Karl frowned as he watched the young beastman endure the violent lashings of the Task Enforcer. Blood streamed down the beastman’s bare back, and his black-furred tail wagged frantically in a frenzied dance. Despite the faint growls the beastman made, it was obvious the pain from the iron-inlaid cane was excruciating. But he could only growl and whimper, for he was one of the many unfortunate enough to have been born non-human. His only crime was simply resting for 30 seconds. He was merely a beastman; he was not allowed such luxury.
Many of his kind did not protest and merely returned to their monotonous task of slaughtering pigs. The rough mountain stone walls, now covered in thick red blood, exuded a pungent scent that was both nauseating and mind-numbing. Karl, however, had grown accustomed to it, though he would still prefer not to have to smell it.
Soon, the growls of the young beastman were drowned out by the resounding booms that echoed through the cave, lit by the eternal lamps hanging on the walls—at a height none of the beastmen could reach. The cultivator did not want to risk a mutiny.
In the middle of the rather spacious room stood a large stone cauldron, its body dripping fresh blood over much older, dried stains. Above it, hanging a few meters away, a black pillar was steadily retreating upward. It had numerous ropes attached to it, connecting to special wheels on the roof and drawing downward. The ropes were pulled by several beastmen, gradually lifting the pillar farther and farther from the cauldron.
They let go.
Boom!
The pillar crashed into a much wider cauldron. Blood and chunks of flesh flew out and splattered on the ground. This flesh, however, did not stay there long as beastwomen rushed over to pick it up, placing it inside black basins.
One would think that in no reality would beastmen be subservient to humans, but that does not seem to be the case. Karl looked down at the squirming pig held between his knees, his eyes cold as his small, well-maintained knife slit through the pig’s fat neck. Warm blood spewed onto his hand, but he did not move, steadily holding the pig as life gradually faded from its once vibrant eyes. This had been his life for the past two years. Now he was sixteen, and even now, he did not like it.
He took the pig’s corpse, turned, and placed it inside an iron-netted basket. Standing before him was a young beastwoman with auburn hair. Her fur was a rarity among the black-furred beastmen. She was Astrid, the girl who always smiled.
“I hear the Cultivator is visiting today,” Astrid said, bending to carry the netted basket. She hefted it between her hips and stomach, bending backward while straining to bend the other way. She soon reached the cauldron and threw the pig into it before returning to Karl. Her face was now laced with sweat, but a constant smile still plagued her hard, dry lips.
“No need. I’m done with my quota,” Karl said to Astrid as she approached.
Confirming the truth of his words, the female beastwoman glanced past Karl. The small square barn was empty. This was where the pigs were kept every night to be slaughtered in the morning. No one could leave until they had finished their quota. But this meant that even she was done since her work was directly tied to his.
“That’s nice!” Astrid said with a smile. Now, all that remained was to inform the Task-Enforcer of their completed task. But seeing as he was rather occupied, the beastwoman could only grin but not approach him.
Then, from the cave entrance located in Karl’s line of sight, a figure bathed in both the white light of the sun and a faint redness entered the dark, gloomy cave. The mere act of walking in was enough to highlight the features of the newcomer. His black cloak cascaded down, dragging red dust and blood as he moved. He had the usual black hair, dark eyes, and a faintly pale complexion.
Rumors say he’s an undead. At least, that’s what he evolved into. For such a person, just what kind of thoughts would he have? Karl used his hands to adjust his black-furred tail, pushing it between his legs as a sign of fear.
The rest of the beastmen exhibited similar reactions. This was Tobias, a nobleman and the flesh cultivator of this pig farm. But due to his ruthless nature, his very presence was enough to instill dread in the beastmen.
Everyone is afraid. This must mean the Gu will be having a feast, Karl thought, right on cue as something began to crawl out from the ground beneath him. A small, translucent worm emerged, its size equivalent to a baby’s finger. It crawled past him, moving toward one of the beastmen whose tail was also tucked between his legs.
Multiple such creatures followed suit, moving toward the terrified beastmen.
None of them approached Karl.
However, as a beastman spotted the approaching worms, he leaped up in fear. Others followed suit, moving to the walls, shivering, their eyes wide as they watched the swarm of worms attracted by their fear.
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It was ironic that beastmen feared Gu, yet there existed Gu who fed on fear. It was basically a feast for the latter. Karl quickly rushed to a wall beside a terrified beastman. He, too, curled up and began whimpering softly. But on closer observation, none of the worms approached him; they only targeted the young beastman whose furred ears were bent and whose tail shook between his legs.
The flesh cultivator, Tobias, stared at the apprehensive beastmen, his pale face holding a frown. How dare these creatures be more afraid of Gu than of me! How dare they!
He shot a glare at the Task-Enforcer, who had a worm slumped atop his shoulder. “Kill four!”
The Task-Enforcer quivered for a moment. The fear Gu perched atop his shoulder wiggled in response before lying silent. The tall enforcer, with black hair and eyes of the same color, bore a scar that crossed between his left eye and his cheek. This was a mark given to all Task-Enforcers.
To give pain, they must first experience it.
