I Have Become The Snow Maiden I Created

Translator: Marctempest

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

—

Chapter 73: Peace and Turbulence (4)

The city streets of Chelmberd.

From the undead uprising to Quellière’s speech, and the Crown Prince’s visit, a series of major events had passed, bringing a momentary calm.

However, as if plagued by misfortune, yet another commotion arose.

─The servants of the hated calamity have arrived!

The attack of the lesser gods.

A crisis of unparalleled urgency unfolded.

Kiiiiiieeeek──!

“P-please save me! Oh god, I beg you······.”

A revolting shriek and the sound of tearing air echoed.

Prayers for salvation reverberated endlessly throughout the heavens.

The rampaging storm, beyond even the control of the calamity itself, did not spare the Holy Nation.

“Commander! This way!”

“What on earth is this commotion?”

The Radiant Knights and Priest Corps, centered around Targal, were swiftly mobilized.

The mighty forces of the temple opposed the assault of the profane beings.

─────!

As a brutal battle erupted between monstrous creatures in various guises and the knights, a spider-like lesser god moved toward the city center.

Its destination was the Grand Temple.

“The monster is heading toward the Grand Temple!”

“We must stop it at all costs!”

Nearby priests rushed in, casting spells and erecting divine barriers.

However, it was not enough.

The spider god weaved through attacks with its unique agility, shattering the barriers.

“······Damn it!”

The beast’s strength, surpassing that of a grand magical creature, brought unrest to all present.

The moment the spider god revealed its venomous fangs, a ray of light shot forth.

Kieeeeek──!

A clear beam pierced through the monster’s body in a straight line, followed by an eerie scream.

The tense crowd was taken aback.

It was a power that far exceeded that of an ordinary priest—a force imbued with divine energy.

Without needing to search for the source, a sharp voice pierced their ears.

“Assist me, everyone!”

Adorned in splendid robes, the speaker was none other than High Priestess Lucia.

She had come to participate in the divine trial but had not yet left the sacred ground.

Her lingering presence was due to her reluctance to part from the site where she had encountered the supreme being.

“Lady Lucia!”

“Understood!”

The priests, recognizing her renown, responded with enthusiasm.

Thus, the warriors of the Holy Nation fought on.

With Lucia, skilled in combat, at the center, they formed a formation and expertly countered the attacks.

Kiiiii─!

An unexpected counterattack.

The enraged spider god shifted its strategy, making full use of the terrain.

Despite the viscous fluid dripping from its light-pierced wound, the creature was undeterred.

“The monster is coming this way!”

A remarkable blend of agility and the complex environment.

Although Lucia had defeated countless magical beasts, this clever and powerful foe was a first.

The spider god, moving swiftly from east to west, suddenly ambushed her.

“Ah······!”

Missing its position for a moment proved to be a fatal mistake.

As the shadow loomed over her, she instinctively closed her eyes.

“Watch out!”

An unfamiliar voice rang out.

Moments later, a rapier pierced the spider’s abdomen with merciless precision in the corner of her vision.

Pusssssh-!

Kreeeaaak──!

Writhing in agony, the spider god twisted its body violently.

Had it underestimated its vulnerability while delighting in exploiting others’ weaknesses?

Regardless, the writhing monster exposed a clear opening to all.

“Now’s our chance!”

The priests, their eyes gleaming, launched a concentrated attack.

Catching her breath, Lucia turned to face the one who had saved her.

“Thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome······ Ugh.”

The woman with distinctive braided brown hair was clad in leather armor.

She grimaced as she looked at the fluid splattered on her clothes and rapier.

“Ugh, it’s all over me······ This won’t come off easily, will it······.”

Overall, the individual appeared to be an adventurer.

Gold-Rank Adventurer Sigina muttered with a frown.

“What a mess··· Nell and Quelli seem to have left······ I came all the way to Chelmberd for this.”

Sigh-

A faint sigh escaped her lips.

The aftermath of the natural disaster did not spare even the outskirts of the continent.

The city of Glenver, near the Ice Mountain Range.

Twisted beasts rampaged wildly, tearing the city apart.

Grrrrrr──!

The monstrous mouth sneering grotesquely, the razor-sharp forelimbs, and the massive bulk crushing the ground beneath it were all lethal elements.

Especially to those who were powerless.

“······What is this?”

*

On one edge of the city.

Dewade, who had come to gather information at Quellière’s command… no, her request, found himself bewildered.

This was a situation no one could have predicted.

“What on earth happened······? What could have occurred overnight?”

Just until recently, this was a city filled with laughter. But now, it was steeped in grief and despair.

