I Planned a Su*cide Mission and Got Kicked Out of the Party

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It had been a long time since we met, and while I did want to share various stories, Jeongjae, Margaret, Jenis, and Rose all had their own reasons for not being able to stay here for long.

In the North, Walter couldn’t hide his anxiety due to Rose and Margaret’s sudden departure, and he kept grumbling about it. Walter wasn’t the kind of person who would just complain to anyone, so it was none other than Bernard who had to endure his hysterical outbursts.

Even if Walter wasn’t at the breaking point of stress, Rose and Margaret needed to return North to be vigilant against the impending attacks from the Demon King’s Army. Jenis had discussed joining the Northern Expeditionary Force soon, but first needed to finish the handover process as the new leader of the Magic Tower.

Jeongjae was deeply worried about the situation in the South. Currently, aside from Koesernis, who personally brought along a border wizard, there were almost no heroes who could handle supernatural abilities down South.

Harker, or rather Van Helsing, was indeed an extraordinary man, but it was hard to believe he could hold the South alone for long. Jeongjae felt that if he didn’t return to his domain quickly, he would be in big trouble.

“When I received my title, I thought it meant I gained the qualification to run for office,” he said during their last gathering before they scattered.

“Still, that’s not something I would do. If I’m constantly leaving home to dash to the capital, honestly, I don’t think I could live with that anxiety right now.”

Rose let out a cheerful laugh, as if she understood his sentiments.

“I figured you’d think that. Well, considering the situation in your territory, it’s not easy to bear responsibility, is it?”

“That’s true. Honestly, I’ve started to develop a bit of respect for you, Rose.”

As Jeongjae said this, he caught a sharp gaze directed at him. In a hurry, he turned to Margaret and added, “Oh, of course, you too. Don’t take it the wrong way, alright? I’ve never forgotten you’re the princess of Eramenia and a ruler with your own independence!”

“Just how have you been looking at me, for you to say that? Of course, I know you think of me with respect. I know it’s only natural.”

Among the elves of Eramenia, the absence of a family name was a symbol of royalty. The noble high elves could reveal their status simply by displaying their full name, and without him even realizing it, her already sharp gaze became even sharper.

“If you didn’t know, that’s alright. Just keep it that way.”

Jeongjae waved his hand as if to say he wouldn’t pursue the topic further. Rose suddenly looked up as if struck by a thought.

“Speaking of which, there’s the matter of your title that I almost forgot to mention. Jenis Harker? I think there’s something you should know in advance.”

“Oh, right. Please tell me.”

Jenis, who had been sitting quietly, nodded her head. Rose chuckled and playfully ruffled Jenis’s hair.

“I won’t tell you to stop speaking, but loosen up a bit. You’re going to be one of us soon, after all. Are you going to stay stiff all by yourself?”

Jenis struggled to respond to Rose’s words. Jeongjae felt he understood Jenis’s feelings somehow. Though things were a little awkward, it must feel like joining a small business through a friend’s recommendation, only to find everyone from the boss to the employees getting along like a tight-knit family.

Jeongjae had felt a similar emotion since he first joined this party. Although he wasn’t exactly an outgoing person, he managed to adapt, but Jenis lacked social skills even more than he did.

In retrospect, her unique heritage and sensitivities surely played a part in her becoming a “refined outsider.”

“Anyway, what I’m saying is this: You’re going to receive a title soon, too. While you’ve nearly cleared the disgrace of being a half-demon as the Great Sage of the Magic Tower, the dangers and suspicions surrounding the Harker Clan haven’t vanished completely. But anyone with a brain, including me, the Crown Princess, wouldn’t want to see Harker get into trouble just when the initial stir starts.”

“So… you’re guaranteeing me a title? Well, but I’m still a bit too young…”

It was no surprise that Jenis would inherit the title of Count eventually. Although with Harker being a vampire, it was unlikely to happen as soon as one would think…

It was known that Count Harker had used disguise magic a number of times to pass himself off as ‘the previous Harker’, methodically bequeathing his own title. Up till now, that method had worked, but the situation began to change when he actually had a daughter.

Already, Jenis was recognized as the official heir of the Harker family, and Abraham Van Helsing could no longer create new aliases and shift identities to inherit the title. He would probably hide and pretend to be dead, playing the role of Jenis’s advisor. The idea of a ‘half-vampire’ being acceptable through human blood made sense, but a ‘completely vampire Count’ would definitely fall outside the comfort zone of the Empire’s citizens.

“You only need to become an adult. Besides, given your situation as the proclaimed Great Sage, age is irrelevant.”

Jeongjae realized that Rose was already aware of the possibility of Harker being a vampire. She was wise enough not to stir the matter, which could cause a massive scandal, but she understood very well that if it suddenly emerged for some reason, it could become a problem that might shake the entire Empire.

It wasn’t odd that Jenis, having established herself as the Great Sage, would want to get a title to secure her position as the heir of the Harker family.

“Well then, what title will I receive…”

“A Barony. Get that title. If you’re going to be residing in the system for a while, it’ll be easier to hold a ceremony for it. Until then, tidy up the business at the Magic Tower, and as soon as you receive your title, come straight North.”

“Wait a minute.”

Jeongjae rolled his eyes as he said that.

“Isn’t that a higher rank than me, being a Baron?”

“Then do you want a title that’s higher than your life-long rank as the Countess? You’ve certainly got a taste for playing high-ranking roles.”

Margaret chided Jeongjae. He shrugged his shoulders.

