I Have Become The Snow Maiden I Created

Chapter 52 - Holy Night



Translator: Marctempest

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

Chapter 52: Holy Night

Paaaat─!

At the same time Quellière was chosen by the relic.

There was someone observing the cathedral from a dimly lit corner of the outskirts.

A bald man cloaked in black robes.

“······!”

The Seventh Apostle, Bringle.

He was literally astounded by the awe-inspiring light emanating from the cathedral.

“What on earth is this!”

The brilliant rays pierced through the inner walls and spilled beyond the cathedral.

It was unthinkable.

Even if the ritual succeeded, such a phenomenon shouldn’t occur.

At most, it should just produce a small glow as the relic’s ownership was transferred.

That was supposed to be the entirety of the trial.

“Then what is this dreadful light!”

It was a beam infused with excessive divine power.

For an ordinary person, it was merely a blinding light, but to Bringle, it was deeply ominous.

Fortunately, the anomaly soon subsided, and the light faded away.

However, amidst the persistent confusion, he muttered.

“···Someone is behind this.”

Various traditions of the Holy Kingdom, including the trial, were not immune to interference from the Dark Holy Society.

It was an opportunity to identify or eliminate outstanding candidates, or even steal the relic.

Of course, the cathedral had measures in place to counter terrorism, but Bringle was on standby, seeking any openings to exploit.

He had been ready to respond at any moment, but never imagined such a thing would occur.

“Could it be······.”

As his shock began to fade, doubt sprouted in its place.

The massive light earlier.

Since the ritual was ongoing, that explosive phenomenon at the far end of the cathedral must have been caused by the challenger.

However, it wasn’t something an ordinary priest or cleric could achieve.

It was nothing short of a miracle, yet······ one person suddenly came to mind.

“···Has that woman moved again?”

The most feared adversary of the Dark Holy Society at present.

The one who drove away the Black Calamity, and the one who had once defeated Bringle himself.

If it were her, such a feat would be simple.

If that were the case, this was not an issue he could handle alone.

First, he needed to report to the Society and secure reinforcements.

“It’s humiliating, but it can’t be helped. Just wait a moment─ Ugh!”

As he gritted his teeth and turned to leave, he hit his forehead against something and fell over.

A mix of pain and confusion engulfed him.

What was that?

There shouldn’t have been anything behind him.

He frowned and looked up.

“Apostle of calamity.”

Past the white greaves and sturdy breastplate.

A templar adorned entirely in radiant silver armor, complete with a helm and mace—a perfect specimen of a holy knight.

Bringle’s eyes widened in a daze.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Paladin Dewade.

He raised his mace and asked indifferently, looking down on him with cold detachment.

*

At the center of the room, a noble light dominated the space.

It exuded the energy of divine power, distinctly different from magic.

It was not my innate power.

The Snow Maiden race has no connection to divine power.

This was merely the relic’s power.

“······.”

Filena Trandiad, the Saintess of Dawn.

Although revered as a saint, she had no talent for divine power.

To compensate for that shortcoming, she had created the “Talisman of Dawn.”

One of its functions was to convert mana into divine power.

Judging by this ability alone, it seemed quite useful, but it had numerous flaws, making it not entirely ideal.

Anyway.

─Like winter’s mystery······ May I ask your name?

The problem lay with Filena’s apparition that now appeared before me.

She shimmered like a spirit of light, exuding an aura of purity.

Even in the elemental dungeon, when I infused mana, the will of the spirits had manifested.

What kind of sensation does my mana give to these beings?

“Quellière.”

I was quite surprised by Filena’s appearance, though she herself seemed less so.

She gazed at me with an admiring yet burdensome look.

─Quellière······ An unfamiliar name.

“You are Filena Trandiad.”

─That’s correct. It’s an honor to be recognized.

“An honor, you say.”

How grandiose.

In any case, I had a rough idea about her.

She was too ancient a figure to appear in the main story, but records mentioned her here and there.

My diligence in reading the lore compendium paid off.

“You died three hundred years ago.”

─Ah··· Yes.

Her expression darkened.

I didn’t mind and delved deeper into my memory.

“The enemy of the world, the Black Calamity. Three hundred years ago, there was a battle against it, wasn’t there?”

─That’s right. That loathsome entity always······.

“At that time, many saints were mobilized to stop the creature invading the northern Astar. You were among them.”

As I reminisced, more and more details surfaced.