It was only natural.

The strength of this small town was far too weak to contend with such monstrous creatures.

“Kyaaaah!”

Ki-hi-hi-hik──!

Monsters resembling mantises ran amok, scattering pain and screams in their wake.

The former paladin felt anger instead of fear.

“The air is thick with malice.”

Also, vitality and resentment were rampant.

He immediately realized the source of this calamity.

“······This is the work of that accursed disaster.”

There could be no other suspect than that embodiment of malice. Realizing this, he couldn’t remain idle.

The holy knight, with a grim expression, leapt at a lesser god targeting a child.

At the same time, he unleashed a vast amount of divine power.

Bam!

A reinforced body and a mace imbued with holy power. The immense force crushed the abdomen of the monster.

Keuaaaak──!

The mantis-like creature shrieked in pain and began attacking the holy knight haphazardly.

However, Dewade, who had reached the peak of his abilities, avoided the blind strikes and landed a counterattack instead.

Crunch─!

After a brief clash.

The injured monster glared at him and staggered backward. The holy knight didn’t pursue it.

“Th-Thank you so much for saving me!”

“No, I simply did what was right.”

Without even glancing at the child, he surveyed the surroundings.

The situation was desperate.

Though the militia had been deployed, they were only as capable as what one would expect from a small town. Their chances of victory were slim.

“This is troubling. What should be done······.”

He couldn’t leave things as they were.

But even Dewade couldn’t face those lesser gods alone.

─It was at that moment.

A woman came to his mind.

“······Ah.”

If it were her.

The merciful and benevolent Quellière would surely not ignore this mire of despair.

She would never turn a blind eye to despair that had descended upon the mortal world.

“O Quellière! Could it be that you foresaw this calamity······?”

And tasked me with this investigation?

Once that thought crossed his mind, it seemed infinitely plausible.

Even if it wasn’t, it didn’t matter. After all, he had to report his findings anyway.

Looking at the streets engulfed in explosions, Dewade spoke as if making a promise.

“Hold on for a little while.”

He murmured briefly, then, tap-tap-tap─

He immediately ran toward the Snowfield.

······.

······A few days after Dewade’s departure.

I decided to visit a dining hall to have some dessert after a long time. Approaching the supply station where items were displayed, I paused to consider.

“Hmm······ Maybe this.”

I selected birdberry sherbet and a drink and sat at a table. Staring at the food laid out before me, I picked up a spoon.

It was then that I heard whistling.

Whi~ Whii~

It was Nell, puckering her lips cheerfully.

When she turned her head as she walked down the hallway, her eyes met mine.

“Oh.”

Her lively steps suddenly froze.

She glanced around the dining hall before asking me.

“What are you eating?”

“Something. It’s been a while.”

“Ah······.”

With a small sound of realization, Nell’s eyes shifted.

She slowly stepped inside.

“Then I’ll get the same.”

Her pick was a strawberry cake and the same drink as mine.

Nell, holding her tray, naturally sat down next to me.

“It looks delicious, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. Try it.”

Thanks to the bond we’d built, the conversation flowed naturally.

Though she had followed me to the Snowfield against my expectations, it seemed she had adapted well, which secretly pleased me.

As she took a bite of her cake and I lifted my spoon again, a voice called out.

“Huh?”

It was a familiar voice.

Standing in the corridor, looking our way, was Mishra.

“What are the two of you… doing together?”

“······.”

The question, asked with a blink of her eyes, was met with Nell speaking up on my behalf.

“Can’t you tell? We’re eating.”

“Eating?”

“Yeah, though it’s more of a dessert than a meal.”

Her tone was sharp, unlike before.

It seemed she still maintained a distant relationship with Mishra.

Mishra, who had been standing idly, cautiously entered the room like Nell.

“······I’m hungry too.”

“What? Aren’t you the Dragon Lord? You’re always claiming to have transcended base desires like hunger.”

“Silence. It is a biological necessity.”

She took a skewer of rice cake, meat, and vegetables along with the same drink I had and sat on my right.

Suddenly, both sides of me were filled.

I only came here to have some dessert.

“······.”

Oh well, it didn’t matter.

I extended my spoon to scoop up some sherbet.

But it seemed today wasn’t my day.

Just before I could eat, heavy footsteps pierced the air.

“How tiresome. Three meals a day is too much of a chore.”

“Well… it can’t be helped! Unlike you, I’m not a superhuman!”

A low, chilly voice and a high, lively one.

The mismatched pair was, of course, Chandrafail and Paile.

“And growing girls need to eat a lot! It’s not weird for me to—huh?”

As they turned this way, they came to a halt.

