I Became the Snow Woman I Made

9 – Rumors of the City-State

You never know until you’ve experienced it.

Why are Lego blocks called landmines, why people without them are more vicious, how it feels when you suddenly turn into a woman, and so on. The difference between virtual and real was one of them.

“I got lost…”

A few days after passing the ice mountain range. I am grandiosely lost.

It seems like just yesterday that I was a late person and confident, but I want to go into the rat hole. Of course, if it was beyond the screen where the system was calibrated, it would have been easy to find… But life was also a real battle.

Even if you blindly believed in your previous experience and assumed it would be easy, seeing it with your own two eyes is daunting. What do you know where is?

“…If you’re going to do this, I’ll make you possess the original.”

Why did you drop it a thousand years ago without knowing why? I let out a deep sigh.

Fortunately, Snow Woman is a species that doesn’t need to sleep or eat, so it’s a shame, otherwise she might have starved to death. Thanks to her traits, she wasn’t very tense even when she got lost, but even so, she was at her limit.

“How can I not run into a single person?”

It made sense since it was around the Ice Mountain Range at first, but didn’t the Mountain Range get out of the way before? Was I just out of luck… Or did I take a really big wrong turn…?

“…Ay, no way.”

He tried to deny it while hiding his trembling mouth.

Anyway, now I had no choice but to change my policy. The original goal was the Arundel Empire, and that’s the same now, but I shouldn’t have believed that it would arrive right away.

First of all, you have to find any town or city and get information. Of course, since no nosebleeds have been shown so far, it would be quicker to grab a traveler and ask them for directions or get a map…

In the midst of swallowing such a hopeless feeling.

I only discovered it when I sensed a dreary aura.

A monster that exhales a lot of unpleasant air currents even if you look at it, and a person who is cornered.

“Oh.”

People. He was a real person.

Although he had a fearful expression on his back leaning against the cliff, it was the first time he had seen it in a million years. I felt welcome and a sense of difference as if I had met a rare creature at the same time.

Still, I was more than happy to say hello, but I wasn’t in that situation. I don’t know the exact circumstances, but at first glance, it seemed that he would die soon if left alone.

My brain was spinning fast.

“That’s a Hellhound. It’s worth it.”

Also known as Hell Dog.

It was a low rank monster specialized in the fire attribute. He was extremely biased toward one attribute, so the difficulty varied greatly depending on the build.

After thinking that far, the conclusion was quickly reached.

It was good to help.

If it was a dangerous opponent, there was no reason to intervene, but to me, the hell dog was an easier opponent than cold porridge. All of Snow Woman’s skills will act as a fatal blow to him.

Also, shouldn’t you ask for directions only when you’re alive? If I missed this opportunity, I didn’t know when I would meet someone again.

“Let’s help.”

Since he was determined, he acted quickly.

It’s not wrong, the monster has already reached the point of view of passers-by.

I was instantly enchanted.

mana training that I worked hard all year round. Thanks to the pure mana, the training efficiency was good, but it was a difficult skill, so I didn’t become very proficient.

Still, unless it’s a skill that requires high control like ‘Ice Lance’. There was ‘cold breath’ as a skill that was easy to handle even though it had less destructive power than that.

Snow Woman’s exclusive skill, which she created herself, was implemented at her fingertips. Sparkling ice crystals danced like constellations, covering the fiery monster.

“What is this…”

Helplessly collapsed like a fox caught in an avalanche. The dumb-faced man muttered in a trembling voice.

That figure was not at all trustworthy.

Does this person really know geography? As I trudged closer with such anxiety, the man saw me and widened his eyes.

“Hey, Goddess…”

Huh…?

The man was a researcher named Pete.

On his way to the city, he was ambushed and must have been in trouble.

“Oh, it was really dangerous. That, the goddess… No, lady? Lady? Dear? You?……I would have died without the help of the nobleman.”

His information was a boon for the first time in a while.

One of the three countries representing the Four Seasons War, Euristia. The fact that it was nearby gave me strength. Even if it doesn’t have the same glory as the original, it’s a place you know.

If you go there, you can get anything.

Even vague geography may be outlined.

“hahahaha, that’s true. It’s hard to call even a lifesaver because you don’t know the name. So, by any chance, what’s your name…?”

