Hell's Paradise (地獄楽)

Beheading requires a high degree of skill.

The neck, which is composed of strong bones

and more than ten layers of muscles, is not easily severed.

Any last words?

No.

Furthermore, beheading a person with a single blow is next to impossible.

In most cases, several blows are required to behead a person,

which makes executions a horrific spectacle.

Impossible.

Why? Why can't I die?

No, why won't I die?

I have no attachment to life.

I've killed countless people until now.

I don't expect to live a long life.

Your name is Gabimaru.

Born a shinobi in the village of Iwagakure,

you studied only assassination techniques since you were a child.

Many lose their lives during training, but in exchange,

those who survive develop superhuman bodies.

I see.

For someone from Iwagakure,

breaking a blade with your own flesh is a simple task.

Well, yeah.

Someone that shitty with a sword can't hurt me.

I didn't even have to use any ninjutsu.

You can use ninjutsu?

Could you show me some?

Why?

As a matter of personal interest.

In that case, no.

Burn him at the stake!

Being burnt at the stake is normally the punishment for arson.

Searing the flesh inflicts incredible pain.

The heat causes the muscles to shrink,

bending the body so severely that bones break.

Ultimately, the person dies when they suffocate

or are poisoned by the smoke produced by the flame.

It is an incredibly painful execution method.

Sometimes the person is killed beforehand as a mercy.

Uh, sorry.

B-But the flames are enormous...

I'm not trying to resist.

If anything, I wish you'd kill me.

I see.

If you're gonna look away, then why not give me clothes?

C'mon, c'mon.

My job is to record events, and your nudity is no obstacle.

Please continue.

My background's not very interesting, you know.

It's my job.

My parents? I dunno.

I was only told they were killed by the village chief when I was a baby.

I don't know why.

I don't have any feelings about it.

Dreams? Don't have any.

Shinobi don't have any great purpose.

They just kill as they're told.

Why was I caught?

Well, uh...

I tried to leave the village.

I was captured on a job when my cohorts betrayed me.

The village chief probably put them up to it.

The village doesn't allow anyone to leave.

It's not like they had a choice.

Why did you try to leave the village in the first place?

Have him torn apart by bulls!

In execution by bulls, ropes tied to a person's legs are pulled by bulls.

Human legs can withstand up to 500 kilograms of force,

but bulls exert 950 kilograms of force.

The method not only removes the person's legs,

but also splits them from groin to chest.

Oh, uh...

At this rate, the magistrate's office will be disgraced.

Bring more bulls!

It's strange.

My shinobi's body?

No.

Despite saying you want to be killed, it seems to me as though you were resisting.

Why would someone with no will to live...

Never mind.

Why did you try to leave the village?

Will you answer the question I asked you yesterday?

Who cares about the record? Just kill—

I'm working.

Um, the bulls—

I'm working.

Whatever.

I'm work...

It wasn't for an interesting reason.

I was the best in Iwagakure.

I had the chief's recognition, and married his daughter.

But his daughter was a real idiot.

I don't know how a shinobi's,

much less the chief's daughter, ends up like that.

She was a carefree, naïve, and sheltered girl.

She turned my life upside down.

Remove your shoes when you come inside.

Pray once a day.

Say "thanks for the meal" together and express gratitude for the life we've taken.

I was totally bewildered, and I got fed up with her.

I didn't want to lose my edge.

If that's the case, then there's no helping it.

But could you do one last job for me?

I knew I'd been set up.

But I also knew the people of Iwagakure would follow me everywhere, even if I escaped.

It was over the moment I was caught in their trap.

It was stupid of me to defy the chief in the first place, so I gave up.

Well? Not a very interesting reason, is it?

Perhaps I should mind my own business,

but a woman shouldn't get involved with him.

Do you know what his name is?

Isn't he Gabimaru, former shinobi of Iwagakure?

I mean his other name.

Gabimaru the Hollow.

He's a hollow man, without blood or tears.

A monster who killed 20 men when he was arrested.

Rumor is the shinobi of Iwagakure consume an Elixir of Life.

The medicine of immortality that comes from Shinsenkyo.

The Elixir...

Forgive me for speaking such nonsense.

In any case, he's dangerous.

Are you sure about that?

Why would a hollow man fight back so hard that he killed 20 people?

Despite saying you want to be killed, it seems to me as though you were resisting.

She's right. What am I doing?

Why don't I just die?

I have no attachment to life.

Tomorrow. I'll end it all tomorrow.

With tomorrow's execution...

Death by boiling, also known as death by cauldron, uses a large quantity of oil.

Because oil combusts at a temperature of over 370 degrees, however,

it could not be kept boiling long in the earthen pots used during the Edo period.

Why won't I die?

Why am I still enduring this?

I should have no lingering attachments.

I should be empty.

Damn it! Why won't you die?

Sir, the arrangements have been made.

I'm ready to start at any time.

What kind of execution is it this time?

Honestly, I'm getting tired of this.

When are you going to...

This will shut you up.

What is this?

She's no mere inspector.

She's a sword-tester sent here from Edo.

The executioner Yamada Asaemon Sagiri.

Yamada Asaemon is the trade name of the Yamada Clan ronin

who have served as sword-testers and executioners for generations.