I Have Become The Snow Maiden I Created

Translator: Marctempest

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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Chapter 4 Snow Maiden Reincarnation (4)

Snow Castle.

The first foundation of my second life.

From the day I first arrived until now, everything had passed like a panorama.

The days spent in and out of the dressing room, getting addicted to reality coordination, the joy of finding useful items while struggling to organize the warehouse, the day I first created a spirit, and even the sight of the one who fussed over me.

There were happy days, as well as days when I felt depressed or angry, but looking back, they were all precious memories…

‘…Huh!’

I quickly regained my focus.

Now was not the time to wonder if this was a flashback or a recollection.

What was needed was a groundbreaking plan to resolve this situation.

[······]

After hearing my statement, Mishra, in confusion, froze for a moment with an expression that showed she didn’t understand.

Even though the weather was unusually sunny for a snowfield, the silence was suffocating.

Had she ever been treated like this in her long life as the strongest race?

[…How dare.]

The White Dragon Lord’s reaction, once she snapped out of her shock, was sadly as expected.

Her already frightening appearance became even more distorted, making me feel like I was in a horror movie.

[How dare you utter such nonsense!]

The roar of the enraged dragon shook the earth.

Her giant wings summoned a fierce gust of wind, and her tail, stronger than steel, split the snowfield.

Honestly, I was trembling at the sight.

At that moment, the fact that I had a setting that prevented me from showing any outward signs of fear felt like a curse.

If not for that, my hands and feet would have been shaking uncontrollably, and even my eyelashes would have been trembling.

Since I couldn’t express it freely, I felt like my insides were rotting.

‘Just one hit would be enough.’

The Snow Maiden was never suited for combat.

Although I had created her with all my effort, her purpose was strictly for looks, atmosphere, and background, a character for “look-doll” purposes.

She was far from efficient for any combat tactics.

On the other hand, the White Dragon Lord Pankaj Mishra was one of the highest among the strongest dragon race.

Even if she were not the final boss, she was at least the hidden boss.

Considering I couldn’t even properly control my magic now, challenging her would be a suicidal act.

Originally, as a character with very poor combat abilities, the Snow Maiden didn’t have a single skill to land an effective hit.

To make matters worse, her defense was so low that one breath or tail swipe from her could send me to eternal rest.

It was truly a hopeless situation.

‘Well, I guess it’s still fine for now?’

The fact that she wasn’t attacking immediately suggested her good nature, so I believed the rumors were true.

There was no choice but to walk this path, the only one open to me.

I had made a mistake by momentarily forgetting my setting, but if I didn’t mess things up further here, there was still a chance for survival.

[This one is the guardian of this snowfield and the ruler of the White Dragon tribe! You, a mere earthly creature, have no right to behave so disrespectfully!]

The White Dragon Lord’s anger was accompanied by a powerful aura, enough to make my skin tingle.

Even though this was a land of cold and snow, it strangely felt like I was standing before a furnace.

Who would have thought the Snow Maiden would ever feel heat?

[Reveal your true identity at once and apologize for your rudeness!]

Mishra took a step forward, and the ground trembled.

At the same time, my heart pounded in fear.

Although there was still hope, the fact that my life was hanging by a thread was terrifying.

But I had to stay calm.

If I lost my composure too, there would truly be no hope.

Yes, there was no need to fix this situation completely—just don’t upset her mood any further. As long as I didn’t provoke her…

[Can you not hear me!? Apologize for your rudeness to the ruler at once!]

But why does she keep talking to me?

Did the White Dragon Lord not notice my attitude just now?

I had been silently trying not to escalate things, so why was she trying to get me angry?

And the consequences would be on me to bear.

Of course, I could speak if I wanted to. But…

‘If I speak, she’ll just get angrier!’

My voice sounded as cold as ice, even to me.

How cold must it sound to someone hearing it for the first time?

And Mishra was furious right now. Wouldn’t she get even more angry if I provoked her further?

‘I’m not doing it! I can’t do it!’

This was a matter directly related to my survival.

Therefore, I had the right to remain silent!

