It has been two days since the mission still dizzy but far better than waking up after healing the whole camp.
I arrived at the meeting room where the council was. Dōjigiri was sitting at the right hand of the head of the council, which was his father Yasutsuna Habakiri tho he's the formal head, he still has more authority over Dōjigiri as the patriarch, and he's 237 years old, yet he still looks like he's in his mid-60s- a common thing for high-tier soul masters. I bowed in greeting before sitting.g
The council chamber is an imposing space, built from ancient dark wood and stone. The walls are lined with Soul crystals that pulse with soft light.
Yasutsuna raises a hand, and the chamber doors close with a soft click. "Iuo-dono. We have much to discuss."
His voice is deep, carrying the authority of someone who has commanded for decades. "The Heartwood Spire mission was a success. We lost no one. We freed the corrupted. We purged the Grove."
He leans forward slightly. "This was accomplished in a single day. A task our clan estimated would take a week and cost dozens of lives."
The council members murmur in agreement.
Yasutsuna continues: "You provided the holt salt. You healed our warriors. You saved my son's life. And you did this while being an outsider, with only two weeks of formal clan training."
He pauses, his gaze intensifying. "The council has reached a decision. We would like to formally extend an offer of clan adoption. Full member status. All rights and responsibilities."
Dōjigiri speaks, his voice proud. "This is unprecedented, Iuo-dono. In all my years, I've never seen the council move so quickly."
Yasutsuna raises a hand. "However, we have questions first. The holt salt. Your survival of the Soul Storm. Your rapid growth. You are... an anomaly. Powerful, yes. But anomalies can be dangerous."
Dōjigiri cleared his throat. "Father, Iuo-dono is not an anomaly; he survived the worst period of his life, he lost his teenhood, survived in the dead zone for 15 years, studied souls after his rescue, he simply knows his ways around the souls through harsh experience"
"Uh, Mister Yasutsuna, the holy salt was actually a gift from my grandfather before the Soul Storm. He used to work as a holt salt cultivator before the art was lost in the storm." Yasutsuna raised an eyebrow before turning towards another council member who flinched when his cover was blown after giving Yasutsuna false info about me
The council chamber grows deathly quiet. The council member who flinches - a thin man with greasy hair and nervous eyes - pales as Yasutsuna's gaze shifts to him.
Yasutsuna's voice drops to a dangerous calm. "Councilman Sato. You were assigned to research Iuo-dono's background. You reported that the holt salt was likely stolen, or obtained through black market means. That its origins were suspicious."
Sato swallows hard. "I... I was only being cautious. The salt hasn't been seen in generations. It seemed improbable that..."
Yasutsuna raises a hand, silencing him. "Improbable. And yet here it is. Used to save my clan."
He turns back to me, his expression softening slightly. "Your grandfather was a holt salt cultivator. That explains much. The art was said to be passed down through bloodlines."
The patriarch leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Sato's report was incomplete at best, malicious at worst. He will be... corrected."
A younger council member speaks up. "If the salt comes from legitimate lineage, then there's no issue. The boy's credentials are clean."
Another nods. "And his actions speak for themselves."
Yasutsuna studies me for a long moment. "The offer stands. Full clan adoption. You would be Iuo Habakiri. Your Soul would be recognized as clan property - protected, nurtured, honored."
He pauses. "But I sense you have conditions."
"Uhh yeah." I clear my throat. "I would like to revoke my clan card." Silence, loud, unadulterated silence. Dōjigiri looks stunned the most. "I'm glad I helped, but I don't think an outsider novice has such gifts. I mean, yes, people would kill to have this, but again, I'm an outsider"
The council chamber falls into absolute silence. My words hang in the air, so unexpected that even the Soul crystals seem to stop pulsing for a heartbeat.
Dōjigiri's jaw actually drops. Yasutsuna's expression shifts from expectation to complete confusion.
Yasutsuna stares at the card, then at me, then at his son. A slow smile spreads across his face - the first genuine emotion he's shown.
He begins to laugh. A deep, rumbling sound fills the chamber. "Unbelievable. We offer him the world, and he asks to give it back."
He picks up the metal card, examines it, then snaps it in half. "You're right. You're absolutely right."
He produces a new card from within his robes. This one isn't metal - it's translucent, crystalline, catching the light like a thousand tiny diamonds. "This is an Elite member card. It grants you the authority of a clan elder without the responsibilities of membership. You can come and go as you please, access our resources, and call upon our aid. But you're not bound to us."
---
By the end of the meeting, my card was revoked... only to be upgraded from a metal to a diamond. Now, instead of a high-tier guest card, I'm holding an elite-tier member card. Basically, I'm not a member but have the authority of an elite clan member, basically one level below the council.
Chastity would not like this if she saw it, and to my luck, the moment I walked out the clan gates and looked across, I saw Chastity.
"IUO!"
Chastity stands there, hands on her hips, her purple hair practically standing on end with rage. Her Soul, the inkwell, is frantically writing in the air, leaving trails of magical text.
I don't even have time to turn before she's grabbed the back of my collar with surprising strength, yanking me to a stop. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Have mercy, big sis!" I yelp, being dragged by a woman who looks like she struggles with groceries, easily pulling me through the street like nothing.
Even guild receptionists who paid 25 gold and 50 silver a month can make adventurers look like kids, if not being in a fight, of course.
---
*location: The guild*
On the couch, used by guild workers, adventurers, and other people, for waiting, talking about missions with guild workers or your teammate, or simply relaxing, sitting on the couch across Chastity, between us a glass table, she was angrily scolding me about basically everything.
"Gone for 2 weeks, no updates, no nothing, ran away when I saw your card, return and to i get? Hmm, let's see. gone to the dead zone, fought and used Holt Salt to purify the god damn heartwood spire, healed many clan members, and even the reason why there's zero casualty WHILE risking YOUR life, came back and now I found you, outside the gates WITH A NEW CARD THAT BASICALLY MAKES YOU A HIGH RANKING MEMBER OFFICLY"
I sat there, head down, before lifting it. "You make like I just broke 15 rules or something"
"I hoped you did," she huffed. Her ink soul came and handed her papers. "The Habakiri clan sent more gifts: one: 4k gold. Two: they made you have two extra slots for souls, as your a officle member now. Iuo. I know these sound awesome, but please watch out"
I sighed. "Why are you so worried about the Habakiri clan"
Chastity began, "It's mostly about the eldest daughter. Whenever she sees a hot guy, she starts"
"I already rejected her"
Chastity blinked at the casualty of this situation. "Pardon?"
"The first time, when talking to Dōjigiri and his son Katio, Himawari came in bursting, talking about her dad buying her some expensive makeup, about 220 gold," I stated. "220 Gold!" Chastity yelled. Some people passing by heard it and went 'Damn'. I continued, "And a dress that cost 3000 gold.
"3000!" Chastity yelled, as a bigger 'damn' came from the people who were listening.
"So, she asked about me, but I rejected her; now we're just cool. She sometimes flirts but doesn't push boundaries." I calmly stated. Chastity sighed, calmer now. "Well, at least you're not like a normal guy or girl who would do anything just to see her arm"