“No, I was only surprised, that’s all. I also agree. After all, Jenis is the only daughter of the Harker Clan, and if she is to inherit the title of Count one day, it’s only natural for her to transition through the Barony when she becomes an adult.”

“Ah, then soon your Barony will be higher than the Baroness’s?”

Jenis smiled playfully. Jeongjae slightly narrowed his eyes as he looked down at Jenis.

“You don’t intend to act all arrogant about this, right, Jenis?”

“Hahaha, of course not! Just look at what the professor is doing now. You’re casually talking down to the Crown Princess and mingling with Princess Eramenia without any airs. Who do you think would see the professor as a higher status person? Is it really a problem being a Baron? I bet if the professor grabbed any Count passing by and told them to wash his battle robe, they’d do it without a word.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that.”

Jeongjae waved his hands in disbelief at Jenis’s ominous suggestion. While Rose stuck her tongue out with a nod, Margaret opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“I’m telling you because it seems you’re not aware of your position, little one. You’re not just someone who has risen to the position of the Great Sage at the Magic Tower. You’re the first to legitimately claim ownership of that staff in hundreds of years. The position of the Great Sage at the Magic Tower is ceremonially treated as equal to that of the rulers of independent principalities. The precedent that we should all stand when we appear in formal settings will now apply to you as well. You need to understand just how much your position has changed now that you’ve got that staff in your hands. Speaking of the way you talk, you could speak informally to us right now without fear of disrespect because we could not legally accuse you of sacrilege. It’s not that we wouldn’t, but rather that sacrilege legally cannot be established.”

Hearing Margaret’s words, Rose looked surprised as if she hadn’t known. Usually, if someone said such things, Rose would have pulled out her legal texts to verify, but considering it was Margaret’s knowledge, there was no reason to doubt it.

Thinking deeply after hearing Margaret’s words, Jenis looked directly into Margaret’s eyes and spoke.

“Then, can I call the princess ‘sister’ now?”

“Uh, um…”

Margaret hesitated for a moment at Jenis’s sudden ambush. Of course, since she had put it out there, she didn’t outright refuse, but she scratched her head awkwardly.

“That… technically, it wouldn’t be a problem, but. Hmm, it would sound quite sisterly for someone your age, considering mine.”

Margaret’s flustered reaction was uncommon, which made Jeongjae look at the two with interest. Taking a deep breath to make a bold attempt at changing her title for Margaret, Jenis composed herself.

Holding her breath and suppressing her tension, Jenis slowly opened her mouth. But… the result was a failure.

“No, I can’t do it. It’s a bit… scary. No, that’s not right, it feels like it’s really not the case…”

Seeing Jenis bury her head into her arms, Margaret looked somewhat apologetic for no reason. Of course, Margaret hadn’t really done anything wrong today.

“Just how much have you been bullying her that she ended up like this?”

Rose stuck out her tongue and said. Margaret shot a sharp glare at Rose in response.

“I am curious who tossed that girl from the tower and started beating her up.”

“Ah, that was me, sorry.”

At Rose’s words, Jenis turned her head to her and frowned.

“That’s why even His Highness seems a bit scary to me. My future looks perilous already.”

“Still, it’s quite fun, so don’t worry too much and come up soon. We really should check it out. If we wait too long, it won’t just be Walter who complains, Bernard will scold us too. His usual job is to defuse the bombs that Walter throws, but if we leave it for too long, he might get grumpy.”

“Does he still scribble strange things with graphite on the floor if things don’t go well?”

Jeongjae asked Rose, feeling nostalgic. Rose nodded and sighed.

“The night before I left for treatment, I had to drag him inside after he suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, squatting outside my tent. I don’t know if he gets enough sleep these days.”

Jeongjae had also been having quite a few nightmares since coming to this world, but probably not as many as Walter. While Jeongjae wore a sad expression out of empathy for the Hero, Margaret tapped Jeongjae’s back gently, making him look at her.

“We will manage our affairs ourselves. Don’t worry too much about him. He may seem weak, but he’s carrying the kind of burden that ordinary humans can’t handle. I just feel sorry that we’ll find it a bit difficult to see him for a while.”

“It hasn’t been that long since we last saw him, has it? For an elf who lives more than ten times our lifespan, shouldn’t even a long time feel short?”

Jeongjae said playfully. Margaret shook her head slightly with a somewhat forlorn expression.

“Maybe for ordinary fairies, but it’s a phenomenon traditionally passed down among fairies who’ve become friends with humans. The time that feels short to us can be long for humans. When elves realize that humans wilt while we remain unchanged, they can become obsessively attached to the time that ordinary humans linger over.”

“Margaret…”

Jeongjae was taken aback by the surprisingly heavy response to a comment made jokingly. Margaret tilted her head slightly with a faint smile.

“But forming friendships with your kind was a path I chose, knowing all this. Because it’s the right thing to do. And all my thoughts, obsessions, and even emotions that I’ve gained…”

Margaret turned her face towards Rose, hiding it behind her hair as if she didn’t want to show her expression.

“It’s a path I chose. You have nothing you must take responsibility for. Really, there’s absolutely nothing.”

With those words, Margaret left with Rose, not waiting for Jeongjae’s response. Jeongjae turned his gaze towards Jenis, who was sitting still. Jenis spoke in a dry tone.

“Everyone has their own story. Life is only once, and you only have one life.”

It didn’t seem like she was speaking to Jeongjae. In his ears, it sounded as if she were talking to herself.

“None of us have the luxury to fight while considering others’ stories and circumstances. Professor, you should head South soon as well. I… think I will need a lot of time to sort things out alone for a while.”