However, the world did not respect that right.

[Answer me immediately! Or else…]

The White Dragon Lord’s words, delivered with a flash in her eyes, were not to be taken lightly.

I had no desire to hear what would follow, but I couldn’t help but be drawn to it. It felt like I was standing on a beach just before a storm hit—this was exactly how I felt.

‘Just answer her!’

Both options were terrible, but if I continued to ignore her, I was heading straight for a bad ending.

Even I knew it was natural to get frustrated if someone kept ignoring you. In my case, I had no choice, but still…

Anyway, it was a matter of choosing the lesser evil.

I had to respond without further upsetting her.

I couldn’t control how my words would be translated, but I had to do it.

First, I needed to relax and speak calmly, letting my voice lose its tension.

I would carefully choose my words, trying to soften the tone and find a suitable topic. Let’s see… “I apologize for my rudeness” would likely sound too cold and sarcastic. “You are truly impressive,”… but that’s not it.

How about, “I know who you are, and I apologize for not recognizing you”? It would acknowledge her fame and apologize smoothly.

Yes, this was it! This was the only option!

“I don’t care who you are.”

Though I was full of confidence, the result that came out of my mouth was utterly terrifying.

No, how could I translate it like that?

The entire sentence had changed! And where had the “I apologize” gone?

[…What?]

As expected, Mishra’s voice became deep and dark.

I wanted to close my eyes, but my setting didn’t allow me to, so I had to stare directly into her terrifying gaze.

[It seems I should not be polite!]

Suddenly, Mishra’s eyes shone.

Realizing it was a magical reaction, I was immediately hit with a strong pressure that crushed me.

Even in this tense situation, I could tell that she had a kind nature.

Despite being very angry, she controlled her power to avoid killing me.

Of course, that alone was enough to almost kill me.

Just the pressure of her magic was unbearable.

Along with it, I felt something inside me being drained.

No, something like energy was really being drained.

‘Energy drain?’

I understood her intention as soon as I saw that.

She planned to weaken me first and then resolve the situation.

Realizing this, my pounding heart started to calm down.

In a way, it was a relief.

As long as she didn’t kill me, I could eventually have a sincere conversation with Mishra once she regained her senses.

The setting still bothered me, but I could deal with that later. To escape this crisis, I surrendered my body to the draining power without resistance.

The strange sensation came right then.

It felt like something I shouldn’t be losing was draining away, and my magic began to waver violently.

I tried to control it, but it had already slipped out of my grasp.

‘Could it even be the elixir’s power?’

At that moment, I realized the situation.

The two elixirs I had taken to regulate my magic flow.

The drain spell had stolen their effects too!

The balance of the mana circuit I had been forcing to maintain immediately collapsed, and the effect was instant.

Saaaah-!

A sharp blizzard swept across the snowfield, which had been sunny for the first time in a while.

The Snow Maiden was a being highly specialized in snow, and in a snowfield like this, she received a significant bonus.

Even though her abilities were not impressive, she could still create an illusion of power.

So, what would happen if that unrestrained, biased magical power ran wild? I had seen this many times during my year of magic training, and now the scene unfolded right before my eyes.

A fierce blizzard raged.

“Ah…”

I stared blankly at the scene, then lowered my gaze.

Through my now-transparent hands, I could see the snowfield.

The imbalance in my body caused by the fluctuating magic.

Maybe it was because of the setting taken from the Snow Maiden myth, but it felt so fitting that I couldn’t help but laugh.

As I thought about the future that awaited me, I couldn’t help but laugh.

‘I’m doomed.’

*

The Snowfield was one of the continent’s most renowned magical realms.

The extreme climate, constant year-round, was enough to freeze the lungs of an ordinary human in an instant.

Even the elves, known for their innate mana and excellent magical aptitude, were no exception.

A land of bitter cold where makeshift cold-resistance magic was utterly useless.

To reach the Snowfield, one had to first cross the Ice Mountain Range.

Situated in the far eastern region of the continent, the Snowfield stood behind the Ice Mountain Range, which acted like a gate blocking its entrance.

