Ugly Undead

“I heard that you and Nis-nim are here, so I robbed the carriage of King Genes and…”

I quickly wanted to share the amazing story I experienced with Nis-nim.

How would Nis-nim react?

Especially with the stories about the Heavenly Realm and the Demon Realm, Nis-nim would be so surprised!

But my excited anticipation was shattered by a loud noise.

“The glory of Abelaxas will be revealed in this world!”

“Your descent will purify this corrupted world!”

The passionate cries of the cultists pierced my eardrums.

The sound of their loud voices, the thud of their foreheads hitting the ground, their frantic shouts…

It was as loud as a wild festival.

Ugh!

Can’t you see I’m trying to talk!

“Nis-nim, can we talk somewhere quiet?”

I carefully pulled Nis-nim’s wrist.

I wanted to get away from these noisy cultists.

“Of course~ but I don’t think we need to go anywhere.”

Nis-nim elegantly opened a beautiful black fan adorned with sparkling jewels and gestured to the cultists.

The fan, studded with jewels shining like starlight, emitted a cold glow in the darkness.

“You there! Come here!”

The cultist in the black robe at the front quickly approached Nis-nim.

He knelt heavily and trembled all over.

“Uroburos-nim! Did you call for me?”

“Is the passage still operational?”

“Of course! Unless someone as powerful as Uroburos-nim or the Apostle interferes, no one can block the passage!”

“No, I meant can it operate without you?”

Nis-nim’s red eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Yes! The necessary rituals are complete, so the passage will remain open forever!”

“Then you’re useless now~”

Nis-nim’s voice thundered.

A cold energy filled the air, freezing all the cultists.

Bang!

As the fan closed like the wind, an ominous vibration rippled through the air.

The ground began to pulse like a heartbeat, growing stronger with each beat.

Soon, everyone’s heart was pounding in sync with the rhythm.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The ground split apart like a grand symphony, and undead poured out like a waterfall.

Knights in armor, skeletal mages, wraiths, and bone golems…

Not just a few, but dozens… hundreds emerged in succession.

Ew!

How disgusting!

Black skeletons, empty eye sockets, jagged teeth, dry skin like leather…

Their horrifying visuals were on another level compared to the undead in horror movies.

Flutter!

Miel on my shoulder trembled with fear, shaking her blue wings.

They were disgusting, but I was curious about their combat strength.

『 ☆☆☆☆☆ Death Knight LV241 』 『 ☆☆☆☆☆ Spectre LV239 』 『 ☆☆☆☆☆ Lich LV222 』 『 ☆☆☆☆ Banshee LV203 』 『 ☆☆☆☆ Death Knight LV223』 『 ☆☆☆☆ Banshee LV230 』 『 ☆☆☆☆ Spectre LV218 』 『 ☆☆☆☆☆ Colossus LV257 』 『 ☆☆☆☆ Soul Hunter LV212 』 ……

Wow…

Most are 5-star, and their levels are over 200…

They’re disgusting but incredibly strong and numerous…

Hmm…

What is this?

Some kind of alien species from space…?

Oh, I see…

Nis-nim was the heart of the army…

My cute Belez might become this strong one day?

“Uroburos-nim! Why are you doing this?”

“Please! We served you!”

“Kuaaak!”

The powerful undead began attacking the cultists, who screamed and fled in resistance.

But something was off.

The undead attacking the cultists seemed mindless, like simple zombies.

The Death Knights’ swordsmanship was as clumsy as mine, the Liches’ magic had a hit rate of less than 30%, and the Spectres just charged forward mindlessly.

Aren’t they supposed to be smarter?

Wait, Liches are supposed to be intelligent undead, right?

Why aren’t they fighting smarter?

Hmm…

Oh, I see!

Maybe Nis-nim doesn’t have an Overlord?

My Belez has Overlord butterflies, so they can fight intelligently!

I should suggest that Nis-nim create an Overlord later!

But contrary to expectations, the stupid undead quickly annihilated most of the cultists.

Only about ten survived.

The ground was already soaked in blood.

Wait a minute…

These are Abelaxas’ cultists. Is it okay to kill them all?

What if they blame me later…?

No!

Instead of killing them, I can make them into my artwork!

“Nis-nim! Wait!”

I raised my voice in urgency.

“What is it, Rico?”

Nis-nim turned to me with a puzzled expression.

“Please don’t kill them!”

Nis-nim looked at me with curious, glowing red eyes and gestured.

Instantly, the undead froze like dolls and burrowed back into the ground.

