I Have Become The Snow Maiden I Created

Translator: Marctempest

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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Chapter 43: Humans or Monsters (3)

······The calamity pursues.

The aura of the one who killed the god serpent was connected to the Snowfield.

The Snowfield, a demonic realm that crushes the spirits of earthly beings.

Yet the birthplace of the calamity, the hell in the west, rivaled or surpassed it.

Soon, it encountered the protector of the far eastern land.

The White Silver Dragon King.

That pitiful being, who had unknowingly transcended its boundaries, always stood in its way.

【Servant of a mere god, how long will you continue dreaming such vain dreams······.】

Your master, and even the lord of your gods, will never return.

Do you think those who have once been disappointed would cling to this small world······?

[···Be gone.]

The Dragon King did not waver.

As if it possessed some unshakable conviction.

Leaving only a fragment of itself to torment the creature further, the calamity roamed the continent.

Resentment and sorrow became its power.

It destroyed southern desert villages, tore through the empire, and assaulted sanctuaries.

Then, it sensed something.

【······!】

A very ominous and unsettling sensation.

Feeling the need to confirm it, it rushed forward at breakneck speed.

A rattling carriage.

Inside lay the source of its unease.

The moment it saw the long-haired figure, it realized this was the culprit who killed the serpent.

But such facts were irrelevant.

Something existed there.

What it harbored, so detestable that every organ in its body creaked with hatred.

【It must be destroyed······.】

It extended black tendrils and shook the ground.

The target calmly deflected its attacks and advanced toward the repugnant Holy State.

The Holy State—its eternal enemy.

······The calamity grows furious.

Soon, it saw a human city teeming with swarming pests.

The insects opened their mouths wide and screamed.

All the better.

In its current state, with considerable power accumulated, it would sweep away its target and those vermin in one fell swoop.

After all, its ultimate desire was to plunge the continent into eternal chaos······.

【───!】

Releasing its pent-up resentment, it manifested a world of confusion and despair.

Chaos erupted.

Thus, the Holy State faced an unprecedented crisis.

*

The emergence of its sworn nemesis, the Black Calamity.

The Holy State descended into chaos.

Informants and carrier pigeons flew frantically, while priests and knights deployed in droves.

From the lowest to the highest ranks, it was a state of emergency.

The heart of the Holy State Astar, the holy land Chelmburd.

The meeting room of the grand temple was abuzz, filled with heated debate.

Amidst it all, two seats occupied the highest positions.

Following a report from a priest, High Priest Sariel rubbed her forehead.

“···Are you saying waves of monsters have occurred repeatedly?”

“That’s a way to put it. They’re mutated monsters born from resentment, to be precise.”

At that, murmurs spread throughout the chamber.

Mutated monsters, more powerful and ferocious than ordinary ones, were overflowing simultaneously.

The monsters that poured onto the main streets mercilessly attacked the citizens.

Sariel bit her lip.

“The Black Calamity··· that dreadful mass of resentment, why now······.”

Even though the gods had left, the believers remained.

To atone, to make amends, to serve a god who might still linger.

And the ultimate mission of all believers unified into one.

To eradicate the Black Calamity, the source of all evil in this godless era.

As she agonized, High Priest Netah asked.

“Have we identified the calamity’s movements?”

“Not yet. For whatever purpose, it does not reveal its true form.”

“Hmm···.”

He stroked his chin.

No matter its purpose, what had already occurred could not be undone.

Furthermore, the calamity had always been eyeing the Holy State, so it was no great surprise.

······But contrary to rational judgment, the situation was dire.

Suddenly, all eyes turned to the High Priests.

Their gazes were solemn, and the oppressive atmosphere weighed down the chamber.

Netah immediately grasped why.

The priests’ unspoken request flickered in their eyes.

“The Radiant Knights have deployed, but the foe is the Black Calamity itself. Their strength will likely be insufficient. Thus······.”