In fact, what the people of the East often named as a magical realm wasn’t the Snowfield itself but the Ice Mountain Range.

This was because, since ancient times, almost no human had ever set foot on the Snowfield.

Even the most audacious adventurers bowed to the icy hell, and the heroes who barely endured the cold were unable to overcome the beasts of the mountains.

Thus, since olden times, the Snowfield was regarded as a trial bestowed by the Goddess of Winter.

A divine trial—a phrase that had sent countless lives to their deaths.

Many perished buried beneath the snowdrifts, yet there were those who ultimately reached their destined land.

These were the heroes of heroes, whose names were later etched into history.

However, they soon faced a true trial.

‘…And so, upon reaching the Snowfield, we were confronted by a pure white being. Spreading her massive wings that were vast enough to obscure the fortress walls, the servant of the Goddess urged us to turn back. We implored her to allow us an audience with the Goddess, but…’

The servant, known as the Guardian of the Snowfield, always carried out the task of turning back unwelcome guests.

It was said that the heroes never managed to meet the Goddess.

Had they succeeded in establishing contact with the deity, today’s circumstances might have been vastly different.

However, this does not justify the current tendency to criticize them.

After all, the worst incident in the history of the land wasn’t their fault…

Theologian Agnatz

*

Millennia of peace had given rise to complacency.

Mishra, awakened from her slumber, didn’t even have time to process the changes in the Snowfield that pricked at her senses before she burst out of her lair.

Who the intruder was and how they escaped her detection was irrelevant.

The only concern was how much they had defiled her master’s territory.

That was all that mattered.

Though her memories of that time had grown faint, her master’s commands still meant everything to her.

She flew swiftly toward the source of the disturbance.

What greeted her was a castle built entirely of snow.

Even in her true form, the structure was tall enough that she had to crane her neck to see its height.

Logically, she should have been wary of the fact that such a structure had been erected in a short amount of time.

But blinded by fury, Mishra couldn’t think rationally.

Instead, her anger burned even hotter at the one who had dared to commit such an act.

The perpetrator was a woman with silvery-blue hair.

She exuded an oddly faint presence.

Even when faced with Mishra, a Dragon King, the woman remained expressionless, her gaze cold—no, downright frigid.

Though Mishra found her demeanor deeply displeasing, she attempted to converse first.

She needed to ascertain the woman’s purpose in coming here and whether she had companions.

Her words, spoken while suppressing her rage, came out harshly.

But Mishra figured that scaring the other party into compliance would make them more cooperative, so she didn’t mind.

However, it was a hasty judgment.

“…Be quiet.”

Hearing the cold voice, Mishra’s thoughts momentarily came to a halt.

In thousands of years, had there ever been anyone who dared speak to her this way?

Every creature on land looked upon her with reverence—it was only natural.

There were barely a handful of beings, even among celestial entities, who would dare to speak to her like that!

[How dare you utter such insolence to me!]

No longer seeing the value in restraint, Mishra unleashed her Fear.

The Dragon King’s roar, capable of instilling terror in all living beings.

If faced head-on, even the continent’s greatest heroes couldn’t hide their unease.

Thus, its effectiveness was undeniable.

Yet the woman before her remained utterly unfazed.

What was going on?

No being could remain unaffected by a Dragon King’s Fear.

Even the strongest, hailed as heroes, would show at least some trembling.

Yet the intruder’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.

She was expressionless and cold as ever.

Frustration and irritation surged within Mishra.

She needed to resolve the situation quickly and reclaim her master’s land.

But why weren’t things proceeding as she intended?

She shouted in anger, her emotions on full display, yet the other’s attitude remained unchanged.

Even her words grated on Mishra’s nerves.

“I don’t care who you are.”

Such audacity, unthinkable for a mere mortal.

That tone snapped the last of Mishra’s patience.

Whatever trick the woman had used would not work a second time.

Mishra moved to subdue her immediately.

The draining magic she cast worked effortlessly, sapping the intruder’s energy.

Mishra felt a measure of relief.

As expected, there was nothing remarkable about her.

