Herrscher of Reason's Arknights

"Boring. They're just a few mortals. If I wanted to, crushing a few of the emperor's guards would be as easy as crushing a few insects."

However, at the request of the military, the emperor's guards were also present when the woman was making her outrageous remarks!

After all, this was an investigation organized by the military, and the Emperor's Guard, as one of the military's trump cards, was naturally brought out.

"What did you say!?"

One of the guards' cold voices came from behind his mask.

Few people have ever seen the Emperor's inner guards in a fit of rage.

Because people like that basically won't live to see the next second.

“I said, why are these stray dogs still here? Since they are military dogs, they should go back to their masters and beg for bones, instead of coming here to get in the way.”

You bunch of weaklings aren't welcome here.

This sentiment was practically written all over his face. Unlike Kosiché, who was "easy to talk to," Jaga Glazunov didn't take the military's word for it. But that was normal; in this land, strength speaks. Jaga Glazunov could say what he meant, and he could do what he said. Otherwise, the Emperor's Guard wouldn't have questioned him; they would have taken action directly.

"That's all you've got. I have to say, you've already done something to get this far. What you consider incredibly strong is just so-so to me. I really don't understand how four of you managed to take on one like that. All I can say is that a bunch of biting insects are only this good."

Jaga Glazunov's tone was quite contemptuous, and she didn't intend to leave any room for negotiation. Of course, she didn't need any room for negotiation. Humans don't negotiate with insects, and gods don't need to negotiate or compromise with humans.

"you!"

"Would it kill you to shut up? Enough! This isn't a place for you to argue, so all of you shut up!"

The one who had been silent all along finally spoke.

The speaker was an Ursus man dressed in a black suit, with a scar above his right eye.

The man's deep voice silenced both sides of the argument.

"Yes, we're all here for the Snow Fairy's sake, there's no need to argue like this. We're all here to serve Ursus."

However, the cunning and treacherous Koschich continued to supply fire.

"Please don't lump me in with insects, Duke Kosichä. In my opinion, the so-called snow demons are no different from them. A wild beast that came out of nowhere doesn't deserve such a big fuss. The military is really getting worse and worse."

"That's precisely why I need your help. I'm quite apprehensive that such a thing has happened on my territory."

Kosiché's fake smile only earned him a glare from the woman.

"Your smile disgusts me, Koschche. Oh well, that's what you are anyway. I said the Snow Demon is worthless because I have the power to kill her. If she dares to appear in front of me, I can crush her if I want to."

Jaga Glazunov then said that it was quite arrogant, completely without any pressure, and that everything was an ant in its eyes.

"If it's the Nian from the East or something from the deep sea, it might put some pressure on me. As for the Snow Demon, I don't have time to waste on that. Just tell me your conclusions, and I'll go kill him and end this farce."

After saying that, the woman left.

"A boring farce."

"As arrogant as ever."

Kosiché maintained his faint smile as he addressed the remaining person.

"It was indeed a farce, but it wasn't as bad as she made it out to be. I'm actually quite interested in the Snow Fairy."

"Speaking of which..."

The scarred man rubbed his chin with his fingers.

"I remember it seems that it wasn't just the military that was having a headache; it seems that some newly rich were also getting restless."

"They're just a group of new kids; it's normal for them to be curious, but..."

Kosiché changed the subject, following the man's lead.

I've recently come up with some new ideas.

"tell me the story."

"I have a new idea about Longmen..."

··················

The blizzard will pass through here in a while. Although sodium chloride itself is not a problem, and natural disasters are nothing to hinder a Herrscher, the energy consumed by the Traveler state is just too much.

In addition, they now have to walk step by step like ordinary people, so it is completely unrealistic to walk out of the blizzard area.

Moreover, the two were quite lucky; after waiting by the roadside for a while, they encountered a middle-aged man who was rushing to leave the city by carriage.

"Where are you going? It's not safe outside the city."

"Go to Chernobog."

"Chernoberg, that's very far away."

The middle-aged man laughed, cracking his whip to urge the beast of a chariot onward.

Of course, the main reason they were able to get a ride was because the two of them looked harmless.

It can be quite boring for middle-aged people to travel alone, and having a companion to talk to can certainly help pass the time.

"These days, things are quite chaotic outside. Young girls have to be careful when they're out and about, especially lately, with all this talk of snow demons. It makes everyone nervous every time they travel far away."

Under Yelena's curious big eyes, the middle-aged man also enjoyed chatting with this cute little girl.

"Snow demon?"

"Oh, this young lady isn't a local, is she? She probably doesn't know yet. This sounds like something very mysterious."

The middle-aged man sighed and said.