Though this was common knowledge to most people in the Holy Kingdom today, I felt proud of my memory.

The reason I brought this up was that I had a hunch about her request.

A desperate plea for help.

Perhaps fueled by her earnestness, Filena began recounting her story.

─The battle three hundred years ago······ The enemy we faced wasn’t the Calamity itself but its minions.

“Minions?”

─Yes. Grotesque beasts mimicking various livestock like pigs, snakes, and rats, as well as predators like wolves and tigers······ All of them were massive.

My eyes slightly widened.

The identity of those creatures was crystal clear.

Lesser gods.

They were undoubtedly those infamous monsters.

─The beasts were formidable adversaries, possessing trace divine power. In the end, I too was called to God’s side.

How had Mahabharata managed to command the lesser gods like minions?

If there was a possibility, it might involve the Obelisk in the west.

Perhaps it misused the power of the only divine relic it had seized.

By now, Filena seemed accustomed to discussing her death; her expression was calm.

But when she uttered her next words, her face darkened.

─I have no regrets about that. I fulfilled my duty. The warriors who fought alongside me would likely feel the same. However, a problem has arisen.

“A problem?”

─Yes. My body enshrined in the sanctuary······ or rather, my remains have undergone a horrifying transformation. They’ve become an unsettling abomination, a ghastly wraith.

Finally, the main topic emerged.

I listened intently with calm eyes.

─Could it be the result of some unholy power being manifested? It may not just be me. Other saints······ Perhaps even the believers buried in the tombs may have been affected.

“That’s likely.”

─Yes. To dare disturb the rest of the martyrs, they deserve divine punishment. The sanctuary, and even the tombs, must have already suffered widespread damage. The situation had progressed beyond the point of prevention.

Filena’s eyes, which had expressed hatred, soon trembled with fear.

─······If left unchecked, something terrible will happen. The dead within the coffins have remained still, as if they were hiding. But recently, they’ve begun showing signs of movement.

“Filena.”

─The time for them to act is approaching. Someone is scheming something sinister. Until now, I had no way to inform anyone, but Quellière, your presence has given me this opportunity. So please······!

“I already know.”

Her voice was urgent, but there was no need for me to panic.

I had come to Chelmburd for precisely that reason.

Clavia, too, was a bothersome enemy to me.

Filena blinked her innocent eyes.

─Pardon?

“Soon, the sanctuary will be opened.

At that time, the coffins buried in the sanctuary will be brought outside.”

It was a ritual meant to honor the saints and remember their deeds.

The Dark Path forces would undoubtedly target that moment.

─······No!

Her eyes widened.

It seemed she had missed such a simple hypothesis.

─How could this be······ A great catastrophe will occur! If left alone, truly···!

“I already said I know.”

At that moment, Filena’s form wavered greatly.

The radiance of the light surrounding her began to fade.

─────!

The will manifested before me couldn’t last long.

Especially since it was the will of a relic, not a holy artifact—it was nearing its end.

Filena, who understood this better than anyone, spoke with even more urgency.

─Please, please help! If left unattended, the Day of Blessings will turn into a hellish nightmare···!

“I’ll handle it.”

─If it’s you······ Pardon?!

“Don’t make a fuss and rest peacefully.”

My words were half-sincere.

Even in death, she was still concerned about the well-being of others.

She was truly a saint.

This much comfort should be fine.

─······.

She looked at me with a mix of daze and disbelief, then trembled as if she had realized something.

Tears of gratitude streamed down her cheeks.

─Thank you so much······ Now I can rest in peace.

As a faint smile graced her lips, a brilliant flash of light erupted.

Filena’s gradually fading form disappeared like a mirage.

“She’s gone.”

I let out a sigh with a complicated expression.

Even if it was due to pure mana, having someone of her stature look up to me felt overwhelming.

It was burdensome, to say the least.

Anyway, all that remained in my hands was the relic, now devoid of will.

With this, the ritual was a success.

Now, I just needed to return.

“””······!”””

Once the light subsided and my vision returned, I could properly survey my surroundings.

The priests were almost dumbfounded, their faces pale, and Lucia’s expression was similar.

“Ah.”

I belatedly realized something.

How I must have appeared in their eyes.

This was a problem.

*

Out of nowhere, the will of the relic had manifested.

Though the voice had been conveyed telepathically and couldn’t be heard, the spirit’s appearance had been vivid.

“···The Saintess of Dawn!”

