Undead Beast Master: Living Solely for My Desires-Chapter 339: Born to Judge

In a white room with not a single window in sight, a woman stood before rows of kids. She was clad in white robes that hid most of her body, only her flawless face out on display for the world to see.

Pursing her lips, she spoke, her voice elegant and gentle, as if speaking to her own child.

"Children, do not forget—even when it feels like you won't make the cut, the gods will surely support you. Do not lose faith or hope, for the gods will bless you all with powerful blessings."

The dozens of kids in the room smiled at her words, their young eyes sparkling with determination and hope.

"We will prove ourselves worthy!" all of them shouted in unison, their chests puffed up in pride.

The lesson for the day was over, meaning the kids were free to do what they wanted from now on.

"Eldros!" As soon as the lesson was over, a girl on the shorter side paced toward Eldros.

"Mani?" Hearing his name called out, he turned around only to see her adorable face, her cheeks puffed up in happiness.

"Do you want to take a stroll through the garden?" she offered.

Not having much to do, Eldros agreed.

The garden wasn't one of the biggest—about three hundred meters in width and length.

But most of the kids enjoyed playing here, as this was the only place where they could lay their eyes on plants; constantly staring at the white walls and ceilings was getting tiring after some time.

"Let's pray!" Mani suggested, stopping before one of the statues.

Both got on their knees and clasped their hands together, muttering a quiet prayer.

The day was over, and nothing noteworthy happened.

*****

"So what are blessings?" the woman asked, gazing around the classroom.

"Proof!" one of the boys present answered with confidence.

Flashing him a smile, the woman asked, "Can you elaborate?"

"If an individual has received a blessing, then that means they are worthy of the gods' affections! Without one, then we are nothing but unworthy vessels that should not be kept alive!"

Satisfied with the answer, the woman began to clap, and soon the whole classroom joined in.

After the theology class was over, they went to train their bodies to the limit. As per the will of the gods, the harder they trained, the more worthy they were deemed. Most continued until blood seeped from their hands and feet. Rest was permitted only when one collapsed and could no longer move.

The day was over, and nothing noteworthy happened.

*****

"Do you see these people?" the caretaker asked, pointing at rows of beaten men and women chained to the wall.

"They are unworthy. Much time has passed, and they still haven't received their blessings."

The row of kids looked at these people, not with pity but with disdain.

"But doesn't that mean they shouldn't be kept alive?" Mani asked.

A smile crossed the woman's face as she gently patted the girl's head. "That's right. And since you're soon coming of age, the higher-ups have granted you an opportunity. You are to end their lives."

The kids exchanged glances with one another, then without uttering a single word, they began to pick the weapons on display, taking steps toward the chained people.

"Wait!" one of the men cried out. "I am a believer too! Please just give me enough time—I am sure that the gods will deem me worthy—"

His plea was cut short as his throat was slit.

With few children present, each was required to kill at least three prisoners. When the task was complete, the kids were soaked in crimson blood, their expressions one of utter indifference.

"Eldros!" As soon as Mani was done, she paced toward him and offered to take a stroll through the garden.

He stared at her for a few moments. Her white dress was stained with blood, a smile still resting on her face.

Eldros smiled, extending his arm and wiping off a bit of blood that had gotten on her cheek.

"Sure," he replied.

*****

"It is time to show your unwavering faith!" their teacher announced, looking over the gathered children.

Half gazed upward, grinning. The rest knelt, staring at the floor in disbelief.

"Show your devotion to the gods. Eliminate the unworthy."

Eldros took a small dagger next to him, approaching the girl that was crying on her knees.

"Eldros?" Mani asked, lifting her face that was drenched in tears.

"Why? I did everything I was supposed to, didn't I? I didn't sin, I got rid of the unworthy, I pushed myself to the limit—so why haven't the gods granted me their blessings?" Her voice trembled, uncertain and confused.

Seeing the girl sobbing made Eldros hurt inside. Mani was his friend… no, not just a friend—he liked her far more than any of his other friends.

'Maybe there has to be a way,' he thought, briefly glancing at the teacher who was watching them.

The moment he did, a shiver ran down his spine. A simple gaze from her told him everything he needed to know: if he dared go against his teacher, if he dared defy the gods… he would be deemed unworthy.

"That is the will of the gods," Eldros replied, slitting her throat open.

Mani's eyes widened briefly as the spark in them was extinguished. She collapsed on the cold ground with a loud thud, a pool of blood forming beneath her lifeless body.

Eldros's eyes landed on the small dagger in his hand. His body trembled, yet he tried to hide it from his teacher's gaze.

'This is the will of the gods—they can do no wrong', he tried to reassure himself that he had done the right thing.

In about a minute, the class had been halved.

*****

Eventually, after enough time had passed, Eldros had grown and reached adulthood. As a final act of faith, he was required to defeat his former classmates. It wasn't a difficult battle—he managed to kill them all, earning himself the right to join the organization.

"Can you show us your powers?"one of the older men asked.

Now Eldros was being tested how powerful he truly was.

With a simple nod, he complied, summoning the Judgement Gaze.

The people watching him were impressed. This eye had long been spoken of as a myth, and what they were witnessing now was surely the real deal…

Yet, at the same time, they were frightened—there was a strange pressure bearing down on them, something unnatural that made their skin crawl.

If that was the case, could it be that this was the weight of their sins?

No, that wasn't possible—for they were the followers of the gods.

They bore no sins.

They could do no wrong.

Not sure how to handle the matter, they sent Eldros to be dealt with by the higher-ups.

He soon found himself standing in a grand hall, its ceiling stretching dozens of meters. Around him were cloaked men and women, some in white, others in black.

"So you say you can use the Judgement Gaze?"

The question came from beyond a veil—the Purifiers' highest member, his identity concealed.

Proud to speak to one so revered, Eldros answered, "Yes."

A few seconds of silence passed until the man beyond the veil spoke again,

"Can you demonstrate?"

With a simple nod, the Judgement Gaze appeared above his head.

Eldros was waiting patiently, a smile ready to spread—proud of having such a powerful ability.

'This is the will of the gods,' he thought. The very fact that he had the honor to stand before these people showed that all he had done up until now was worth it.

What he didn't know was that at this moment, all the people present began to breathe in ragged breaths due to the weight pressing upon them.

They were the most devoted followers of the gods, and yet the Judgement Gaze had such an effect on them?

An amused chuckle came beyond the veil.

"A pity."

Eldros's vision went blank, only to find himself in a cell being transported to a city.

"Wake up." A fat man with a green hat jolted him awake.

"Huh? Where am I?" he asked, dazed.

The man grinned. "You're a slave now. Nothing more. From here on out, you fight if you want to live."

This was how Eldros found himself in the slave city. Why the Purifiers had put him there remained a mystery to him.