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

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“Everyone, please rise! Baron Harriet, a gift from another world and the Grand Mage, also recognized by the Imperial Court as a hero of the new era, Park Jeongjae, is entering!”

Jeongjae donned his robe as needed when attending the assembly, sometimes wearing it, sometimes not. But today, he firmly believed he needed to show everyone who he was, and he walked proudly into the center of the assembly clad in his newly acquired blue robe.

On the back of the Grand Mage’s robe was the emblem of the Harriet family, slightly different from before. The Harriet family flag originally consisted of a blue background with a red circle and the letters ‘VR’ inscribed within it, but Jeongjae changed the color of the emblem from red to gold for political reasons.

His new robe immediately reflected this change. A pair of glasses occupied his face, showcasing the reasons behind his emblem’s transformation. At his waist hung the long holy sword, the very symbol of the hero, prominently displayed.

The reason Jeongjae attended the assembly today was to publicly announce that he was none other than the successor to Walter Hellhound. The glasses and sword were tools that clearly evoked memories of the previous hero, while the robe symbolized Jeongjae’s unique identity.

Throughout human history, there has never been a being who held the titles of ‘Grand Mage’ and ‘Hero’ simultaneously. Jeongjae wished for people to remember him as “the hero with the most powerful combat strength in history” and realized that the only thing he could hold up against Walter’s incredible cunning and administrative skills was his own acquired power.

“Noble members of the Imperial Assembly, I, Baron Harriet, greet you all.”

As Jeongjae bowed, the standing assembly members promptly took their seats while he began to speak to them.

“Not long ago, I delivered an important letter regarding a matter of great significance to both the Imperial Court and the assembly. His Majesty the Emperor deemed my request valid and accepted it. The reason I stand before the assembly today is to ask for recognition of my changed position from the assembly as well.”

“First, I would like to address something.”

A stern-looking count raised his hand to ask a question. Jeongjae nodded in response, signaling him to proceed.

“There are rampant rumors about the great explosion that occurred in the middle of the Demon King’s Territory, yet no military officials have provided an explanation. Was that explosion related to the passing of the hero? Perhaps Baron, could you shed some light on this? Does the Imperial Army have any understanding of the cause and circumstances behind that explosion?”

“We thoroughly understand the cause and effects of that great explosion. And it is certain that the death of the hero, Walter Hellhound, was caused by that explosion. That is why his corpse was not discovered, and also the reason why there could be no remains. However, whether I can explain it is a completely different matter.”

“What is the reason the Imperial Court is not providing an explanation on this matter? Surely the Imperial Court must have some grasp of the circumstances?”

“Yes, His Majesty the Emperor is already aware of the situation. However, it is classified military information, and even I cannot carelessly divulge it.”

“Without a clear explanation regarding the predecessor hero’s passing, nominating a successor can leave room for suspicion. Is there no explanation for why an explanation cannot be given?”

A young baron inquired. Jeongjae turned to face him and replied gently.

“Questioning me is not a problem. But please do not dare to insult His Majesty the Emperor and the royal family he leads.”

At Jeongjae’s words, the assembly members flinched.

When it comes to the “suspicion of the hero’s death,” the first thought that springs to mind is “political purging.” Upon hearing the phrase “the greatest explosion in the world,” many nobles wondered if Jeongjae might be involved. Nobles found it hard to accept the reason that the Demon King would cause a massive explosion within his own territory, and some were already entertaining hidden conspiracy theories about the hero being purged amidst enemy lines for political reasons.

Jeongjae sensed this atmosphere but believed responding sensitively might only amplify the rumors, so he chose to ignore it. However, if the theory of the hero’s purging were true, then the one responsible for the purging should be Rose, not Jeongjae. That would be a blatant insult to Rose Caprice, who was more devastated by Walter’s death than anyone else.

Jeongjae felt he needed a better explanation to quell the suspicions.

“We had a firm objective and were conducting operations infiltrated within the Demon King’s Army territory. However, we successfully disrupted the enemy’s intelligence network, causing the dispersed great heroes to be mistaken for gathering in one location. The enemy launched an attack based on the assumption that our forces were concentrated at a presumed location, and sadly, the hero got caught up in that attack. It is likely that the light of the holy sword attracted the enemy’s attention, leading to his sacrifice. Does that serve as an adequate response?”

“Uhmmm…”

There were no further objections. Jeongjae nodded and looked around at the assembly.

“It’s easy for me to fabricate a plausible response and explain it to you. Right now, I have several worthy explanations swirling in my mind that could easily convince most of you. But I choose not to, so that I can show you what kind of hero I will become moving forward.”

