Ray, who enjoyed Georgima's cooking to the full, didn't know what Liberte had to say at first.
　After several table-togethers, Ray doesn't mind eating with the Duke and Duchess of Quelevel.
　No, I didn't care that much about it in the first place, but now I'm quite relaxed and able to enjoy the taste of the food.
　When I was enjoying such a dinner, it suddenly came out of Liberte's mouth.
　After swallowing a dish of soft-boiled white fish in his mouth, Ray replies exactly what Liberte told him to say.

"Is it a mock game?"
"Well, I had a request from all the nobles who were already in Anesis to watch a mock battle of Ray before the New Year's party."
"... why again?"
"Well, I wonder, of course, if you have some information, you could know that Ray is coming to Anesis... but would you normally say that?"

　Arcadia's mouth also raises questions.
　Generally speaking, it would be disrespectful to suggest to Ray, the guest of their faction -- some of whom were royal nobles -- that they should try a mock war.
　Ray, however, was not only a guest of the Duke of Kelebel, but also a man considered the sword of Dusker, who led the neutral faction.
　Given this, it is no surprise that aristocrats and royalists want to see Ray's power.

"The reason for this mock war seems to have been Ray's talk at a gathering of aristocrats. Well... Ray doesn't look very strong."

　Liberte looks Ray in the face, looking a little difficult to say.
　They wear dragon robes, but of course they take off their hoods only in places like this.
　That's why I was able to see Ray's face clearly from Liberte.
　That kind of Ray's face is appropriate to describe as a woman's face.
　And Ray's body is delicate compared to Filma and other knights.
　If a stranger were to judge Ray by his appearance, he wouldn't be able to judge him as a skilled adventurer of a very small but not very famous name.
　It would have been different if the judge had the power to see through the other person's power.

"Father, if it's a joke by someone who can't see Ray's strength, don't you have to bother listening to it? Or you can show it to Ray because he's been playing mock battles with the Filmas these days."

　Elena couldn't have known more about how strong Ray is.
　That being the case, I thought it would be unnecessary to talk to my father about a mock war.
　Liberte can understand such a girl's story.
　But this time, more people are worried about Ray's ability than they expected, and Liberte, who tacitly admits Ray's relationship with Elena, cannot leave it alone.
　Particularly significant is that if this is left unchecked, doubts about Ray will spread among the nobility and cause problems.
　If such a problem arose, some of the aristocrats could not rule out the possibility of Ray causing some sort of disturbance.
　...and Liberte wouldn't have cared so much if it wasn't for Ray.
　However, in Ray's case, even if he is a noble, he is not forgiving at all.
　In some cases, the genocide of the nobility may occur in Annesis, and Liberte cannot silence the demands of the nobility.
　Even if Ray refused to play the mock game, it was necessary to tell him in advance.

"If we dismiss this matter unconditionally, how will the nobles react?"
"That's..."

　Elena could understand what her father meant, even though she was not so close to the nobility.
　If Liberte did not say anything to Ray here, they wouldn't complain to him.
　However, it's just that they don't complain directly, and they're actually dissatisfaction.
　The accumulated dissatisfaction then overflows.
　That being the case, I had to tell Ray that there had been such a story.
　Determined that Elena was satisfied, Liberte turns to Ray.

"And what are you going to do? I can't do anything about this judgment. It's just down to what Ray does."
"If you say so... I can't help but accept it."

　There are many reasons why Ray said so.
　First of all, Ray has nothing special to do until the New Year's party begins, and he has nothing left to do.
　And who spread such a story?
　Since coming to Anesis, Ray has met not many nobles.
　The first thing that comes to mind when you are told that you are the one who spreads such a rumor is Geiska.
　That man, who has been very hostile to himself, may well speak of his lack of ability.
　But it's no use saying it here.

(I'm a little surprised that I could imitate Gaiska as if she were doing a roundabout job.)

　The Gaisca that Ray saw would have looked down on someone who was below him...or below him, considering his attitude to Arra.
　Ray took it for granted that there would not be many people who would cooperate with such a person.

(Or whether there are any other collaborators besides Geiska.)

　Liberte opens his mouth to Ray, who thinks that way.

"So it's really acceptable for Ray to take on the matter, though it's not profitable for him."
"I don't mind. I knew even before I came to Anesis that some people don't find my relationship interesting."
"Well... well,"

　Liberte seemed to want to say something about Ray's words, but he said nothing more, partly because many of the people who were involved in this incident were aristocrats.
　Instead, they talk about mock battles.

