Chapter 353 – Neutral Nation(6)

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The three Demon Lords who survived had to experience a neverending cycle of torture.

We utilized a rather special method as a way to show them our respect. Normally, people would shout at criminals, asking them what their crime was and to acknowledge it; however, I believed that was inefficient.

There was no way anyone would casually admit to their crimes if you threatened them. That was nothing more than a waste of time and would only make things hard for both the tortured and the torturer.

Let’s get rid of needless actions for the sake of both parties. I firmly believed that doing so would benefit the world.

“Kuh……. You damn traitor!”

Valefor glared daggers at me the moment I entered the torture chamber.

“I don’t know what you’re planning, but don’t think I’ll obediently follow along!”

I smiled brightly. It was a relief since he seemed to be overflowing with energy. I liked energetic people. Seeing someone act lively was enough to make my gloomy life feel a bit better.

I sat across from Valefor in silence. I then gave an order to the torturers.

“Begin.”

“Understood.”

Two of the best torturers were hired for this interrogation. It was Jeremi and Daisy. For the past three years, these two have tortured and killed more than three hundred people, having been ordered by me to do so. These two were no different from the Beethoven of the torture world.

“Huh? What are you—Kuahhhh!”

The lingchi execution was carried out.

Jeremi could resist Demon Lords because of the slave seal on her heart and Daisy was immune to the controlling power of Demon Lords because she was human. They were probably the best choices.

“Hggh! Guahhhh!”

This process involved slicing into the criminal’s flesh while they were still alive. This was lingchi, also known as death by a thousand cuts. It might be easier to understand if I said the flesh was slowly peeled from the bone and turned into a pig’s feet dish.

Lingchi is a process that gives its recipient an insane amount of pain. Normally, the process would begin after feeding the recipient some anesthetics; however, thanks to the blessing of the goddesses, Demon Lords can heal quickly thanks to their innate regenerative ability even if you slice off their flesh.

Thanks to this, you can practically fillet them infinitely!

Is this not a miraculous body? It doesn’t need anesthetic or potions. There was no other body capable of receiving neverending torture like this.

Referentially, neverending torture is a concept that Jeremi has been advocating, and it’s apparently the perfect slogan that fits the aesthetic of torture. According to her, torture must, “be as long as possible, as prolonged as possible, and do as little harm to the actual body as possible.”

I was curious at one point and decided to question her about this.

‘Why mustn’t you harm the body when you’re torturing them?’

‘Geez, what a silly question. Why are you asking something so obvious? What I want to torture is people, not lumps of flesh.’

Jeremi answered with an incredibly matter-of-fact tone.

‘What fun is there in torturing someone with a ruined face and shattered limbs? I only feel rewarded when I see people scream, people shed tears, and people struggle desperately.’

This woman also has a loose screw in her head.

Regrettably, Jeremi’s sense of aesthetics was passed down to her greatest pupil, Daisy.

Through the use of various anesthetics and potions, the two of them had managed to kill a human adventurer after stabbing them “forty thousand times.” The adventurer was apparently alive during all forty thousand stabs. Dear Lord.

“Your Highness, I have a good feeling about today.”

Jeremi hummed happily.

“We might be able to reach a new record today. Sixty thousand, no, we might even reach sixty-five thousand. And we might be able to reach that high without using any potions! Demon Lords are the best!”

“Sheesh. You nut job.”

I clicked my tongue in disapproval as I shook my head. There was nothing you could do if someone went insane but within the realm of rationality. From early times, people who became like this were irredeemable.

Valefor’s face went pale once he heard Jeremi’s words. The fact that he could go pale despite his dark skin was amusing.

“Kugh, how could you skip everything and go straight to torturing!? Should you not start by questioning me first!?”

I tilted my head.

“If I asked you to acknowledge your guilt, then would you do so obediently?”

“I did not commit any crimes or make any mistakes. There is nothing to acknowledge!”

“See?”

My shoulders shrugged on their own.

“It’s obvious that you will not answer me properly even if I asked. Why would I waste my time asking pointless questions, then? It’d be better to simply torture you until I am exhausted.”

“W-What…….”

“I am a rather busy person despite my appearance. I do not have time to waste.”

I gave Jeremi a glance, signaling her to hurry up and get started already.

“I will do my utmost so that we can spend a meaningful time together.”

“W-Wait a se—Guahhhh!”

Valefor struggled against the chains that were holding him against the wall. However, he was bound so firmly that moving his head up and down was the most he could do. I rotated between torture chambers every two hours to torture the Demon Lords.

Like this, the first day went by with nothing but torture.

The method changed slightly on the second day.

“Valefor, what is your favorite food?”

I would throw in meaningless questions during the torture. Naturally, the other party would refuse to answer because of the anger they had built up due to the torture.

“Stop……with your nonsense!”

“Oh? Very well, then.”

I could only shrug and continue my torture if the other party refused to answer.

An interesting thing happened at this point.

Three Demon Lords had survived and they were being tortured on a 2-hour rotation. Therefore, this meant that after being tortured, they could rest for 4 hours.

4 hours of rest, this was the key point.

They would use this time to recover from their wounds and gain a type of mental comfort. They’ll be able to recollect themselves after almost submitting to the hard torture.

‘No matter how bad it is, as long as I can endure for two hours,’ this belief on its own was enough to sustain them.

Another important factor was that even if they were using different torture chambers, the three Demon Lords were all enduring the same torture. I’m not the only one suffering. My comrades are also enduring the same pain. This sort of mentality is also applied.

