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

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“That’s a hefty debt, I see. It’s reasonable to say that.”

Count Harker readily admitted it. The territory itself of Count Harker was somewhat extensive, but it did not boast the massive scale of Duke Jeffrey’s Territory. However, the area under Count Harker’s influence, which could be called his sphere of influence, was wide enough to compete with the Imperial Assembly’s directly governed territories.

Baron Harriet’s Territory was clearly within the protective sphere of House Harker. During the last battle, when Harriet’s Territory was in tremendous danger, House Harker had an obligation to assist Harriet’s Territory.

Setting aside such obligations, it was also crucial that if Harriet’s Territory were to be occupied by the enemy without resistance, the entire Southern Region of the Empire could be at risk. Count Harker’s household had incurred a great debt to Jeongjae due to the defense of Harriet’s Territory. Count Harker did not deny the fact that it was essential for the discussion to begin.

“Then what does the Baron wish to receive as payment for that debt?”

“I’m not asking for much. Among our people, very few were severely harmed; we had remarkably few losses for a great battle. However, I believe we will need the Count’s unconditional support for food and necessities.”

“I’ve been taking subpar prices for goods from Harriet’s Territory all this time. Does that mean you can no longer sell fish?”

“During the battle, we had to use all our vessels as weapons against the enemy, and they were all burned down. While ships can be rebuilt, the dirty blood of the enemy fills the sea, and the ashes of the burned corpses cover the beach, leaving us unable to catch any more fish.”

At Jeongjae’s words, Jenis and Margaret nodded in unison. With their endorsement, the Count had no choice but to acknowledge that Jeongjae’s words were the unvarnished truth.

“Then aside from food, what else do you need?”

“Weapons. The only blacksmith in the village was conscripted into the army. We don’t need to repair agricultural tools because they are not an industry that has shifted, but with such circumstances, we cannot neglect the management of our weapons. Given the fierce battle, we even lost our sole cannon.”

“You used the cannon in battle?”

“We made the most useful use of it, in a way only we could.”

At Jeongjae’s words, the Count closed his eyes and donned a contemplative expression. Jeongjae patiently waited for the Count to open his mouth.

“Food is no problem. I will support you no matter what happens, without any deadline, until you no longer wish for it. Given that the whole continent received great protection from that battle, it should be no issue. However… the matter of weapons might be a bit more difficult. I’m not in a situation where I have the luxury either.”

“It seems a situation has arisen where soldiers and weapons are necessary. What on earth is happening here?”

Margaret, who had been silently listening, interjected. The Count glanced at Margaret and nodded.

“That is also the reason I requested the Princess to come into this room and listen. Although I’ve not yet conveyed this news to the other territories, I am currently pursuing a rapid military reinforcement due to the substantial threats my territory is facing.”

“A substantial threat, Father?”

Jenis asked with a worried expression, rolling her eyes. The Count began to explain, alternating his gaze between Jenis and Jeongjae.

“This incident happened about two weeks ago. I had just heard that there was a possibility of an emergency meeting at the Imperial Assembly and was about to head to Caprice. A carriage was ambushed about 4 kilometers north from the borders of the territory; not very far at all.”

“Ambushed, Father?”

Jenis gasped. Jeongjae and Margaret maintained calm expressions but widened their eyes.

“What was the scale of the ambush? Who carried it out?”

“Was the purpose of the ambush revealed?”

Margaret and Jeongjae asked in turn. The Count answered Margaret.

“The assailants were about two or three. Thanks to Jenis, I was saved. If it weren’t for the protective magic she cast, I wouldn’t have come out unscathed from the carriage. The assailants were struck by the automatic counteraction magic bound to the carriage and fled. I intended to head straight to the territory after fending them off, but the driver was so terrified that I ordered him to return to Count Harker’s Territory immediately.”

“The assailants were just ordinary humans?”

“I couldn’t see them clearly, Baron. However, based on experience, they were presences I could guess at. The wings, their method of attack, and the screams when exposed to magic. There’s only one answer. I was ambushed by vampires that day.”

“V-vampires…”

Jenis muttered. Jeongjae and Margaret exchanged glances and silently communicated. The appearance of vampires was always an alarming issue. As assassins or warriors, vampires are immensely powerful beings. Some argue that liches who wield magic are stronger than vampires, but at least for Jeongjae and Margaret, liches were not as daunting a foe compared to vampires.

Even if liches could be overwhelmed with more powerful magic, the insidious fighting style of vampires made them difficult to respond to unless one was a seasoned master like Bernard.

“Why have vampires come this far?”

“And why did they target you, Count? Vampires are menacing beings that even avoid revealing themselves on the frontline. It’s hard to believe this was a mere coincidence. More importantly, it troubles me that you seem to know too much about vampires. Just where have you fought against which vampires?”

Margaret questioned the Count with intensity. Harker shook his head, looking slightly subdued.

“My connection with those monsters is a personal matter. But I guarantee it. The carriage that was ambushed has been preserved untouched, so if you see the traces, you will find evidence of the vampires. Aren’t you an expert?”

Margaret nodded in acknowledgment of the Count’s words.

“If there really are traces of a vampire ambush, I can also recognize them. So, does that mean that ambush is the reason you couldn’t send us military support?”

