"Please, have a seat..."
Sitting behind a small table, Fujiwara no Saneyori gestured toward Miketsu, who unceremoniously took her place on a prepared cushion atop the tatami mat.
"Hehe, we meet again, Asakura Hao. Today is the third day; you are quite punctual," Saneyori said with a smile.
To be honest, because he had been unable to divine Miketsu's origins, he once thought she might have used a secret technique to mask her tracks and left Heian-kyo early to avoid trouble, treating the three-day promise as a mere excuse.
"I am not one to break a promise, especially one made to the Fujiwara Clan," Miketsu replied.
Knowing his identity made it much easier for her to respond.
Hearing her words, a glint flashed in Saneyori's eyes.
He had initially assumed that as an unaffiliated mystic, this Asakura Hao was unaware of his status, which was why she had acted so composed during their first meeting—even treating him like a mere proctor for the test when she submitted her Spiritual Qi Magatama.
His status was far higher than that of Ono no Yasuharu.
Yet now, she had explicitly acknowledged his identity while remaining entirely unperturbed, showing no signs of subservience.
This meant she had likely known who he was from the start but chose to treat him as an equal regardless.
Is this the arrogance of a genius? Interesting... though she certainly has the talent to back it up...
Saneyori secretly labeled the girl before him as a brilliant but haughty young talent.
Little did he know that Miketsu's behavior stemmed entirely from her lack of understanding regarding human social hierarchies.
She had only heard tens of minutes ago that the Fujiwara were powerful and that the man before her was a big shot, but she had no intuitive grasp of just how high his position truly was.
Furthermore, she was a deity herself.
Although she didn't truly see herself as a god, Tsuruha's daily reminders of her nobility had subtly influenced her.
Afterward, Saneyori questioned Miketsu about the Demon-Faced Centipede.
Miketsu gave her rehearsed explanation; having told it to Seimei once before, she made it even more convincing this time, blending truth and lies to hide what needed to be hidden.
Saneyori didn't press her on the ambiguous parts of her story.
Like Seimei, he only confirmed whether she truly knew nothing of the centipede's origin; upon receiving a negative answer, his brow furrowed slightly.
He didn't ask about her background or the specific techniques she used to subdue the demon.
From her previous answers, he knew she wouldn't divulge such details; more importantly, his primary goal today wasn't an investigation.
"A yokai like the Demon-Faced Centipede should have been handled by the Onmyoryo, yet no one expected you to successfully exorcise it. Regardless of the method, you have performed a great service for the Bureau."
After listening to Miketsu's account, Saneyori took a slow sip of tea, set the cup back on the table, and looked at her.
"To be honest, I sometimes feel a sense of pity for you. A young talent with your potential is rare in this world. Had you been born into a great Onmyo family and received a profound inheritance from childhood, your achievements today would likely be peerless. It is a shame... as an unaffiliated mystic, you will never gain access to truly advanced teachings."
There was a note of genuine regret in his voice.
Hearing this, Miketsu's expression sharpened.
According to Seimei's prediction, the man's real business wasn't the centipede—it was recruitment.
"That is true. I participated in this selection precisely to gain access to more Onmyojutsu," Miketsu admitted honestly.
"Indeed... for a prodigy like you to remain adrift is a great loss to the way of Onmyo. As one of the pillars of this path, the Fujiwara are naturally loath to see such a thing happen."
Saneyori watched her closely as he spoke, and Miketsu could guess what was coming next.
"Therefore... I hope you will join the Fujiwara. From this day forward, you will receive our full support and the finest cultivation environment that every practitioner in the world yearns for. You will even have access to the Fujiwara's hundred-level treasury and its ten million artifacts."
"These are things that every cultivator in the world dreams of. What do you say?"
Saneyori finished and looked at Miketsu solemnly, waiting for her answer.
His description was indeed tempting for a true practitioner, but for Miketsu—a deity who had only learned two Onmyojutsu a few days ago—it didn't mean much.
Her stance had been clear from the start: she could not leave the shrine to live permanently in the Onmyoryo or the Fujiwara residence.
"Your sincerity is appreciated, but I must apologize. By nature, I am not fond of restraint. I only wish to be an external member of the Onmyoryo and seek nothing more," Miketsu replied firmly.
She clearly saw a flash of disappointment in Saneyori's eyes.
"Hehe... sometimes nature must yield to one's future. But no matter; a refusal now does not mean you won't agree later. Once you truly understand the current state of the way of Onmyo, I believe you will change your mind."
Saneyori's expression didn't change much; he had clearly come prepared.
He knew it was unrealistic to win over a haughty genius with a single offer.
However, he had other preparations for today.
Saneyori tapped the table twice with his fingers.
The sliding door beside him opened, and a young boy walked in, carrying a wooden tray.
On the tray lay a neatly folded set of white garments, topped with a tall eboshi.
Miketsu recognized the hat; it was the same kind worn by the Onmyoji.
"Exorcising the Demon-Faced Centipede is a great achievement that deserves a significant reward. However, since you are reluctant to join the Onmyoryo or the Fujiwara Clan directly, determining how to issue that reward is a problem, as many things can only be obtained once you have an official status."
"Thus, I have decided to grant you such a status. This is the Kariginu worn only by official Onmyoji of the Bureau. Accept it, and I will have you officially registered as a government Onmyoji serving the Imperial Court. You will be able to participate in Bureau affairs, learn the spells recorded within the Onmyoryo, hold the official authority of an Onmyoji, and rise through the ranks by accumulating merit through missions."
"You say you dislike restraint? Very well. While serving as an Onmyoji, you will be exempt from most of the Bureau's regulations. You will not need to report daily, nor will you be assigned to a specific department for routine duties. You can act as you please, much like those external members."
Rate on N.U.
