Night fell. After learning that someone else had taken the pots away, Chiba Yo began searching for them, just as the police were doing.
But he really had no talent for this sort of thing. All he could think of was to ask around at other porcelain shops and places that sold pots, and in the end, he found nothing.
Along the way, he also checked on the police's progress. They were doing about as well as he was.
In the town's last porcelain shop, Chiba Yo handed the drawing to the owner.
"Excuse me, do you sell pots in this style?"
The owner took the drawing and examined it, then looked up at Chiba Yo with a trace of confusion in his eyes.
Chiba Yo had seen that look plenty of times during his search. They were clearly questioning his taste.
"Sir, we don't have pots like this, but we have plenty that look better.
Look, which of my pots isn't prettier than the one in this drawing? Any of them would look much better in your home!"
The owner showed Chiba Yo the pots in his shop as he spoke.
"Ah..."
Chiba Yo sighed. He had checked every place he could think of, yet he hadn't found even a single pot in that style.
Noticing his reaction, the owner quickly added, "Of course, if you'd like, I can have some made to order based on this drawing."
"Thank you, but there's no need." Chiba Yo declined the owner's suggestion and left the shop with the drawing.
The trail to the demon had gone cold, and Chiba Yo had no idea how to find it now.
While the porcelain shop owners spoke, Chiba Yo had used the Transparent World to observe their vital signs. None of them had shown