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

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There was an old man sitting in a chair, quietly looking over documents while draped in a golden robe. The Dragon Lord, the king of all dragons, had been spending more time in human form lately than as a dragon. This was primarily because handling various administrative tasks was much too difficult in his true form.

The demon race wasn’t the type to organize paperwork efficiently. While the Terkeon Empire was nominally an empire, its laws regarding nationality were vague, and they had never even conducted a census, reflecting a severely lacking administrative infrastructure. Even the military’s command structure was divided among warlords, making it impossible to carry out something as straightforward as a census.

If not for the succubi, who had managed to compile data through their exceptional intelligence, the administrative abilities of the magic empire would have crumbled from within. This was also the crucial reason why, despite being a genius ruler, the role of the regent, Elias, was so significant.

Within this magic empire, the Dragon Lord was the second most burdened by paperwork after the Succubus Queen. There were several reasons for this, but the most pivotal was his dual role. The Dragon Lord was leaning more towards Jenis Harker, who, unlike the demon king, would at least propose reasonable conditions if he ever needed to drive his own race into war, prioritizing his race’s preservation.

This didn’t mean the Dragon Lord intended to fight for Harker. He was already conflicted about fighting and was contemplating negotiation, so it didn’t make sense for him to suddenly engage in battle for someone else. What this implied was a subtle hope that Harker might create a situation where “no one has to fight.”

The ongoing negotiations between Jenis and Bernard regarding the dragons continuously related back to this point: “Just stay put, and we’ll kill the demon king and spare you from the hunt.”

It sounded reasonable. Dragons were traditionally known as a lazy race, and unless faced with an exceptionally rare situation like a demonic uprising, humans didn’t often venture into dragon territory wielding swords. Naturally, dragons too would not attack human territories unless absolutely necessary. The risks of mutual aggression far outweighed the potential benefits.

So, Jenis’s promise that while the Dragon Lord observes the situation, the Empire will defeat the demon king, guaranteeing safety for the dragons, was believable. However, the fact that she was also recklessly making similar promises to minor demon tribes felt concerning. To the Dragon Lord, such promises were clearly scams. Harker wielded considerable power, but she wasn’t strong enough to guarantee the safety of orc tribes based on her whim alone.

Even if Jenis wanted to keep her promise, should Emperor Rose decide to execute a genocide, the Imperial army would undoubtedly follow that order. Of course, the betrayed demons would lash out at humans, but would the Great Sage even blink at such events? The Dragon Lord didn’t think so.

“But dragons aren’t like other monsters…”

The Gold Dragon muttered. Bernard sneaked a worried glance at the Dragon Lord’s face. The dragon king returned the documents to Bernard and asked, “Is everything written here true?”

“It is true. This is the operational plan for the Overlord beheading operation that I received directly from the Great Sage. Only a select few within the Imperial army are even aware of this overarching strategy.”

“Overlord beheading…”

It was a fitting title for the operation. No, it was a bold name that showed no concern about the operation’s name getting leaked. The plan focused solely on the siege of the demon king’s castle and reaping the demon king’s head, showing little interest in actually occupying Terkeon Empire territory or liberating oppressed humans.

The operation seemed to scream: “If we just kill the enemy emperor, other issues will resolve themselves.” Such a claim wasn’t without merit, considering that currently, no one in the Terkeon Empire could replace Violet Moriarty.

“The troubling part is whether the monsters around my territory will truly align with the Elf army this willingly. Elves and monsters cannot coexist. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where elves lead a monster rebellion against the demon king’s castle; whether this is a hopeful wish or a meticulously crafted plan…”

“And so the elf special legion will march straight towards the demon king’s castle without any rest. The Great Sage will personally ensure the support of the monster rebels from the rear, strictly separating the Elf army and the monster rebellion to prevent any incidents.”

“What if there’s an incident due to inadequate measures?”

“I don’t think the entire strategy will fall apart because of that.”

Bernard responded in a voice tense with anxiety. His usual tone was much more casual, but briefing the Dragon Lord about the “success of this operation” was an incredibly daunting task, enough to make even a seasoned hunter sweat profusely.

Bernard desperately wished he could beat up Jenis a few times if he could just make it out of this meeting alive. It wasn’t the kind of mission anyone should assign to someone who had long since retired to quietly scribble books. But there was no denying Bernard was the best candidate for this mission, even if he didn’t like it.

“What do you think, my lord?”

“It’ll succeed. More than anything, the qualifications of the commanders leading the operation are exceptional. Even if a few minor variables arise, the coalition forces will be able to cope. On the other hand, the Moriarty army lacks commanders who can adapt to various variables. The outcome will clearly hinge on this. One condition, though: Tell her that the dragons will not interfere in the battle, under the premise that Rose Caprice leads her army personally in this operation.”

“If Her Majesty the Emperor personally leads, does that mean you recognize the coalition forces will win without fail?”

“I wouldn’t say absolutely, but then again, it feels advantageous for me to side with you. That young pup, Jean Helmut, has made a bit of a name for himself this time, but that was just a temporary fix. In fact, the exceptional retreat of the coalition forces with minimal losses has led me to believe that the tide of war has shifted in favor of humanity and elves. The demon king is losing his grip. It’s becoming harder to keep holding on.”

“In that case, you must promise me something as well.”

“What promise?”

“I mean a resolute pledge that if we win, you won’t declare yourself the demon king again and start another war.”

The Dragon Lord looked at Bernard in disbelief and laughed.

