I Have Become The Snow Maiden I Created

Translator: Marctempest

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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Chapter 12: Rumors of the City-State (4)

“Lord, oh my god! Please return… please!”

Sorab subdued the Dark Holy Society cult members, and the Patriarchs quickly moved to calm the situation.

They guessed that continuing any further would result in a backlash.

The Serpent God, whose expression twisted in anger, slowly began to retreat.

The ones responsible for bringing that being here, Vion and the Patriarchs of Griant, also left in a hurry, sweating profusely.

“Fools…”

Sorab muttered as he sheathed his dagger.

It was laughable to think that they, who had a god on their side, were causing a ruckus, and they couldn’t even manage that properly.

Perhaps the phrase “the situation only grows worse” applied here.

“Captain.”

The agents of the assassination squad arrived belatedly.

Unlike Sorab, who happened to be nearby and quickly moved to suppress them, they must have been at headquarters, so their speed was certainly deserving of the title of Krase’s “Silent Blade.”

“Capture them. The ones I specify, send them to the interrogation room.”

Anyone following disaster could not escape the derogatory term ‘Continental Public Enemy.’

The Dark Holy Society cult was a group of black sorcerers that needed to be eradicated at the root.

Though Sorab, having fought the battle, knew that they probably had no useful information, it was still a necessary step.

After giving the orders to the assassination squad, Sorab surveyed the crowd. The citizens, who had secured their immediate safety, were offering prayers of gratitude.

But among them, the woman with the sky-blue and white hair was nowhere to be seen.

“I didn’t think she could use magic?”

He had thought he was offering advice to an outsider who didn’t know the situation, but perhaps that had been an unnecessary concern.

In this world, where users of magic were rare, those who had mastered it were high-ranking individuals.

They would certainly have a proper position and status, so perhaps his interference had been unwarranted.

Thinking back on it, she was a strange woman.

Originally, Sorab was not the type of person who would help a complete stranger, no matter how trivial, like offering directions.

But for some reason, he felt compelled to help Quellière.

Well, he didn’t even know her name, though.

“Hmm…”

He absentmindedly placed a hand on his lower back.

There was no wound.

Had she not been there, it probably would have only resulted in a shallow scratch, but still, it was something that required a gesture of respect.

But the person he wanted to thank was already gone. So, he made his way to Maurice’s shop.

He was the type to settle debts, and he did so thoroughly.

If he couldn’t do it directly, he was satisfied with fulfilling it indirectly.

Quellière had been seeking a map, and Sorab had guided her to Maurice’s shop.

It wasn’t that he placed particular significance on guiding her; it was simply the nearest place.

However, Maurice was a shrewd man.

Unlike those unscrupulous merchants who were caught red-handed while openly swindling others, Maurice knew how to cleverly accumulate wealth.

Customers who visited his shop often ended up at a loss, even if they thought they were getting a good deal.

Especially, foreigners with weak defenses were prime targets.

Perhaps she had been a victim as well.

If so, even if he couldn’t return the lost money, punishing the perpetrator would be a form of recompense, wouldn’t it?

Even if she would never know about it.

“I have a record of Maurice’s mistakes, so if I use that… hmm?”

Perhaps he could even impose a light fine.

Just as he was having such thoughts, a strange melody reached his ears.

A tune reminiscent of a musical troupe that had visited the city long ago.

No, it was even more melodious.

Sorab stopped abruptly and began scanning for the source of the sound. Soon, he realized it was coming from within the shop.

What in the world was Maurice up to?

Had he hired a band for the shop? It wasn’t the time to interfere with someone’s business, but Sorab couldn’t make sense of it.

He opened the door and entered, immediately spotting Maurice. He was polishing a metal box while wearing gloves.

With a whistle on his lips and a grin on his face, Maurice appeared to be in a good mood.

“Ah, Sorab, is it? It’s been quite a while since you last visited.”

Sensing the presence, Maurice greeted him casually.

Sorab, silent as ever, walked around the shop.

There were no signs of anyone else.

His gaze drifted aimlessly before settling on the silver metal box. It was as if he were drawn to it, and he spoke without thinking.

“This music… could it be coming from here?”

It was a voice filled with disbelief, an unusual expression for Sorab.

Maurice, as though he had been waiting for this reaction, smiled widely and began to explain.

“…Ahem! Yes, that’s right. Can you recognize it? This elegant melody! Such exquisite grace! It’s the gift of this unparalleled treasure… the ‘Music Box.'”

“…Music Box?”

Sorab’s eyes twitched at the unfamiliar word.

Unaware of Sorab’s reaction, Maurice continued talking, as if lost in his own world.

