The New Year's party is coming to an end.
　It's already time to change the date, and many people will be sleeping by this time.
　Still, not many people are holding back their sleepiness, perhaps because they're excited or excited because it's an annual party.

"Then I will take charge of your flood control work."
"Yes, please. I'll pay you well, so don't worry."
"Thank you. Fortunately, we have a lot of earthy wizards, so we're good at that kind of work."

　Some people are having such conversations...

"d*mn it! Mr. Elena, can't you do anything about it?"I'm getting this strong at the moment..."
"Give it up. No matter how strong you get, you can't be as famous as crimson.
"That's..."
"More importantly, look at you. The girls over there. I've been looking at you over and over again."
"What!? Is that true!"

　The aristocrat who was aiming for Elena would try to find a new love.
　At any rate, many of the nobles are free to live.
　Those who have negotiated well at this party are enjoying a glass of wine and tasting dishes made by Georgima and his disciples.
　The nobleman, who could not reach an agreement, had brought wine and food to his mouth to contain his irritation.
　Meanwhile, in the corner of the party hall, several nobles gathered to talk to each other.

"Even so, today's party was a surprise. I never expected that Mr. Elena would put on such a wonderful dance."
"Well, when I saw that dance, I was fascinated. I was so old and excited."
"If I were to say that, so was I. The dance was really wonderful. ... And the adventurer of Mr. Elena's partner. He was nicknamed crimson, and he was very strong."

　When one of the nobles says so, some of the nobles who had watched Ray's mock battle immediately speak.

"I saw a mock battle that Ray had played, and the strength was real, and yet he had the Gryphon as a slave."
"Well, to be honest with you, when I first heard him, I thought that the Duke of Kelebel had admitted his adventurous spirit to Mr. Elena, but when I saw that he was subservient to the Gryphon, I could only agree."
"...that's not it. His strength is..."

　A nobleman, who had been listening in silence, muttered,
　There's no doubt a feeling of fear in that tone.
　The aristocrats around them have doubts when they see such a situation, since they are usually dignified.

"Baron Chilmno, what's wrong with you? You're not like me."

　At the words of his friend before he succeeded to the peerage, the man called Baron Chilmno delivers wine to his mouth to calm him down.
　Baron Chilmno breathed out, as if it were a rather strong wine, or a hot wine, or out of his mouth.

"I've been on the battlefield with Ray before. See? The war against the Bestian Empire a few years ago."
"Oh, come to think of it, you said you'd join us."

　Even the aristocracy is not the only one who can afford it.
　It is not uncommon, especially for low-ranking nobles, such as barons, to participate in wars and achieve achievements, and to expect a reward or to receive a higher title.
　Baron Chilmno took part in the war against the Westian Empire, as was the case with him.
　He was confident in his strength because he had trained himself regularly, and the soldiers under his command were well trained and capable enough to describe him as an elite soldier.
　But... what Baron Chilmno saw on the battlefield was Ray doing great damage to the avant-garde forces of the Vestian Empire by a huge tornado of flames.
　Immediately after that, Ray was killed one enemy after another using a scythe.
　The use of a scythe made it seem like Baron Chilmno was cutting a man's life with a scythe.
　It could have been called the god of death when he danced to cut the enemy's life with a scythe.
　Baron Chilmno, who described the battle, slowly continues, wondering if the conversation had settled him somewhat.

"To be honest, I think that the Duke of Kelebel, who had established friendly relations with the neutrals, could not have been more decisive in his judgment, if he had to fight against Dusker, the Earl of the Frontier,

　with a shudder
　Baron Chilmno's body trembles, perhaps imagining when he confronts Ray.
　Seeing this, those who listened to Baron Chilmno realize that their perceptions were lax.
　That is why the nobles, who were inclined to understand Ray's strength by watching the mock war, appreciated the judgment of the Duke of Kelebel, who, as Baron Chilmno had said, had made friendly relations with the neutrals.
　I absolutely wanted to avoid encountering Ray on the battlefield against the neutrals.

"A man of the Baron Chilmno would have liked to say so, though, as far as I can see, it seems not to have been the case at all."

　One of the aristocrats listening to Baron Chilmno says as he sees Ray chatting with some of the aristocrats.
　It was probably because Ray understood that he had so much power.

"Yes, I'll tell you. Don't be so hostile to Ray. If you are hostile to him, all you have to do is ruin him. After all, Ray doesn't act like he's a nobleman."

