I Have Become The Snow Maiden I Created

Translator: Marctempest

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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Chapter 48: Snow and the Savior (4)

An awkward silence.

Ha-ha-ho-ho—only the sound of other guests clinking their utensils and laughing echoed around.

The two tables in the corner were like an isolated underground space, detached from that bright world.

“Quellière.”

As I was dwelling on the suffocating atmosphere, Nell poked my arm repeatedly.

“That guy’s staring at you.”

At her words, I glanced sideways.

The Black Knight, Chandrafail.

His armor, now fully repaired, gleamed impeccably as though brand new.

The helmeted head was tilted in my direction.

His motionless, fixed gaze was unsettling to the core.

Without revealing any agitation, I replied quietly.

“Don’t pay attention.”

“Will that be okay? That guy always goes berserk whenever he sees you.”

Nell voiced her concern and muttered irritably as she glared at him.

“Ugh. What kind of socially inept person acts like that?”

Her voice was low, almost a whisper, as if worried he might hear.

It was wise criticism, possibly based on her experience from their prior encounter.

Though, honestly, you’re not in a position to criticize someone’s social skills, Nell.

“······.”

······No, I’m not one to talk either.

At that moment, as if to break the heavy mood, a server approached us.

“I’ll take your order! What would you like?”

Looking around at us, the server asked.

Sigina, who had been humming thoughtfully, made the first choice.

“I’ll have the ‘Smoked Dragon Tuna Roast,’ please!”

“What’s good here?”

Unlike her cheerful tone, Nell asked with a somewhat arrogant air.

The server, clearly accustomed to such behavior, smiled politely.

“Personally, I’d recommend the ‘Celestial Cliff Blossom Pancake’ or the ‘Moonlit Tree Bamboo Sprout Stir-Fry with Perilla Seeds.’”

“Why those?”

“Both are made with rare ingredients, so they’re not often available. It’s been a while since we’ve had them today.”

“···Oh.”

Nell’s mouth slightly opened.

Her ears twitched slightly, fluttering as if intrigued.

“Celestial Cliff something-or-other······ No, just bring me both!”

“Understood.”

The smiling server finally turned to look at me.

I quickly scanned the menu.

It seemed this place offered everything from regular dishes to desserts and even alcohol.

A rare, progressive type of restaurant for this era.

My cold lips parted slightly.

“Birdberry Sorbet.”

“Got it~!”

Since I didn’t really need to fill my stomach, I avoided heavier foods.

After ordering dessert, the server checked their notes and moved to the next table.

“Sorry for the delay. Let me confirm your order. This young lady here has······.”

“Apple pie!”

“Got it. And for this gentleman······ um, excuse me, could you remove your helmet?”

“······.”

Chandrafail remained silent as usual.

The server, locked in a silent staring contest with him, groaned softly before retreating.

Still, things were unfolding more peacefully than expected.

“Well, that’s true.”

Even the infamous Black Knight wouldn’t cause a scene in a restaurant.

As I sighed in relief, my bangs annoyingly fell over my eyes.

I frowned and raised my hand to brush them aside.

“!”

The Black Knight flinched and abruptly stood up.

His heavy armor clanked loudly, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

“···Huh?”

Did he think I was attacking him?

A different kind of silence descended over the room.

Standing awkwardly, he seemed to seize the opportunity and boldly declared:

“Come outside.”

“What?”

“Let’s duel. Woman of mystery.”

Though his eyes were hidden behind the helmet, it was clear he was staring directly at me.

What audacious behavior.

But, at the same time, it was exactly like Chandrafail.

So much for hoping this encounter would pass peacefully.

Of course, I had no reason to entertain him, so I replied coldly.

“No.”

“What?”

“What kind of nonsense is this? We’re in a restaurant.”

Even with his twisted personality, he was still my dear creation······ someone like a child to me.

Without meaning to, I ended up giving him a heartfelt scolding.

Chandrafail stood motionless, like a doll.

It seemed as though he was reflecting on my words, but an ominous aura seeped out nonetheless.

His eerie voice proved it wasn’t just my imagination.

“···Is that so. Then, there’s no choice.”

His hand moved to his sword hilt.

