Yorii Tsugikuni's Blushing Face
Just as everyone's mood brightened because of the little cat seeing them off,
Yorii Tsugikuni noticed something unusual.
The cat crouching on the wall was not the same one they had found earlier.
Yorii Tsugikuni had been a swordsmanship genius since childhood, but no one knew that his memory was equally astonishing.
When he was very young, he had barely practiced swordsmanship at all. At most, he had watched his father or older brother practice with the sword from the side.
Yet the first time he picked up a sword, he defeated a powerful servant in the family.
Aside from his extraordinary talent for swordsmanship, another reason was that he possessed an incredibly strong memory.
He could firmly remember many things after seeing them only once.
Therefore, even though he had only seen that little cat once before, Yorii Tsugikuni could tell that its whiskers were different from those of the cat now before them.
How cunning.
After noticing the difference in the cat, Yorii Tsugikuni slowly moved toward the high wall where it was perched.
However, to his surprise, just as he set off and prepared to seize the cat, it suddenly jumped down from the wall.
Because he was too far away, Yorii Tsugikuni was unable to catch the little cat immediately.
"Why did you stop, Yorii?"
Seeing Yorii Tsugikuni stop where he was, Sayo called out to him.
She had not actually been very hungry just now, but after hearing Ieyasu say he was starving,
she suddenly wanted to eat very badly. Sayo decided that she would definitely have a big dinner tonight.
"Let's go. I just wanted to take a look at that little cat."
"I didn't expect it to run away."
Yorii Tsugikuni shook his head. He did not tell Sayo about his discovery. After all, with the cat gone, his observation lacked any convincing proof.
Still, he had a feeling that the cat from earlier was not ordinary. In its eyes, he had seen something only humans possessed.
"What's wrong? Why do you look so terrible?"
"Is someone trying to kill you?"
In a dimly lit room, Leone had been drinking when she suddenly heard the door burst open with a bang. She instinctively prepared to attack.
Her fist was halfway through its swing when she realized it was her companion, Chelsea.
Looking at Chelsea, who wore headphones and was panting heavily while carrying the Imperial Arm Gaia Foundation, Leone asked with concern.
"I almost got exposed just now."
"A very strong young man has appeared in the Security Force."
After catching her breath for a while, Chelsea finally calmed down. Yesterday, they had dealt with a wealthy merchant.
As someone in Night Raid who was not currently wanted, Chelsea naturally had to be even more careful than usual and avoid leaving behind any clues.
After all, as Night Raid's intelligence operative, she often took on reconnaissance missions.
If her identity were exposed, gathering intelligence outside would undoubtedly become much more dangerous.
"That person saw through your transformation?"
"Do you know his name?"
Leone was surprised by Chelsea's words.
Ever since Chelsea had come to Night Raid from the Revolutionary Army, no one had ever discovered her identity.
This was the first time.
"He looked at me from far away. I sensed danger, so I ran beforehand."
"From what those people were saying, that guy seemed to be called Yorii."
Chelsea sat down on the sofa in the room and took out a piece of candy from the small jar she carried with her.
Although a long time had passed since she met that young man, the person named Yorii had left a deep impression on her.
After all, even now, she still could not figure out why she had been discovered.
That level of keen perception was simply too terrifying.
"His name is Yorii Tsugikuni, right?"
"Come to think of it, I've met him before."
Hearing Chelsea's words, Leone quickly recalled who the person was.
A few days ago, when she had made contact with a young man from the countryside who had come to the Imperial Capital to make his way, she had encountered this young man as well.
Even then, she had sensed that the young man named Yorii Tsugikuni was no ordinary person.
What she had not expected was that he would come into contact with them again so soon.
"Yorii Tsugikuni?"
"Looks like we have another enemy."
Chelsea put the candy into her mouth. Its sweetness quickly calmed the nervousness she had felt earlier.
It had been a long time since she had felt as terrified as she had just now.
Although the young man named Yorii Tsugikuni looked very gentle,
when he looked at her, she had felt suffocated for an instant.
It was a feeling of extreme danger.
That was why she had chosen to flee immediately.
"Let's report this to the boss first."
"Warn everyone to keep a closer eye on that guy."
Leone thought for a moment and looked at Chelsea beside her.
Their operation this time had already ended. Chelsea had only gone back to clear away some unnecessary trouble.
So this could only be considered a false alarm.
"I haven't seen such a lavish meal in a long time."
"When we get paid, we'll definitely treat you to a meal in return, Sister Sayo."
Inside a small restaurant, delicious dishes were brought out one after another.
The four members of Sayo's squad sat cross-legged around a low table.
Sayo poured hot tea for Sayo and Yorii Tsugikuni. Her words were filled with sincere gratitude for Sayo's hospitality.
"You've only just arrived in the Imperial Capital."
"I should have treated you long ago, but I never had the chance."
After spending several days with the three of them, Sayo gradually came to accept them.
Compared with the slick veteran members of the Security Force, she preferred being around Yorii Tsugikuni and the others.
Pouring herself a cup of wine, Sayo smiled and raised her cup. "Let's all have a drink together."
"Then let's have a drink."
Seeing Sayo's enthusiastic invitation, Yorii Tsugikuni, who rarely drank, poured himself a cup as well.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. There was nothing wrong with drinking a little in moderation.
"Hehe... Master's face seems a little red."
Seeing Yorii Tsugikuni's slightly flushed cheeks after he drank a cup of wine, Sayo covered her mouth and giggled.
After knowing Yorii Tsugikuni for so long, this was the first time she had seen him like this.
A bold thought flashed through her mind.
"Hahaha."
"I didn't expect you to be unable to drink, Yorii."
Sayo turned to look at Yorii Tsugikuni and nearly choked on her wine.
The contrast between Yorii Tsugikuni's current appearance and his usual self was simply too great.
Chapter 29: Drunkenness, A Heartwarming Moment
If Yorii Tsugikuni had previously given people the impression of being a quiet, aloof young man,
then Yorii Tsugikuni now seemed like the boy next door who had gotten drunk.
"Yes, because I don't drink very often."
"Even after drinking only a little, my face turns red."
Seeing Sayo trying to hold back her laughter, Yorii Tsugikuni found it hard to understand why she was laughing.
After thinking for a moment, he seriously explained to Sayo why his face turned red.
"Since you can't drink, Yorii, then don't drink."
"Though I'd like to see what you look like when you get drunk and embarrass yourself, drinking is truly painful for someone who can't hold their liquor."
Sayo poured the wine she had just filled for Yorii Tsugikuni into her own cup.
Then she replaced Yorii Tsugikuni's drink with hot tea.
Sayo and Ieyasu were much better drinkers than Yorii Tsugikuni. Since the two came from the mountains, they had started drinking at a young age to ward off dampness and the winter cold.
After drinking some wine, they merely felt warmer.
As everyone drank, the atmosphere in the small private room gradually became livelier.
No one was as restrained as before.
"There are many wild beasts where we live."
"When winter comes, the weather is so cold that there's simply no way to go out hunting."
As they ate, they began chatting casually. Ieyasu told Sayo and Yorii Tsugikuni about his hometown.
Before you continue