Chapter 33

I decided to investigate the individual named Saburo Yamazaki on my own.

Based on the information I had, I searched for a man around 170 cm tall with slicked-back black hair, glasses, and a suit near the B-Mart close to work.

I figured it would take a few weeks, but the man was found much sooner than expected.

He was about the same height as me, with his black hair slicked back tightly and wearing glasses and a suit, standing in line at the register with a completely emotionless face.

There was no reaction from my villain-detecting spell.

Yet, I still knew.

My sixth sense told me that was Saburo Yamazaki.

As I monitored him from a distance to avoid getting too close,

“Hey, Yamato.”

A voice called out from behind me.

Startled, I turned around to find Saeki standing right behind me.

“S-Saeki?!”

Just how long had he been there?

I’d been paying so much attention to Saburo Yamazaki that I hadn’t noticed him at all.

Feigning calmness, I asked,

“Are you shopping too, Saeki?”

To which he replied,

“I’ve got the exact same objective as you.”

“Same objective? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t play dumb. You’ve been acting aloof lately, so I’ve been tailing you after work. I’ve known for a while that you’ve been hiding in the shadows every day acting like you’re looking for someone.”

“……!”

I was speechless.

Had Saeki been tailing me this whole time over the past few days…?

“I finally figured out what you’re after… That guy’s Saburo Yamazaki, isn’t he?”

Saeki stared straight into my eyes with a serious expression.

I couldn’t lie to Saeki—my coworker, my close friend, and someone who had just lost his girlfriend, Hosotani-san.

“…Yeah, probably.”

“I see… Yamato, I don’t care right now why you were looking for that guy in this shop. Even if something happened between you and Kazumi-san, it doesn’t matter anymore. So if you know, just answer me this: did that guy kill Kazumi-san?”

He asked in a low voice.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“I knew it…”

Hearing my word, Saeki let out a soft breath.

Then, with eyes that looked as though he had made a firm resolve, he gazed at Saburo Yamazaki.

“Hey, Saeki. You’re not actually thinking of doing something to that guy, are you? Cut it out, it’s too dangerous. That person might be a murderer.”

Or more accurately, a killer.

If so, he was much worse than an ordinary murderer.

After all, I had no idea what his level was or what kind of spells he knew.

“Hah, I know. I’m not an idiot either. I’m not just gonna grab him by the collar and beat him up out of nowhere. I’m just going to keep tabs on him from a distance like this, gather evidence of the murder, and hand it over to the police.”

I wanted to tell Saeki that there was no way any evidence existed, but pointing that out would mean I’d have to explain that I was a killer too.

So I kept my silence.

Saeki and I simply watched in silence as Saburo Yamazaki finished his shopping and walked out of the B-Mart.

“You’re the one who shouldn’t go anywhere near that guy,” Saeki said once Saburo Yamazaki’s back was completely out of sight.

“Yeah.”

I knew that even without being told.

I only did this because I felt safer knowing what his face looked like.

I felt bad for Hosotani-san, but I had zero intention of trying to avenge her.

“Make sure you avoid any contact beyond today too, Saeki.”

“I know, I know. Don’t worry, jeez, are you my mom?”

Saeki flashed a grin at me.

Reassured by that smile, I parted ways with Saeki.

Yet, the very next day—Saeki vanished.