A red hostility began to rise.

Oh, no.

As I prepared a barrier and Nell got ready to intervene, Paile shouted.

“Stop! Stop it, mister!”

Standing in the middle like a mediator, she frantically tried to persuade him.

“Big sis is right. You can’t act like this in a restaurant!”

“···Move.”

“Misteeer!”

To this day, I still didn’t know who she was or why she was traveling with Chandrafail.

But since he kept her around, she must have been someone precious to him.

Even so, his obstinate refusal to listen was beyond frustrating.

I couldn’t help but feel a rising irritation.

And I let that cold annoyance seep into my tone as I spoke.

“Do you have no sense of gratitude?”

His gaze, which briefly shifted to Paile, snapped back to me.

I didn’t look away and continued.

“The Black Calamity. If it weren’t for me, you would’ve died to it. And yet, you point your sword at me.”

My sharp glare turned my vision frosty blue.

Winter’s Gaze.

Perhaps because I was halfway angry, my magic stirred naturally.

“······.”

The chilling atmosphere froze the room like a glacial era.

The Black Knight, standing tall under my icy glare, casually remarked:

“And what of it?”

“···What?”

It was a rather shocking response.

Yet it carried a clear determination.

“To die by the Calamity. Do you think I wasn’t aware of the outcome when I pointed my sword at it? That thing was a monster. The second strongest I’ve ever known.”

His chin tilted slightly upward.

It was as though he was combing through his memories.

“I could have died in ecstasy. Chasing monsters all my life, that was what I desired.”

His somber voice quieted as he turned his sharp gaze back to me.

“And you ruined that. You defeated the Calamity before me and claimed the title of ‘strongest monster,’ Quellière. You, and you alone.”

“······!”

The grim voice of the Black Knight resounded indifferently across the room.

Nell and Sigina stiffened their expressions, unable to believe what they were hearing.

He finished his statement.

“Won’t you take responsibility for that?”

“Responsibility.”

“Take responsibility and kill me.”

Yet another silence descended.

Paile, who had been holding her breath, finally shouted in a shaky voice.

“What on earth are you talking about?!”

Her teary eyes quivered.

“Why do you want to die?! What meaning could that possibly have?!”

“Don’t interfere.”

Chandrafail didn’t even glance at her desperate outcry.

He simply stared at me, as though demanding an answer.

He was, in a word, stubborn.

Or perhaps foolish, a lone wolf to the extreme.

I understood his nature to some extent.

Only a little, though.

I was the one who created you that way, so, as you said, I might have to bear some responsibility.

However… I couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger for no reason.

“Chandrafail.”

I pursed my lips and glared at him.

Anyone else might be different, but I shouldn’t avoid you. However, if something could change, I wished it would be you.

I forced my lips into a cold sneer.

With ruthless emotion, I aimed to pierce through his core.

“You were chasing a monster, only to become a monster yourself.”

“······.”

Our gazes collided midair.

The coldness, reacting to my fury, spread violently around us.

The guests flinched, while Paile and Sigina trembled as they alternately looked at the two of us.

“Uh, uh, Quellière······.”

Even Nell, tense, seemed to want to stop me.

It was understandable if it were her.

She probably knew better than anyone the strength of the Black Knight, judging that I was in danger.

“···Ha.”

That, too, annoyed me for no reason.

Because, at best, this was all I could say.

I, who created you, am barely living on as the Snow Maiden, clinging to existence.

Yet you, with all that immense power, are floundering in your own self-contradictions.

Unintentionally, a sharp tone escaped through my lips.

“Chandrafail.”

The second time I called his name.

“Answer me.”

“Who gave you that power?”

“···What?”

His helmet twitched slightly as if tilting.

Did he even know the source of the vast power he possessed?

“Do you know, by any chance?”

A chilly sneer.

No one seemed to care about the pervasive cold surrounding us.

They glanced instead at my lips, which muttered coldly as though witnessing something even more unsettling.

“······Quellière.”

For the first time, a note of doubt entered the voice of the Black Knight.

It was the moment he was about to speak again.

A lively voice swept across the atmosphere like a wave, breaking the tension.

