merit, achievement
勣 centers on earned recognition: merit or achievement gained through effort.
勣 combines 責 (responsibility, blame) with 力 (strength, effort), suggesting merit or achievement earned through responsible effort. The exact historical development is uncertain.
責 (responsibility) plus 力 (effort) gives the idea of merit: taking responsibility and putting in effort leads to achievement.
For セキ, imagine a seeker of merit: seek -> セキ, and the seeker earns recognition through effort.