JJK: Red Priest Pathway

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"Did you sell us out?" Nanako spat, her voice brimming with such fury it looked like sparks might fly from her eyes.

"No, I just prepared for… unforeseen circumstances," I shrugged, doing my best to not let her irritation get to me. As usual, she was a boiling pot of emotions, and honestly, I found it a bit amusing. Angry Nanako was like a storm — loud, intense, but fleeting, leaving nothing behind but a distant rumble.

Mimiko, however, remained calm. Her voice was steady, which, I admit, surprised me a little.

"You're a special-grade sorcerer," she began. "Now that Satoru Gojo is sealed, you're technically the strongest sorcerer. And yet, you called for backup?"

To be honest, the idea of me, Sukehiro Yami, being called the strongest sorcerer didn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, it stroked my ego a bit. Who wouldn't want to be on top? But I knew the truth.

I wasn't the strongest.

For one thing, Satoru was just sealed. If the others couldn't free him, then I would. And when that happens, I know for a fact that I wouldn't stand a chance against him in a fair fight. That fact didn't sit well with me, but it was what it was — I needed to reach the next stage.

Secondly…

"I wouldn't write off Yuki Tsukumo or Yuta Okkotsu just yet," I said calmly, making sure to keep my tone neutral. "So, I'm guessing you didn't come to me just because I'm a special-grade sorcerer. Let's get to the point — what do you want?"

A pause followed. The silence settled like a thick fog, heavy with tension and unspoken words. I could feel each passing second adding weight to the atmosphere, pressing down like a slow, unrelenting force. Honestly, I liked it. In moments like this, you could almost see the thoughts crashing together in their heads, struggling to find a way out.

The truth was, I already had a pretty good idea why these two were here. And if I'm being real — I was damn lucky. If my assumptions were correct, and they usually were, I was about to gain two very useful allies without even having to alter my plans. It was like the universe was handing me a golden opportunity.

Nanako and Mimiko exchanged a glance. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but I caught it. A flicker of silent understanding passed between them, as if they could read each other's thoughts. At the same time, they both nodded and leaned forward slightly, speaking in unison:

"Help us free Master Geto."

Suguru Geto… What a funny coincidence. Too funny, really.

I had already made up my mind to free him. No, not just free him — I planned to give him another chance at life. Of course, it wouldn't be as long as his first one, after all, I'm unique in that regard. But his second life? It would be far more intense than the first. Logically speaking, I wasn't giving him life, but a final chance to realize his true self and his ideals. For someone like Geto, that was the ultimate reward.

I knew he'd appreciate it. In fact, I was certain of it.

However… I glanced at the girls, still bowing before me. No need for them to know all the details of my plan. Besides... A faint smirk tugged at my lips again. Girls, do you really think I'd do this for free? Especially when I'm just your backup plan.

"To free Suguru Geto…" I repeated slowly, crossing my arms over my chest. "So, you want me to kill the one who took over his body?"

Nanako, always ready for a fight, just nodded this time, her head still lowered. Mimiko, on the other hand, remained composed. I couldn't see her face, but her posture and the way she carried herself showed no signs of doubt or hesitation. As different as they seemed, there was one thing they shared — an unshakable devotion to their master, so obvious that anyone could see it. But loyalty alone? That's a flimsy reason for the kind of request they were making.

"Alright, lift your heads. It's awkward talking to the tops of them," I said, looking away. Sure, I appreciated Japanese manners, but not enough to stand there while they bowed forever.

They straightened slowly, and I caught their eyes again. Mimiko, while maintaining her calm exterior, was clearly tense. I could sense a certain steel in her tone, something hard to miss.

"Please," she said softly, but with an unyielding edge. "We'll do whatever it takes because we know this is our only shot."

Nanako nodded, picking up after her sister:

"Neither Yuki Tsukumo nor Yuta Okkotsu would ever agree to our request. Maybe Satoru Gojo would have, but…" Her voice trailed off, like she'd remembered something mid-sentence. "But right now, he can't even help himself. So, that leaves you."

I couldn't stop the smirk from creeping onto my face. Their desperate hope that I could solve all their problems… It amused me. But what definitely wasn't amusing was the disrespect toward my friend.

"You know," I said, keeping my voice calm, "blaming others for your own weakness? That's bad form. I may not be the nicest guy, but I'm not going to stand by and let you insult Satoru like that."

Mimiko quickly picked up on the shift in my mood and stepped forward, bowing her head slightly in acknowledgment of her mistake.

"I apologize. My sister and I aren't in the best state right now," Mimiko said, pausing as if searching for the right words. "If I can hide it and keep my composure, Nanako… well, she's never been known for her restraint."

Her sister flushed at the remark but didn't argue. I just shook my head as I looked at them.

"You're not unrestrained," I said, locking eyes with Nanako. "It's more like you're bad at expressing your emotions. You've probably never even tried to fix that."

She turned away, clearly irritated by my comment, but stayed silent.

"In any case," Mimiko continued, ignoring the exchange, "we're willing to do whatever it takes. Just… help us."

