The Vessel's Ambition

"Now I know what a Yamanaka feels."

After using the Kotoamatsukami too many times, that is the only comment I can utter.

The aftermath of employing the Kotoamatsukami weighed heavily upon me, leaving its mark on my psyche. The chocolate bar thoughtfully presented by Ame disappeared into my grasp, consumed in mere moments.

Though...

The backlash I experienced stemmed from a different source. The Sharingan, with its gift of photographic memory, imposed its own burden. It compressed a torrent of images and recollections into my cognitive faculties without my consent.

The information procured from delving into the recesses of my enemy's consciousness was promptly conveyed to Ame.

But... There's something that caught my attention.

As I dug deeper, I figured out that "Visions" are like magical gemstone that give folks in this world special elemental powers. Each gem is connected to a different element, like fire, water, electricity, wind, earth, nature, or ice.

There wasn't a lot of information about it because the people I caught didn't have these special Visions. But what concerned me was that in this country, they were taking away these Visions. They called it the Vision Hunt Decree, and it meant they were taking away the special abilities that people had.

As things went on, I saw Ame using Kamui in a really strange way. She made a portal that connected two places. That should've been impossible, but I didn't bother asking how she did it. That'll be a waste of time now, and I doubt she won't put a price tag on that info.

After that, our whole group walked through the portal.

When we came out on the other side, Ame turned to us and said, "Okay, it's better if we go in with disguise, but—." She was telling us what to do next, but suddenly, I saw her eyes went wide as if she was surprised by something.

Then a smirk formed on her lip, "Follow me."

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The echoes of the sea filled the air as we stood on a majestic cliff, looking down at the busy port below. From our vantage point, we could see a ship, tired from its journey, anchored along the golden shores of Ritou. But what caught my attention was the unusual group of people down there.

A young lady in red with an eye patch stood beside a boy with blonde hair and braids, dressed in a fancy outfit of black, white, and gold. Even stranger was a floating creature next to them, wearing white clothes and having silver hair. The scene was odd and unexpected.

Then, another young man approached them. He was tall with green eyes, messy blonde hair on top, and a ponytail at the back.

I wondered if these were the people Ame was trying to reach. As we watched their interactions, we followed their movements closely.

"Is there something you want to tell them?" I asked.

"Not exactly," she said thoughtfully. "I'll approach them myself. In the meantime, why don't you explore those statues?"

The inhabitants of this world call them the Statues of the Seven, scattered across the continent, each dedicated to a different god.

With nothing else to do, I agreed. "Alright," and then I went to inform the others of the admin's instructions.

"So, these are scattered all over this world?" Riko inquired as we approached one of the statues.

I replied, "Yes, and apparently, this one here is the Statue of the 'Electro Archon,' also known as the mighty Shogun by the locals."

"Shogun? Aren't they considered 'gods'? Shouldn't they be rulers or emperors?" Rimuru questioned. While that's not entirely wrong, I don't have an explanation, so I just shrugged.

Suddenly, Zing, the statue started to shine.

"What?!/Eh? Riko-chan?!" As we turned back to the statue, panic filled me at the sight of Riko. "I-I-I only touched it a little!" She exclaimed.

Damn it, the statue was reacting. "Riko-chan, get away from it!!!"

"Wha-!?" Riko shrieked loudly as another thing shone. A shining object floated in the air, resembling an orb of light bulb slowly descending towards her...

Could it be... a vision?

There was no mistaking it... a square-shaped gemstone rotated at a 45-degree angle, radiating a golden brilliance.

"I-I feel... much more powerful? I guess?" That's it... the geo vision.

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---Riko Amanai's POV---

"So, these statues are scattered all over the world?" I asked aloud, gazing at the statue. My thoughts, however, drifted elsewhere.

It's frustrating. Even after all this time, so many things remain hidden from me. It would be understandable if I were still a naive 5-year-old, but now, even after understanding the situation better, I only just learned that Ame-chan is a girl and the same age as me. I lack any useful skills, valuable information to offer, or anything else to contribute to the group.

It's clear: Kakashi-san wants to save his world, Ame-chan seeks skills, and Rimuru-san wants to protect his subordinates. As for me, I just want to know if I'm fulfilling my role as Tengen-sama's vessel well, despite Ame-chan's ominous prediction that I might die before I can achieve that.

Despite being aware of my situation, I strive to live life fully. I acknowledge each day that I'm breathing. The routine of exchanging "good morning" with those around me has become a constant, even though I know my time with them will be brief.

Relationships come and go without much thought. I know that solitude isn't a strength, yet a twinge of fear remains—a selfish desire for someone by my side, even if only for a short while. Even though I know I'll leave them behind one day...

...

Ah... these statues must be like those teleportation checkpoints in games, right? I bet if there's a "main character" in this world, they'd be able to use them... hm?

zing eh? ...eh? ..... eeeeh ?? !

"Riko-chan??!" (Rimuru)

"I-I-I only touched it a little!" (Riko)

Suddenly, a brilliant light enveloped the scene. A few seconds later, another object materialized in the air—a radiant golden glow slowly descending into my open hand. Something felt off; there was a strange sensation. I couldn't shake the feeling of this power.

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To be continued.