Therefore, being assured a certain amount of rest after being tortured and this group mentality were key points. This was why their defiance remained firm despite receiving such horrendous levels of torture.

But what if those two things started to fall apart?

“……?”

Valefor gave me a weird look once I entered his torture chamber. It was understandable. Four hours haven’t passed since I last tortured him, after all. I think it has roughly been three hours.

“I do not believe it should be my turn yet.”

“There has been a change in schedule.”

Daisy came following behind me while holding the torture instruments and went right to Valefor’s side. Daisy only had an assisting role yesterday, but she was the main torturer today.

“We will now recommence your torture.”

“Hah, there is no point in focusing your torture on me. We will not answer you.”

“I wonder about that.”

I smiled widely. Did he suddenly feel uneasy? Valefor furrowed his brows.

“……What are you implying?”

“Why do you think your torture was pulled forward? It is because someone had happily answered my question.”

“No……that is impossible.”

Valefor scowled as if he didn’t believe me.

“What is so surprising? It is not like a particularly notable question was answered. What your favorite food is and which race did you fall in love with first. These are questions that even children can answer.”

“…….”

“However, I like individuals who can hold a reasonable conversation. That is why I decided to finish that individual’s torture session there and go to the next person.”

“Then, shall we begin?” I said as I ordered Daisy to proceed with the torture.

The same torture as yesterday was carried out, but there was now one difference.

The Demon Lords had discovered something.

“Valefor, what is your favorite type of alcohol?”

“…….”

The fact that their torture sessions would be shortened if they answered my questions.

They thus start to contemplate. They snapped back last time saying to not ask stupid questions, but now they have no choice but to think about it. A simple question with a simple answer. A single answer could reduce how much they’re tortured…….

“……Did you come to me to hear a pointless answer? It seems you have come to the wrong place.”

“Is that so? I understand.”

He refused at first. However, there was a lack of energy in his refusal. His silence gave birth to hesitation and wavering.

Valefor endured for his full two hours.

However, when I returned again after barely two hours had passed since his session, Valefor’s eyes filled with shock. I returned his speechless gaze with a splendid grin.

“The others are rather nice conversation partners. My work was also reduced thanks to them.”

“I-Impossible.”

“Not everyone is as stubborn as you. Now, shall we begin?”

An hour had passed since we had recommenced Valefor’s torture. I threw out a simple question like usual. No matter how strong Valefor’s will was, he had probably reached his limit. He slowly spoke with trembling lips.

“Wine…… I enjoy the wine from Sardinia.”

The premises had fallen. I can rest for four hours if I endure for two and my comrades are also enduring the same level of torture…… These premises had collapsed.

I smiled brightly.

“Oh, wine is it? I also enjoy wine. But does the wine made in the human world not feel lacking? I personally believe that the bottles of wine made in Naraka are of the highest quality.”

“……As expected of a contemptible man who only pursues luxury goods.”

“Is there perhaps a specific region that you recommend?”

A trivial conversation.

This trifling conversation that would normally have no meaning held a hefty weight to it now. Torture could be momentarily avoided through small talk. A three-minute conversation held more value than a one-minute conversation, and a ten-minute conversation obviously held more value than a three-minute conversation.

“Very well. I am in a good mood now thanks to you. I shall gratefully skip your turn and go to the next individual.”

I would stand up and leave whenever the conversation ended.

The same thing naturally happened with the other Demon Lords as well. I’d ask another simple question and we’d share a slight conversation.

“What is your favorite color?”

“A centaur was your first love? That is interesting. Please tell me more.”

“What is the most bothersome thing about managing a Demon Lord Castle?”

The Demon Lords would endure the torture for about an hour before they answered my questions.

However, that endurance time gradually shrunk from one hour to thirty minutes and then fifteen minutes……. Before the day came to an end, some of them answered my question as soon as I arrived.  The amount of time it took between Demon Lords drastically shortened as well.

Like this, the second day of torture ended.

The third day was the same.

However, the contents of the questions had changed.

“I heard that some archdukes supported the assassination attempt. Is this true?”

“What……?”

Valefor looked at me as if I said something preposterous.

“If the assassination succeeds, then the archdukes could cause a ruckus in the demon world. Were you not planning to take advantage of that confusion to seize the political world?”

“What nonsense. We rose up on our own initiative!”

“I see. I understand.”

The three Demon Lords endured for two hours in the morning.

However, I deliberately skipped one of the Demon Lords to re-visit Valefor. His eyes shook greatly when he saw me enter the room.

“You are lying……. There is no way anyone would have agreed to that question!”

“You are free to think whatever you want, Valefor.”

I smiled.

“Now let us begin.”

Once Valefor’s four-hour break shrunk down to three, two, and then finally thirty minutes, Valefor could no longer endure. Valefor became ragged as his healing ability couldn’t keep up with the torture.

“Let me ask you again.”

“…….”

“Did the archdukes support your group?”

Fourth day.

I had obtained ‘testimonies’ on a memoria artifact that claimed eleven archdukes were involved in the assassination.

To be perfectly honest, none of the other Demon Lords had obediently answered my question on the second day. Like I did on the fourth day, I deliberately skipped a person and sent Jeremi to torture them instead.

Doubt is the biggest enemy of trust. This simple fact was displayed fully during the torture.

I received approval from the other factions and gave an order as soon as I left the prison tower.

“Bring the archdukes in.”

Now then.

It was time for a purge.