Boundary of Aesthetics

As the days went by, Bellona-nim’s teachings grew deeper.

At first, it started with just following Bellona-nim’s instructions, but gradually, I began to conceive and create my own “works.”

In the fourth lesson, Bellona-nim gave me complete freedom.

“Today, you’ll choose the materials and decide the theme of your work.”

The man I chose from the cage was young and handsome, but his eyes were filled with cunning.

Unlike the others, he wasn’t consumed by fear; instead, he glared at me.

“Good choice.”

Bellona-nim smiled.

“What caught your eye about him?”

“His eyes. They’re full of malice.”

“Exactly! Your intuition is developing. He’s actually a dreadful criminal who has swindled many poor girls.”

A sense of joy stirred within me.

For some strange reason, being praised by Bellona-nim made me happy.

Miel watched the entire scene anxiously, fluttering above my head.

Her once-blue wings were gradually turning black.

She tried to warn me, but honestly… it was annoying.

‘Miel, be quiet…’

This time, I started working without Bellona-nim’s help.

I was somewhat familiar with the techniques now.

I carefully made incisions with the scalpel, avoiding major blood vessels.

The man’s screams didn’t sound as horrifying as before.

Instead, they felt like background music.

“I need to highlight the shape of the muscles by peeling off the skin.”

I muttered to myself.

Bellona-nim quietly observed my work.

Once the skin was completely removed, the red muscles were exposed.

The sight was truly beautiful.

It looked like a red flower in bloom.

And this time, I tried something new.

I carefully cut out parts of the muscles and spread them like flower petals.

The man, in extreme agony, couldn’t scream and merely convulsed.

“Wow, what an innovative approach!”

Bellona-nim applauded.

Hehe!

Her praise made my heart burn with excitement.

As I continued working, I became immersed, like a painter creating a masterpiece.

The scalpel was my brush, the blood was my paint, and the man’s corpse was my canvas.

The Crimson Bind radiated vibrations of joy at the sight.

The red mist from the sword swirled around the workbench, writhing as if alive.

At times, it felt like the mist was guiding my hands.

Where to cut, what to preserve…

‘Is this really art?’

The thought crossed my mind occasionally, but it faded away.

What lay before me was undeniably art.

More vivid and intense than any painting or sculpture.

As the work neared completion, the man took his last breath.

In that moment, I understood what Bellona-nim had said.

The boundary between life and death, the instant of that moment, held true beauty.

It was truly beautiful…

“Perfect! Now you understand the aesthetics of murder!”

Bellona-nim smiled broadly, patting my cheeks.

And in that moment, the status window delivered a pleasant alarm.

『 「Aesthetics of Murder」 skill acquired.』

『 「Aesthetics of Murder」

  – Can artistically direct the target’s pain and death. Significantly delays the time of death.』

Huh?

So the aesthetics of murder was a skill too!?

I thought the trait I received from Bellona-nim on the first day was the only one!

The next day, in the fifth lesson, I challenged a more complex work.

It was called the “Garden of Flowers.”

I removed the man’s spine and arranged it in a circular pattern, then spread his internal organs like flowers on top.

I made the heart resemble a rose and the lungs like widely spread leaves.

“This might be my masterpiece.”

Bellona-nim nodded.

“Your sense is developing really fast. Amazing~”

Encouraged by her praise, I experimented even more boldly.

Some men were transformed into flowers while still alive, and others had their internal organs replaced with plant structures.

Their screams and agony sounded like music to my ears.

It became a habit to look at the mirror every evening.

As the days passed, my appearance was changing.

When I first came to the Demon Realm, only the tips of my hair were red, but now more than half had turned blood-red.

My eyes had darkened to a deep crimson, sparkling like pomegranate seeds.

Even a faint pink aura began to swirl around me.

Would Master and Michel still recognize me like this?

The thought crossed my mind, but soon, I smiled.

‘They’ll surely like my improved, more beautiful appearance.’

Every evening, Bellona-nim and I had tea together, discussing art.

Her philosophy permeated deeper into my mind.

