"What… do you mean?"
Yukiori, supported by Uraume, gasped, clutching his stinging chest as he asked.
Uraume's mind reeled in chaos.
This shouldn't be happening. Their location was supposed to be secure, especially since Yukiori arrived, with Sukuna frequently eliminating anyone who neared.
The number of sorcerers now surrounding the cabin far exceeded past ambushes against him and Sukuna—an anomaly.
Unless… this was premeditated.
Premeditated!
Uraume's face darkened. They'd been targeted for a while. Since when?
"For now, I'll take you somewhere safe. We can't stay here."
Uraume grasped Yukiori's hand, ready to flee, but Yukiori resisted. If they left, Sukuna wouldn't find them upon returning.
Uraume had said the cabin was surrounded. Wouldn't that make Sukuna's return even riskier?
"These sorcerers are mere rabble."
But that assumed Sukuna's presence. Uraume knew his own limits, especially with Yukiori in tow.
Could he handle so many sorcerers? If they delayed, both might be trapped.
Yukiori grasped Uraume's meaning—staying would endanger them and burden Sukuna.
If Uraume was right, these sorcerers waited for Sukuna's absence, or worse, lured him away deliberately.
"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
Sukuna's parting command echoed in Uraume's heart, his own resolve unwavering.
No matter what happened tonight, he wouldn't abandon Yukiori.
The forest snow was deep, swallowing Uraume's waist, yet he shielded Yukiori behind him.
His actions proved his words.
Uraume's cold resistance held firm, unbothered by the snow.
Yukiori, however, felt Sukuna's cursed energy waning, the chill creeping in.
"Wait… something's wrong."
Too quiet.
Uraume halted Yukiori, scanning warily. The air seemed frozen.
"As expected of a cursed sorcerer by Two-Faced Sukuna's side—such vigilance. Yet you can't escape our trap!"
Dozens of sorcerers emerged from the snow, their ages varied, but all wore triumphant sneers.
This was their long-planned scheme: if they couldn't eliminate Sukuna yet, they'd target his cursed sorcerer follower to blunt his edge.
So it was just Uraume they wanted?
"I've dragged you into this."
Uraume, back to Yukiori, shielded him, his voice low.
Hidden by Uraume, the sorcerers couldn't see Yukiori's face, only that Uraume wasn't alone.
Another cursed sorcerer?
No matter. Without Sukuna, two ordinary cursed sorcerers were easy prey.
"Stay behind me. Don't wander. I'll handle them."
Uraume instructed Yukiori, stepping forward.
He knelt, one hand touching the snow. Ice spread rapidly from his palm, encasing the ground.
Countless ice spikes erupted, skewering the sorcerers.
As Sukuna's follower, Uraume rarely fought, Sukuna's belligerence overshadowing him. Most saw Uraume as a mere child trailing a cursed sorcerer.
Their lack of caution cost them dearly—half fell instantly, blood spraying the ice and snow, steaming in the cold.
Such a vast technique drained Uraume's cursed energy, his young age limiting his stamina, but its power was undeniable.
Yukiori, behind him, froze in shock. He knew Sukuna and Uraume, as cursed sorcerers, had blood on their hands, but witnessing it was too gruesome.
His gaze caught Uraume's trembling hand, hidden in his sleeve—this was Uraume's first kill, the scene jarring his heart.
The exertion of fleeing with Yukiori and unleashing his technique left Uraume weakened.
Facing the remaining sorcerers, eager to strike, Uraume gritted his teeth. He had to end this swiftly, or a prolonged fight would doom them both.
The sorcerers, realizing their intelligence was flawed, saw this young cursed sorcerer as a formidable foe.
"Today, we can't let you escape!"
Yet they puzzled over the figure behind Uraume, who hadn't acted.
Had they helped, the pair might've fled already.
This meant one thing: the person Uraume protected lacked cursed energy—an ordinary human.
But cursed sorcerers killed sorcerers and humans alike. Why protect one?
Distracted, they lost another dozen to Uraume's ice.
"Damn it, his cursed energy thrives in this terrain!"
"We've deployed most of our sorcerers. Failing to kill Sukuna's lackey would be a disgrace. No one retreats!"
"He's guarding that person? Then target them. We outnumber him!"
With a strategy, they feigned an opening to bait Uraume.
Uraume seized it, counterattacking, but his smooth success sparked caution—too late. An arrow's whistle pierced the air behind him.
Whoosh!
Mist skewed the shot, the arrow grazing Yukiori's cloak, pinning it to the ground.
For a moment, all stilled.
Until…
"Yukiori?!"
A familiar voice made Yukiori look up in terror. Emerging from the sorcerers was none other than Momoto Ichi.
"Yukiori, I never imagined you were kidnapped by these cursed sorcerers. Wait, I'll save you!"
"No… they saved me!"
You're the villain!
But this wasn't the place for explanations.
These sorcerers wouldn't spare Uraume, a cursed sorcerer, and Yukiori doubted Momoto would spare him.