The Heroes Who Executed Me Are Obsessed With Me

A desolate graveyard.

It was the kind of place where not even a proper gravestone stood—no record of who had been buried there. And yet, it was now swarmed with soldiers.

‘So this is the place.’

Leading them was none other than Cadis, a Guardian Knight of the Holy Alliance.

‘What an ominous atmosphere.’

He had come to this designated site as part of his mission, but even so, he hadn’t expected it to feel so dreadful.

‘Still, I must do my duty.’

Turning to the soldiers, Cadis gave the order.

“Carry out the instructions as briefed.”

At his command, the soldiers took out sheets of paper and began drawing formation patterns on the ground, mimicking the symbols shown.

Rrrrrumble.

That alone caused the earth beneath their feet to tremble, as if resonating with something below.

‘It senses the weakening seal.’

Cadis swallowed dryly.

The divine entity buried beneath them had been sealed away for thousands of years. It had likely spent that time violently struggling, alone in its confinement.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine the wrath that might be unleashed.

‘This might be a foolish act.’

Even so, Cadis had to complete his mission. That was the duty entrusted to a Guardian Knight of the Holy Alliance.

Squelch!

With the array complete, several soldiers approached, each carrying wooden barrels filled with sticky red liquid.

Blood of a lamb.

They sprinkled the blood precisely onto the key points of the formation.

Thud!

With a deep tremor, the array began to glow a dark crimson.

‘It’s ready.’

This was the final step to breaking the seal, performed with the royal formation provided directly by the Emperor himself. Cadis pulled a small box from his coat and flipped it open.

Inside was the royal Engraver’s Seal of Emperor Lutan.

A relic that was never meant to leave the palace—yet Lutan had personally handed it over for this task.

Grip.

Cadis took the seal in his hand.

The most dangerous part was about to begin—he would be facing the divine being itself. His job was to guide it into demon territory.

“All units, fall back.”

Cadis ordered the soldiers behind the divine barrier erected by priests who had previously inspected the site. Then he stepped into the center of the array with the seal in hand.

‘Let this work…’

He lowered his body and drove the seal into the center of the formation.

BANG!

The impact sounded like a hammer striking an anvil. A powerful wave of energy erupted from the center and spread outward.

KRAAAACK!

The ground split open. Cadis jumped back to a safe distance.

The fractured land rose in jagged slabs, forming walls. And from within them, a staircase emerged—narrow, crumbling, and ancient.

Step. Step.

Someone ascended the stairs.

The soldiers pointed their spears and swords with sharp vigilance. Cadis tightened his grip on his sword, watching closely from within the divine barrier.

“Ah…”

A voice echoed faintly.

“Outside.”

And then, emerging into the open, was a girl—a young girl with white hair and a crown of thorns atop her head.

‘That’s…’

Cadis caught his breath.

‘Athanasia?’

Athanasia the Immortal.

The ancient god who defied Elhaen to the very end, her body incapable of true death.

But…

Dressed in a plain one-piece dress, barefoot, her pale skin glistening under the light—the girl looked nothing like the overwhelming divine entity they had expected.

“What the hell is that?”

“Did we get the wrong one?”

“That’s supposed to be Athanasia?”

Whispers of doubt spread quickly among the soldiers.

They were elite troops, selected specifically for this task. Even so, no soldier was free from fear—and the notion of awakening an ancient god had filled them with dread.

So now, to see something so far removed from the monster they imagined… it was only natural for disappointment and confusion to take hold.

“Calm yourselves.”

Cadis, though no less unsettled, held himself together. As a Guardian Knight, he needed to remain composed.

‘Her form may be deceiving...’

Even if she didn’t seem like a wrathful god, he had to confirm it himself.

“Athanasia.” Cadis called out, “Are you… truly her?”

The girl turned her head toward him.

“Athanasia?”

She tilted her head in confusion, and Cadis sighed.

“Another being, then…”

But then the girl asked something entirely unexpected.

“Why are you looking for Athanasia?”

“What…?”

“You’re not even my worshippers.”

Her eyes gleamed with a chilling light.

“What the…”

BOOOOM!

Before Cadis could react, the girl had already crossed the divine barrier.

CRACK! SNAP-SNAP!

When she attempted to step further, the barrier repelled her. The invisible wall of divine force sparked on contact, releasing black lightning as it pushed back.

“She—she’s divine!”

“She’s Athanasia!”

The soldiers, stunned at first, finally shouted with panic in their voices.

But the girl—Athanasia—ignored them completely. She looked straight at Cadis and spoke.

“Why did you wake me?”

She wore a puzzled expression.

“I was sleeping so well.”

"Sleeping well?" That wasn't the response Cadis had expected.

‘No, maybe this is better.’

A godlike being had appeared in unpredictable form—but if she wasn’t immediately hostile, perhaps it wouldn’t be too difficult to guide her toward demon territory.

