Hell's Paradise (地獄楽)

Beheading requires an extremely high level of skill.

The neck, being composed of strong bones

and more than ten layers of muscles,

is not easily severed.

Any last words?

No.

Removing the head in a single blow

is nearly impossible.

Most often, it requires a number of strikes,

which makes it a horrific sight to behold.

Impossible.

Why is it that I can't die?

Or rather, that I won't die?

I have no attachment to life.

I've slaughtered more people than I can count.

So I never expected to live for very long.

Gabimaru, born a shinobi

in the village of Iwagakure.

As a child, you studied nothing but killing techniques.

Many lose their lives during the training that you endured,

but survivors achieve superhuman bodies.

That makes sense.

Since you're from Iwagakure,

breaking a sword with your flesh is a simple task, right?

Yeah, exactly.

And that guy was so shitty with a sword,

I didn't even need ninjutsu.

You can use ninjutsu?

Would you mind demonstrating for me?

Why?

Just my personal interest.

Then no.

Burn him at the stake!

Burning at the stake is traditionally

the punishment for arson.

Searing the flesh creates unbearable pain

while the extreme heat causes muscles to shrink,

which contorts the body so severely

that the bones are broken.

Ultimately, the target dies

either by suffocation or by poisoning from the smoke.

This execution method is known to be particularly painful.

In some cases, the person is killed

beforehand as an act of mercy.

Uhh. Sorry about that.

What? But how? The flames are so high!

Believe me.

Despite what it looks like, this isn't on purpose.

If anything, I want you to kill me.

If you say so.

If you're not looking at me anyway,

you might as well give me some clothes.

Please?

Your nudity doesn't make a difference either way.

My job is to create a record. Continue.

So you wanted to know my background?

It's pretty dull.

That's my job.

My parents? No clue.

I know they were killed

by the village chief when I was a baby.

But I don't know why.

Doesn't bother me.

Dreams? None.

Shinobi don't have some grand purpose.

They just kill as they're told.

How did I get captured?

Well, let's see if I remember.

I tried to leave the village,

but my cohorts betrayed me

and I got caught while I was out on a job.

I assume the chief put them up to it.

It's forbidden for anyone to leave the village.

I don't blame them.

So, what made you want to run away in the first place?

An execution by bulls!

In this form of execution,

ropes attached to the target's legs are tied to bulls.

Human legs can withstand up to 500 kilograms of force,

but a bull can exert up to 950 kilograms.

This method not only removes the legs,

but splits the victim in two from groin to chest.

Huh. I, uh...

This is an embarrassment

to the magistrate's office!

You! Bring out some more bulls!

It's strange.

What, my indestructible body?

Not that.

Despite your claims that you didn't want to live,

it still appeared as though you were resisting.

Why would a person with no will to live...

No, actually, tell me why you wanted

to get away from the village.

Do you still refuse to answer that question?

Who cares about the record, hurry up and--

Please, let me work.

Uh, ma'am? The bulls--

Please, let me work.

All right.

Please let me--

It's nothing interesting.

I was the best in Iwagakure.

The chief held me in high regard,

and I ended up getting married to his daughter.

But as it turned out, that girl was a complete idiot.

How does a shinobi, let alone the chief,

have a daughter who's that stupid?

Her sheltered childhood made her naive.

And she turned my entire life upside-down.

Remove your shoes when you're inside the house.

And you should always remember to pray at least once every day.

Say "thanks for the meal" at dinner.

To show respect for the life we've taken.

After a while, I got fed up with her.

I was afraid I'd lose my edge.

If those are your feelings, then there's nothing to be done.

All right. I'm prepared to honor your wishes,

but there is one final thing

that I'd like you to do for me first.

I knew I'd been set up.

But I also knew his cohorts would follow me,

even if I got away.

I'd fallen into their trap.

I realized I'd been foolish to defy the chief

in the first place, so I just surrendered.

And that's it.

It's kind of a boring reason.

I hope you'll forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn,

but because you're a woman,

I don't think you should involve yourself with him.

Has anyone told you what his name is?

Former shinobi from Iwagakure. Gabimaru, correct?

Well, there's another name he goes by.

Gabimaru the Hollow.

He's empty, no blood or tears.

That monster slaughtered 20 men

when they arrested him.

They say the shinobi from there take some drink,

it's known as the Elixir of Life.

The legendary medicine of immortality

that comes from Shinsenkyo.

The Elixir.

I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm sure I must sound crazy.

But regardless of all that, he's dangerous!

I doubt that somehow.

Well. If he's really so hollow,

then why fight 20 men to live?

There'd be no reason.

Despite your claims that you didn't want to live,

it still appeared as though you were resisting.

She's right. What am I doing?

I have no attachment to life, so why don't I just die already?

Tomorrow, when they try to execute me again,

that's when I'll end it.

Death by boiling, also known as death by cauldron,

uses a massive amount of hot oil.

However, the oil combusts

at a temperature of 370 degrees Celsius,

so the earthen pots commonly used in the Edo period

were unable to withstand the heat for very long.

Why won't I die? Why keep suffering?

I have no attachments. I should be empty.

You little rat! How am I to kill you?

Sir. It's done.

The arrangements have been made.

I'll begin when you're ready.

What kind of execution this time?

And how long are you going to keep trying?

It's starting to get old for me.

We've finally found a way to shut you up for good.

Uhh, what?

Don't be mistaken, this woman isn't just another inspector.

She's a sword-tester, sent to us from Edo.

Meet the executioner,

Yamada Asaemon Sagiri.

The term "Yamada Asaemon" is the trade name

for the ronin of the renowned Yamada Clan.

These extremely skilled warriors have offered their talents

as sword-testers and executioners

for many generations.

They are a clan of master swordsmen,

able to behead a target with a single blow.

You're a female Asaemon?

That's correct, yes.

And you're Gabimaru of Isshu,

the runaway shinobi I've been ordered to cut down.

You wanted someone to kill you.

I'm here to grant your wish.

If anyone can end my life, it's her.

Quick, Sagiri!

Kill him where he stands!

As you wish, sir.