Foolish Undead

"I heard that Master and Nis-nim are here, so I robbed the carriage of Jenes Kingdom's king..." I wanted to quickly share with Nis-nim all the truly amazing stories I'd experienced. What kind of reaction would she have? Especially the tales from Heaven and the Demon Realm—she'd be totally shocked, right!? But my excited anticipation was shattered by the thumping sounds.

"May the glory of Lord Abraksas be revealed in this world!"

"With your descent, this corrupt world will be purified!"

The fanatical cries of the evil god cultists battered my eardrums. Voices straining to their limits, foreheads slamming enthusiastically into the ground, rants spilling out like from true zealots... It was noisy as a frenzied festival.

Argh, seriously! Can't you see I'm talking right now!

"Nis-nim, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can we talk somewhere quiet, just the two of us?"

I cautiously tugged at Nis-nim's wrist. I wanted to escape these noisy cultists.

"Of course~ But I don't think we need to go anywhere."

Nis-nim elegantly unfurled her beautiful black fan toward the cultists, lifting her chin. The gem embedded in it, sparkling like starlight, emitted a cold glow in the darkness.

"You there! Come here!"

The cultist in the black robe at the front rushed over the moment he caught Nis-nim's gaze. He knelt with a weighty motion, his whole body trembling.

"Uroboros-nim! You called for me!"

"Is the portal still operational now?"

"Of course! No one without the immense power of Uroboros-nim or the apostle can block the portal!"

"No, I mean, does it work without you lot?"

Nis-nim's red eyes gleamed dangerously.

"Yes! All the necessary rituals are complete, so the portal will remain open eternally!"

"Then you're all useless now~"

Nis-nim's voice boomed like thunder. A chilling aura pierced the air, freezing every cultist in place.

Snap!

The moment the fan closed like a gust of wind, an ominous vibration rippled through the air. The ground pulsed like a heartbeat—once... twice... growing stronger, until everyone's hearts began to throb in sync with the rhythm.

Rumble rumble boom!

The earth split open like a massive flower blooming. From the cracks poured undead like a waterfall. Death knights clad in armor, skeletal mages with exposed bones, wraiths and bone golems... Not just one or two, but dozens—no, hundreds surging up in chains.

Ew, gross!

Black skeletons, hollow eye sockets, jagged teeth, skin turned to dry leather... These were on another level from the undead in horror movies—utterly repulsive visuals.

Flutter flutter!

Miel on my shoulder trembled her indigo wings in shock too. They looked utterly horrific, but I was curious about their combat power.

Whoa... Most are 5-star grade, levels over 200... Super gross, but super strong and super numerous... Huh? This one... some cosmic alien monster species...? Oh, I get it... Nis-nim is the heart of the legion... Could my cute bugz someday get this strong too?

"Uroboros-nim! Why do this?!"

"Please! We served you!"

"Gaaah!"

As the powerful legion attacked the cultists, they screamed, fleeing and resisting. But something was off. The undead fought like dumb zombies—simple and mindless. The death knights' swordplay was as awful as mine, the liches' spells had a hit rate under 30%, and the wisps just charged forward brainlessly.

Brainless giants, huh... Wait, aren't liches supposed to be mage undead? Shouldn't you fight smarter!? Hmm... Oh, that's it! Nis-nim doesn't have an Overlord, does she! Just like how my bugz move smartly because of my Overlord butterflies! I should suggest making ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a commander for her later!

But contrary to expectations, the foolish undead nearly wiped out the cultists in seconds. Fewer than ten survived. The ground was already soaked in dark red blood.

Uh... Wait a sec... These are Abraksas's cultists— is it okay to kill them all like this? What if they come after me later...? No! More importantly! Instead of just killing them, I could turn them into my artwork!

"Nis-nim! Hold on!"

My voice came out louder in my urgency.

"Hm? What is it, Rico?"

Nis-nim turned, her face puzzled.

"Don't kill them yet!"

Nis-nim looked at me with curious eyes and gestured. Instantly, the undead froze like puppets and burrowed back into the earth. The surviving cultists were all critically wounded—arms severed, guts spilling, deep gashes on faces... They groaned in agony, writhing on the ground. They'd die soon at this rate... But I had a new skill!