“I understand. I agree.”

Their request was reasonable.

Glancing sideways, Netah saw Sariel nod in agreement.

A secret weapon only mobilized in emergencies.

“······.”

A being imbued with immense divine power, shrouded in secrecy.

Requiring the approval of at least two High Priests to activate—the Holy State’s strongest force.

The Paladin.

It would be sent.

*

The capital, Disdel.

Screams and wails echoed throughout the city, which could no longer be called a symbol of virtue and purity.

Dull and sticky energy enveloped the buildings and tainted the streets.

“Stop the monsters!”

Not only that, but frenzied monsters rampaged with unstoppable momentum.

Their bodies shimmered with black mirages, as if corrupted.

Blefer, commander of the Holy Knights, was the first to deploy as the city’s defender.

“This is resentment······.”

A calamity born of condensed resentment consumed it and wielded it as a weapon.

Though he’d heard tales, this was his first time witnessing it.

Truly, it was the root of all evil.

When resentment spreads, such catastrophes unfold.

Blefer wiped the cold sweat from his face and forced himself to command the unit.

“Establish a defensive line! Protect the citizens!”

“Yes!”

It was bound to be a difficult and desperate battle.

However, that was precisely why the Holy Knights Order existed.

As the unit responded with enthusiastic shouts, a cheer resounded.

─Waaaah!

It was the citizens’ cheers.

A strangely positive noise, out of place in such a dire situation.

Blefer turned his head, his eyes widening in astonishment.

“That’s…”

Reinforcements were arriving from the distance.

Judging by the flag, it was the Radiant Knights Order from the Chelmberd Cathedral.

Swoosh—!

The veteran leading the charge fiercely decimated the monsters as they approached. Overwhelmed with relief, Blefer called out.

“Sir Targal! You’ve arrived!”

“…Oh, Blefer.”

Though Targal, the Radiant Knights Commander, was a senior of great standing, formalities were dispensed with in the midst of war.

Targal, not being one to insist on ceremony, readily shared information.

“Do you know what’s causing this commotion?”

“I have no idea. All I know is that the black calamity has inexplicably set its sights on Disdel.”

Targal furrowed his brows thoughtfully and continued.

“There have been unsettling incidents lately, likely caused by the calamity. Even so, to cause devastation on such a massive scale…”

“It seems the cathedral’s assumption that it was merely recovering its strength was incorrect.”

“Indeed. But why—”

─────!

At that moment, a deafening explosion announced the arrival of an entity filled with malice.

Fragments of dark energy rained down like a carpet bombardment, obliterating towers and outposts.

On the boiling remnants, grotesque shapes twisted and turned.

Bubbles formed and quickly transformed into monsters, prompting citizens to cry out in terror.

In the face of such despair, Blefer muttered under his breath.

“A holy sanctuary turning into a hellscape overnight…”

This was not a normal situation, and conventional methods would be ineffective.

There was someone meant to be deployed in such unprecedented circumstances. Blefer cautiously asked.

“…Is she not coming?”

“She? …Ah.”

Targal, catching on quickly, sighed heavily.

“I don’t know. I left as soon as the incident occurred.”

“Did the High Priests say nothing at all?”

The authority to summon the Paladins rested with the High Priests.

Targal frowned, lost in thought, and rubbed his chin.

“Not particularly. Still, they are wise individuals…”

His words were abruptly cut off by a commotion in the distance.

The two knights instinctively turned their heads toward the source, where a figure emerged.

A woman with red hair.

Unlike Blefer, who widened his eyes in shock, Targal narrowed his gaze.

There was an unsettling aura that tingled at his senses.

However, that unease was insignificant compared to what happened next.

The woman waved her hand and shouted.

“Out of the way, don’t block my path—!”

Her act of charging directly into the monsters might have seemed reckless.

Yet anyone who witnessed what followed would immediately reconsider.

A violent torrent of blood erupted like a storm, literally annihilating the monsters.