It was a familiar scene.

The Black Knight’s sharp gaze swept over us before he spoke.

“So everyone’s gathered here.”

“······Oh, hi, sisters! Hello!”

Paile waved her hand enthusiastically.

I returned a glance before looking at the Black Knight.

“You’re here for the dining hall too?”

“Yes. A human body is inconvenient.”

“Right. Suit yourself.”

It was a brief and unremarkable exchange.

Yet, for some reason, Paile seemed restless, her gaze darting between the two of us.

“······Hmm?”

I tilted my head, but I soon understood.

She must be really hungry.

Before long, they naturally joined and sat nearby.

“Hey, socially awkward… No, Chandra? Chan? Aren’t you eating anything?”

“I’m not eating. I abhor unnecessary acts.”

“What the…?”

The atmosphere turned moderately lively, though not overly boisterous.

Watching the chatterers with a blank expression, I thought to myself.

“······Somehow, everyone’s here.”

I hadn’t even taken a single bite yet.

Though not the full group, since Dewade was absent at my request.

That was a relief.

If he were here, it would get truly chaotic.

At least no one else would show up.

Feeling assured, I scooped a spoonful of sherbet to bring to my mouth—

Bang! Clang! Clatter—!

“······.”

I didn’t make it.

As the old saying goes, speak of the tiger, and it will appear.

If one ran through the halls in armor, it would surely make such a racket.

Soon, the Holy knight appeared beyond the hallway.

“Lady Quellière!”

His voice lacked confusion or dismay, but there was an inexplicable urgency.

Since it was Dewade, it couldn’t be ignored.

Reluctantly, I put down my spoon.

It was absurdly difficult to eat one bite of sherbet.

“What’s going on?”

I asked as he hurried over.

The Holy knight, bowing deeply, began his report.

“I visited Glenver as ordered to gather information. However, the city has now turned into utter chaos─”

“···What?”

It sounded absurd, but I had a hunch about what was happening.

I straightened my posture and listened carefully.

“Keep talking.”

“Yes!”

Dewade took a sip of water and continued speaking.

“Beasts, as if embodying malice itself, invaded the city. The citizen-led militia cannot hold them off.”

“Give me more details.”

“Yes. The greater issue is that this isn’t limited to Glenver. It’s happening simultaneously across the entire continent.”

A series of shocks.

As his words unfolded, the room sank into silence.

“······!”

Nell’s expression darkened, and Mishra furrowed her brows. Fear overtook Paile, contrasting with Chandrafail’s unusually calm demeanor.

As for me, I was quite astonished.

“······It must be his doing.”

The Black Calamity Mahabharata.

I knew he was targeting the Obelisk, but I didn’t expect him to resort to such extreme measures.

It seemed he had succeeded in seizing divine power.

This was not a favorable development.

“Hmm······.”

Worry began to creep in, though outwardly, I showed no sign of it.

That familiar sense of composure must have influenced my inner self because I soon regained my calm.

Dewade’s explanation continued.

I could guess the identity of the creatures invading Glenver.

Most likely, they were lesser gods.

“······That’s the situation.”

“So, the calamity’s continental invasion is unfolding mercilessly across all regions?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Eventually, his report concluded.

I didn’t know the exact number of lesser gods that had emerged, but it wouldn’t be overwhelmingly large.

The problem wasn’t their quantity but their strength.

“This is urgent. I don’t know about the other areas, but Glenver won’t hold out for long.”

As Dewade feared, if left unchecked, the small city wouldn’t last three days.

In the past, even the much larger city-state of Yulistia had fallen under the control of a single Serpent God.

Of course, given their numbers, they likely didn’t possess divine power on par with that Serpent God.

I closed my eyes and pondered.

“······I see.”

It was about time.

The final boss, Mahabharata.

I had left him alone for now, observing the situation since I had no means to confront him directly.

But if this is how he moved, I needed to get serious.

In short, it was time to act.

“Everyone, prepare yourselves.”

We had to take what we had and throw everything into the fight.

When I opened my eyes, everyone’s attention was on me.

“Huh?”

“We’re heading to the continent… to Glenver first. We can’t let the calamity rampage unchecked anymore.”

After all, this was a task I, as the player, had to resolve. The world couldn’t defeat him on its own.

“······!”

Everyone’s pupils rippled as though struck by waves.

I armed myself with my signature cold gaze and a chilling tone as I spoke.

“Of course, you don’t have to come. It’s dangerous, after all.”

“Quellière─”

“But if you choose not to follow me, it’s as good as parting ways with me······.”

I drove in the final nail.

“Then, leave this place immediately.”