A Mistake on the Field, Two People in Sync

Compared to Ieyasu, who still could not find the knack, Sayo and Sayo were doing extremely well. With just two parts of effort, they could accomplish what normally took one part.

For ordinary people, the expenditure was usually ten times greater. They used ten parts of strength, or even more, to do something that required only one part.

Yorii Tsugikuni felt that in a few more days at most, the two of them would complete the first stage of training: gaining control over their own strength.

The training continued until around nine in the morning.

"Master, I'm back."

"All the procedures have been completed. From now on, I'm also a member of the Security Force."

Tatsumi jogged over from afar. With Sayo's help, Tatsumi had easily joined the Security Force.

He was quite satisfied to be able to stay with his two companions.

What had happened to Aria's family had made him realize the darkness within the Imperial Capital.

It also made Tatsumi cherish the friendship between himself and his companions even more.

"Congratulations."

Yorii Tsugikuni sincerely congratulated Tatsumi as he looked at him in his Imperial Guard uniform.

Compared to Aria's home, the Security Force was clearly a much better place.

"Oh, right."

"On my way back, I saw the final verdict regarding Aria on the notice board outside."

Seeing Sayo and Ieyasu gather around him, Tatsumi changed the subject. "Her trial will be held by the Imperial Capital Judiciary in three days."

Yorii Tsugikuni was not particularly surprised by Aria's trial.

Sayo had already discussed Aria's situation with him when she came over that morning.

As Aria's captors, they would also have to participate in the trial once it began.

"Alright, there's no need to pay too much attention to her family."

"A serial killer has appeared in the city recently. We need to investigate."

After taking the towel Little Bi carried over and wiping away her sweat, Sayo looked at Yorii Tsugikuni and the others.

Her tone was somewhat heavy. "Many of our colleagues have already died at the hands of that decapitating maniac."

"Do we have any clues now?"

Yorii Tsugikuni looked at Sayo and asked calmly.

The deep furrow in Sayo's brow made it clear that the situation was not good.

"At the moment, we only know one thing."

"That killer likes cutting off people's heads."

Sayo shook her head. She had only received the news not long ago.

Since the decapitating maniac indiscriminately attacked and killed his victims, identifying him had become extremely difficult.

After all, it was hard to infer any additional clues from the victims.

"He likes cutting off people's heads?"

"Did any of the murdered people lose valuables or anything like that?"

Yorii Tsugikuni began to think. He had some ideas, but they still needed verification.

So he continued questioning her.

"No valuables were missing. Only their heads were cut off."

Sayo recalled what she could and told Yorii Tsugikuni some of the details she knew.

"If that's the case, then I have a few deductions."

"Since he didn't take any valuables, he clearly wasn't doing it for money."

Yorii Tsugikuni looked at the thoughtful group and slowly began explaining his idea. "Then it's very likely that he simply likes cutting off other people's heads."

"But what kind of person would have a hobby like cutting off heads?"

Hearing Yorii Tsugikuni's words, Sayo's eyes lit up. She had guessed something.

However, she was not entirely certain, so she said tentatively, "It could be a butcher, or perhaps an executioner."

"An executioner is undoubtedly more likely."

"Of course, we can't rule out a butcher either."

Yorii Tsugikuni nodded and added, "And since he has been able to kill so many people, his combat ability clearly isn't weak."

"So our next task is to investigate those who are powerful and work as butchers or executioners."

Sayo immediately made the final decision.

She looked at Yorii Tsugikuni and could not help nodding repeatedly at his meticulous reasoning.

Compared to the beginning, when they had no leads at all—

the matter had now become much clearer.

Sayo quickly led Yorii Tsugikuni and the others away.

Compared to before, the tacit understanding among Sayo's team members had improved tremendously.

They barely needed to say anything to know what each of them should do.

In the sky—

clouds drifted casually in scattered clusters.

Like fish swimming in a vast blue sea.

As the Empire's most prosperous place, the streets of the Imperial Capital were crowded with people everywhere.

In order to find the decapitating maniac as quickly as possible, Sayo and the others split into two teams.

Sayo and Yorii Tsugikuni formed one team, while Sayo and the other two formed the other.

"What a hot day. Yorii, wait here for me a moment."

After handing the tongue-lolling Little Bi to Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo parted from him at a street corner.

She squeezed into the crowd.

"Woof, woof, woof..."

Little Bi sat on the ground, clearly somewhat displeased that Sayo had left it alone with Yorii Tsugikuni.

As a mechanical Imperial Arm dog, it actually could not stick out its tongue.

However, after seeing countless dogs identical to it sticking out their tongues, it began copying them.

By now, aside from its appearance and a few differences from real dogs, it had learned most dog behaviors.

Of course, there was one skill it could never learn.

That was puppy urination.

"This place really is lively."

"But compared to before, there seem to be quite a few more refugees on the streets."

Yorii Tsugikuni held Little Bi's leash and waited where he was, observing the passersby.

Chapter 37: A Mistake on the Field, Two People in Sync

Observing the world around him was a habit Yorii Tsugikuni had developed from the moment he was born.

Because his father had disliked him ever since he was little—

he often spent his time alone. With no playmates, he turned observing the world into a habit for passing the time.

"Here, this is for you."

"In weather this hot, there's nothing more pleasant than having some ice cream."

Sayo squeezed out of the crowd and handed an ice cream to Yorii Tsugikuni.

When she was little, whenever she went out with her father, she only needed to act cute and she could get a delicious ice cream from him.

But now, she could only buy them herself.

"This thing is amazing."

"But it really tastes good."

Holding the ice cream, Yorii Tsugikuni copied Sayo and gently licked it.

The icy coolness and sweetness that filled his mouth surprised him somewhat, since he had never eaten anything like it before.

"I'm glad you like it."

"There's a place close to here where people are executed, so let's check it out first."

Seeing Yorii Tsugikuni cautiously eating his ice cream, Sayo covered her mouth and laughed.

For some reason, Sayo could always sense a distinctive aura coming from Yorii Tsugikuni.

He seemed somewhat different from the people of this world.

Time slowly passed as the two investigated.

From markets to prisons, they checked many places over the course of the afternoon.

"It looks like we'll need at least another day."

"Before we can finish screening everyone."

After investigating a prison, Sayo and Yorii Tsugikuni stopped on a small bridge.

Leaning against its railing, Sayo stretched lazily.

Because the Imperial Capital was simply too large, the two had rushed through dozens of locations, yet gained little.

"Yorii, you seem to have something on your mind."

"We've been searching all this way, but I haven't heard you say much."

Sayo took a drink of water and asked Yorii Tsugikuni with concern as he gazed into the distance.

"I've been wondering where my hometown is."

"If possible, Sayo, please keep an eye out for news about my hometown, Tokyo Asakusa."

At first, Yorii Tsugikuni's main reason for joining the Imperial Guard had been to settle down in the Imperial Capital.

To find a place to stay.

Now that he had been in the Security Force for some time, he naturally began considering how to return to his hometown.

"No problem."

"I think you should read more books, Yorii. You might find a clue."

Sayo had heard Yorii Tsugikuni mention his hometown before.

However, since he had not said much about it, she had not paid it much attention.

Now that Yorii Tsugikuni had brought it up himself, she naturally wanted to offer some suggestions.

"That's a good idea."

"When we have time, let's visit a bookstore. I'll have to trouble you, our local, to show me the way."

Yorii Tsugikuni nodded. In his view, perhaps his hometown was simply too remote or too far away.

That was why so few people knew about it.

"No problem."