“Hmm… I see, you don’t know what this is. Listen carefully. A music box is, simply put… ‘an automatic music player’!”

“Automatic…”

“Yes, automatic! It’s automatic! Do you understand the greatness of it? No need for instruments. No need for musicians. No need for an orchestra! Just this one music box can replace all those people!”

“······!”

Sorab, who usually kept his emotions in check, slightly opened his mouth in surprise.

Satisfied with the reaction, Maurice continued his excited speech, but Sorab remained lost in thought.

The music box was an unbelievable invention.

In an era where everything operated manually, the concept of “automatic” carried an immense impact. But beyond that, the music box itself was a bizarre object.

Sorab had a talent for swords and was a master in stealth and assassination, but he also had some knowledge of magic.

According to his knowledge, the operation of the music box made no sense.

There was no trace of magical power.

It was not a magical tool.

Even if there was magical energy within it, how could such vast harmonies be stored and reproduced?

If some supernatural technology had made it possible, the next question would be the amount of magical energy required.

How much magical power would be needed to maintain such a device?

From a conventional perspective, only a Grand Mage would be capable of it, and even then, it would require frequent magical recharges.

But this music box?

It emitted no magical power, yet it spun and produced beautiful melodies.

At this point, it wasn’t just beautiful—it was downright strange.

“It truly is a luxury, combining elegance, simplicity, and rarity! Once people learn of its existence, who would bother hiring an orchestra? Everyone will swarm to get their hands on it, like bees to honey! Even the nobles won’t be exempt! From the imperial nobles to the bishops of the church, to wealthy merchants and powerful families—they’ll all be scrambling for it!”

Maurice spoke with bloodshot eyes, pouring out his fervor.

“To think I obtained this for only nine maps…! Finally, my faith has been rewarded…”

Unlike Sorab, who trembled in awe, Maurice was blinded by greed and calculation.

He certainly recognized the value of the music box. But he could only appreciate it from the perspective of a merchant and failed to realize its true worth.

On the other hand, Sorab understood.

This was truly an amazing item.

If he wished, he could shake the foundations of high society with it, and it also had immense value as research material.

If the technology within the music box could be harnessed, it would represent a dazzling breakthrough in magical science. It was a treasure capable of drawing the attention of both local powerholders and even entire nations.

“…Nine maps? Maurice, explain where and how you obtained this.”

He spoke with a stiff expression.

The origin of the treasure had to be identified. Who made it, how it was crafted, and how many existed—he needed as much information as possible.

“A gracious guest came by. She was wearing unusual white clothes and offered a music box in exchange for trade. At first, I thought she was just a naive woman unaware of the world’s workings… but seeing her carry something like this, she must be the daughter of a noble family. Maybe I should have given her more in return…”

As Maurice’s words continued, Sorab envisioned a woman.

A woman dressed in exotic attire he had never seen before.

If not himself, she was likely the last visitor to Maurice’s shop.

“…Did you hear her name?”

“Her name? No. Come to think of it, I don’t even know that.”

From the beginning, he had a strange feeling about her.

But aside from her extraordinary appearance and cold demeanor, there seemed to be nothing particularly unusual.

A magician owning such an item, though…

Sorab was seized by a strong conviction that he had to meet her again.

However, the opportunity had already been missed.

Currently, there was no way to pinpoint her location, and searching for her would require scouring the region.

To do so, he would have to mobilize the assassination squad, a privilege held by the Patriarch.

A young Patriarch struggling under the weight of Krase.

The matter was more than worth reporting.

Of course, before that…

“You said you traded it for nine maps, correct?”

“Hm? Yes, that’s right. It was the brilliance of her generosity and my skill as a merchant. This is an unprecedented day in my trading histo—”

“Under Clause 4 of Article 1 of the Yulistia Trade Law, enacted by Krase’s ancestor, ‘Deceiving foreigners to obtain financial gains’ is prohibited. Knowing the true value of the item yet selling it for a fraction of its worth to reap dozens of times in profit—it’s outrageous.”

Sorab’s chilling gaze fixed on Maurice.

The once jovial merchant, recounting his tale with glee, blinked rapidly and waved his hands.

“W-what? Deception? How can you accuse me of deceiving a guest! This was a completely consensual, flawless, and transparent transaction…”

“If the gap in information is significant, fairness cannot be claimed. You should have fully explained it to her. Therefore…”

It was sophistry.

Sorab knew this well.

However, he was sworn to loyalty to his family, and he didn’t hesitate to do anything that could strengthen the young Patriarch.

This object, the music box, would undoubtedly be of great value.

It couldn’t be left in the hands of a mere merchant to let it slip away.

He declared in a solemn voice.

“The item will be confiscated.”

*

The station was in chaos.