Pet was, to put it mildly, a gentle man.

When I think of his first gibberish, his ability is questionable, but his personality seems to be on the good side.

However, I understood the feeling of ‘a good personality’ that women often say today.

Except for the first time I asked him his name and if there were any villages around him, he was silent.

If that’s the case, Pet’s behavior of trying to have a long conversation while brushing his hair… Was a common ‘unnoticed man 1’.

Well, I understand.

He must have just suffered a threat to his life. So it was only natural that he wanted to realize that he was alive by talking to the person who saved him.

However, I couldn’t accept that feeling.

If you do, you will surely pour cold water on the joy of survival.

“You know the Arundel Empire?”

So I just got straight to the point.

Pet, at a loss for words, looked at me blankly and asked a sneak peek.

“The Arundel Empire?”

“Yes.”

“I know. Is there anyone who doesn’t know that? For a moment, I was puzzled as to what the intention was. There must be another empire I don’t know about…”

After all, it’s Arundel.

It was never a fluke that one day become the world’s most powerful country.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the middle of a long time.

It’s not for nothing that I’m trying to find that place. Once I knew that the Empire was in full swing, I had to ask the next question.

“Then do you know who the Emperor of the Empire is?”

The reason for asking this was to know the exact time of the present. I was living in a snowfield where rumors and information could not be heard, so I lacked knowledge.

It was the law to make plans about where to go, who to meet, and so on, knowing at what point in time. Since I had no knowledge there, I decided to go to the most famous empire.

“Are you talking about His Majesty the Emperor? Of course, the noble and dignified King Iolom Pricus III. Are you from a remote country… Ah, no. No.”

When I asked with that thought in mind, Pet answered with a strange look. Was it such a strange question?

Anyway, since I heard what I was aiming for, it’s done. Ioloman Pricus… It was a name that vaguely came to mind. I certainly saw it in the ‘Annals of the Empire’ among the list of settings for the Four Seasons War.

When Ioloman was in power, there was one person who came to mind next.

Prince Artan Pricus.

The golden age of the empire’s history that would last for hundreds of years… It was a rare sage that marked the beginning.

A person who made the insignificant Pricus dynasty itself enter the realm of legend.

Ethan-ah, who has bloated talents in both literary and martial arts.

‘In the past, I wondered why they showed such past records, but there was a reason.’

It was all the ground work in preparation for the Four Seasons War II. It must have been planned to naturally accept the prequel and sequel by scattering old stories inside and out.

Other people may not know, but Crown Prince Artan was quite famous even at the time of the original work. He thought that he would be a great person, but he didn’t care because he had no real weight.

Perhaps the details were not intended to be covered in the next film. After throwing the players into the distant past.

Anyway, I seemed to be able to see the flow of this world. Artan must be one of the main players who will lead the game.

“Are your questions answered? Then, if you don’t mind, give me your name…”

“He said he was on his way to the city, right?”

I asked after getting out of the accident.

Now that we have obtained the information we need right now, it seems we can go to Euristia and investigate further.

Come to think of it, for some reason, the words seemed to come out very well. Of course, his tone was cut off, short-spoken, and cool… But judging from Quilière’s tone so far, this was almost Buddha.

Is it because I haven’t seen anyone in a long time?

Maybe it was because of Petra’s friendly personality. Thinking so, he was a little grateful and opened his mouth to politely ask for guidance to the city.

Inadvertently, they made the mistake of underestimating the snow woman, Quilière.

“Guide me.”

The words that came out of his mouth were cold, as if he would not listen to objections.

Pet had a blank expression, as if doubting his ears, but he soon took the lead without saying anything.

I thought he would be taken aback by my rude attitude, but he was more kind than expected.

I just feel sorry for myself.

On the way to the city, I fidgeted with my comfortable hands. Before leaving the castle, the tote bag containing suitable items was hidden in a safe place in the suburbs.

It’s because it’s too cumbersome to carry around because you pack everything, even the things you might want to use. First of all, I need to specify the location of the city and then bring it back.

“But you’re wearing very rare clothes. I’m from the Empire and I’ve never seen them before. If it’s not lungs, may I ask where you’re from…”

The author Petra, who is not sure if he is kind or thoughtless, seemed right to be a researcher as he introduced himself.