Jeongjae unsheathed the holy sword from his waist and placed it firmly on the platform.

“The assembly is an open space. If we wish to discuss anything of significant military secrecy here, we must necessarily lock this place down. That is not the direction I wish to take. It’s not the approach I am familiar with either. If anyone here believes they hold a significant military position and feels they deserve to know all the confidential details, please feel free to approach me separately later. But I doubt there are many people present here with that level of military importance. Isn’t that right?”

That is indeed true. Among the nobles, Douglas Koesernis, who had relatively significant military importance, was currently guarding a fortress up north. Probably the only one who could seriously discuss matters with Jeongjae about “Manhattan” here would be Sally Jeffrey, who had completely pivoted her allegiance toward the Harker faction. Regardless of how the previous hero treated the nobles in terms of policies, Jeongjae intended to fully utilize Jeffrey’s reputation to control the southern nobles.

“A gift from another world. It’s a title, though embarrassing, that you have given me. I may not have been born in the Empire, but I am its most dedicated friend. I have seen people refer to me as such. Yes, it is indeed embarrassing, but I stand by it. Ever since I crossed over to this world, not a moment has gone by without my dedication toward you. I have fought for you. I won’t say I didn’t pursue personal glory, but what I have sought the most is your safety. The prosperity of this country.”

Most people acknowledged Jeongjae’s reputation and dedication. An individual with no ties to this land appearing as a savior and fighting for humanity always evoked great respect and admiration.

“However, on the other hand, I sometimes feel this way. Gift, friend. All these notions make me feel that I am viewed as an outsider to this Audrich Empire. People of the Empire. Citizens of the Empire. Can I still consider myself an outsider to this country? Just as Eramenia is a friend of the Empire, am I just a friend of the Empire?”

Grasping the hilt of the holy sword he had laid down, Jeongjae raised it high.

“If that has been the case until now, I will reject it moving forward. I am a part of the Empire—no, not just a friend. I am a citizen of this country—not merely a gift! And above all else, I will now take the lead as the hero who will protect all people!”

With a loud shout, the Grand Mage drew the holy sword from its sheath. A brighter white light shone forth than when Walter had drawn it, filling the assembly hall.

If there were still those who harbored doubts about Jeongjae’s status as a hero, after witnessing this, they could no longer question it. The sword’s power was the most undeniable evidence of his qualifications as a hero. Even in an Empire that lacks a state religion and is skeptical of the existence of gods, this was regarded as a sacred event.

Jeongjae shouted.

“I request the assembly’s approval. If there are those present who acknowledge me as the new hero of the Empire, please stand and express your opinion. If you believe I am unfit to be a hero, then please sit down and maintain your spot. We shall decide by unanimous consent. If I fail to convince even one person, then I am unworthy of being a hero!”

The response was clear. All the nobles quickly shot up from their seats, standing in agreement. Jeongjae bowed his head to them in gratitude.

“Thank you. I will not disappoint you. You will not be let down.”

Thus, Jeongjae was officially recognized as a hero by all of the Empire. It marked the establishment of a new hero and the moment the Empire began to regain military order.

Even after the meeting concluded, Jeongjae engaged in light discussions with a few nobles. Mainly, nobles who had been granted lands near the new Harriet Territory came up to him expressing their questions and opinions regarding the governance of Baron Harriet’s lands.

Now, the status of the Harriet Territory itself had significantly changed. Originally seen as “the territory that resisted the landing of the three Orc legions,” it also had the reputation of being “a village protected by the Grand Mage,” making it regarded as a somewhat sacred area within the Southern Region. Now, the Harriet Territory and its citizens attained the unusual title of “the barony ruled successively by two heroes,” and some nobles even seriously suggested promoting it to a count territory while simultaneously pushing for Jenis Harker’s promotion from count to marquis.

To most questions, Jeongjae responded with ease.

“Titles can be elevated even in death. But a nation can only be saved while alive. I have heard that elevating noble titles requires complex administrative procedures. The issue with the Harker viscountcy is one that should not be touched upon due to the current political climate, and the Harriet Territory is… precisely at the size of a barony, isn’t it? There’s no need to expand its scale for my prestige. Now is not the time to waste administrative power on superficial pretensions.”

There was also a practical reason Jeongjae wished to avoid elevating the Harriet Territory. Some nobles did not have purely noble intentions behind wanting the Harriet Territory raised to a count territory. Presently, the Harriet Territory was essentially being run by the village chief Hark, who held the official title of baron deputy.