The form of Filena Trandiad was described exactly as in historical texts, as if she had stepped out of them.

Lucia stared at the saint with shocked eyes.

What on earth was happening?

The manifestation of a will······ She had only heard of it but was seeing it for the first time.

So this was truly possible.

“The saint herself appeared···!”

“Did the faint will remaining in the relic react?!

But no matter how you think about it······.”

The astonishment wasn’t hers alone.

Even the priests, who had witnessed countless miracles, murmured in disbelief.

“······.”

Lucia, unable to even shift her gaze, trembled slightly as her eyes wandered from Filena to the woman in the robe.

The only challenger who had covered herself entirely.

Her assumption that such a peculiar appearance stemmed from confidence had been correct.

However.

“···She did the same thing as me.”

All she did was grab the relic and infuse it with mana.

Yet the result was on a completely different level.

Not just the brilliant light but even the saint’s will had been manifested.

Was it really true that she did the same thing?

Then where did this difference come from?

“Moreover, it wasn’t even a holy artifact but a relic······.”

Relics were far inferior to holy artifacts in authority.

The will they could leave behind was so faint that once manifested, it would disappear entirely.

Even though it wasn’t the actual being but merely its will, it was a fearsome occurrence.

For it to appear meant it had resolved to vanish—it wouldn’t happen unless it was for an incredibly significant matter.

“That woman···?”

Lucia stared at the robed woman whose name she still didn’t know.

She seemed to be conversing with the spirit, but the pervasive light and noise made it hard to hear.

Is that woman truly such an important figure?

To the point where the Saintess, who never even glanced at my mana, would personally appear?

“…But that’s a face I’ve never seen before.”

Her appearance was unforgettable at first sight, yet I was certain I had never seen her before.

In contrast, I was widely known as the head priest of La Phernia.

Lucia had been recognized for her natural talent since childhood, catching the eye of a renowned high priest.

From the moment she entered the temple, she had endured rigorous training to cultivate her faith.

Until now, that is.

In her not-so-short life, she had never fallen behind anyone like this.

As she bit her lip, stewing in complex emotions,

“Ah…!”

Filena’s form began to shimmer and fade.

The last vestiges of her willpower were almost entirely spent.

A fleeting encounter with a deceased Saintess.

When Lucia let out a sound of regret, something even more miraculous occurred.

─────!

Tears, as if moved by something, trickled down the Saintess’ cheeks.

Filena smiled as though genuinely relieved, and then faded away.

That image was etched vividly into everyone’s minds.

“─What.”

What had I just witnessed?

Struck again by the shock, Lucia froze as if she had seen Medusa.

The room returned to normal, but the reactions of the followers were far from ordinary.

*

All eyes in the suddenly silent chamber were on me.

“Well.”

It was to be expected.

I nodded and tucked the Talisman of Dawn into my arms.

No one could dispute that it now belonged to me.

Immediately, I fled outside.

“Challenger!”

In the end, acting quickly always proved to be right.

The priests, who had been frozen with blank expressions, scrambled to chase after me.

“Please wait!”

“Who are you, Challenger?! And what did you discuss with Saintess Filena─”

I ignored all their words.

There was no reason for me to answer.

There was no stopping the outbreak of the undead now.

Revealing this news would only heighten the enemy’s alertness.

And my identity would be exposed as well.

The damage could still be minimized.

I had even acquired a weapon to subdue the undead, so the outlook was positive.

“Hey, you there!”

Just then, a particularly shrill voice pierced my ears.

Head Priest Lucia Uvelina.

In her urgency, she pushed aside the priests and pursued me.

“Wait, wait a moment! Stop right there! Let’s talk!”

“I have nothing to say.”

Unconsciously, I picked up my pace.

Maybe because of my light weight, my body moved as effortlessly as a feather.

In an instant, I passed the stairs and reached the first-floor hall.

There in the center was Nell, looking around.

“Quellière! …Huh?”

She was fiddling with a rosary, but upon seeing me, she raised her hand in delight.

However, her expression quickly turned puzzled.

Of course, there were quite a few people following me.

I didn’t have time to explain in detail.

“Nell.”

“Uh, yeah. Those people over there─”

“Hold them off.”

“…Huh?”

After making the brief request, I used transformation magic to pass through the front door.

Nell, who had tilted her head in confusion, instantly understood and blocked the pursuers.

“What’s the meaning of this? Get out of the way! Challenger! Challengerrrr…!”