Despite her astounding feat, the woman clicked her tongue, her expression irritated.

“What kind of mess is this?! I’m already being hunted as a calamity, and now a real calamity shows up? Seriously, it’s him!”

She vanished at a terrifying speed, but the figure following her was even stranger.

An enigmatic individual clad entirely in black armor.

With one arm carrying a girl, he exuded a mighty presence and swung a massive blade.

“What kind of chaos is this?! I may be open-minded, but this is too much!”

“Be quiet.”

Chiding the girl as if she were a nuisance, the Black Knight adjusted his grip on the sword.

At the peak of the ominous energy surging from the blade, he struck.

Specter Sword Technique: Second Form – Specter’s Wail.

The resulting slaughter left both knights speechless.

Hundreds of monsters disintegrated without a trace.

“That way.”

Yet, the Black Knight didn’t even glance back, continuing to pursue the woman as though it were the natural course of events.

The two knights, still unable to comprehend, blankly watched the direction she disappeared.

“…”

The only sound was the crackling of embers in the desolate aftermath.

*

The streets were in utter chaos.

No, the entire city was a battleground, a scene of carnage and destruction.

There was no room for doubt or denial.

“The black calamity…”

It was an assault by that entity.

Judging by the sheer amount of malice released, it seemed the calamity had awakened some time ago.

This made it even more likely that this was a crucial moment in its plan.

Just then, a piercing scream erupted nearby.

“Aaaaah!”

Adventurers were struggling in battle.

They seemed to be fighting a horde of monsters, and among them was Kelly.

Falling onto his backside, he scrambled away as a wolf-like monster opened its jaws in front of him.

“Help me! Somebody save me!”

He shrieked, flailing in terror.

Clicking my tongue, I muttered.

“I don’t like him, but…”

I gathered my magic skillfully.

The snowball I created spun rapidly and shot forward.

Thud-thud-thud—!

The wolf, struck hard in the side, whipped around angrily.

I struck not only it but also every other monster nearby.

“······.”

All attention focused on me.

The wolves panted heavily, while the adventurers stared at me in a daze.

A moment of imminent tension.

I exhaled shallowly and spoke.

“What are you looking at?”

That was the switch.

The monsters let out shrieks and charged all at once.

I did not dodge but swung my hand horizontally.

-Screeeeech!

A wall of ice shot up, and the wolves slammed into it with their charging momentum.

I finished off the collapsed creatures with a frosty breath.

It was as clean as if a janitor had swept through, and the adventurers were in awe.

“That woman… during the proving ceremony…!”

“So she really was an incredible adventurer!”

Their certainty of survival naturally turned into praise for me.

Ignoring them, I approached Kelly.

He, his eyes brimming with tears, recognized me and bowed his head.

“Lady Quellière··· no, Sister! Thank you, thank you so much!”

He bowed repeatedly in relief, his trembling back betraying his fear.

He must have been truly terrified.

Well, he’s always been a frail guy.

“After slaving away, taking a short break only for the guild to get destroyed, barely escaping outside only to find chaos everywhere··· I thought I was done for, but of course, it had to be you, Sister!”

It seemed he had gone through considerable suffering.

He babbled nonsensically, venting his frustration, and I couldn’t quite follow.

Looking at him pitifully, I suddenly remembered my purpose.

I scanned the area but couldn’t see her, so I asked Kelly.

“Where’s Nell?”

“···W-What?!”

But his reaction was strange.

When I glared at him, his trembling pupils avoided my gaze.

Sensing something ominous, I pressed him firmly.

“Talk.”

The surrounding air chilled in response to my emotions.

The adventurers quickly backed away, and Kelly, his face pale, stammered.

“I-I was with Sister Nell in a room on the guild’s second floor··· no, I was the one getting scolded when··· someone strange arrived.”

“Someone strange?”

If that was all, it wouldn’t have been much of an issue.