The surviving cultists were critically injured.

Arms severed, bellies torn, faces deeply scarred…

They writhed in pain, moaning on the ground.

If left alone, they would die soon…

But I have a new skill!

“Aesthetics of Murder!”

As I used the skill, the world transformed.

Time around the cultists slowed like flowing water.

Flowing blood slowed to a syrupy trickle, painful breathing stabilized.

Their lives were artificially sustained as time stretched.

“Oh my, Rico… What did you do? This ability seems like time is slowing down…”

Nis-nim’s eyes widened in surprise, examining the air as if sensing the subtle magic flow.

“Hehe… I learned it from Bellona in the Demon Realm!”

I puffed out my chest proudly, recalling how hard I had studied.

“Hmph… From the Demon Realm? Bellona? I’ve never heard of that name…”

Nis-nim’s expression subtly changed.

“Yes! I’ll make these guys into a magnificent piece!”

I’ll create a work and place it in front of the passage!

Then, when my teacher passes through, she’ll see my artwork!

She’ll definitely be thrilled!

Hehe!

And for the cultists, becoming a decoration for the passage would be an honor for them…

It would be their greatest service to the evil god they worship!

“I’ll create the best piece to decorate the passage!”

The cultists’ faces, filled with pain, now showed fear and despair.

Their pupils dilated slowly…

Their mouths opened to scream, but…

In this slowed world, even that became an elegant dance.

“K… kuaak…!”

It was so beautiful!

Flutter! Flutter!

Miel tugged weakly at my hair, warning me.

Her weak strength conveyed her urgency.

It felt like she was saying, “Not now…”

But… Now is the perfect time!

“Hey!”

I immediately drew the Crimson Bind from my waist.

The sword trembled, emitting a red mist.

Miel disliked it, but Crimson Bind was delighted.

Ugh, look at it.

It’s already seen so much blood since coming to the human world.

If it had stayed in the Demon Realm, who knows what would have happened.

I began skillfully dissecting the flesh, preserving the muscle structure and revealing the beautiful red blood vessels…

Each movement reminded me of my teacher’s lessons.

“You must preserve the muscle lines when skinning…”

“Don’t damage the blood vessels. They are the life of the artwork…”

“Our art preserves the moment of death forever.”

Exposing bones elegantly, arranging the organs artistically, and now the flower pollen…

“Eek!”

At that moment, a strong hand grabbed me, lifting me into the air.

“Rico! Rico! What are you doing?”

Turning back, Nis-nim had an expression I’d never seen before.

Pale face, trembling lips, eyes full of horror…

Huh…?

Why… Why are you reacting like this?

My teacher praised my work, saying, “Lycoris, it’s a perfect masterpiece!”

But this…

Isn’t this beautiful…?

The art of death, the aesthetics of murder…

Something choked in my throat.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

“It’s beautiful… What I learned from my teacher… The aesthetics of murder…”

I spoke in a trembling voice.

How much I studied, how much effort I put in…

“Art? Is this art!?”

Nis-nim’s voice suddenly turned cold.

Anger erupted like an explosion.

“Bellona, you say!? That evil god!”

Nis-nim grabbed my shoulder, speaking intensely.

Your grip is so strong it’s scary.

“I’ve met many evil gods before, but none of them called something like this art! Bellona is the worst among them!”

Nis-nim’s red eyes glowed.

Anger and something else flickered within them.

“This isn’t art! How could you corrupt Rico like this, who was once so pure and cute! Bellona is insane!”

Nis-nim’s voice rose.

“If she comes to the human world, I’ll kill her the moment she arrives!”

“No!”

The word burst out of me involuntarily, like thunder.

“No!”

Nis-nim was taken aback.

Don’t you understand what I’ve learned?

Nis-nim has turned countless humans into undead as well!

Isn’t that just as cruel?

What’s the difference between turning them into undead or making them into art?

If they’re going to die anyway, isn’t it better to become a beautiful artwork than a disgusting undead?

Why are you doing this to me…?

And…

How…

How can you say you’ll kill my teacher right in front of me…?

“Huaaang!”

Tears poured out.

My eyes overflowed like a dam had broken, overwhelming grief surging out.

All the emotions I’d suppressed until now erupted at once.

“Oh, oh… Rico…?”

Nis-nim’s expression changed instantly.

From anger to bewilderment, Nis-nim looked at me helplessly.

“Don’t cry… Rico, don’t cry…”

But my tears wouldn’t stop.

Nis-nim awkwardly patted my head and tried to wipe my tears, but my sobs only grew louder.