Aesthetics of Murder
As I nestled in Bellona's embrace, drawing closer to the temple, a strange sensation grew stronger. Beneath the black moonlight, the massive Gothic castle loomed, casting a dark shadow. Its spires pierced the sky like razor-sharp blades, and the windows somehow resembled eyes shedding tears.
Then, a faint scent brushed my nose. At first, I couldn't place it, but as the temple neared, it turned into something familiar yet repulsive.
This is... the smell of blood...?
It was the scent I'd grown accustomed to slaughtering countless monsters in the labyrinth. But this was different. Thicker, older, and far more abundant. Not monster blood, but something else... human?
Crimson Bind began to tremble faintly, as if reacting to the smell. The red mist seeping from the sword thickened. It felt like Crimson Bind was enjoying this.
"Bellona-nim... what's that smell...?"
"Smell? Oh, that's probably from my hobby. You'll see it soon enough—don't be too shocked~"
Bellona-nim smiled. It was breathtakingly beautiful, yet it sent chills down my spine.
Miel fluttered close to my ear, sending anxious signals with her wings. The blue butterfly's wings glowed brighter than usual.
Flutter flutter!
Miel's wingbeats were far more frantic than normal.
What's wrong? What's going on? I wanted to ask, but instead, I gripped Crimson Bind's hilt tightly without thinking. The red mist billowed thicker from the sword. It felt excited, like it was returning to its homeland after a long time.
Master... I need to get back to you soon... Will this goddess really help me...?
"We're here! Welcome to my home~"
The massive obsidian doors slid open silently, revealing the temple's interior. Bellona-nim carried me inside still cradled in her arms.
At first, darkness obscured everything. But soon, red-glowing candles flickered to life one by one, illuminating a shocking scene.
"Eek...!"
A scream escaped my lips.
The temple interior was a gallery. But the exhibits were... corpses. No, sculptures made from corpses.
Numerous male human bodies were twisted into bizarre poses. Some froze eternally in elegant ballerina stances, while others intertwined to form grotesque flowers. On the walls hung skinned corpses like paintings, their flesh perfectly stretched and dried, veins preserved like ornate embroidery.
From the ceiling dangled a chandelier crafted from assorted body parts. Fingers clutched candleholders where flames danced. Severed heads hung by strings, mouths agape, empty eyes staring blankly upward.
Even the red carpet on the floor... wasn't carpet. It was dried blood. Sticky sounds squelched under Bellona-nim's steps, blood clinging to her feet.
C-Crazy... This is worse than the evil god cultists...!
Master... Michael-nim...
Memories flashed of me butchering monsters in Sia Kalt. I'd killed plenty, absorbing their blood to grow... but this was another level entirely. Mine was survival hunting. This was just insanity.
Miel fluttered wildly above my head, her blue wings beating as if screaming run away.
"What do you think? Like my collection?"
Bellona-nim's voice remained sweet, but now I sensed the madness beneath.
My body shuddered. My teeth chattered; I could barely breathe.
"Ah, you're moved too! Yes, truly understanding beauty is hard."
She completely misunderstood my reaction. Setting me down, she led me to one "piece."
I forced myself to steady my breathing. This was dire, but she hadn't harmed me yet. I needed to buy time. I've handled worse... Wait, have I really? Why am I thinking that...?
Shaking off the confusion, I resolved to stay calm.
"This is my favorite: 'Eternal Dance.' See? The exquisite balance of agony and ecstasy in that dancer's expression..."
The "piece" was a male corpse, muscles perfectly exposed. Skin partially flayed, tendons and sinews bared. Yet the face was intact, frozen in eternal torment. Most horrifying: the eyes glistened moistly, like they were alive.
This poor human... how much did it hurt...?
Michael-nim liked blood offerings, but not this. She wanted swift, clean kills—not torture, not this agony...
Crimson Bind trembled oddly. With excitement. I felt the sword's satisfaction.
Ah... right, it's a cursed demon sword from the Demon Realm... Of course it likes this...
Amid my turmoil, something inside me felt a twisted allure to the scene. Impossible...
"And this is 'Flower of Death.' Nine bodies precisely arranged. I angled the blood flow to mimic petals."
The work resembled a giant sunflower. A torso at center, eight limbs radiating like petals—each from different bodies. Blood still oozed slowly from the trunk, tracing intricate floor grooves into a perfect flower shape.
Flower...? Like me? Does this mad goddess plan to turn me into this?
Terror surged, like my roots freezing solid.
Master... Michael-nim... save me...
The most horrifying sight I'd ever seen—worse than pre-reincarnation horror flicks, worse than the cultists' lair.
Miel pressed to my ear, wings flashing warnings. Solaris-nim's alert, surely. But escape seemed impossible here.
"Ah, you've never seen anything like this! This is the Aesthetics of Murder. I was once the goddess of beauty, but I realized true beauty blooms in the moment life departs."
Bellona-nim's eyes blazed with passion. Her seductive lips uttered horrors.
"That final expression—terror, despair... then release in the last breath. That's true beauty."
Something stirred inside me. Faint echo of my first Sia Kalt hunt's thrill. Satisfaction of blood absorption and growth...
No! I did it to survive, for Michael-nim's offerings! This is different!
Bellona-nim gripped my shoulders, peering intensely.
"Ricoris, what I want is this: be my disciple."
"D-Disciple...?"
My voice shook. Her intent was crystal clear.
"Yes. Your floral powers and human polymorph are unique. Combined with my techniques, we'll create unprecedented art."
Her eyes burned with manic fervor.
"I... uh... don't know..."
Miel tugged my hair—run. But Bellona-nim's gaze pinned me.
Michael-nim's image surfaced. She loved blood and slaughter, but not cruel torture. Master was coldly efficient when needed, never reveling like this.
"Don't worry. Everyone resists at first. I didn't grasp this aesthetic either. But soon, your inner artist will awaken."
Her voice was tender, the meaning pure terror.
"And we promised: once the human realm passage is ready, I'll send you. Stay as my disciple till then? I can teach you much."
Buy time. Refusal might make me exhibit fodder. I fiddled with Crimson Bind; it vibrated eagerly. Ignore it...
Even if she's strong, opportunity will come. Gain trust, find weakness.
"O-Okay... I'll be your disciple, Bellona-nim..."
"Really? I'm thrilled! We'll be a fantastic duo!"
She hugged me tightly, her chill seeping through.
"First, your room. You must be exhausted—rest well."
She led me deep into the temple. Thankfully, no "art" in my room—just luxurious bed and furnishings.
Lying down, Miel perched on my chest, wings quivering faintly. I stroked her gently.
"Miel... what do we do? We gotta get outta here fast."
Miel eyed me worriedly, then flew to my head and plucked a hair strand, writing in the air with glowing light.
"I told Solaris-nim, but since it's already like this, just take Bellona's help and head to the human world lol."
"Just... stay like this...?"
"Bellona never hurts women so it's safe, but I'm still so scared..."
"I'm scared too, but..."
She doesn't kill women? Come to think of it, all the "materials" were male.
"For now... like Solaris-nim said, play disciple, scout the place. Running might make it worse."
I steeled myself. Miel fluttered in agreement.
"Master... I'll be back soon..."
Staring at the ceiling lost in thought, faint red glow shimmered in the shadows. From my sword's mist?
A dreamlike voice whispered from somewhere.
"Ricoris... They deserve punishment..."
Whose voice? Crimson Bind? My imagination?
It grew clearer.
"They all deserve punishment... I'll help you..."