The day after hearing of the Black Wolf... that is, Ray was having the last day of the year with the Duke of Quevel.
　After Ray came to Annesis, he usually ate with Elena and her family... but today at the end of the year, all the people who could attend, even though they worked in the Duke of Quelevel, enjoyed their meals in the hall.

"Well, honestly, I'm surprised, for I thought the nobles would not eat with their servants."
"Well, that's right. It's always the case, but only today at the end of the year, my husband gives me a party like this to celebrate his success this year."

　Miranda beside Ray says so with a happy smile.

(Consolation? It's like a year-end party? I don't think it's that wrong.)

　Ray thinks that way looking around him, but everyone at the party is talking rather loudly than usual.

"There were so many people in this house,"
"That's true. It will take this number of people to keep it well maintained and a suitable place for the Duke of Quevel."

　Miranda told me so, but even with more than a hundred servants, the reason why we are able to keep the house safe now is that all the people who work at the Duke of Kelevel are experienced.
　If the workmen's skills were low, they wouldn't be able to get the job done properly without a few times as many.
　Ray didn't seem to have any idea what was going on in the area, but he reached out to the food nearby because it was a special party.
　This gathering is not so formal as a year‐end party.
　There are many tables lined with dishes cooked by Georgima and other chefs, and many people are smirking at them.
　Since it's a stand‐up party, everyone is casually talking to their friends and laughing at each other.
　This is a party for the service of servants, and the Duke and Duchess of Kelebel, such as Liberte, Arcadia, and Elena, have also attended the party, but they are not acting like they are in a position to make a fuss with the servants.
　Servants are at a stand-up party, but Libertes are the only ones who sit at a table away and enjoy their meal gracefully.
　The unusual thing about it is that you dine with the most likely servants at the table.
　Miranda smiles at Ray, who looks as though he's eating with a certain air of course.

"If your husband decides that you've done the best in the past year, you can eat with him like that... that's why the competition is so high."

　Miranda's explanation leaves Ray with a subtle feeling that he's eating at the same table almost every day, even though he hasn't done anything in particular.
　It was only natural for Liberte to think of dining with her, as she was equal to her daughter's lover.
　...if Ray hadn't been a notorious adventurer, but a bunch of unknown adventurers around him, it would have been a different story.
　For better or worse, Ray has made a big name for himself in recent years.
　As a result, many people now view it as a dasker's sword.
　Ray himself doesn't mean it at all, but he thinks it's no use being seen as such, given that he's actually been asked to do so by Dusker, and he doesn't deny it, because he thinks it's OK to reduce the senseless interference from the nobility.

"Well, I don't understand it a little, but as far as I can see, I'm sure the man who dines with the Duke of Quelevel is pleased."

　Rather than exactly being happy, the expression of pride is probably more correct.
　For Ray, it seemed like he didn't understand much, but he thought he didn't have to bother to say something that would make the person he was happy with, so he stopped saying anything more about the matter.
　Miranda also talks about Seto, saying she understands what Ray thinks as a competent maid and should avoid further discussion of the matter.
　That way, Ray doesn't have to mumble again, so he's funny about Seto.

"Is that true?"
"Oh, I love Set... I have a lot of people to love, but those Miredogs and Johanna are exceptional. Especially, Miredogs were thought to be talented, beautiful, and able female adventurers until he got involved with Set... and now there's a love of Seto."

　But it's not just a bad thing.
　Originally, Miredogs are by no means wrong in terms of appearance alone as cool beauty.
　Because of that, many people thought it was hard to get close to... but as the conversation with Seto became known, people around him changed their views about it.
　He was perceived as an easy person to talk to talk to.
　However, there were some who looked down on him, but even if he loved Seto, he didn't lose his skill.
　As a result, those who behave foolishly will regret it.

"He seems to get along with me somehow."
"Well, I think Mileine will treat you well in terms of love of Set... unless you deal with Johanna."