“That Serpent God has appeared again… At this rate, truly…”

“Did you hear? Ron and Verun have gone missing recently. It’s definitely the Serpent God’s doing. They were eaten, just like before!”

“What are the families doing? If this continues, we’re all dead!”

I stood quietly in a shadowed corner, observing the situation.

It was a bit troubling.

I had come to get a carriage to travel to the Empire since walking seemed impossible, but…

The atmosphere was simply not conducive to such arrangements.

“Today, the Patriarchs somehow managed to fend it off… but who knows about the next time.”

In the middle of the station, people of various backgrounds had gathered.

They appeared to be a mix of professions and origins.

Everyone wore dark expressions, engaging in serious discussions.

“If we want to survive, we must leave the city! Everyone understands now, don’t they? There’s no way to stop that thing. If there were, the families would have taken action long ago.”

I pricked up my ears and listened intently for a moment, quickly grasping the gist of their conversation.

Mass exodus.

A disaster that couldn’t be stopped was the cause, so it was more akin to migration than simple flight.

The people gathered at the station included natives of Yulistia, but most seemed to be travelers or recent settlers.

Those born and raised in the city had too many ties to leave easily.

The ongoing migration process appeared to have escalated today due to the Serpent God’s reappearance.

At the center of the crowd stood a woman with platinum blonde hair.

“Everyone! I trust you all understand the situation. Those willing to join me in heading to the Empire, please come forward.”

The woman, with a wand at her waist, exuded an air of refinement.

She was clearly no ordinary commoner.

The gazes of the citizens fixed on her showed admiration and longing.

It seemed she was the leader of this migration effort.

I approached a woman with violet hair standing nearby and asked,

“Do you know who she is?”

“…Huh? Are you asking me?”

The woman, like me, was watching the crowd from a discreet position in the shadows with her arms crossed.

Startled by my voice, she flinched before answering my question.

“…Anasha Sheryl. She’s from the Empire and said to be a capable magician. They say she once served the Griffin Duke’s household, though no one knows how she ended up here.”

Her voice was calm, devoid of any fluctuations.

She didn’t ramble, instead summarizing the key points succinctly.

Several years ago, Anasha Sheryl settled in the city and seemed to have decided to act in response to the Serpent God’s appearance.

In addition to being a magician, she was also an experienced traveler with thorough knowledge of the routes to the Empire.

Having witnessed terrified citizens falling victim to mutant monsters while recklessly fleeing the city, she had stepped up to offer assistance.

She aimed to guide those wishing to migrate to the Empire as safely as possible.

“And when I reach the Empire, I plan to formally propose a ‘Serpent God extermination’ mission! I can’t promise it will succeed, but for those who choose to stay, please hold onto hope.”

Anasha’s bold statement caused a stir among the crowd.

Exterminating the Serpent God.

It was undoubtedly the desperate wish of every city resident.

If the proposal had come from the discredited families, it would have been scoffed at.

But if the Empire moved, the story was different.

The Empire, ruled by an Emperor, was a powerful nation far larger than Yulistia.

Naturally, it also boasted numerous formidable warriors.

If enough of them were deployed, perhaps it could be possible…

I suppressed a bitter smile.

That would be difficult.

No matter how lowly or half-divine a deity it might be, the Serpent God was still a being with divine power.

I didn’t know how many “heroes” existed at this time, but ordinary warriors would stand no chance.

Even with overwhelming numbers, success was uncertain. And Arundel Empire had no obligation to make such efforts for Yulistia, a non-ally.

“What’s your name?”

I asked the woman who had satisfied my curiosity.

She responded without hesitation.

“Sigila. And you?”

“Quellière.”

Sharing my name was the least I could do.

Leaving Sigila to mull over my name, I moved towards the station.

I intended to join the migration group.

It felt like the effort of acquiring the maps earlier was becoming meaningless, but examining them had jogged some buried memories.

One of the many routes to the Empire resurfaced in my mind.

It wasn’t accessible to ordinary people, but it would allow me to reach Arundel directly and swiftly.

If I traveled with them only as far as the vicinity of “Rivhae,” it would suffice.

It was safer and more convenient that way.

Although I held the upper hand against creatures like the Hellhound due to elemental compatibility, that wasn’t always the case.

Without such an advantage, the Snow Maiden’s abilities were pitifully weak.

With recent reports of strange monster behavior, a misstep could spell disaster.

In preparation for such scenarios… well, it sounded harsh, but a shield of sorts was necessary.

My life was my top priority.

Ignoring the murmuring crowd, I approached Anasha to express my intent.

“I’ll join.”

The elegant, yet icy voice belonged to none other than myself.

A moment of silence fell over the scene.