As a baron is the lowest title, a baron deputy could easily be held by a non-noble such as Hark. However, if the Harriet Territory were promoted to a count territory, Hark would then need to become a “count deputy,” which traditionally requires at least the title of viscount or higher. While it’s not impossible to elevate a commoner to a viscount, it is a matter susceptible to controversy. Some counts from nearby regions might even attempt to send their own children to the Harriet Territory as “count deputies” to expand their influence.

“I respect the tradition of the Empire’s noble governance. However, a capable commoner can govern more rationally than any noble. Especially if they are a practitioner who has gained respect from the people. As much as I respect your thoughts, I hope you can respect the way I govern my land. After all, isn’t the way we govern our territories the one thing we all wish to keep interference to a minimum?”

Jeongjae’s statement was soft yet weighty. The nobles who had naively planned to subtly outmaneuver the Grand Mage, thinking he would be inexperienced due to coming from another world, quickly recognized the essence of Jeongjae’s responses and nodded along in compliance, retreating quietly.

In the past, Jeongjae would have had no clue what the concrete implications of proposals to elevate his territory entailed. However, having been surrounded by some of the most monstrous politicians in the Empire, he had learned at least a bit from them. Jeongjae was maturing into a figure who was inexperienced yet no longer easily pushed around.

After wrapping up light discussions with the nobles, Jeongjae was met by Jenis Harker, who was seated alone poring over documents. As Jeongjae approached the great sage, unaware of his presence, he asked.

“You seem busy? Is something going on?”

“Oh, just in time! Please sign this. It’s paperwork regarding military supplies, and I need the hero’s signature as I cannot pass it on my own.”

“If it’s budget-related, submit it directly to the Imperial Court for approval. Don’t try to sneak it through me. I’m no Walter. I don’t have the position to arbitrarily approve the Imperial budget.”

“You know how it is. I can’t even seriously discuss promotions yet with His Majesty, so it’s a bit awkward. Well, I doubt His Majesty will disapprove. If he does, I can just respond appropriately when the time comes… Ah, and please look at the contents. I’m sure you’ll understand why I asked the professor for help.”

The reason Jenis remained a viscount while holding territory effectively equivalent to a duke had multiple factors, including her young age and the chaotic political climate following Arthur Harker’s death, which made it difficult to push for her promotion to count. However, an equally significant factor was that Jenis Harker had never fully established a friendly relationship with the royal family since inheriting the Harker title.

Jenis consistently challenged the central authority of the royal family openly, and that challenge remained one of the Empire’s most crucial issues.

By refraining from first suggesting the promotion to count, Rose subtly revealed her discomfort with Jenis. While there was no guarantee that she would refuse if Jenis sought promotion, Jenis did not want to deal with the political backlash should she request a promotion from the Emperor and be turned down.

While it was a slim chance, Jenny could not disregard the possibility that Rose might bring up the “Mage Tower King” appointment again, putting Jenis in a tricky spot. Jenis had no desire to gamble her political life over title issues that offered little practical benefit.

“Well then, let’s take a look at the contents for now. Let’s see… Hmmm…”

Jeongjae sighed as he examined the budgetary document Jenis had presented. He tilted his head.

“A lot of it is coming from the Eramenia special zone. What are you planning to use all these resources for?”

“It’s a technical issue. While the technology of the Mage Tower is superb, what I need is a little more on the engineering side. The engineering research level of the Empire can’t hold a candle to Eramenia’s. Humans are technically at least 150 years behind the Elves.”

“In that case, you’ll need approval from both the Imperial Court and Eramenia. This is practically an import/export ledger rather than a budget plan.”

“That’s exactly why I’m seeking your help. Almost certainly, it’ll be Princess Margaret managing the special zone in Eramenia. There’s no one better than you to persuade her.”

“Haah…”

Jeongjae nodded along as he examined the unidentified items Jenis had requested. When Jenis had last requested a massive budget from the Imperial Court, she had been able to return it with a clear result of “slaying the Kraken.” With Jeongjae’s declaration as a hero finished successfully, it was time for Jenis to return to her northern fortress and look after the stronghold she had built. Jeongjae was likely the only person fit to go to Eramenia.

“I’ll talk to them. Just don’t expect it to work out for sure.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it, Professor!”

“Expect all you want, but this operation requires solid results for the sum of money you’re asking.”

“Have I ever failed to deliver when I’ve requested a budget? Just leave it to me!”

Certainly, that has never happened. Jeongjae decided to trust Jenis once more and began preparing to set off for Eramenia. This was likely to be Jeongjae’s official first diplomatic mission as a hero.