“Thank you for waiting! The dishes you ordered are ready······ huh······?”

The previously clear voice trailed off awkwardly, then subsided entirely.

As the employee blinked in confusion, we turned our gazes away, and the tense atmosphere unraveled.

The sides had been perfectly divided.

I rubbed my eyes, scolding myself for losing my temper so uncharacteristically.

Then, with a puzzled expression, I looked around.

“What’s wrong with everyone?”

The table was shaking.

Sigina’s whole body trembled so violently that the table practically vibrated, and Nell stood frozen, her fangs bared.

Despite my question, the two seemed as though they had fallen into another world, giving no response.

“······?”

Blinking, I turned to look out the window.

Thin snowflakes fluttered down.

*

It seemed it had taken longer than expected.

When we stepped outside, the sun had already set. We strolled along the dark and desolate streets.

“He’s not following us?”

“Yeah, it seems so.”

At Nell’s words, I glanced back.

There was no sign of Chandrafail anywhere. I had thought he’d immediately give chase, but it was strange.

“That bastard······ I thought he was just a lunatic, but maybe he has some fear after all.”

“Fear?”

“Yeah, why else would he tuck his tail and back off?”

For a moment, I thought about the man named Chandrafail.

The image of him harboring fear was unimaginable.

Sigina, who had been cautiously watching her back like a paranoid person, whispered quietly.

“We can’t let our guard down. You never know when he might pounce···!”

“That’s not it.”

As she stroked the rapier at her waist, I spoke as if to soothe her.

“He’s not the kind to stage an ambush.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. I’m sure of it.”

Because he’s someone who lives and dies by his twisted convictions.

Sigina seemed relieved by my confident assurance, letting out a small sigh.

Then, she began fiddling with the stuffed bag that contained today’s shopping spoils.

“That’s a relief, then······ Are we heading to Striven now?! If so, let’s hurry. I can’t wait to see the kids we brought home today.”

“Go to your house.”

“I’m getting a room too, though!”

Sigina giggled and darted forward ahead of us.

To be able to find such joy in something so small—it was a talent I envied.

“···Haah.”

I sighed and walked alongside Nell.

Having nothing particular to say, I looked up at the sky and was slightly surprised. The moon was out.

It was nearly full, soon to become a complete circle.

“Have you heard the rumor?”

At that moment, I heard a murmuring voice and turned to look.

At the end of an alley, two men were having a hushed conversation.

“The disturbing rumors about Chelmberd.”

“······Chelmberd?”

I perked up my ears.

“They say strange wailing sounds are heard at night from the cemetery where the faithful are buried. Or that suspicious figures have been spotted wandering in the dead of night.”

“Suspicious figures? What do you mean?”

“The dead.”

The man with the serious expression continued.

“It has to be that, doesn’t it? The dead, which only stir in the demonic realms of the West······ are said to be wandering the sacred grounds.”

“What?! I-Is that true?”

When the other man cried out in fear, the first man smirked, seemingly satisfied.

“Come on! You’re too gullible. How could you survive like that? Of course, it’s just the usual ghost stories.”

“Oh··· oh, I see. I thought it was something else.”

“With the mass starting soon, I suppose some mischief-makers with nothing better to do decided to spin such tales. But with such overused material, even a child wouldn’t believe it.”

The man laughed heartily, and the chill of the night swallowed the sound.

Furrowing my brows, I pondered deeply.

“The dead.”

And the full moon.

It could be nothing more than baseless nonsense, but a reasonable suspicion came to mind.

The subject of this suspicion was one particular woman······ no, a revenant.

“···High Priestess Clavia.”

I knew of her authority.

The abilities of the Saint Doctrine’s leader, clad in black robes adorned with the moon, were deeply tied to the dead.

If she had held the position of High Priestess for so long, she wouldn’t have spent her time idly.

Her aspirations were no different from the Mahabharata.

Yet I had banished the calamity, so how anxious and restless must she be feeling?

“If she has decided to act, then······ the location must be.”

It would undoubtedly be the holy grounds of Chelmberd.

That place was lined with sanctuaries and tombs.

She must have been preparing for quite some time, and it might already be too late to fully stop her.

