This was likely a misunderstanding based on Graziella’s high assessment of Liliana’s skills; the penguin wasn’t for her magicka, but for emotional support.
Reiji then noticed the extra person in Suimei’s party. He and Mizuki turned to the girl in the magician outfit.
“Hm? Aren’t you Suimei’s friend? Um...”
“Mary-chan, right?” Mizuki finished for him.
“Yup. Long time no see, you two,” Hydemary said. “I guess the last time was at my magic show?”
“Ummm, the fact that you’re here means...” Reiji started.
“Well, that’s the gist of it,” Suimei said. “I doubt I have to explain.”
“Ugh... My world was actually full of the occult...” Mizuki grumbled. “So unfair! So unfair! So unfair!”
“Things seem to have gotten even livelier around you,” Elliot said, joining in.
“Right now, that’s a good thing,” Suimei told him.
“True. We’re in dire need of reinforcements,” Elliot agreed.
“Yeah, also... you know. Thanks for watching Reiji and Mizuki,” Suimei added bashfully, getting quite the reaction out of Elliot. “What?”
“I never thought I’d hear such laudable words from your mouth,” Elliot told him. “I wonder if it’ll rain spears today.”
“I’ll thank you as many times as I have to if it’ll cause such a mystical phenomenon to occur right on top of the demons currently invading,” Suimei said. “No way something that convenient is gonna happen, though.”
“Indeed,” Elliot agreed. “We’ll have to rain the spears down on the demons ourselves.”
That was when one of the officers raised his voice. He appeared to have lost his temper—like all the other officers in the room.
“Your Majesty! Do you intend on having these people participate?!”
“I do.” Almadious declared. “What of it?”
“Didn’t that man run away because he didn’t want to fight?!” the officer protested. “And isn’t that mage from the Empire?”
“I also happen to be from the Empire,” Graziella cut in. “In fact, I stand near its pinnacle.”
“No, that isn’t what I...” The officer faltered under Graziella’s cold eyes.
Seeing the unexpected opposition to their presence, Hatsumi cocked her head.
“Suimei, what’s going on?” she asked.
“Aaah...”
“Hm?”
“Well, when I got summoned, I threw a tantrum about refusing to put up with this crap,” Suimei explained briefly.
“H-Hang on...” Hatsumi mumbled.
“Hmm? That doesn’t sound like the softhearted soul that you are,” Elliot commented.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not that softhearted,” Suimei retorted.
“You’re one to talk,” Elliot insisted. “Remind me again. Who was it who picked a fight with the Goddess for someone else’s sake? And who was it that raised hell to look after Liliana-chan?”
“It pisses me off when I hear you say it like this,” Suimei told him. “It sounds like you’re making fun of me.”
“Anyway, why did you refuse to help?” Elliot asked.
“Why? It was an abduction,” Suimei said. “I was totally kidnapped. Back in my world, summoning someone without an agreed-upon contract already put in place would guarantee you get an ass-kicking.”
“If anything, it would be a class-two mystical crime,” Hydemary agreed. “Suimei-kun would be sent to pass judgment.”
“Hm? Oh, you’re right,” Suimei said. “If you think about it like that, everyone involved should be rounded up and sealed.”
“Huh?! You mean it’s possible I could have all my magic sealed for it?!” Felmenia exclaimed.
“Well, yeah. That’s why I was so harsh with you,” Suimei said.
“Wa wa wa wa wa wa...” Felmenia turned pale; she was fully aware of Suimei’s status in the modern world.
“Hm? What? Are you something like the police over there?” Elliot asked.
“More like a cleaner,” Suimei explained. “I take part in cleaning up the messes in the large organization that governs the world of magicka.”
“I find it rather unexpected that you engage in such serious work,” Elliot commented.
“Shut your trap,” Suimei complained. “Quit poking fun at me every chance you get.”
“Hmm. So, Suimei, that’s why they don’t like you?” Hatsumi said.
“Yup.”
Once they were done with their little conversation, the officers were once more yelling at Suimei to get out of the room. In Suimei’s group were both the hero Hatsumi and Lefille, the Shrine Maiden of the Spirits. The two of them would be great assets in wartime, but it seemed the officers had no idea who they were.
Hatsumi didn’t explain and pouted at them, whereas Lefille kept her eyes closed in silence. Nobody was intent on giving the officers a full explanation. Titania and Graziella turned a “You spread these seeds yourself” look toward Suimei.
“No, I insist Suimei-dono’s party remain,” King Almadious said.
“But Your Majesty!” one of the officers protested.
“Now is not the time for this conversation,” Almadious said. “The demon attack has finally eased up. We can’t exhaust ourselves over such petty squabbles.”
“That’s true... but still!”
“You still refuse to be convinced...? Hmm, what shall we do about this?” Almadious trailed off suggestively, then glanced at Suimei.
“We’ll simply have to prove our participation in this war won’t cause any problems,” Suimei answered.
“It will be time-consuming, but would you mind doing me this favor?” the king asked.
“Brute strength is a much easier and faster method of persuasion than standing here trying to convince them,” Suimei agreed. “Let’s go with that.”
He then turned to Hydemary. “That’s the gist of it. Mary, go play with them.”
“Huh? What? Why me?” she asked.
“This works out just right, doesn’t it?” Suimei said. “I wanna test whether your magicka works fine here. Just play with them however you want.”
“Well, I don’t mind,” Hydemary conceded. “This is your mess I’m cleaning up, so you better make up for it later.”
Suimei gave his disciple a “Yeah, yeah” and turned to the king once more.
“Will this do?” Suimei asked.
“Thank you,” Almadious replied.
The officers glared at Suimei throughout this exchange.
“Hiding behind a woman...?”
“What a despicable bastard.”
They disparaged Suimei, but it had no effect on him. On the contrary, he turned a devilish expression toward them.
“Hahahaha! If you wanna fight me, then you gotta beat her first!”
“Don’t fuck with us!”
“We’ll kick your ass out of here with ease!”
The war had put an irrefutable strain on them. Their tempers flared at the slightest provocation. And as that went on, a group whispered to each other in the corner of the room.
“Why is Suimei so good at playing the petty villain?” Hatsumi asked.
“I mean, Suimei’s pretty good at acting,” Reiji said. “He did trick us for the entire time we’ve known him.”
“Aah... That’s true. He did, didn’t he?” Hatsumi agreed.
“Yeah! Yeah! Suimei-kun is such a jerk!” Mizuki joined in.
“Hey! You lot over there! Quit looking at me with those shady eyes, dammit!” Suimei yelled.
And so, the entire group, plus all those who disapproved of Suimei’s presence, left the briefing room.
Suimei’s group was guided to the training ground. The place had already been set up as a simple arena, and the castle’s residents had gathered as spectators.
“Things have gotten rather amusing,” Graziella said, smiling, as if she were about to witness a delightful show.
“I’m amazed you can say that right now,” Suimei complained. “It’s really not the time for this crap. Weren’t you all in the middle of a war council? Ain’t it weird for everyone to just get up and leave?”
“Well, I largely agree with you there,” Graziella conceded, then exchanged looks with Titania. “However, in a sense, you can say this is perfect timing.”
“It does save us a lot of trouble,” Titania agreed.