"You're lucky you didn't die." Kenjaku's voice drifted over from ahead, carrying a cold warning not to push his luck.
"Damn it... huh?" Jogo's curse had barely begun before it caught in his throat. His gaze finally shifted away from Hanami and landed on the blue-haired man standing behind Kenjaku.
The man's immense cursed energy seemed ready to erupt. Simply standing there, he radiated a heavy, suffocating power from every pore.
"All right, now that everyone's here, let me introduce him." Kenjaku raised a finger and pointed toward Kashimo. "This is our new ally, the strongest from four hundred years ago. He can hold Satoru Gojo in check-and overpower him."
Kashimo gave a slight nod. His gaze swept across Jogo's face, moved to Mahito's, then finally settled on Hanami. His expression never changed.
"Four hundred years ago..."
"The strongest?" Jogo's gaze lingered on Kashimo for another moment. Something turned over in his mind, then ground to a complete halt.
I don't think I'd even been born four hundred years ago.
"He's also the man who defeated two Special Grade Sorcerers during last year's Night Parade of a Hundred Demons." Kenjaku smiled. "You can call him Kashimo."
He paused, his gaze shifting from Jogo to Mahito, then back again.
"He'll help us seal Satoru Gojo during the operation on October thirty-first. We'll be in touch about the details later." His tone was casual, as though he were arranging an ordinary meeting. "No objections, Mahito?"
Mahito reclined in his lounge chair, his fingers still pinching the edge of a page. His gaze rested on Kashimo for a moment.
"None from me." His voice was light.
Kenjaku nodded and looked away from him.
Mahito lowered his head and opened his book again. His voice drifted out from behind the pages, a little softer