The Heroes Who Executed Me Are Obsessed With Me

The Demon King’s Castle.

It was said there were three in total, but in truth, there was a fourth.

The Fourth Castle: Barungenia.

Unlike the others, it was built for concealment. Unless one ventured deep into a narrow canyon, it couldn’t be found.

Whoosh!

Passing through a winding path that seemed like any other broad passageway, they finally emerged into a vast chamber, and before them stretched the full, overwhelming view of the Demon King’s Castle.

“This place…”

Three spires rose toward the ceiling, each crowned with a glowing Watcher’s Eye. The pitch-black walls, painted in shades darker than night, exuded a cold and solemn grandeur.

Even before Clay could finish taking in the overwhelming sight, his body tensed.

“This is the Demon King’s Castle?”

『Yes.』

Beatrice’s voice was quiet.

『It was built as a refuge.』

With a few strong wingbeats, she descended slowly to the ground.

Rumble…

From the ceiling above, countless gargoyles shed their stone forms and landed in front of her.

『Identify yourself.』

A red-winged gargoyle at the front opened its mouth to speak.

『I am Beatrice, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s Army. Guardian Supreme, untouched by light.』

She gave the official passphrase without hesitation.

『Barungenia, the Fourth Castle, welcomes you. But you already know why we cannot offer a grand reception.』

Blood-like tears flowed from the gargoyles’ eyes.

『The one who never hid, the Dark One, has fallen.』
『I know.』

Beatrice looked at them solemnly.

『By sacred law, I, the next in line, will act as the Dark One’s successor. Do you accept this?』

The gargoyles all turned toward their red-winged leader.

He soon bowed his head.

『We cannot deny sacred law. We will obey.』

『Good. Then do not harm the one who descends from my back.』

Beatrice turned slightly.

『Clay. You can come down now.』

Clay carefully slid off her back and set foot on the ground.

It felt hard—like the frozen plains of the far north.

Rumble!

As expected, he wasn’t welcomed.

The gargoyles bared their teeth and glared at him.

『That man is the enemy!』
『The Dark One died because of him! We know it!』

『He deserves death!』

They stepped toward Clay, but Beatrice extended her wings, blocking their path.

『As the Dark One’s successor, I forbid your actions.』

『Successor, we can feel the Dark One’s remnants clinging to him. He must have fought bitterly to the end. Why forbid our vengeance and protect him?』

『Because he didn’t kill the Dark One.』

Clay’s eyes widened.

“Beatrice?”

He had been the one to drive the sword into the Demon King’s heart. That much, he remembered clearly.

『I cannot explain here. But you may verify it. If he were truly the one who ended the Dark One’s life, the remnants would be more than traces.』

Beatrice pointed to the black eyes embedded in the spires above.

『You are permitted to confirm.』

All the eyes turned toward Clay.

『Will you observe?』

 『If the Eyes created by the Dark One can reveal the truth, we shall comply.』

『Good.』

Beatrice commanded them.

『Commence the rite.』

She then turned to Clay, who stood frozen in shock.

『Clay, bear with it for a moment. It’s a necessary step. I’ll explain everything later.』

“What explanation—ghk!?”

A crushing pressure bore down on him. Clay grimaced and dropped to one knee.

“Guhhh!”

It burned—like his skin had been stripped away and thrown under a scorching sun. A pain that seared through every cell.

“Aaaaargh!”

He screamed and collapsed completely. The Eyes of the Demon King’s Castle scanned him rapidly.

In that moment, the Sealing Circle placed by the priest lit up, glowing visibly even through his clothes.

『Petty Seals.』

『Not something to be borne by the one who harmed the Demon King.』

Then came the next mark—an infernal stigma left by the demons. At the sight of it, the gargoyles cried out in shock.

『He protects himself with our Mark.』

『Such confusion is unfamiliar to us.』

At last, when Clay’s final scream faded, the Eyes withdrew their gaze and dimmed.

“Kh… huff, huff…”

Clay gasped, having barely survived the ordeal.

『You saw it, didn’t you?』

Beatrice turned to the gargoyles.

『The Eyes of the Castle did not attempt to harm him.』

The verification was complete.

『…Indeed.』

The red-winged leader finally acknowledged it.

『The Dark One did not fall by his hand.』

Still, doubt remained.

『But why take him in?』

『Because he was betrayed—viciously so.』

Beatrice tilted her head slightly.

『Isn’t that reason enough?』

Many in the Demon King’s Army had been united by their hatred for humankind.

Understanding what she meant, the leader bowed once more.

『Understood. I will raise no further objections.』

『Wise.』

Beatrice stretched her wings, then returned to her human form and took Clay’s hand.

“Let’s go, Clay.”

It was time to enter the castle.

♧

Inside the Demon King’s Castle, things looked vastly different from what one might expect.

“It’s… surprisingly plain.”

There was no grandeur, no ornate decorations, just practical rooms built for function.

With Beatrice guiding him, Clay arrived at the Demon King’s personal office. Inside was nothing but an old desk and a chair.

Bookshelves lined the walls, covered in cobwebs. It had clearly been unused for a long time.

“Beatrice.”

As he brushed dust off the desk, Clay asked, “You said I didn’t kill the Demon King. What did you mean?”

Had his sword somehow missed the Demon King’s heart?

“Clay, you thought stabbing the Demon King in the heart with the Holy Sword would kill him, right?”

“Yeah.”

“But the Demon King doesn’t die from that alone.”

Clay’s eyes widened.

“What…?”

“It’s a fatal wound, yes,” she explained, “But it just leaves him immobile while his body recovers.”

“Did you make sure the body was truly dead?”

Clay opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Did I… confirm it myself?

No. The battlefield had collapsed from their fight’s aftermath. Wounded himself, he’d been forced to retreat quickly.

“Now that I think about it… I just left him there.”

He’d assumed death. After all, the Demon King had bled out, his body pale as a corpse. Anyone would have thought him dead.

“To truly kill the Demon King, you must extract his heart and burn it completely.”

Beatrice told him the truth.

“So he didn’t die back then.”

“Then… who did it?”

“I don’t know.”

Beatrice stepped closer.

“Maybe he was tired of life and burned his own heart. Or maybe…”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe someone else did it.”

Clay stared at her, lips pressed in a grim line.

“Did your party members escape with you?”

He shook his head.

“We split up. I was bleeding badly—could barely see. I doubt any of them were in shape to check much either.”

“Do you always talk like that?” Beatrice chuckled softly, “No one looked after you.”

“They were all injured…”

“I wouldn’t have left you behind.”

She rested a hand on his shoulder.

“But that’s not the point right now.”

“Then what is?”

Beatrice spoke calmly, but her words struck deep.

“More important than who killed the Demon King is this—if it wasn’t you, then the one who did it could’ve testified in your defense.”

“!”

“But only if people would believe them, of course.”

Clay lowered his gaze.

The corrupted mark on his sword, the demonic energy flowing through his body—these could only have been planted by someone close to him, when he was defenseless.

Yet the captured elite demons, the Apostles of the Moon, had all named Clay as a traitor during their interrogations. The demonic familiars found in his hometown—none of it could’ve been orchestrated by a single person.

“I… I don’t know anymore.”

“You’re not the traitor, Clay.”

Beatrice gripped his shoulder gently but firmly.

“Remember that. You’re no longer a Hero. No longer their comrade.”

She pulled him toward the chair and sat him at the desk. Dust and silence settled in around them.

“Clay.”

Then, in a whisper, Beatrice asked,

“How does it feel… sitting in that seat?”

(End of Chapter)