But if left alone, it would cause great turmoil.

The screams and resentment of the people would become grudges, restoring the calamity.

“That can’t happen.”

I might need to head to Chelmberd.

Resolving myself, I stared at the swollen moon.

*

Meanwhile, shortly after Quellière left the Wandering Peach Blossom.

Using the excuse of the restroom, Chandrafail, who had slipped away, stopped in his tracks when he encountered an unexpected figure.

If it had been any other excuse, the suspicious Paile would have followed, so he specifically chose the restroom.

“Sword Demon.”

The opponent’s voice was thick and gloomy, like the murky depths of a swamp.

Yet the Black Knight faced it nonchalantly.

“Paladin.”

Clank—black and white armor created a noisy clash.

The Black Knight asked in a chilling tone.

“Why are you here?”

“Wait… was it Chandrafail?”

Dewade recited his name, his tone carrying a dark heat.

Chandrafail’s eyes twitched.

“······.”

Not long ago, when the Paladin had seen him, Chandrafail had also seen Dewade.

The memory was still vivid.

His strength and nature—though human, he was like a monster.

The aura of power clearly marked him as a formidable force.

“Do not lay a hand on them.”

“Them? …Ah.”

The Black Knight understood.

Given the circumstances, there could only be one suspect.

“You’re talking about Quellière, aren’t you?”

It was purely a question for confirmation.

However, it seemed to hit a nerve, as Dewade shouted angrily.

“Do not speak their name so carelessly!”

The fierce cry was like a raging storm.

Leaking divine energy kicked up dust and shook the leaves on the trees.

But the Black Knight didn’t flinch.

Instead, he twisted his lips into an eerie smirk.

“Don’t force your faith on me. I don’t care what you think of that woman.”

“···Do you not know who they are?”

“Likewise, their true identity doesn’t matter to me. What matters is whether I can cut down the strongest monster.”

‘Forcing faith,’ ‘that woman,’ ‘monster,’ ‘cut down’······.

The remarks were deeply irritating—four offenses in total.

The enraged Paladin felt his mind begin to reel.

The divine energy that had been pouring out subsided.

Chandrafail’s presence grew sharper, and Dewade muttered in a low tone.

“······Sword Demon, do you know why the Celestial Gods vanished?”

It was a rather abrupt question.

The Black Knight answered plainly.

“I don’t.”

“Then do you know why Quellière returned?”

“I don’t. Did she leave as well?”

“In that case, do you know why the returned Quellière does not reveal their identity?”

By the time he asked his final question, his tangled emotions had taken on a definite form.

Though surrounded by an ominous atmosphere, the Black Knight remained unfazed.

And so—

“I don’t.”

He responded without hesitation.

It was a remark that lit the fuse and severed Dewade’s last thread of reason.

“─Because of you!”

The Paladin exploded with rage.

“It’s because of filth like you! Because garbage no better than waste continues to commit atrocities, they left! And yet, as their wretched creations, they returned!”

“······.”

“But the world remains unchanged. Calamities stir, brigands rampage, and tumors run rampant! Can you even begin to understand their feelings? Do you see the despair and sorrowful contempt they must feel?!”

It was a transcendental interpretation filled with lamentation.

If Quellière had been present, they might have been appalled at such nonsense.

But Quellière was not here, and Dewade’s tirade finally reached its end.

“Only they, only Quellière returned! Surely because they are the most merciful and care for their creations! And yet, you dare to point your sword at them instead of being grateful?!”

The thundering storm of divine power raged.

Dewade gripped his mace, his hostility pouring forth.

But he didn’t know the kind of man Chandrafail was.

“···Hmm.”

The Paladin shielded them.

Whatever the case, Dewade was certain that the being in question was extraordinary, and his fighting spirit surged.

Of course, his interest was not in Dewade but in Quellière.

Realizing this, Dewade raised his mace.

There was no longer any doubt.

Amidst the suffocating sensation of murderous intent, a chilling voice emerged.

“Paladin.”

Clank—at the sound, the Black Knight’s dark helmet moved slightly.

As if unable to understand, or as if feigning ignorance, the Black Knight murmured.

“Do you think you can defeat me?”