Chapter 10: Torture Division

The Tower of Dread’s(Name of the Fortress Headquarters) obsidian walls echoed with the faint sound of distant, eerie cries.

Inside, Kentaro sat at his desk, carefully reviewing some new paperwork.

He was almost starting to get used to the absurdities of Hell’s bureaucracy—almost.

But today, his inbox held an entirely new challenge.

The door to his office creaked open, and in walked a tall, formidable figure.

A woman, or rather, something akin to one—her fur-lined body, sharp claws, and golden eyes marked her as a beast of exceptional power.

This was Ragnora, the War Secretary, and she was clearly not here for small talk.

But instead of the usual “war-related” concerns, her presence was part of a larger, growing conflict between divisions.

“Ragnora.”

Kentaro greeted her, trying to keep his voice steady.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I need you to address an issue.”

Ragnora said, her voice deep and rumbling like distant thunder.

“The Torture Division is insisting on changing performance metrics. They’re using some ridiculous ‘pain output graph,’ and it’s interfering with our military objectives.”

Kentaro rubbed his temples.

“Pain output graphs?”

Ragnora snorted.

“Yes. Apparently, the Torture Division’s secretary is insisting that everything be measured in metrics—pain intensity, duration, suffering per minute… You name it.”

Kentaro took a deep breath.

This was the last thing he needed right now.

“I’m sure I can imagine the problem.”

He said.

“but let me guess, they’re demanding that we integrate these charts into the War Division’s performance reviews?”

Ragnora crossed her arms, her fur bristling slightly.

“Exactly. They think our warriors’ battle performance is just too uninspiring. So now, they want to include torture statistics to spice things up. Pain per warrior is apparently a better indicator of commitment.”

Kentaro let out a long sigh, silently praying for a cup of Soul Brew.

“I’ll handle this.”

He said, trying to maintain his composure.

“But first, I need to meet with this… secretary.”

With a wave of his hand, he gestured for Ragnora to leave, which she did with a small growl of frustration.

Kentaro turned his attention to the files in front of him, already dreading the upcoming encounter.

***

A few hours later, he found himself walking through a maze of stone corridors, with walls flickering under dim, smoky firelight.

The air was thick with a strange, acrid aroma that clung to everything.

Kentaro approached the Torture Division, feeling a shiver run up his spine as he entered the section of the Tower dedicated to all things infamous.

As he stepped inside, he was immediately greeted by the sound of eerie mechanical devices whirring and the distant wails of suffering.

In the center of the room stood a large, imposing figure, with dark leather armor and a mask that covered most of her face.

This was Seraphine, the secretary of the Torture Division.

Her appearance was unsettling—a quiet, calm demeanor that didn’t seem to fit the gruesome work she oversaw.

“Ah, Baalgron.”

She said, her voice like smooth silk, but with an unsettling edge.

“I was expecting you.”

Kentaro fought to keep his expression neutral.

“I assume you’re the one causing a little… disruption in the War Division?”

Seraphine smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming behind the mask.

“You could say that. The War Division has been failing in certain areas. And I believe we can improve their performance—significantly.”

Kentaro gave her a long, hard look.

“Pain metrics?”

He asked, gesturing to the charts in front of her.

“What do they have to do with battle readiness?”

“Everything.”

She replied, tapping one of the many intricate devices on the desk.

“Warriors fight with fury, but what fuels fury better than pain? My division collects data on suffering, extracting its essence to understand how it can be manipulated. I was simply offering the War Division a better way to measure commitment.”

Kentaro rubbed his temples.

“So instead of focusing on performance—strategy, battles, logistics—you want to add pain into the equation?”

Seraphine’s smile grew.

“Exactly. If you measure how much pain a warrior can endure, you can better predict their limit. The more they suffer, the more they fight.”

“Are you… are you seriously suggesting we base battle readiness on how much pain a warrior can handle?”

Kentaro asked, incredulous.

“It’s not just that.”

Seraphine purred, her voice cold with calculation.

“I’m offering a complete overhaul of how we evaluate warriors. Victory isn’t just about strength—it’s about resilience.”

Kentaro shifted uncomfortably.

“And you think the War Division is going to just accept that? They’ve got enough on their plate without you trying to throw torture metrics into the mix.”

“Of course.”

Seraphine said smoothly.

“But it’s for the greater good. The War Division’s inefficiency—you can see it in their results. My data will help you fix that.”

Kentaro stared at the charts, then back at Seraphine.

“And you’re not concerned about how this will affect morale? How the War Division might react?”

She let out a small laugh.

“Baalgron, my dear, you underestimate how motivated they’ll be when they see results. Numbers never lie.”

“Right.”

Kentaro said, adjusting his posture.

“But we’re not turning Hell into a pain factory.”

Seraphine’s smile never wavered.

“Then perhaps you’d like to explain that to Ragnora… and the Legion Commanders. I believe they will appreciate the new metrics more than you think.”

Kentaro sighed.

This was going to be a nightmare.

As he left the Torture Division, he felt the weight of the task ahead pressing down on him.

Trying to juggle the War Division’s constant bloodshed with the Torture Division’s revolutionary performance metrics was going to be one hell of a balancing act.

He could already hear the complaint forms piling up.

“Maybe I need a vacation.”

Kentaro muttered under his breath.

Author Note:

He had just joined lmao~