“I’m tired of war, Silverpoint. I might have had such thoughts about a century ago, but not anymore. Do you know how many dragons are left now?”

“Around ten, I suppose?”

“Correct. The continent is vast, but what could ten dragons possibly do to rule the world? The territory I possess is already plenty large for ten dragons to live comfortably. Even if I factor in all the wyverns under my command, the territory would still be wide enough to leave some empty space. Think about it: what on earth are we fighting for? What reason is there to shed the blood of my dwindling kin in combat against a powerful race that stands on two feet? If my words hold no credibility, then what more could I prove? It should be self-evident.”

“I trust your words.”

Bernard nodded. The sincerity in the Dragon Lord’s words was palpable, and they aligned well with his usual conduct. It wouldn’t be wise to provoke him further.

“Then let me summarize: If the Great Sage’s operation proceeds just as written in these documents, and additionally if Her Majesty the Emperor personally leads to pressure the demon king’s castle from the south and east, then if we judge there to be a chance of victory for our side, the dragons will maintain neutrality. Can I interpret this agreement as solid?”

“Indeed. If that strategy is implemented successfully without incident, the dragons and wyverns won’t attack the aerial ships and the Eramenia forces aboard them.”

“That alone isn’t enough. Aerial ships have weak defenses and could be at risk from succubi attacks. However, succubi would struggle to secure the flight range required to attack aerial ships unless they pass through dragon territory. During this operation, you must use that sovereignty to prevent succubi from entering your territory. Can you promise me that?”

“I am a sovereign lord with the power to thoroughly deny the Terkeon army from crossing the borders of my territory. I accept that demand.”

“Good. We will keep this agreement strictly confidential to ensure it poses no risk to you. If either side fails to meet their obligations, there will be no hesitation in resuming hostilities.”

“Of course. If I’ve made this concession and you fail to respect my words, the wrath of my kin will undoubtedly be unleashed upon you.”

“Neither of us desires that outcome.”

The Dragon Lord nodded. The conversation they had directly was brief, but it was the culmination of many documents, backdoor negotiations, and hair-raising moments that led to this final outcome.

Bernard raised a trembling hand and asked for a handshake with the Dragon Lord. The Dragon Lord accepted it. Secret diplomacy had been established. Without the knowledge of the emperor or the Great King of Eramenia, Jenis Harker had completed her final move in her strategy.

If the Dragon Lord relinquished air defense surveillance through this pact, the demon king’s forces would be left helpless against airborne assaults. And if succubi weren’t allowed to fly, it would turn disastrous for them. Clumsily rising succubi would merely become fodder for the elf battalion aboard the aerial ship, getting shot down from the sky.

The Overlord beheading operation was intricately crafted, acknowledged by the wise Dragon Lord as having a high probability of success. The plans for troop advances, movements of each legion, the possibility of various demons rallying for rebellion, and suppression measures for any resistant factions were articulated in detail, showcasing sheer resolve and tenacity.

It seemed Jenis Harker had considered nearly every possible scenario, assuming the operation would be executed successfully. This document vividly displayed that she was a genius of both concepts and sheer grit. The Dragon Lord knew well how wise Margaret, who would be commanding the main forces, was. Even if the operation went somewhat awry, Margaret could likely adapt sufficiently with her quick thinking.

The formidable combat power of the Grand Mage couldn’t be overlooked either. If Rose, with her charisma and sense of command, joined forces, there was almost no risk of the besieging army collapsing.

From the Dragon Lord’s perspective, no matter how he pondered, it didn’t seem the demon king had any way to turn the tide in this situation. To him, Violet Moriarty had already lost in this war. The remaining question was how many days the firmly defended demon king’s castle could withstand this terrifying siege.

There were at least two mages equivalent to siege weaponry. No matter how strong the castle, it couldn’t endure indefinitely.

Watching Bernard attempt to return through the canal as usual, the Dragon Lord let out a complicated sigh.

“This is the right thing…”

The lord of dragons murmured. In truth, he didn’t much like the idea of the demons distancing themselves from monsters and clinging to humans. Though dragons were distinct from other demon races, their magical attributes were still closely aligned with darkness.

Even so, shouldn’t prioritizing and caring for his own race over the other demon races be a given? While the Dragon Lord rationalized his choice and observed Bernard Silverpoint, there was one other being keeping an eye on Bernard without anyone’s notice.

“What the hell are they talking about?”

The Succubus Queen, Elias, mumbled as she watched Bernard board a ship. She had been spying on the Dragon Lord for a long time. Her surveillance had been so meticulous and enduring that had the Dragon Lord noticed, he might have protested.

But since Bernard was no ordinary individual, the Succubus Queen hadn’t managed to detect his existence until now. Thus, today was the first time she witnessed the contact between Bernard and the Dragon Lord.

She didn’t know the content of their discussion. In fact, she couldn’t verify whether anything substantial was exchanged. All she saw was the back of the hunter departing on a ship. That was all.

Perhaps nothing great had occurred. It could have been mere nonsense that ended in failure. The Dragon Lord she knew was a coward. He would fear aiding the demon king to fight against humans, but he would naturally also fear helping humans to fight the demon king. It was hard to think some monumental agreement took place.

But what if, surprisingly, something significant actually happened? If the Succubus Queen overlooked this seemingly innocuous scene and something irreversible transpired? That would become an unforgivable crime against her emperor, lord, and beloved daughter.

“Measures will be necessary.”

The regent of the magic empire, the world’s greatest spy, mumbled. As the beheading operation neared completion, someone whom Jenis had not even considered began to move to sow chaos.