The man was not opposed to it. But over his years as a Task-Enforcer, the lord had never asked for beastmen to be killed so randomly. They usually only dispatched the old, weak, or disabled ones, not able-bodied individuals. Something must have angered the lord, and it was likely not related to the beastmen’s behavior.
The task enforcer knew his master well and did not attempt to express defiance. He turned with his iron-inlaid cane, his eyes scanning the cave. He spotted a few candidates, particularly a young girl in the distance. With rare auburn hair and a wide smile, the girl shivered at the edge of his sight.
A smile curled up on the Task-Enforcer’s lips. This was the girl who had embarrassed him with her smile. Even when he offered her a chance to bed with him, she dared only grin! Suddenly, the idea of killing this beastwoman became very entertaining. They were filth and should be grateful to even have a chance to lay with their betters, not mock them with a grin.
Tobias watched his Task-Enforcer as he approached a beastman with blood dripping down his body. It was the one who had been flogged earlier.
A blade was drawn in the enforcer’s hands, his steps firm as he approached a scurrying young beastman, no older than seventeen.
With wide eyes, the Task-Enforcer sneered, “You should pray to your gods. Which one is it? Is it the Pure White, the Desire, or maybe the Untamed Storms? Or do you worship those pagan ones?” The blade was poised as he grabbed the beastman by the neck.
His large hands easily covered the scrawny neck of the young lad, squeezing tightly and blocking the airway.
The beastman thrashed about, his hands scratching at the Task-Enforcer. However, with their claws long cut and unable to grow back, his desperate actions were futile, as the enforcer felt nothing but gentle taps on his body.
The fear Gu quickly swarmed the beastman, crawling onto his body and festering all over. The young beastman trembled. Fear surged through him—fear of death and fear of the Gu. They both mixed together to produce an overwhelming sensation of dread. His eyes bulged, tears streamed down his face, saliva spewed out, and his body jolted in defiance of the strong arm that crushed his windpipe.
The Task-Enforcer stared with delight, but knowing the fun would soon end, he briefly released his grip before tightening it again.
The beastman felt a glimmer of hope as the pressure on his throat lessened. But that hope was quickly extinguished as the grip intensified once more. Yet again, the grip relaxed before tightening once more.
It was a cycle of pain and relief!
“No!” the beastman struggled to say. “I... don’t... want to... die!”
“Oh? You don’t want to die?” The Task-Enforcer’s eyes gleamed with a strange intensity. “Then you shouldn’t have been born as something other than human. You might as well not even exist. And do you know the worst part?” He tightened his grip further. “It’s that you were leisurely resting, not even attempting to pay off the debt of your existence. And now you say you don’t want to die?”
“I... just... want... freedom!”
The beastmen shivering against the walls suddenly stopped. Their gaze was drawn to the young lad whose life was rapidly fading from his dark eyes. They all knew him. Volker was his name.
He was a kind boy born on the farm. His mother had passed away at the moment of his birth. But despite all this, he had been cheerful—at least in the beginning. But like anything born on these farms, his smile eventually faded. Yet, he remained kind, often taking on the job quota of the weakened after completing his own. This was the very act that had landed him in trouble with the Task Enforcer. And now, this young soul was about to leave them, to journey into the dark Sea of Souls.
All because he wasn’t born human... But they could do nothing. They simply lowered their heads in apathy and hummed a calm tune—a tune to mourn the departing or the departed.
A few seconds later, the struggling body went limp. The last breath had escaped his lungs.
Letting go of the corpse, the Task Enforcer took his knife and slashed off the beastman’s ears and tail. They sold well in the market. He could make a couple of ments from them.
Tobias watched this with a satisfied gaze. However, he was also thankful for another matter.
Thankfully, there are no swordsmen here today, Tobias thought. I can’t have this making its way to the capital. Although killing beastmen is nothing, doing so for no reason becomes a problem, especially if they work for me. It could ruin my reputation, making me seem like a ruthless murderer.
Normally, murder in the Empire’s lands was illegal, but these were merely beastmen. Their lives held no value, and only through their bodies could they wash away the stain of being born almost human. How dare they be almost human? What a sinful act! And even if that wasn’t the case, if no one was around to tell the tale, then did the crime even happen?
“Lord Tobias! The notary has arrived!” A voice shattered the half-solemn atmosphere. A figure emerged from the cave entrance.
An old man, dressed in a black coat with golden buttons down the side, approached the flesh cultivator. He had age-induced wrinkles, an experienced gaze, and lips that were moist and fresh—a stark contrast to the old, torn ones of the beastmen.
“So soon?” Tobias asked, his gaze troubled. “Wasn’t he due tomorrow?”
“He was, but the notary said he came early because he was invited for a similar deal with Lord Walter,” the man explained without a moment to catch his breath.
“What?” Tobias’s eyes flared with anger. “Am I not important enough to have a notary wait for the appropriate time? I bet he came early just to be on time at Walter’s behest. That brazen fool who only knows how to sleep with the vixens of the Pleasure Pavilion.”
“But sir, he is a Pleasure-Master,” the butler was quick to correct his lord