I hope this is a take you only apply to fiction bc wth
I’m pro death penalty for people who genuinely are beyond saving (pedophiles, people who sexually assault, murderers without remorse) but yes, it’s mostly fictional characters that I enjoy being killed off.
Also the “ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves” is an epic the musical quote… where Poseidon tells ody that he should have just killed his son instead of blinding him and telling him his name and title which is promptly followed by Poseidon killing 597 (odyssey) or 550 (epic) men under Odysseus’ command. It’s apt in this situation.
This is why we kill people. Everyone is “no murder!” “But human rights!” But these people don’t ever learn so why keep people with no humanity alive? As a very smart god would say “ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves”. He should have killed that bastard when he had the chance.