"Spread out! Search for them—don't let anyone escape!" Kujou Sara's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. At her order, the shogunate soldiers scattered, each moving swiftly to carry out her command.
One soldier, his face tight with anxiety, prepared to join the search. But before he could take more than a few steps, Sara's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Wait, you!" she barked, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.
The soldier froze, turning to face her. Sara's piercing gaze shifted, and she pointed firmly at the unconscious figure of Thoma lying nearby. "Carry him," she ordered, her voice steady and unyielding.
Without a word of protest, the soldier nodded and moved to obey, hoisting Thoma over his shoulder as Sara turned her attention back to the search.
Sara's eyes drifted once more to the spot where the group of four (and dog) had vanished. The image of the girl with amethyst eyes refused to leave her thoughts. Destroying a Vision like that… is such a thing even possible?
That unsettling smile, twisted and unnerving, was seared into her memory. No matter how she tried, she couldn't shake its grip on her mind.
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"Woof~~" came a peculiar bark from a certain dog, which roughly translated to, "Phew... almost died again~~." He lay sprawled on the ground, completely exhausted from everything he'd just been through.
Not far from the place he was fooling around was me.
Ding
[• Follow-up Sequence: The Time Keeper quest is complete, but the transmigrator has changed the original timeline. Over time, the timeline will try to repair itself, but extra rewards await if you can fix it again. (1/1) (Completed)]
[*note: The current sequence is optional and will not affect the current progress.]
[Rewards:]
• Awakening Feature
• Inventory Feature
"Are you really okay?" Kakashi asked, his tone steady but carrying a weight that wasn't easy to miss. Meanwhile, the rest of us were glued to our phones, scrolling through notifications.
"Yes," I replied, keeping my voice calm. "I never needed the Vision in the first place."
"...That's not what I'm talking about," he said, his gaze unwavering. "I meant what Rimuru-san mentioned earlier."
Kakashi looked... worried? Maybe? I wasn't sure. My overreliance on mind-reading had dulled my ability to interpret people's tones or expressions without second-guessing everything. Frustrated, I turned inward. Great Sage, what do you think?
«Answer: All three members are deeply concerned.»
So that's how it was. Even so...
"Rimuru-san, may I have a word with you?" Kakashi said suddenly, stepping closer to the humanoid slime. The Vessel's eyes followed them closely, clearly intent on the conversation.
What was this? It was obvious now—something they didn't want me to hear. Was Kakashi making his move? Had his earlier words about being content with the situation I placed him in been a lie?
The path I'd set him on wasn't one just anyone could walk. To be branded a traitor to the village he cherished, forced to bear that weight... If he chose to stage a coup, to demand that I reveal everything I know, I wouldn't be able to resist.
And if that happened? He'd be known as the hero of the group, while I— I'm—!!!
"Wha—?! What the—?! Again? What are you doing?!" Kakashi suddenly broke away from his conversation with the group and stormed over. Before I could react, he grabbed my head and gave it an aggressive shake, as if I were some overly adorable cat subjected to an uncontrollable fit of affection.
It wasn't the first time he'd pulled this stunt, but it still caught me off guard. My thoughts raced as I slapped his hands away, activating Thought Acceleration to process what just happened.
Is that what this is? Some kind of subtle power play? A silent message, perhaps: 'I'll keep treating you like a subordinate to remind you that no matter how far you've come, I can still shake your standing in the group.'
Was that it?
"You don't have to say it—you know even Riko-chan can tell your face is full of worry," Kakashi said, pulling back his hand as he spoke.
"And yeah, I figured you knew that Vision you destroyed was a fake, right? We don't really get it, but it must've been something like that. It was a good distraction, I'll admit. But we can still guess you're probably a bit frustrated about being the only one who hasn't awakened a Vision yet." He flashed his signature closed-eye smile as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I… wasn't sure how to respond. His words caught me off guard.
"Admin-san, maybe tone it down a little," Rimuru chimed in, his usual calm demeanor slipping just a bit. "I was honestly shocked when you destroyed that Vision right in front of us."
"Ame-chaaaan~!" Riko jumped in dramatically. "Rimuru said if someone took your Vision away, you'd turn into a lazy, unmotivated piece of shit! Are you sure you're okay???"
"Uh, Riko-chan," Rimuru said with a nervous laugh, "I might've simplified it, but that's not exactly what I meant. And anyway, didn't Kakashi-san just say the Vision she broke was a fake?"
That's what they were discussing just now? Seriously?
"No, I don't need it..." My words trailed off while looking at Kakashi, yet once again he spoke, "Yup, it's decided. Let's go back, gang. We'll try to see if we can get the Ame a Vision."
Huh?
"Sure I guess...." (Ame)
"Don't you worry Ame-chan! We won't allow you to become piece of shit!" (Riko)
"Hmm, if that happens, it would surely be a disaster, Riko-chan" (Kakashi)
"Riko-chan... like I said... it's not that. Rather, Kakashi-san why are you agreeing with her." (Rimuru)
Wha-huh...?
I glanced at Kakashi, who was nodding along playfully to Riko's joke. What's going on in that man's head?
My right hand tightened around my left arm—a habit I'd picked up long ago whenever frustration started to creep in.
...
...
"Are you truly happy with this?" The words slipped out of my mouth before I even realized it. Even I was surprised by my own words. Kakashi was the first to glance back at me, his expression puzzled.
"...Well, at least I don't blame you for it," he said, his tone casual, almost nonchalant.
!!?
It was as if he already understood the weight behind my question, brushing it off with that relaxed attitude of his. The others looked at us, clearly bewildered by the exchange. But for me, something finally clicked.
A weight I hadn't fully acknowledged lifted, dissolving somewhere deep in my chest.
It wasn't my usual paranoia.
It wasn't the strange withdrawal I sometimes felt from not being able to read minds like a fix.
And it wasn't the looming fear of my group plotting a coup against me, their so-called admin.
No, none of those were my real burden.
I knew exactly what that emotion was—I'd seen it, recognized it, even understood it when others showed it. But I never thought I'd experience it myself.
It was guilt.
Guilt for steering Kakashi's life in this direction. For twisting fate and forcing him into Itachi's role. He now carried the label of traitor, taking on the mantle of a friend-killer to elevate his standing.
That guilt had been buried, smothered by my own reassurances. I'd always told myself it was fine because, whenever I'd used my mind-reading on him, I never found a shred of resentment or hostility directed at me.
But deep down, I knew. And now, maybe—just maybe—I could finally start to let it go.
"I see… but still, I'm sorry… for everything."
For the first time in this new life, I offered a heartfelt apology, the weight of unspoken feelings finally leaving my chest. A genuine smile tugged at my lips, one I had never shared with anyone before, as I looked at him.
!!!
The room fell silent, and I quickly noticed everyone's wide-eyed stares. Embarrassment prickled at me, but when I followed their gazes, I realized they weren't focused on my sappy emotional outburst.
Something warm rested in my left hand.
It glowed softly for a moment, enough to catch everyone's attention.
I lifted my hand, feeling the solid yet comforting texture of the object now nestled in my palm.
It was a gemstone.
A brilliant gem, radiating a serene teal light.
«Report...»
It was Great Sage instead of the system this time...
«Successful acquisition of the skill, 『Elemental Haki - Anemo』»
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To be continued