Aesthetics of Murder!

The moment I activated the skill, the world changed. Time around the cultists began to flow slowly like in water. Dripping blood turned syrupy slow, pained breaths steadied. As time stretched, their lives were artificially sustained.

"Oh my... Rico, what did you just do? This ability that slows time...?"

Nis-nim's eyes widened. She scanned the air, sensing the delicate mana flow.

"Hehe... I learned it from Master Bellona in the Demon Realm!"

My chest swelled with pride. At how hard I'd studied...

"Ahem... Demon Realm? Bellona? First time hearing that name..."

Nis-nim's expression shifted subtly.

"Yep! I'm gonna make something super cool with these guys!"

I'll create my artwork and place it in front of the portal! Then, when Master passes through later, she'll see it? She'll be thrilled for sure! Heehee! And since they're evil god cultists, becoming portal decorations is an honor for them. Their ultimate service to the evil god they worship!

"I'll make the best artwork to decorate the portal and make her happy!"

Pain faded from the cultists' faces, replaced by rising terror and despair. Pupils slowly dilating... mouths opening for screams, but in the slowed world, even that became an elegant dance.

"Gu... uh...!"

So beautiful!

Flutter... flutter...!

Miel desperately tugged my hair with feeble strength, warning me. It felt like 'Not now...'

No... When's a better chance than now?

'Hmph!'

I instantly drew Crimson Bind from my waist. The sword trembled, spewing red mist. Unlike Miel, Crimson Bind was thrilled.

Aw, look. Fresh blood right after arriving in the human world. What would you have done if we'd stayed in the Demon Realm?

Following the mist's flow, I began precisely carving flesh. Preserving muscle contours, revealing beautiful red veins... Each motion recalled Master's teachings.

'Peel the skin to highlight the muscle lines~'

'Don't damage the veins. They're the lifeline of the artwork~'

'Preserving the moment of death eternally—that's our art.'

Delicately exposing bones, artistically arranging innards, now pollen skills for plantification...

"Eek!"

In that instant, strong hands yanked me back from behind. My body floated into the air.

"Rico! Rico! What the hell are you doing!?"

Turning, I saw Nis-nim wearing an expression I'd never seen—pale face, trembling lips, eyes full of horror...

Huh...? Why... why that face?

Master had admired my work... 'Ricoris, a perfect masterpiece!' she said...

This... this is beautiful, right...? The art of death, the aesthetics of murder... Something choked my throat. My eyes burned, tears welling up.

"I-it's beautiful... Master taught me... the Aesthetics of Murder..."

I said in a trembling voice. About the art I'd learned, how diligently I'd studied...

"Art? This?!"

Nis-nim's voice turned icy in an instant. Rage exploded forth.

"Bellona, was it!? That evil god!"

Nis-nim grabbed my shoulders, her grip so intense I flinched.

"What kind of art is this!? I've met countless evil gods! They all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had their own cruelties, but none called this art! Bellona's the worst of the worst!"

Nis-nim's red eyes blazed. Rage swirled within, mixed with something else.

"To corrupt a pure, cute Rico like this... Bellona, that crazy bitch... The moment she sets foot in the human world, I'll kill her myself..."

"No!"

The shout burst out unbidden. Like a thunderbolt, sudden and fierce.

"Absolutely not!"

Even Nis-nim... doesn't understand what I learned?

She's turned countless humans into undead, hasn't she? Isn't that just as cruel? Corpse to undead or to artwork—what's the difference? If you're dying anyway, isn't becoming a beautiful artwork way better than a gross undead? Why pick on me...?

And... how... how could she say she'd kill Master right in front of me...?

"Waaah!"

Tears poured out. Like a dam bursting, uncontrollable sorrow flooded me. All the suppressed emotions erupted at once.

"Oh, oh my... Rico...?"

Nis-nim's expression flipped instantly. The rage vanished; she looked flustered, at a loss.

"Don't cry... Rico, don't cry..."

But my tears wouldn't stop. Nis-nim awkwardly stroked my head, trying to wipe them, but my sobs only grew louder.