The Seren Clan

"Doom? Me? What is all of this supposed to mean? Am I to be cast away? I don't understand." Eden attempted to speak, but his mouth felt impossibly heavy, rendering him mute.

"To hell with this infantile body. It's so weak, so utterly useless!!" he screamed internally, desperate to make some sort of protest. But the more he struggled, the weaker he became, and soon, he was succumbing to the pull of sleep.

"NO!!!" His eyes closed, and with that final cry of defiance, he drifted off, as helpless as the infant he had become.

"Proceed. Where is the clan head?" Satoshi, the man who had seemed so out of place, asked. He held the infant's delicate form as he stepped out of the room, accompanied by Taro. The two of them, with Eden now in their care, traversed the long wooden hallway.

"Will the clan head approve of this decision?" Taro questioned, his gaze fixed on the peacefully sleeping child in Satoshi's arms.

"Doom has been born. Our only task is to ensure that he doesn't destroy all the pillars at once, to shield him from any threats. Souls will inevitably be drawn to him. The other clans may even attempt to eliminate him." Satoshi replied, pausing before another sliding paper door, where he handed Eden over to Taro. They knocked softly and were granted entry.

Inside the room, tatami mats adorned the floor, and at the centre of the space, a low wooden table held a delicate arrangement of seasonal flowers in a simple vase. The walls, once paper, were now covered in shoji screens.

At the far end of the room sat a figure, obscured by a white curtain, their face hidden from view. The only other presence in the room was a woman, standing silently at the edge.

She wielded a katana—distinctive in its design, with a blue edge that contrasted starkly against a red sheath, an unmistakable seal of potent energy contained within.

"Is this the aura of the child?" A deep male voice asked from behind the curtain, belonging to the head of the Seren Clan. His name was L. None had ever glimpsed his face; only the clan members knew he was a man.

The Seren Clan, the most powerful in the realm, had earned their reputation through unmatched skill in exorcism. They were renowned for their ability to cleanse souls, having exorcised the largest number of malevolent spirits of any clan. From the age of five, the clan's members were rigorously trained to wield their abilities and battle evil souls.

The purpose of the Seren Clan, as with all others, was to combat these malevolent souls—creations born from humanity's most destructive emotions: despair, anger, vengeance, grief, and sorrow. These souls sought to tear apart the fabric of existence, spreading death and chaos wherever they manifested.

Exorcists dedicated their lives to purging these corrupt entities, harnessing a vital energy known as Ki, which could be infused into weapons or used to create devastating techniques.

Ki was the lifeblood of all living things, though not every human could awaken it. The few who did were called Exorcists. They learned to direct and amplify their Ki to enhance their skills, balance, and overall effectiveness in their craft.

Reiki, a form of Ki, was used to heal. Exorcists believed that by tapping into this life force, one could not only enhance their abilities but also fortify their own vitality.

Fortunately, Eden had been reincarnated with a nearly full reservoir of Ki. His birth had caused a pillar to collapse, creating a rift through which souls could take on physical forms, feeding off negative emotions.

"I want him named Gojin Yamamoto. Protect him until he reaches the age of ten. Do whatever is necessary to keep him safe—even if that means expelling him from the clan. Once he turns five, remove him from the clan," L decreed. At this, the two men swiftly rose, bowing their heads in respect before stepping back and leaving the room.

Taro regarded the blindfolded child—now Gojin—with a solemn expression as they walked down the corridor into another room. It was clear that Gojin's mother had no further role to play in his life. He was forever forbidden from seeing her again, and his father's identity remained a mystery.

Several hours passed before Gojin began to stir. At first, his vision was clouded, but gradually, the world came into focus. He lay upon a bed in a room, his new room, as it appeared.

A bulb hung from the centre of the ceiling, indicating that this was not a traditional setting, but one that was modernised, yet still reflecting the cultural design of the house.

"I've reincarnated. Accepted. But where am I? This looks like some kind of Japanese home, though… am I in the past? Or…?" Gojin's thoughts sharpened in an instant.

"It can't be. I only saw the advertisement and read the first two chapters. I've reincarnated into Safekeeper—though I always thought the title was absurd. One of the reasons I never bothered with it. Now, I regret that decision."

The Safekeeper was a completed webnovel, with a global readership of thirty million and a fanbase of twenty million. Gojin had never cared for it, dismissing it solely because of its silly title. But now, he felt the sting of his own folly.

The protagonist, Kenji, was born into a different clan, ranking second in terms of exorcist abilities and techniques. Gojin, though merely a supporting character and Kenji's friend, was initially depicted as stronger.

Eden, now Gojin, knew that his name had been revealed from the very first chapter, even before the protagonist, born a year after him. Many readers had assumed Gojin was the main character.

The Exorcists and souls were ranked as follows:

Exorcist Ranks:

Grand Exorcist

The highest rank, known for unparalleled skills and knowledge. They lead exorcism missions and mentor others.

Master Exorcist

Highly experienced, capable of handling the most formidable entities. They train and guide lower-ranked Exorcists.

Senior Exorcist

Skilled and dependable, able to manage complex cases and assist Master Exorcists.

Junior Exorcist

In training, they support higher-ranked Exorcists and learn the intricacies of exorcism.

Acolyte

Novices at the beginning of their journey, mastering the fundamentals of exorcism and spiritual combat.

Initiate

The entry-level rank, focused on understanding the spiritual realm and basic rituals.

Souls were divided into three distinct ranks:

Elysian Soul

The most powerful, though none had ever been observed.

Radiant Soul

Similar to the Elysian Soul, but with limitations.

Exile Soul

The weakest, born from the most trivial of human emotions, even the smallest trace of despair.

"Damn, how am I supposed to begin as a baby? Starting with the harshest training in the most formidable clan. These people will soon come to realise my power when I show them what I can do!!"

"Thank God I was born with such a potent ability, but how do I wield it without causing harm to the things I might come to care for? Perhaps I'll manage to remove this blindfold one day… though, my hands are too small and weak to reach it—curse this infant body!!"

In Gojin's mind, rage simmered, convinced that everyone could feel his growing fury.

Meanwhile, the only sound that emerged from him was a mere infant's cry.

"I'm genuinely curious about this world. How vast is it? Big enough for destruction of unimaginable scale?" Gojin mused, a mischievous grin curling on his lips.

Suddenly, a strange sound entered his hearing:

[Ding!]