Blackmail and battle plan

12 years ago...

A young Shoko garbed in an extravagant yukata accompanied her mother as they greeted guests at their ball.

"To think you'd have such a Western-themed ballroom," Akumama smirked as she waltzed up to the two.

Sporting a blue dress, matching heels, and long luscious hair, Akumama in the past was unrecognizable from her current iteration. Though naturally, this was before the Priestess Order was even a thing.

"I figured building a villa for purposes such as these was in my interests. Though as you can clearly see, I'm wearing my finest kimono to the ball," Shoko's mother, Aria, huffed as she took a sip of her wine.

"How much does it go for?"

"Nine billion."

"Pricey. But 9 billion yen-"

"Nine billion euros."

Akumama went pale as Aria downed the rest of her drink.

"Your family is on the verge of decline. Haven't figured out how to manage a proper business?" Aria asked.

"I have magic. It's just if I put it to use..."

"Others might retaliate. Yes, your magic is best suited for mass control, but if you reveal the fact, all will turn on you. Nobody, common, noble, wishes to cede their freedom of will. Not to mention, all would be assimilated to you. Why would that be to anyone's benefit?"

Akumama began to tremble.

"Your cornered. Cornered, and if you make the wrong move, all the nobility shall turn on you. Great magic is only great if it can be utilized at all times."

This was the first encounter Shoko had with Akumama. At the time, nothing was off, but at the very next ball her mother hosted just 3 months later, a great change occurred.

...

Aria stared with her mouth hanging open as Akumama stood before her.

"Well, like my new look?" Akumama giggled as she twirled around.

Now sporting the white robe, sneakers, dark blue capri jeans and completely hairless look she was now famous for, Akumama was naturally dropping jaws and eliciting gasps amongst her peers.

"What on earth possessed you to shear yourself? You look hideous!"

"Oi, oi, there were female monks that went full bald n' browless, still are to this day."

"So you're a monk now?"

A sinister smirk spread across Akumama's face. "More like high priestess. Aria, this will be it. This will finally be what vaults the Shikazen family to the top!"

"I don't follow."

"You'll just have to come to MY ball next week. Of course, it's invite only, and elite only."

The young Shoko knew not of what transpired at that ball in question. All she knew as that when her mother returned, she was overjoyed at what had occurred at the ball, eventually telling Shoko the details years later.

...

"An order for culling commoners with high mana!?" a 12-year old Shoko gasped.

"Yes. It was genius. Give the common filth promise of wealth, than strip their will away! Best of all, not a penny more goes to any of their families, rather, they themself eliminate them, ridding the world of eyesores. Oh, I love that woman. She always wows me with how devilish her mind thinks."

At the time, Shoko thought nothing of it. It was only 5 years later that she truly discovered how bad things were first hand.

"Oh, it's the esteemed Shikazen head. To what pleasure do we owe the visit to our manor?" a 17-year old Shoko smiled as she greeted Akumama at the front door.

"I'd like you to join the Priestess Order, young Shoko," Akumama giggled.

"Heh?"

A menacing smile spread on Akumama's face as she held up her phone. "Hmm, what do we see here? Isn't this what they call... a digital trail?"

Shoko began to go pale as she collapsed to the ground.

"Not going to fight me. Good. I despise needles roundabouts. Young Shoko, do you know what would happen if I release this publicly? You'll be exposed for your hacking. Perhaps your spoiled upbringing didn't prepare you for this, but when you steal funds from other nobles, you WILL get punished, often cruelly, inhumanely, and you know what your mother would do? "I never had a daughter named Shoko". And the best way to eliminate you without anyone becoming the wiser? Assimilation."

"N- No... Please!"

"Ah, don't worry. I'm merciful. You're the daughter of one of my dearest friends. I could forgive you if you pay tribute from your "career", say... once a month? Last day of the month at the latest, no paying for months in advance allowed. Do that, and your draft order, will be indefinitely delayed," Akumama chuckled as she slipped an envelope into Shoko's cleavage. "Nine million each month, otherwise, we come for you. Oh, and it's nine million in euros. Better convert the payments proper!"

...

"That was the moment I realized just how evil that woman was. I don't know how she found out, but she learned of my hacking," Shoko trembled as she finished recounting her story.

"Did you hack her?" Yurika asked.

"No. I never did. The one I hacked was a decently sized noble family from Kyushu. They had no association with the Shikazens to my knowledge, so how she was able to get the proof of me hacking them remains a mystery."

"So then you've never seen her powers in combat?"

"Correct. All I know of her power is second-hand word from my mother. Dark magic, particularly wormhole magic, is her specialty. This combined with her plasma magic allows her to control so many priestesses over great distances. She also knows offensive gravity magic, and is capable of using all the magic of those assimilated with her."

"So she's actually got a nasty power."

"However, there are some huge drawbacks. First, she's highly susceptible to migraines. I've heard from my mother that the only way to ease them is for Ema to give her a head massage. Apparently Ema's technique is the only one that truly calms her down."

"But her arms-"

"Yes. Sadly that means Akumama was able to get her massage, meaning we can't rely on a sudden migraine. However, a refreshed and full-powered Akumama is exactly the kind that would be more susceptible to the trap I have planned."

"You have a trap, now?"

"Yes, or rather, the esteemed Erito heir does," Shoko smiled as she gestured to Yabei.

"Wh- Wh- What!? I don't follow!" Yabei stammered.

"Your backpack. When I fired my lightning at it during the coven battle, not only did it absorb it, it multiplied it ten-fold. What powerful magic you have to be able to copy and amplify the power of others as your own. With that at our disposal, even Akumama who's accumulated the mana and power of many powerful mages, will be at our mercy."

"Wh- Why should I help?"

"If you do, Akumama's conspiracy gets exposed, and you get credit for dispatching her for the "sake of the nobility". You also earn praise amongst the commoners, leading to more faith and worship. Perfect, yes?"

Yabei began to chuckle before proudly huffing out her chest. "Seems there's no choice! For the sake of the nobility, I'll bring judgement upon the Shikazen matriarch!" she laughed, hiding the internal fear she had if she were to say no.

"Then we all... move out," Doku mumbled as he suddenly appeared.

"Girl's dorm. Out," Callie snarled.

"A king-"

"NONE OF US OUR YOUR WIVES!" all the girls shouted as they hurled Doku out the window.