Suspicious figures were a dime a dozen in a fantasy world.

But then he continued.

“The strange person was completely clad in jet-black armor··· judging by their voice, he was a man.”

“Jet-black armor···.”

Familiar characteristics struck my mind like a hammer, and suspicion began to creep in.

······It couldn’t be, could it?

It’s not like there’s only one set of black armor in the world.

I tried to deny it, but it was no use.

Kelly, seemingly overwhelmed by fear, shouted.

“They was unbelievably strong! Even the gold-ranked adventurer, Mr. Glect, fled in a panic, and Sister Nell couldn’t do anything against them······.”

“···!”

My chest tightened painfully.

Nell had been overpowered.

That was more convincing than anything.

What kind of knight could corner Nell, especially after she had recovered?

And even if such a person existed, why would they suddenly appear now?

“Why is that guy···.”

I thought she might be around, but why would she target Nell?

Anyone else is fine, but you two shouldn’t be fighting.

There was no time to think.

If things continued as they were, Nell would die.

“Where did she go?”

“W-What?”

“Nell. Where did she go?”

A hard voice escaped me involuntarily.

Kelly hesitated, then pointed in a direction.

“Over there─”

At that moment, the ground shook violently.

Startled, I saw black tendrils rising through the pavement.

Boom!

They immediately aimed for me.

Since I’d expected this, I calmly grabbed Kelly and dodged to the side.

“Ahhh!”

Crash!

The ground shattered as resentment surged up like bamboo shoots.

The target was solely me.

That part still puzzled me.

I knew the calamity had awakened, but why was it fixated on me?

“···Because I’m a Player?”

I wasn’t hoping for an explanation.

The so-called god or whatever had dropped me here and was too lofty to even be sure of their existence.

“Ugh! It’s an attack from the calamity!”

“Run away!”

The adventurers tried to respond, but it was futile.

Even a fragment of the calamity was different from ordinary monsters.

I dashed toward the direction Kelly had pointed.

It would be safer if I lured it away.

“Sister-!”

Perhaps he had grown attached, as Kelly cried out desperately.

Without answering, I moved through an empty alley.

Thud-thud-thud!

The tendrils relentlessly pursued me.

Boom!

With a massive blow, a stone wall crumbled, and debris scattered.

A sharp fragment grazed my shoulder.

The searing pain made me bite my lower lip.

“Tch···.”

It wasn’t called a calamity for nothing.

But how was I supposed to deal with this?

As the Snow Maiden, what could I possibly do against a final boss······?

My brain felt like it was overheating when I noticed a trail of blood.

Judging by the fact that it hadn’t dried, it was fresh.

“Nell.”

It was clearly her doing.

This wasn’t a natural phenomenon but an artificial effect, something like a ‘bloodstorm.’

The sheer volume of blood, with no corpses in sight, was evidence enough.

She had passed through here recently.

After confirming it, I pushed off the ground and hurried forward.

Before long, the view opened up, revealing the urban district.

“…!”

And that’s when I saw it.

Nell, covered in blood.

The Black Knight in black armor was targeting her.

Although they was carrying a girl in one arm, I couldn’t afford to pay her any attention.

Nell was being pushed into a corner, and the Black Knight’s Specter Sword was about to strike.

“…No.”

I clenched my catalyst tightly, feeling my heart pounding violently.

As if answering my desperation, it radiated a brilliant blue light.

I drew out the latent energy of the artifact.

Though it had been depleted during the Serpent God’s subjugation, it had recharged over the past decade.

I didn’t stop there, pouring additional mana into it to enhance its power.

The magic condensed into a cylindrical form, shifting and changing shape.

And then—

Fwooooosh!

An enormous ice spear, at least several meters long, was formed.

Without hesitation, I hurled the massive spear at my target.

The target was the Black Knight.

They stopped mid-swing and turned their head toward the projectile.

“!”