I sighed heavily, loosening my shoulders slightly. They were desperate, and that played right into my hands.

"Alright," I said finally, "I'll help you. But we'll need to make a binding vow."

Mimiko and Nanako exchanged glances again. A flicker of unease crossed their faces.

"If that's what it takes to bring him back, then we're ready," Nanako responded with barely concealed urgency.

Hmm. No hesitation? No call for backup? Either they were incredibly decisive or utterly desperate. Either way, it worked in my favor.

"Then here are my terms," I said, raising a hand with four fingers extended. "First: You will follow my orders until I kill the one who's taken over Suguru Geto's body. Second: You are forbidden from revealing the existence of this vow, or even this conversation. Third: You are not allowed to attack anyone who has also made a vow with me. And fourth: You will not harm any sorcerers from the Kyoto or Tokyo schools without my explicit permission."

Nanako raised an eyebrow, her gaze scanning me as if trying to figure out whether I was serious.

"Did we just join the army?" she asked with a slight smirk.

"More like a mercenary group," I replied. "Except there's no backing out of this contract. For either of us."

For a few moments, silence hung in the air, and I began to wonder if they'd agree to my terms. But then, Mimiko took a step forward, her expression shifting as if she was about to say something important.

"Let's cut to the chase," she suddenly blurted out, her voice sharp like a knife. "Do you want our bodies in exchange for your help?" She added quickly, "It'll be easier to prepare if that's the case."

Her statement knocked me off balance. For a second, I just stood there, frozen, trying to process what she'd just said. I could practically feel my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Was she serious?

"God, no!" I exclaimed, barely holding back a laugh. "I'm not the nicest guy, sure, but I'm not that much of a scumbag. Besides, I've got a girlfriend."

Nanako smirked, narrowing her eyes with a mischievous glint.

"Good," she said. "Because if you try anything, she'll be the first to find out. And then we'll all take turns cutting everything off."

I didn't need much imagination to picture how Maiki would react to that. Fast and brutal, no doubt. These girls had no idea just how close they were to real danger if they pushed things any further.

"Yeah," I muttered under my breath, stifling a chuckle. "I bet Maiki would take off more than just my lower head — probably yours too."

"Pervert," Nanako shot me another disgusted scowl.

Mimiko, on the other hand, remained calm. There was no irritation or offense in her expression. It was like talk of violence was just another mundane conversation to her, and threats like these didn't bother her in the slightest. I was starting to appreciate that about them — they didn't show weakness, even when things were clearly on edge. But what mattered more was the resolve I could sense. These girls were ready to do whatever it took.

"In that case, we agree," Mimiko said, her voice as emotionless as if she were finalizing a business deal.

"You didn't even ask for my opinion," Nanako remarked, feigning annoyance. She rolled her eyes and tilted her head to the side, as if she'd just realized her role in all of this.

"Your opinion?" Mimiko raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery playing at the edges of her gaze.

"Oh, of course. We're making this vow together," Nanako waved her hands dramatically, as if to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Her exaggerated annoyance was so over-the-top that I had to stifle a smirk.

Mimiko tilted her head, giving her sister a look that could only be described as condescending.

"You would've agreed anyway."

"Please, don't embarrass me," Nanako sighed, resigned, as if accepting her fate.

And as this little performance played out before me, I… I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. There's something inherently fascinating about watching people so sure of their motives and decisions, completely unaware of how deeply they've been ensnared in someone else's game. They thought everything was going according to their plan. But in reality, every word they spoke, every reaction they had, only confirmed how firmly they were caught in my web. They were pawns, completely unaware that I already held the key pieces in my hand. And honestly, I didn't even feel guilty about it — these two had killed so many sorcerers last year that their fate almost felt like mercy.

"I was just missing a couple of extra hands… What a fortunate turn of events," I thought, watching the sisters as they sealed the binding vow.

When we finally wrapped things up and briefly discussed how we'd stay in contact, we each went our separate ways. Or rather, the two sisters disappeared before I even had a chance to say anything. They clearly didn't want to waste time on unnecessary chatter or discuss the finer points of our "partnership." Their abrupt exit didn't bother me — in fact, it suited me perfectly. After all, it wouldn't be long before others arrived, and they certainly wouldn't be as cordial with the sisters.

Once the door shut behind them, the rooftop returned to its peaceful silence. I inhaled deeply, letting the cold night air fill my lungs. The exhale was slow and almost soothing. I could feel the weight of the night sky pressing down like a shield, separating me from everything happening below.

Geto… Memories from a year ago surged back as I gazed up at the stars. I almost felt sorry for the guy. He had no clue that everything from this point onward would unfold according to my rules. And even if he resisted, in the end, he wouldn't have much of a choice. As for those two sisters… they wouldn't be pleased when the time came. And when it did…

I paused, sinking deeper into my thoughts. A strange feeling took root in me — a mixture of anticipation and subtle tension.

"I'd rather not kill them in front of him. After all, he's not the worst guy in the world," I muttered to myself, my words dissolving into the frigid air.

But just then…

"I thought there were no secrets between us," came a voice from behind me.