If it wasn’t for that, wouldn’t it be possible to keep asking questions while watching my cold response?

“Anyway, the destination seems to be the same as mine. Why did you come to Euristia? Have you heard rumors of courtesy? If that’s the case, it’s the same reason.”

He didn’t care whether I ignored him or not and tried to communicate by changing the topic.

I wanted to accept it as much as possible, but I was afraid of hurting it, but there was a word that touched my ears.

“Rumors?”

What kind of rumors are going around?

Hearing the current period and knowing that the developer was ambitiously preparing for the Four Seasons War II, it was also necessary to know the trend of Euristia, which occupied an important position in the game.

When I finally accepted it, Pet’s face turned red. However, he blinks his eyes right after.

“…Oh, don’t you know?”

“Tell me.”

Even I thought it was arrogant behavior, but he crossed his arms as if thinking deeply, unfazed as if he had already gotten used to it.

“There is a god, in the city.”

The words he uttered afterwards were words that would have shocked others.

“…What?”

“I’m sure… You said it was a black snake. I’ve heard that it suddenly appeared and took over the city with its terrifying power… Well, most people seem to dismiss it as baseless rumors.”

Pet, who said that, didn’t look like a rumor.

Then I thought there might be some basis, but I knew.

That’s completely nonsense.

“That’s a myth.”

“…hahahaha, that’s right. It sounds absurd.”

As a big fan of the Four Seasons War, I know.

That all the gods had long ago disappeared.

Currently, not a single god remains.

This was a thousand years later and ago, and it was an absolute proposition that had nothing to do with it.

So this rumor is fake.

Perhaps someone intentionally spread it, or misunderstood something else as a god. Well, looking at it that way, the rumor itself wasn’t bad.

Originally, rumors are born like that. You’re free to believe it or not, but I felt sorry for this man named Petra.

Did you believe in such nonsense and came to the city even bumping into monsters?

“Did you come to confirm the rumors?”

“Uh… Yes, well. That’s right. I’m a bit of a researcher myself, so I thought I’d do some research.”

Oh, you human.

If you are a researcher, you should have sought out more credible rumors.

“Why are you doing such an investigation?”

The words went out with the nuance of why he was doing useless things. Pete scratched his head and laughed.

“It’s not because I’m a researcher… It’s because of my performance. Well, Master is a great person, but he’s also strict. To be recognized, you have to move around without a break.”

“Who is that teacher?”

If it’s that great of a person, I might have heard of it.

I thought it might be helpful, so I listened to Pet’s next words.

For some reason, he raised his shoulders a little and spat out in a very proud manner.

“This is Mr. Agnatsu.”

He was a complete stranger.

“…Are you saying you don’t really know Agnatsu? Really?”

“I don’t know.”

“I can’t believe it. I don’t know much about him, but I’ve never even heard of his name. Unless he’s lived far from the world…”

“……”

Hearing that he didn’t know his teacher, he was astonished.

I want to be that famous, but I couldn’t help not knowing.

I wasn’t particularly curious.

There is a much more famous person named Artan Pricus, but it was a waste of time to even put such a person in sight.

Gradually, the outline of the city began to catch my eye. Can I come here and step foot in human society for the first time?

My heart was pounding with anticipation.

Knowing that I only conveyed the truth through repeated questions, Pete muttered to himself and shook his head, perhaps deciding that it was useless.

Instead, I looked around him and he hinted.

“We’ve arrived at the city. Euristia is a narrow place to call a country, but I’ve heard that it’s a place that’s well-equipped. What are you planning to do?”

“I need a map.”

It was a story that did not need to be hidden.

“I’m going to the Empire.”

“Ah, that’s why I asked if you knew the Arundel Empire?”

“Yeah. What about you?”

He replied while looking into the air.

“I have someone to meet. ……We investigate rumors later.”

Someone to meet.

I don’t know, but it seems like he’s an important opponent enough to take a risk alone.

“I guess he’s a close friend?”

I asked without thinking in a stream of consciousness.

“We’re close… I hope that’s the case. He’s someone I won’t be able to meet easily.”

However, he was saying something stupid.