"Those who want to see Ray's ability are going to hire their men and adventurers to play a mock game with him. Is that OK?"
"I can only say it's all right. Isn't it possible to have a different name or a high-ranked adventurer, if it's as big as this Annesis?"

　Although not as large as the remote capital of Gilm or the Kingdom of Mileana, this Annesis is the second largest city in the Kingdom of Mileana.
　It's natural that skilled adventurers should gather.

"A well-known adventurer or a high-ranking adventurer? Of course, I don't think such an adventurer will appear in this case."
"...why?"

　If you're going to check your ability, it's only natural that you guess what you're good at, not your small fish.
　Reverte takes a sip of soup and then opens his mouth to Ray's thoughtful gaze.

"If you're an adventurer, you'll know that. Basically, many adventurers often take a break in winter. If you ask them to do so, they need to pay more than usual."

　That's right. The rest of the word will swallow Liberte, too.
　Normally, that's fine, but this time it's a mock match against Ray, who is nicknamed crimson.
　Perhaps some people might be interested in taking part in the project without considering its profitability.
　Rey looks a little interested in Liberte, who tells her so implicitly.
　Until recently, I had no motivation at all this time.
　It would be worth a mock battle against a knight of the Duke of Quevel.
　I'm not dissatisfied with the fact that my fight will be a show... it's not that I don't have to worry about it.
　But from what Liberte told me, it seemed certain that most of the nobles who brought this story would hire the little fish.
　So I wasn't motivated, but if you're a notorious or high-ranked adventurer, that's another story.
　Fortunately... I don't think so, but Ray, who is now in the Duke of Quevel, has anything particular to do.
　No, I've been talking and having tea with Elena and Arra, but that's not always the case.
　Elena has duties as a Duchess and General Princess, and Arra has duties as the captain of the Guards Knights.
　Especially in the case of Arra, it's almost like an ornament in terms of office work, let alone actual fighting and training.
　Still, as a Knight Commander, there are documents that need to be read and settled.
　As long as she had to deal with those documents that had accumulated while she was away from Annesis, she could not act with Ray.

"Dad. Don't you forget that Ray is also an adventurer? If he were to play a mock battle, I think he should promise some reward."Judging by Ray's appearance that he was positive about the mock battle, Elena tells Liberte so.
　Elena naturally knows how popular she is with men.
　Therefore, it was easy to imagine that this mock game was the work of the people who thought of Ray that he had brought.
　There are other people in it, though.
　In any case, he wanted to at least reward the aristocrats for engaging them in a sham battle.
　Liberte nods back to Elena's words, saying, "If they want Ray to fight a mock battle for their own convenience...."

"Well, well, through the guild... no, this is only a private matter. So, should we make a request to Ray directly without going through the guild? ... Is that all right?"

　Usually, most adventurers avoid requests that don't go through guilds because they have to solve any problems themselves.
　However, it was a different story for those who had the ability to solve anything by themselves, or who wanted to increase their pay even a little by not going through the guild.

"Well, I was going to do it even if I didn't get paid, so I don't mind."
"No, that's not it. Even if Ray doesn't intend to do that, what do you think of the others... that's the question."
"... I see,"

　Ray thought there would be no particular problem, but Liberte, who was welcoming Ray as a guest, would not want to be suspected or despised by the other nobles.
　The Liberte of the Duke of Kelebel, who is leading the aristocracy, is not a solid system.
　Naturally, not everyone in the aristocracy is united, and some think they should lead the aristocracy.
　Many people have come to think so, especially after they have taken a concerted stance with neutrals.
　For that reason, Liberte could never have done anything to show his feet.
　I can't explain about that, but I still explain to Ray that it's absolutely necessary to pay him in this case as long as he pulls him out for a mock fight.
　Ray, too, decides that Liberte didn't explain everything, but doesn't pretend to ask any more.

"So, what would you like to pay? Gold? Or... I heard that you are collecting magic items. Do you like that? I can't give you something that has been handed down from generation to generation..."

　Ray looks a little happy to hear that it's a magic item.
　But before Ray can say anything, Elena opens her mouth.

"How about wind ore? You said you got flame ore before..."

　If flame ore is an ore containing the magic of fire, wind ore is an ore containing the magic of wind.
　Then Ray thinks flame ore could be pyrotechnic ore or flame ore... that's probably the feeling of the word or the sense of the first person to find it.

"Wind ore? Do you have it?"
"Yes. I can't tell you where it is, but there is a mine."

　Thus Ray was paid.