“Athanasia,” Cadis said carefully, “We have no intention of fighting you.”

“But I do,” she replied bluntly, staring directly at him, “You’re not even my followers, are you? Weren’t you the ones who sealed me away?”

“Your followers are in danger,” Cadis quickly explained. “Most of them now live near the borders of demon territory.”

“Demons?” Athanasia tilted her head. “What’s that?”

“They’re a new race, distinct from humans. They once followed a new divine being called the Demon King.”

“A new deity?”

Athanasia’s curious expression darkened slightly.

“Ah, so something troublesome has popped up, huh?” She let out a dry laugh, “There must be a reason you shoved my followers into that mess.”

“If we delay, your divinity will vanish,” Cadis pressed on. “Faith in you is already scarce. If your remaining followers are wiped out by demons, there will be nothing left. We’re just trying to survive. Your help would mean a lot.”

“Hmm…”

“I imagine the creation of a new deity is unpleasant for you as well.”

At that, Athanasia sighed, “Should a follower of Elhaen be saying that?”

“In any case, Elhaen is no longer present in this land.” Cadis raised an eyebrow, “Blasphemous as it may sound, I’m telling you this in sincerity.”

“Yeah… I believe you.”

Athanasia glanced toward the sky.

“Still, it feels good to be out here. You know, when you’re sealed in a tomb, all kinds of bugs crawl over you. Even with immortality, I may as well have been a corpse.”

“That’s…”

“Anyway, I plan to walk around freely now, but I’d rather not do it alone. Mind lending me a few soldiers?”

“Soldiers?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s not possible. These soldiers belong to the Holy Alliance—”

“The what?”

Snap.

Silence.

Cadis suddenly realized the background noise—the murmur of soldiers—had vanished. A look of horror twisted his face as he turned around.

Bodies.

Torn-open chests. Arms gone. Crushed skulls. Broken legs. Twisted necks.

“!”

The elite soldiers who had stood on alert only moments ago were now mangled corpses strewn across the field.

“Looks like they didn’t agree with your answer,” Athanasia said coolly.

Cadis shut his eyes even tighter.

‘I miscalculated…!’

He thought the divine barrier created using Elhaen’s instructions would at least hold back an ancient god temporarily.

But divinity… was divinity.

No human-made barrier could contain it.

“Well, I suppose they’re my soldiers now.”

Crack, crackle.

The broken bodies of the soldiers began to twitch and rise, weapons still clutched in shattered limbs.

“This is a declaration of war against the Holy Alliance,” Cadis choked out.

Athanasia stepped forward casually.

The divine barrier no longer stopped her. She had already destroyed it when she dealt with the soldiers.

“Who attacked first, I wonder?” She tilted her head, “Doesn’t feel like it was me.”

“If you act like this, I can’t let you go freely.”

Cadis tightened his grip on his sword, lowering into a stance.

“If you won’t cooperate, I’ll delay you here as long as I must.”

“Until all my followers are dead?” She shrugged her small shoulders, “I already know how this ends. I could see it even with my eyes shut.”

“…”

The corpses shambled toward Cadis with heavy steps.

‘I have no choice.’

In that nightmare of a moment, Cadis focused on one goal alone.

‘I must get her into demon territory—no matter what.’

He pressed his eyes shut and spoke.

“I’ll tell you exactly where your followers are.”

All that remained… was a negotiation.

♧

“Athanasia is sealed in the royal nation of Geltir, slightly north of the continent’s center.”

To be exact—within a graveyard for the sick and dying.

“It’s a place where incurable vagrants are buried. No one would suspect Athanasia was sealed there.”

Neville relayed everything he knew to Clay.

“I’ll compile a record of the locations of the other ancient gods as well.”

“Thank you.” Clay placed a hand on Neville’s shoulder, “That must’ve been a hard decision. I appreciate you stepping forward.”

“No…”

Neville’s expression was pained.

“I know that what Your Majesty is going through is far harder. If you’re forced to do this… then it’s my duty to preserve what I can of the world in your shadow. No one can stop you now.”

“Is that what you believe?”

“Yes.”

Neville swallowed.

“Even before, Your Majesty was undefeated. And since you’ve returned from death itself, I can only assume you’ve transcended the laws we once believed in.”

“I see.”

“But that’s not the only reason I’ve chosen to remain.”

The world, Neville believed, was already rotten.

“A plague of corruption spreads across the continent. Unless someone razes it all, it won’t heal. I don’t agree with everything Your Majesty plans—but if I can’t stop it, then at least I can use the mercy you’ve granted me to do something.”

“Good.”

Even now, facing the man who had become Demon King, Neville didn’t betray his ideals. And Clay respected that. He had always been that kind of man.

“Cardin.”

Clay turned his head.

“Send scouts to Geltir.”

It was time to prepare for her arrival.

(End of Chapter)