The earlier events had been nothing but a stroke of luck.

Now she just needed to subdue her opponent and resolve the matter.

Her confidence shattered in the very next moment.

Had the draining magic struck a nerve?

The woman, who had remained motionless as if nailed in place, finally moved.

A gray snowstorm blanketed the previously clear section of the Snowfield.

It was an extraordinary power.

Manipulating the weather was a feat classified as high-level magic, requiring vast amounts of mana.

And yet, the woman had summoned a snowstorm that swept across the area in an instant.

If the continent’s magicians witnessed this, they would surely be horrified.

But not Mishra.

Such magic wasn’t particularly difficult for her.

What shocked her wasn’t the snowstorm itself, but something else entirely.

‘How is this happening inside here?’

As a Dragon King, Mishra maintained a barrier at all times—a grand barrier that could only be sustained by those who had reached transcendence.

It restricted the power of all enemies within its domain.

Unlike Fear, which affected living beings, the barrier applied even to spirits and other incorporeal entities.

Thus, no one could escape its influence unless they were of similar transcendence.

So Mishra checked to ensure her barrier was functioning correctly.

It was intact, yet confusion filled her gaze.

‘How could this be?’

How could someone wield power without any restrictions?

Judging by the woman’s serene appearance, it seemed she wasn’t even aware of the barrier’s presence.

That was impossible, which only deepened Mishra’s confusion.

Even as the fierce snow and wind obscured her view, the Dragon King’s eyes remained locked on her target.

Mishra blinked as she observed the woman.

Though her expression was unchanged, something about her had transformed.

Her already pale skin, white to the point of transparency, now seemed to surpass that threshold.

Through her translucent form, the snowstorm behind her was visible, creating a mystifying sight.

She looked nothing like a human being.

She seemed more akin to nature itself—or perhaps, winter personified.

Mishra, dazedly entertaining such thoughts, shook her head and suddenly arrived at a fundamental question.

‘Come to think of it, just who is this woman?’

Blinded by rage earlier, she had been too focused on resolving the situation to consider it.

Calmly reflecting now, it was odd that millennia of peace had been disrupted so abruptly.

Who was this woman who had settled so easily in the Snowfield, where even the continent’s strongest dared not tread?

Initially, based on her appearance, Mishra had assumed she was human.

But she was far too beautiful to be human.

More importantly, humans weren’t a species strong enough to endure this land.

Though humans varied greatly from one individual to another, none that Mishra had encountered were free from the Snowfield’s harsh cold.

If she wasn’t human, then what?

Even considering other possible species, none matched the woman’s characteristics.

After all, only a handful of species could cross the Ice Mountain Range.

Among dragons, only the White Dragon Clan, known for their affinity to cold, could roam the Snowfield freely.

Could she be a White Dragon?

The idea crossed Mishra’s mind but was quickly dismissed.

If she were kin, Mishra would have recognized her immediately.

Then what was she?

The blizzard continued to rage relentlessly.

In the silence filled only with the sounds of nature, Mishra regained her composure.

She realized this wasn’t a matter that could be resolved simply by venting her anger.

It was no trivial matter, and she had to approach it seriously.

‘No matter who she is, I must protect this land.’

A faint memory of her master’s command echoed in her ears.

With a renewed sense of duty, Mishra fixed her gaze on the woman with the snow-colored hair.

This was a woman who remained calm even before a Dragon King.

Someone who endured Fear without flinching.

A mysterious being who could freely wield her powers within the barrier.

As Mishra transitioned from an aggressive stance to one of cautious vigilance, a strange phenomenon occurred.

Snowflakes floated gently toward them.

Circling the outer perimeter of the castle, the flakes coalesced into wolves, which then surrounded the woman.

They bared their teeth, not at Mishra, but in defense of the woman, as if to protect their master.

It had been so long since Mishra had last seen them that she didn’t recognize them at first.

But they were undoubtedly the snow wolves from her memories—one of the few creatures that once lived in the Snowfield.

Mishra had thought she would never see them again.

[······!]

Mishra’s eyes widened in shock.