“You can’t pass.”

“Who are you?! Don’t you know who I am?! I’m Head Priest Lucia─ugh! Let go of me!”

“I don’t know. Anyway, you can’t pass.”

Herculean strength drawn from the power of the True Ancestor was impossible to ignore.

Lucia and the priests struggled against Nell’s immovable resistance, which bought me plenty of time.

“…Phew.”

Before I knew it, the cathedral was far behind me, visible only as a distant silhouette.

I had reached a secluded area with few people.

Having twisted my route several times, it would be hard for them to track me.

The moment I let out a shallow sigh, footsteps sounded nearby.

“Quellière!”

“…Nell.”

You found me well.

While I silently marveled, Nell, with her hair in disarray, asked,

“What just happened?”

“This.”

Instead of explaining, I showed her the talisman.

Her eyes widened.

“Is that…!”

“I made a small mistake.”

“Ah, I see.”

It was a roundabout way of saying I ran into trouble while obtaining the relic.

Yet Nell accepted it surprisingly quickly.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

“You’re not curious about anything else?”

“No.”

She didn’t ask further questions.

If she didn’t need an explanation, that suited me just fine.

As I observed her appearance, which suggested she’d been in a fight, my gaze settled on one spot.

A rosary of the same color.

“Is that the Saintess’ rosary?”

“Mm? Oh, this? Yeah, it seems to like me.”

“I see.”

It made sense.

Even with low divine power, it was still a playable character.

From the church’s perspective, two unexpected successful candidates had suddenly fled.

Somehow, I felt a little sorry.

“Let’s head back.”

“Alright.”

Even so, since we followed the rules, I walked with confidence.

Nell, walking beside me, tilted her head slightly.

“But where are we going? Do we have a destination?”

Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t explained the undead situation in detail to her.

She probably didn’t know the schedule after the trial.

I explained it to her casually.

“Yes, we do.”

“Where?”

“The Hall of Saints.”

Before tackling the task ahead, I needed to gather information about Filena and the other saints.

The Hall was the perfect place for that.

The final preparations before opening the sanctuary would follow afterward.

*

At a dead-end in the back alley,

Bringle, with a shattered shoulder, was kneeling and gasping for breath.

The robe adorned with fire insignias was torn to shreds, and his sweat-drenched bald head gleamed noticeably.

“…You wretch!”

His luck had been terrible.

A formidable opponent, the Paladin, had been aiding Quellière, and by sheer misfortune, he had crossed their radar.

He had fought hard, but the result was defeat.

It was so clear that there was no room for denial.

The life of the “human” Bringle now hung by a thread.

“How does it feel, Apostle of Calamity?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“This is the end for one who has sown endless evil. Did you think your vile claws would ever reach him?”

“…Gah.”

Grinding his teeth to the point of breaking, Bringle was met with the mocking gaze of Dewade.

Uncharacteristically, Dewade felt good.

No, ever since meeting Quellière, his days had been increasingly fulfilling, but today felt particularly so.

He had the chance to offer a truly worthy sacrifice.

“Goddess, today I shall offer a fragment of the continent’s shadow to you…”

With his heart pounding fiercely and his nerves alight,

The Paladin’s mace slashed through the air with sharp precision.

A flash of silver light swept past,

─Thunk!

And a lifeless corpse collapsed in its wake.

After observing it briefly, Dewade offered a silent prayer.

The moment he turned his back,

─────!

An eerie, dreadful noise emanated from deep within, shaking him to his core.

The Paladin turned to see the source, his eyes wide open.

“…!”

The corpse engulfed in fierce flames was rising.

Larger, more grotesque than before, it was now a horrific decaying ghoul.

Though he had cut down countless remnants of the heretics before, this was a first.

Realizing something, Dewade murmured.

“The Apostles of Calamity… were all undead?”

The undead, beings that should not exist.

Could their allegiance to the black calamity be connected to this?

As he raised his mace, the ghoul spewed violent flames.

Kieeeeeeek─!

The attack was ferocious but not enough to faze the Paladin.

As he moved to counter, a sudden sharp pain forced him to retreat.

“…Tch.”

A throbbing rib.

It was the spot wounded by the Sword Demon.

How utterly useless and annoying.

Kieeek─ Kehack─!

Taking advantage of the brief respite, the flaming ghoul escaped across the rooftops.

Clicking his tongue, Dewade immediately pushed off the ground in pursuit.


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