In that fleeting moment, they showed a faint reaction of hesitation.

They placed the girl they were holding to the side, almost as if discarding her.

Or rather, they simply threw her.

“Kyaaah…!”

The Black Knight’s stance shifted.

Fixing their gaze on the spear, they gripped their sword with both hands and raised it high.

The sword hummed ominously, as if infused with a spirit, and swung down at the perfect moment.

I immediately recognized the technique.

The Specter Sword Technique’s First Form, Specter Slash.

Crackkk—!

The ice spear shattered instantly.

The secret technique I had imbued with my full strength was destroyed in a single blow.

But I wasn’t surprised.

This was Chandrafail.

In the time I had bought, I managed to reach Nell’s side.

Nell turned to me, her eyes widening in shock.

“Quellière…!”

Her gaze held a mix of surprise, bewilderment, and relief.

Blood seeped from her clenched forearm, but it didn’t appear to be a serious injury for her.

“When did you—”

“You.”

Nell’s exclamation was interrupted by a chilling voice.

The Black Knight, now steady, fixed his eyes on me.

“You’re not human.”

“…”

Their words hit directly at the core of the matter.

I let out a faint, wry smile.

So, he recognized me.

I had expected as much.

It was one of their abilities, after all.

The Black Knight’s eyes had the power to distinguish between humans and non-humans, and I was not human.

I was a Snow Maiden.

I heard a sharp intake of breath beside me.

“…What?”

Her crimson eyes, tinged with confusion, blinked rapidly.

She must not have known.

I was less conspicuous as a non-human than even a vampire.

But there was a bigger problem at hand.

While Nell was alive, the situation was dire.

The Black Knight silently raised their sword toward me.

“Are you a monster?”

As if being hunted by a calamity wasn’t enough, now this guy had appeared out of nowhere.

It was a major crisis.

I needed to find a way.

“I am…”

I racked my brain desperately, trying to buy time.

The power gap between us was overwhelming, but no one understood Chandrafail better than I did.

If I could exploit that knowledge, I might find a way…

The Black Knight twisted their sword, and my heart pounded violently.

Rumble—!

The ground trembled fiercely.

At the same time, malice surged from all directions, forming a mass.

Nell, nearly losing her balance, glared at the source with fierce eyes.

“He’s seriously pissed off!”

Meanwhile, I felt a mix of weariness and frustration.

How relentlessly persistent this guy was.

As if the chaos wasn’t bad enough, their arrival could only spell utter calamity.

“…Huh?”

But this time, it was different.

Rather than simply summoning tentacles or monsters, darkness engulfed the area.

The air grew suffocating with an overwhelming density of malice.

This wasn’t a simple fragment or monster.

“This is…!”

At that moment, a thunderous roar struck the area.

A massive black current tore through high-rise buildings as if they were made of styrofoam.

What could I even call this?

It was what one would describe as the Black Calamity.

The tar-like, sticky black current radiated such intense malice that it made me feel dizzy.

“…”

Even the Black Knight let out a faint groan.

Such was the overwhelming presence of the entity.

The Black Calamity Mahabharata.

Not a fragment or a mere imitation, but the true body.

The enemy of the world, the final boss, had descended upon the city.

─────!

Its roar plunged the area into despair and grief.

Even my mind felt on the verge of breaking.

A solution. Was there no solution?

…Was there truly no way to overcome this?

As I frowned in anguish, something emerged from the calamity’s mass.

A grotesque, blood-red eyeball.

The moment I locked eyes with its gaze—

Flash!

A brilliant light filled my vision, and something came to mind.

“…A book?”

The first thing I saw was the spine of a hardcover book.

Its dark, familiar color stood out to me.

It looked like an old, worn-out tome, but there was no need to wonder about its identity.

A message kindly appeared before me.

〈The Calamity’s Apocalypse〉

A distant memory resurfaced.

It was the mysterious item I had used just before I became linked to Four Seasons War II.