At first, fear and disgust were dominant, but those feelings gradually turned into awe and understanding.

My “works” became increasingly complex and intricate.

Especially those that utilized my floral nature-sharp, thorn-like roots for delicate carvings and expressions of painful agony-left Bellona-nim in admiration.

Once, while experimenting with pollen for a work, I acquired a new pollen skill.

『 「Pollen-Plantification LV1」 skill acquired.』

『 「Pollen-Plantification」

  – The released pollen possesses plantification properties.』

Huh?

What does plantification mean?

It sounds like it turns something into a plant…

The plantification pollen slowly transformed the body of the man I used as material.

His skin sprouted small flower buds, and his blood vessels turned green, resembling plant veins.

So cool…!

“Lycoris, this is an incredible innovation!”

Bellona-nim praised.

“A work that transcends the boundary between humans and plants-it’s a completely new realm.”

“Hehe! Thank you!”

Encouraged by her praise, I conducted even bolder experiments.

Some men were transformed into flowers while alive, and others had their internal organs replaced with plant structures.

Their screams and agony sounded like music to my ears.

Every evening, I made it a habit to look at the mirror.

As the days passed, my appearance was changing.

When I first came to the Demon Realm, only the tips of my hair were red, but now more than half had turned blood-red.

My eyes had darkened to a deep crimson, sparkling like pomegranate seeds.

Even a faint pink aura began to swirl around me.

Would Master and Michel still recognize me like this?

The thought crossed my mind, but soon, I smiled.

‘They’ll surely like my improved, more beautiful appearance.’

Every evening, Bellona-nim and I had tea together, discussing art.

Her philosophy permeated deeper into my mind.

One night, as I returned to my room, Miel was nowhere to be found.

“Miel? Where are you?”

I found her barely fluttering on the bed.

Her once-vibrant blue wings had completely turned black, and her movements were weak and slow.

“Miel! Are you okay? Why are you so weak?”

Miel managed to pluck a hair and write a message.

≪ The demonic energy… is draining my life force… ≫

“What!? Really?”

Suddenly, I snapped back to reality.

What had I been doing all this time?

Obsessed with the aesthetics of murder, I had forgotten to return, even forgotten Miel…

Bellona-nim’s teachings were certainly special, but they weren’t more important than Miel.

“Miel, hold on a bit longer. I’ll ask about the portal soon. We’ll leave here soon.”

I couldn’t let Miel die because of me, dragged here unjustly.

Master and Michel must be waiting for me.

It was time to return.

After checking Miel’s condition, I rushed to Bellona-nim’s room.

“Bellona-nim, when will the portal be completed? Miel’s condition is severe. I can’t wait any longer.”

“It should be done within this week. Is it that urgent?”

Bellona-nim looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Yes, if Miel stays in the Demon Realm too long, she might disappear. Please, help me finish the portal as soon as possible.”

“Alright, I’ll do what I can. If you want it that much…”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Bellona-nim’s face, but it soon turned to understanding.

“I understand your feelings. Everyone wants to go home.”

“Thank you… but what does the portal look like? Is it just like a door?”

“It’s more like a cave entrance. The hole connecting two entirely different spaces will be pitch-black, surrounded by complex magical runes.”

“…Who creates such an incredible portal?”

“The portal connecting the Demon Realm and the human world must be created on both sides. On the Demon Realm side, it’s led by Abraxas and the evil gods, while on the human side, it’s done by Abraxas’s followers.”

Huh…

Abraxas…?

Weren’t those the evil cultists I killed the ones who worshipped Abraxas…?

“Abraxas…?”

“Yes, do you know him? He’s quite a diligent and passionate evil god. After the human world was cut off and all evil gods gave up intervening, he alone continued to research ways to descend to the human world. His portal, which he designed himself, is nearly complete. Though he’s a lesser god, he’s someone worth admiring~”

Wait…

So Abraxas was that kind of character…?

A diligent, passionate hard-worker…?

So different from my imagined appearance of an evil god…

What if Abraxas recognizes me?

Will I even be able to use the portal…?