"You have no idea, life is getting worse every day, and then this thing came out. All the young people in our village have been conscripted, and so have the other villages. The lord said he's going to build something, and a lot of foreigners have come too. It's said that this is related to the Snow Demon."

As for what a snow demon is... I don't know either. This is a legend I recently heard from the military camp, supposedly passed down from the soldiers.

Gossip truly transcends national boundaries and dimensions.

"It's supposedly true. Those soldiers and noble gentlemen are all talking about it. Look, my son even gave me this thing, saying it's all written on it. It's a pity I'm too old, my eyesight is failing, and I can't read."

As he spoke, he took a roll of something off his person.

That was a newspaper. These things are common in cities, but rare in remote places like this. Besides, few of these poor people can read, so they wouldn't understand the newspaper even if they were given one.

emmmmm.

I don’t know him either.

After glancing at the contents of the newspaper, Little Yelena was completely bewildered. How could a child who grew up in a mine possibly have the opportunity to learn to read? Apart from these scribbles, the only thing she could understand was the black and white illustrations.

Fortunately, the middle-aged driver did manage to hear some of the rumors.

"My son said that the emperor's soldiers saw a snow demon. Those soldiers had never seen anything like it before, and apparently they fought it..."

Suddenly, the old hunter lowered his voice, looked around, and said mysteriously.

"It's said that quite a few people died."

"A snow demon that eats people?"

"Who knows? Maybe it's a divine intervention. But I heard the newspapers didn't mention any of that, only talking about the Snow Demon. Alas, it's a pity I can't read, so I can't understand it."

The middle-aged man patted Yelena's head kindly.

"It's really a disaster. I'm very worried about my son now. He's gone to work for the lord. Although the reward money is nice, I'm still worried."

Snow Fairy?

Ignoring their conversation, Sodium Chloride took the newspaper from Yelena's hand and began to read its contents.

She didn't recall ever hearing any legends about snow fairies.

This place is somewhat similar to Russia in a parallel world, at least in many customs, and the geographical environment is also very similar.

Even the legends correspond to each one, such as the immortal Koschke.

However, the demons and monsters in this plane seem to have become real things, otherwise the identity of that duke would be inexplicable.

So, who exactly is this snow demon?

"The garrison corps under the 15th Army Group was attacked by snow monsters?"

The report was very vague; it was more like a notice than a report. It didn't mention the outcome, how it happened, the casualties, or the results of the battle. It was even mentioned only briefly in a corner of the newspaper.

interesting.

The content of a newspaper controlled by the Ursus authorities is naturally filtered, so if it weren't for a victory, it wouldn't be widely reported.

That means we lost.

Scroll down, and there's another picture.

It appears to be a photo taken from a great distance; the image is blurry, and being printed in black and white, the clarity is extremely low.

However, it is still clear that it is a photo taken at the sky, and you can vaguely see that the so-called snow demon's true form... seems to be a woman?

Wait??!!

Sodium chloride only realized what was happening when she saw the iconic single golden wing.

Isn't that me?!?!

P.S.: Ugh, I've been feeling so sleepy these past few days. Why don't people hibernate? I really want to sleep all winter long! [Shrinks under the covers]

Section 24, Chapter Twenty-Four: The Nightmare

What the heck, a snow demon?!

What kind of weird name is that?

Sodium chloride glanced at the snippets of news reports in the newspaper.

It's really a wonderful feeling to see yourself from someone else's perspective.

But isn't this name a bit too embarrassing?

However, this also proves that his actions have been remarkably effective.

The emperor has issued a new order; his army will quell the rebellion.

That's what they say, but in reality, those in higher positions are probably already in a panic.

So... the mystery of who the protagonist of this dimension really is should be revealed soon.

Malicious speculation, in a corner unnoticed by anyone, a malicious smile spread across the girl's lips.

However, right next to the girl, Yelena suddenly fell silent and gazed at the passing snow scene without a word.

The middle-aged man's words were just a rumor.

However, that photograph, which was blurry in the newspaper due to the limitations of printing technology, gradually became clear under the outline of the meeting.

It's like how illegible handwriting becomes clear once you recognize it.

A dark mine, a pillar of light reaching from the sky, an intense heat that instantly ignites everything...

And that blurry figure...

All of this haunted the sole survivor of the incident, which was officially classified as an "accident," like a nightmare.

He's just lucky to have survived, but good luck doesn't last forever.

The beam of light and the blurry figure behind it seemed to be illustrating the tyrannical and cruel nature of this world.

Everywhere I looked was destruction, people instantly vaporized...

A person disintegrating in mid-air...

A person who burned into a fireball and then turned to ashes...

It's like hell.

What lies behind that light?

Is it God?

Is it a miracle?

Or something else entirely.