“That is correct. If vampires are lurking just a few kilometers from the territory’s borders, how could I possibly spare a handful of troops to send to Harriet’s Territory? To be honest, I was even troubled about whether or not to send a reply. I worried that the messenger might be ambushed by vampires and kidnapped.”

“Then why haven’t you reported this fact to the neighboring territories or the Imperial Family? In such a dangerous situation, wouldn’t a report be necessary?”

“Without accurate information, the possibility of confusion increasing was too high. If such a bombshell announcement were made, the Imperial Assembly would demand concrete evidence and corner me. More than anything, it wouldn’t be right for me to not attend the Assembly in person.”

“A brief written report was needed for this incident. The fact that a high-ranking official was ambushed while moving around has not become public knowledge, which suggests not only a lack of reporting but an active concealment.”

Margaret seemed unwilling to let the Count’s words go unchallenged. Arthur Harker bowed his head, feeling there was no escape left.

“I cannot accept this.”

“What is it, Father? What can’t you accept?”

“It’s the matter of my connection with them, Jenis. The unresolved quandary I must solve. I cannot convince myself regarding this issue. If I cannot even come to terms within myself, how can I publicly declare it to the world?”

“People hide their true thoughts for a variety of reasons. Well, I might overlook that…”

At that moment, Margaret suddenly realized that Jeongjae had been uncomfortably silent and turned to the mage sitting beside her.

Jeongjae was so lost in thought that he was staring intently at Count Harker’s chest without even noticing Margaret’s gaze. To be precise, his attention was on the cross-shaped necklace hanging from Count Harker’s chest.

“Is something the matter? Now is the time for you to speak up, isn’t it?”

Margaret hinted at Jeongjae. He blinked, as if awakening from a trance, and turned to Margaret.

“Oh? Uh… um, that’s right. We were talking about vampires, right? The ambush incident.”

“It’s similar but already passed a bit. What on earth were you thinking?”

Jeongjae turned away from Margaret and looked back at the cross-shaped necklace. With a slightly distorted expression, he locked eyes with Count Harker.

“Count, I’m personally curious about one thing. Although the family crest is a cross, why specifically the Latin cross?”

“Isn’t it the family crest? There’s no great significance in the length of the cross.”

“Why don’t you ask what the Latin cross signifies? Are you aware of what that term means?”

Jeongjae pressed in sharply. The Count appeared momentarily stunned, his mouth agape and his eyes blinking. Jeongjae didn’t stop there and pressed the Count with a sharp tone.

“And how do you know that I was asking about the length of the cross? Why do you know that a Latin cross means that the vertical is longer than the horizontal?”

“Baron, calm yourself for a moment.”

Jenis and Margaret were left speechless, staring only at Jeongjae. The two couldn’t properly grasp the flow of this conversation. They could barely guess, but it didn’t make sense.

Jeongjae’s words sounded as if Count Harker, too naturally, possessed knowledge known only to the inhabitants of this world. But what on earth did that mean? Why did Jeongjae suddenly decide to test the Count, drawing him into such a context?

“I’m perfectly calm. Doesn’t this seem odd? It wouldn’t be easy to dismiss this with a mere excuse. In my opinion, if you truly have no experience related to my world, you wouldn’t be able to answer my question so casually.”

“That’s a difficult question. The more I answer, the greater the doubts that will arise.”

“Then please address those doubts.”

“I’m on your side! I swear on everything I own!”

The Count cried out anxiously. Jenis trembled in fear at the sudden shift in atmosphere and didn’t know what to do, while Jeongjae and Margaret stared at the elderly man, trying to gauge his intentions.

A tense silence stretched on for about a minute. The first to break the silence was Margaret.

“Mage. Please listen to me.”

“Speak, Margaret.”

“I don’t perceive the Count as lying. He seems suspicious at times, but I found no points of hostility in what he just said.”

“My father being hostile? That’s impossible!”

Jenis shouted in protest, but her cry did not reach anyone’s ears. Jeongjae and Margaret, alongside Arthur Harker, were all lost in their thoughts, unable to pay her any mind.

“I will trust your words, Count. For now, let’s proceed that way. However, I will also investigate this matter separately. From the moment I noticed your interest in undead, I felt the connection between your family’s symbol and the relic of Christ was no mere coincidence.”

“How do you plan on investigating? Are you going to search our mansion for a New Testament?”

“You no longer need to play naive.”

“Because it’s pointless. It makes no sense to feign ignorance before a person of your stature. Do as you wish. I will no longer speak on this matter. But it would be wise to believe me. I am truly, genuinely your friend.”

“Is that so? Then let’s leave this discussion behind for now.”

Jeongjae finally relaxed his expression. Margaret and Jenis nodded, wearing slightly relieved expressions. It was evident that Count Harker had a close connection with Jeongjae’s homeland, Earth. But if the Count insisted on saying no more, digging deeper would only be troublesome. Especially here, in the heart of House Harker.

“Then Count, let’s return to the previous topic. I was hoping to hear your story because I want to offer you help regarding the vampire incident, right?”

“To be honest, I want the help of everyone, Princess. As I mentioned, I have a personal vendetta against vampires, but now that I am neither as energetic nor commanding a large force, I have my limits. While I will unconditionally provide economic assistance for Harriet’s Territory, I cannot promise military support if this problem is unresolved.”

“Then I will also cooperate with that matter, Count.”

Jeongjae nodded.

“However, I would like to first talk about the specific scale and contents of the support.”