Room of Judgment

"One in every thousand souls can move freely in my office."

"If I stamp a million soul papers daily, you can imagine the number that can move freely."

"That's a lot," I remarked.

"Mainly because they've become fully conscious. As I mentioned earlier, if a soul goes through two or three reincarnations, it becomes semi-conscious, and at the end of its time, it becomes fully conscious."

"So, the majority souls moving freely are the ones who come to me for the reborn process. There are always exceptions like you."

"When they undergo the test, they try to approach it positively, thinking that if they do good deeds or try to act good, even if that's not their true nature, they'll pass. However, it doesn't work that way."

"Sometimes, the ROJ presents them with a scenario they've already experienced in a physical form. Most souls make decisions different from their original choices to create a positive impression. However, this often leads them to fail the test, even after completing it."

"So if you want to pass, be yourself."

Silence fell, and after a few moments, Chitragupta said words that hit me like lightning.

"Mostly, semi-conscious souls can also feel and see this place but don't remember it after reincarnation. You, too, will not recall our conversation, this place, or your past life."

"Wait, so you explained all this to me, knowing that?"

"Yes."

My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Then why waste your time explaining?"

"Well, because I can talk with someone after who knows how many years."

"So, for that reason, you explained all this about souls, karma, and other stuff to me."

"Yes," he calmly nodded.

I was going crazy after learning I wouldn't remember anything.

"Why are you so frustrated?"

"Because I can't use this whole karma thing in my next life."

The next thing Chitragupta said made my head hurt.

"Even if you remember, you can't use it."

"So you're saying your long lecture is useless?"

"Yes."

"Please explain it properly before we get canceled."

"What is there to explain? A person can't use karma even if they fully understand it."

"My story ends before it starts,"

I said, sitting in a corner, crying about my life.

"The reason I told you was to make you aware of this place's function and role in every living being's life."

"Think from your perspective; let's say you remember everything. Imagine in your next life, someone very dear to you gets attacked by your enemy and barely survives."

"What will be your first reaction?"

"I'll be sad and angry and try to punish the attacker for all the pain my loved ones felt," I replied.

"That's what I'm saying. You are not going be thinking about karma and stuff."

"Or would you say, 'They are just getting their karma?'"

I shook my head.

"No, obviously. If you say 'yes,' it's nonsense because you don't know if they are really getting their karma or just got unlucky."

"And karma isn't like points you can use whenever you want. Even if it were, I don't have powers to give you a system thing, allowing you to use your karma and get overpowered with it."

Chitragupta spoke this entire monologue with a straight face.

"A last thing before your test: Bad karma and good karma don't cancel each other. If you think doing good deeds decreases your bad karma, then there is no one more delusional than you. Bad karma and good karma receive punishments and rewards separately."

"The most important thing is that not all things happen because of karma. There is more to life than karma."

"Well, that's it."

The paper appeared, and Chitragupta took the stamp.

"Here you go."

"Wait–"

STAMP!

Before I could ask anything, Chitragupta stamped the paper, and my soul got sucked into it.

The paper flew towards the door and entered the Room of Judgment.

"May the universe be with you,"

Chitragupta murmured as he watched.

The page gracefully glided into the dark expanse inside the Room of Judgment. My soul emerged as the paper vanished into the void.

Surveying the surroundings, I found myself immersed in an inky abyss.

"Why is it so dark?"

[Welcome]

A golden window materialised, accompanied by a melodious female voice.

[Analysing Soul#5412H4648 data.]

[Please wait.]

After a few moments,

[All the data has been analysed.]

[Creating Test.]

The room instantly transformed into a pure white space. Every surface was pure white, from the walls and ceiling to the floor, table, and chairs.

A golden coin glistened on the flawless table, reflecting the light.

The window appeared.

[Please take the coin.]

I walked to the table and picked it up.

[To pass the test, you have to toss the coin.]

"That's it? I only have to toss it?"

[Yes.]

I examined the coin; one side featured an engraved tower structure, the other an inkpot with a peacock feather.

"Are you sure?"

[Yes.]

For some reason, I felt nervous.

After a few moments, I tossed the coin.

The coin ascended with steady rotation. Strangely, time seemed to pass slowly.

Tink!

The coin descended and settled.

After it stopped, I looked at which side was up - the tower side.

[Test result confirmed, reincarnation begins.]

'Is that all? Then why did I feel so nervous?'

[Half of the karma has been balanced.]

[A significant karma amount is balanced simultaneously, so you may experience side effects in your next life.]

"Wait, side effects? What kind?"

The ROJ ignored my question.

[Place found for reincarnation.]

[Soul#54124648 will reincarnate in 5 seconds.]

[5]

[4]

[3]

[2]

[May the universe be with you.]

As my soul slowly faded, I had a worried look on my face about the side effects. It was as if my thoughts were read.

[Chitragupta said, "Don't worry about side effects; try to live a fulfilling life."]

[ROJ agrees with Chitragupta.]

Hearing those words comforted me as my soul vanished.

Outside, Chitragupta observed everything. After my soul disappeared, he remarked,

"He is reincarnating in a place heading towards stability."

[Yes]

"Sigh, I thought I would retire and live peacefully somewhere, but I guess I'm not done yet."

[...]

"Let's get to work."

Chitragupta disappeared and reappeared in his white room, settling into the chair. Snapping his fingers, a teapot filled the empty cup with warm tea before vanishing.

Taking a sip, Chitragupta placed the cup down. He picked up the hourglass, where all the sand had fallen to one side. Flipping it, he put it back, allowing the sand to fill the empty side.

As he snapped again, papers appeared on his desk, and countless souls materialised before him. Then he resumed stamping the papers.