Seeing him staring into the sky with a rather serious face, there seemed to be a high probability that something was wrong.

I decided to turn my attention to the premonition that further digging would be annoying.

Since we saw each other for the first time today, there was no loyalty, and he would do it himself.

We arrived at the entrance of the city before we knew it.

Is it time to break up soon?

“Come to think of it, you’re a lifesaver, but I haven’t been able to pay you back. Go to the city and repay me properly…”

With his words flowing through one ear, I activated my magical power. The magic of the Transfiguration embraced my body, and in an instant it turned into a cloud of fog and moved away.

I stopped for a moment in the sky and looked down.

Pet muttered while looking at the city, but immediately after looking away, he stiffened.

“…Uh, yeah? Where…?”

Anyone would be surprised if the person right next to him had just disappeared.

I can fully understand how you feel, but as someone said, you saved my life, so I hope you can get over this.

I was also aware that my appearance was quite conspicuous. In addition, because of the setting, that interest could turn into hostility at any time, so the answer here was to be careful.

Anyway, my home is in the snowfield, and Euristia was just a place I passed through for a while.

A short-lived researcher was not very important.

“…Did you see a mirage?”

Still, his remarks, which he vomited up alone, were slightly funny. He was a man with an unusual way of thinking, as well as believing in those absurd rumors.

Anyway, now was not the time to watch him.

Originally, Transfiguration consumed a lot of mana, and since it was no longer possible to compensate for the environment, I had to move quickly.

The foggy clouds that stayed vaguely in the sky eventually drifted somewhere.

So Quilière did not hear what Pete muttered next.

“Well, there’s no way such a woman exists…”

The city-state of Euristia was ruled by three ruling families.

The historic and prestigious Krasse and the new families Bion and Griant. Hearing this, some would guess that the best of the three families would be the Krasei, and that guess was half right.

Clearly, the influential power in the city has been the Krasse family for generations. However, in recent years, the hierarchy has been fluctuating wildly.

The young head of Krasse, Lasitea Krasse, was supporting her face with one hand in her office.

It was a habit she had when she felt nervous.

“Insane things…”

Uncharacteristically for her, her harsh words came out.

That was partly because he was alone, but it also meant that he was engulfed in a huge anger.

During the period of unresolved anger, the fire did not easily subside.

To put it bluntly, Bion and Griant were her enemies. If she was from three families, there was no one who didn’t know that.

It wasn’t too surprising that they were courteous when the Krasse family was strong, but gradually showed their teeth when Lassithea’s father and former head Berthe collapsed from a sudden illness.

Her father was a good man at best and indecisive at worst.

Even after noticing that the two families, which were gradually expanding their power, had dark feelings, they couldn’t make a decision easily.

He was afraid.

To harm people when the new families are growing, and to wage war against them after gaining enough power.

When he finally passed away due to illness, it was after the yellow buds had fully bloomed.

Can this also be said to be the harmful effects of inheritance?

Because it was Krase who had enjoyed the power without any crisis, he was born with no luck.

Of course, Rash*thea didn’t think so… But she couldn’t help but lament that sometimes she was like this.

The mold that Berthe couldn’t get rid of now covered the entire house and became hers.

“…If only I had been a bit more hurried.”

Unlike her father, she had the qualities of her own. Calmness and determination befitting a leader… And the ‘power of the eye’, which has been manifested only in some members of the Krasse clan since ancient times.

Having developed her own power since she was younger than she is now, she sharpened her senses toward her two families when Berthe fell. Her carefully planted eyes and ears reported the situation.

There was definitely an opportunity.

Two nemesis, the head of the family, at least a chance to eliminate one. However, removing the family head meant that the situation would change completely.

There is no longer any point in conspiring in the dark or digging traps, and only an all-out war remains. It was a bonus that the fortunes of countless city dwellers and family members were divided.

Although a lasitea that has been clever since her infancy and has matured early due to the turbulent currents around her, she is still too young to take charge of her clan.

She was inexperienced to the extent that she had to make a major decision.

Of course, the two family heads weren’t very clever, so if they did well, there might have been a delay until they made up their minds. However, the sky was not on her side.

“If it wasn’t for that snake…”

Yes.