　Baron Chilmno knows the fact that Ray wielded the scythe without mercy against the nobles of the Milliana Kingdom in the war that led to Ray's nickname.
　It is not usually possible to attack nobles so easily.
　However, Ray, who did it without hesitation, was just like a natural enemy to the nobility.
　They see no value in their power, even if they try to silence it.
　No, maybe you've found some value, but it's only negligible.
　If you hire a bodyguard, you'll never have a better match against Ray or... let alone against the Gryphon set.
　And with Sett there, even if Ray really hires someone he can't beat, it's hard to chase if he can escape into the sky.
　Moreover, if you let them go, they don't know when or where they'll attack you next.
　If you're strong enough to beat Ray, you'll need a decent amount of money to hire, and if you're not rich enough, it's hard to keep on hiring.
　Baron Chilmno's words had swallowed the spit in his mouth.





"Hahaha. You know what I mean, don't you?"
"No, no, that's not the case. I think you'll understand better."

　In front of Ray's eyes there was a little unexpected scene unfolded.
　Because there, Blueit and Raniggs were laughing at each other.
　Whether they are aristocratic or separate, Blueit is not staying in Annesis, but different factions, such as King Lanigs and the aristocratic Blueit.
　Nevertheless, they must have been quite compatible. They got along in no time.
　A short distance away from Lanigs and Blue It, Terres praises Elena in her dress and her earlier dance.
　Further afield, he envies Terreth, who talks to Elena, but he has to deal with the nobles who speak to him, and cannot leave him at once.
　Elena's confidante is the official reputation of Arla. ... It's not really wrong, though.For aristocratic aristocrats, Arra was a pretty attractive marriage partner.
　That's why many young men are trying to woo Aara.
　...though he had no interest in men, and was more likely to go under Elena than to be talking to these men.
　If the men who were making advances to Arra had been acting aggressively, Arra could have used her bragging strength to beat them down.
　But men usually woo Arra whether they know it or whether they think it disgraceful to simply resort to violence.

"What do you think, Mr. Arra? There's a snowfield near my house this season. It's a white snowfield with no trace of anyone walking. I'd love to see it with you."
"I'm sorry, but I'm the captain of the Knights of the Guard of Mr. Elena, and I can't leave Anesis so easily."

　I've actually been in Gilm all along with Elena, but I refuse the invitation while keeping it secret.

"Why don't you come with me to see Annesis? I've just come to Annesis, and it would be helpful if you could show me around."
"I'm so busy with work now that I can't afford it. I'm sorry."

　Besides that kind of interaction...

"Arra, your eyes are so beautiful that you want to see them forever."
"I want to congratulate you on meeting a jewel called you."
"That dignified atmosphere of yours. I want to see it forever."

　In this way, compliments have been hurled at him one after another.

(Oh... it's miserable.)

　Ray takes the food from a nearby table to his mouth, watching Arra.
　It's been more than a few hours since I made it, but it's just the food Georgima and his disciples made, and it's just delicious.
　It's a dish served at a party, so I guess it's centered on dishes that won't lose their taste even if they get cold.
　Some dishes taste very good while they are warm, but when they cool down, they lose their flavor all at once... there's something called the duration of the taste.
　It's a good dish to serve at a restaurant, but not for a party like this.
　Georgima naturally knew this, so she cooked mainly the kind of food Ray is eating now.
　However, Georgima's reputation must have been very lively, as she can eat a variety of dishes even when it gets cold.

"Hey, hey, Ray. What do you think?"

　Having enjoyed cooking, Ray suddenly comes to himself when he is spoken to by Blueit.
　But since I hadn't heard anything from him, I couldn't have answered him if he asked me what I thought.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening to you while I was eating. What are you talking about?"

　So, apologize honestly and ask what you wanted to say.
　Although Blueit seemed a little dumbfounded by Ray's appearance, he never tried to express his dissatisfaction and explained the situation.

"I hear there's a good hunting ground in Ranigs' house. Monsters don't come out, so we can hunt safely. Aren't you interested?"
"I'm afraid I'm not that interested."

　Hunting, or so-called hunting, is basically wild animals.
　It's only natural, especially since Lanigs says there are no monsters now.
　But... apart from the fun of hunting, if you think about the pure taste of meat, wildlife definitely tastes worse than monster meat.
　Some people say that the wild taste is good, and Ray doesn't deny it, but... still, Ray's honest intention was to eat delicious meat if he wanted to eat it anyway.
　Some monsters, including goblins, taste bad.
　But the meat of a high-ranked monster like Ray's is definitely better than the meat of a wild animal because of its magical powers.
　In some cases, it is no surprise that such meat should be served at the table of nobles and roy.

"Really? Hunting is quite interesting, but ... oh, no. In Ray's case, are you used to hunting like that?"
"Well, I don't know what hunting is like for aristocrats, but if you live with Seto, you'll never hunt monsters more often, just for meat."

　In fact, he wanted an unknown magical stone, but he could not teach the art of the beast, so he misled it.
　So the Rays, along with Arla, who had managed to shake off the men who were approaching them, would spend time with each other in the spirit of Liberte's mouth until the party was closed.