One day, the ‘god’ that appeared like lightning in the dry sky ruined everything.

An overwhelming giant capable of making a corner of the city fall into the shadows. Even the mighty power that casually trampled on the soldiers of Euristia.

As he called himself, and as the feared citizens called him, the nickname god was a fitting majesty.

Who could have seen it and fought against it?

As I was recalling the horrors of that day, I heard a knock. Rassithea lowered his hand and allowed him to enter.

“My lord, this is bad news. It looks like they made another sacrifice.”

The one who entered was Sohrab, her lieutenant and second-in-command of the family.

He was a lumberman from a southern desert village, and he had been a supporter of the family for a long time after he fell in love with Bert.

She

Because her ability was outstanding and her loyalty to her family was deep, she has now occupied an important position like this.

Looking at such a person, people praise him for being very faithful and saying that his hard work has finally been rewarded, but in fact, his real ability was different.

In the sun, he was the lieutenant of the household and the head of the butler… In the dark, he was the leader of the death squad and the best assassin.

Indeed, it was also the reason why Lash Thea was so sure that she could handle the patriarchs if she had the chance.

Lassithea frowned at his report.

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure, judging by the torn clothes found near the forest where the snakes were entwined, and the thick scent of blood left in the air.”

His nose was correct when it came to the smell of blood.

He was at a level where he could distinguish between human blood, animal blood, and monster blood.

Rash*thea clicked her tongue in disgust.

In order to quickly identify changes in the situation, surveillance personnel were scattered throughout.

However, accidents are happening to an extent that cannot be compared to before.

Although the general public did not know, she, who had a wider view, knew that most of them were the work of the two heads of families.

She’s like that, but she didn’t do anything to stand out while watching Krase’s eyes until recently, but it’s all because of that snake god…

“…Really insane.”

The snake god arrived in the city for the first time and proudly demanded a sacrifice. Sacrifice here meant the act of offering a human being alive.

In front of the frightened citizens, the three family heads expressed their intentions, saying that it could not be. It was a natural behavior for the heads of households who ruled the city but had the duty to protect it at the same time.

Of course, she was the only one who acted with such admiration.

In the end, the situation ended with the angry snake god biting some citizens and returning home.

No, I only knew that.

“…Please give me an order, Lord.”

She raised her head at the sound of her hard voice.

Her little boy was watching her with her usual expressionless expression. Lasithea read the heat in those eyes.

She didn’t meet those eyes directly and glanced away at her.

“…It’s too late to do anything about it. You know, Sohrab.”

“That’s why we need to move. If left alone, things will get out of control.”

It was a theory.

If it was late because it was neglected, it would have been foolish to neglect it further.

Blinded by selfishness, they betrayed their duty and sacrificed their citizens… They had to be condemned.

It was only right to send a sorap or an assassination squad to eliminate the head of the family who betrayed humanity at all costs.

But… But.

She couldn’t.

That would be the case…

“But… The opponent is a god?”

Yes.

I don’t know if it’s a demon or a demon, but it was definitely a monster worthy of being called a god.

It is no longer a struggle between humans and humans. Even if the two head of the family bought the god’s favor by offering a sacrifice to the god with skillful flattery.

It was the reason why I couldn’t move recklessly even if I put God on my back and made fun of it as if it were my own world. Now the situation won’t end with the assassination of the family head.

Whatever it was, it was futile if we couldn’t find a way to exorcise the god.

Paradoxically, the reason why the city’s functions are still maintained is because the two heads of families offered sacrifices with their base desires.

If the supply of sacrifices is cut off, the snake god will tear the city apart again. Ultimately, a fundamental solution was needed.

If you remove the two headpieces with the snake god on… It’s just that Lassithea’s role will be a sedative and a supply of food.

“The appearance of a god must have been a boon to them.”

Even a cataclysm that was like a natural disaster to her might have seemed like a savior to her two heads. Because the fight against the Krasse family, which must have been difficult, became very easy.

But even so, how could he even think of using a non-human being?

No, maybe they had already come to believe in that crazy god.

Because there were all sorts of things that people couldn’t understand in the first place. With nowhere to relieve her frustration, Rassithea raised her hand again and covered her face.

“Has God really abandoned us…”