　While Ray and Miranda were talking, Ray noticed a person approaching them.
　However, it's not a stranger.k.
　for he was perhaps the best friend of the Knights of Kelebel.
　But the Leodanis is now looking at Ray in an almost unsatisfied way.
　As Ray doesn't understand why he looks at her like that, he decided to call out to see what was going on.

"What, Leodannis? What do you want from me?"
"... No, no. I just wanted to talk to Miranda for a moment, and Ray was with her."
"Ah... I see,"

　Leodannis's attitude makes Ray understand why Leodannis is in a bad mood.
　For Leodanis, Miranda is a favorite partner.
　Ray also understands that the favor is not between friends, but between men and women.

(Is it jealousy?)

　Yes, Leodanis must have been jealous when she saw Miranda talking happily with Ray.
　Even Ray, who is out of touch with those feelings, can understand what Leodanis thinks.
　Ray then turns to Miranda and opens his mouth.

"That's enough for me, and I'll come round the party with Leodanis."
"Is that all right?"

　Miranda's job is strictly Ray's.
　If something goes wrong in Ray's absence, it could be a lot of bad things.
　Already, from Miranda's point of view, Ray doesn't seem to have any common sense as a nobleman.
　However, Ray is not an aristocrat, so you don't have to learn that common sense.

"Oh, there's probably no one who's acting strangely to me at this party."

　Ray's position is that of Liberte, Duke of Kelebel.
　If you try to play dumb with Ray, that's not a metaphor, but a physical one.
　It did not seem to Ray that there should be any servant of the Duke of Kelebel who would imitate him.

(Well, I don't know if the black wolf will take this offer, but it's still better to do it than not to do it.)

　I don't want to put off the fear of being a black wolf for a long time, though it was just an idea.
　If you can clean it up here, that's the best thing.
　That's what I'm going to say... Ray opens his mouth to Miranda.

"Look, I'm all right, so come and see the party with Leodanis. Georgimas are cooking a lot of elaborate dishes for me, so I don't have the option of not looking around."
"What? Oh, yes. ... All right. I'll take your word for it. Shall we go, Leodanis?"
"Oh, ... is it really good?"
"No problem. Have a good time."

　At Miranda's urging, Leodanis still confirms to Ray, just in case.
　Perhaps Leodanis has sensed Ray's thoughts or ideas in some way, but it's just that he feels something outside of his consciousness, and he follows Ray's words honestly.

"All right. I'll be back then."Despite some doubts about Ray's behavior, Leodannis eventually leaves in front of him with Miranda.
　A few times Leodanis turns around worrying about Ray, but eventually he can't resist the temptation to enjoy a party with his favorite partner and concentrates on it.
　When Ray saw them... he suddenly felt his gaze and turned to them.
　though his gaze was not as eerie as a black wolf, but rather as anxious as his own... Elena's, who was eating with Liberte and Arcadia.
　It's only natural that Ray knows what Elena is worried about.
　In the first place, it was Elena who gave Ray information about the black wolf, so it's safe to predict his behavior.
　She nodded to Elena, who had looked at her anxiously, that she was all right, and then left the party quietly.





"Well, demons come out or snakes come out. ... Is it more appropriate to say wolves come out, since they are black wolves?"

　Saying so, Ray looks up at the night sky on the veranda, a short distance from the party hall.
　From inside the building we could hear faint cheers coming from the party hall and even screams of what had happened.
　However, Ray didn't feel any particular need to go to help because the scream was not a full-blown scream, but rather a funny scream.
　Being on the veranda on a winter night, it's natural to feel freezing cold.
　However, Ray doesn't have to worry about it because he wears dragon robes with air conditioners.
　In the clear winter air, Ray looks at the starry sky, which looks prettier than usual...and waits for the black wolf to appear.
　If Ray hears from Elena the power of the black wolf is true, it's no wonder that the situation is the way it is now, or that it appears.
　That's why we're waiting for the black wolf to appear.

"But it's the end of the year. The black wolf may be busy preparing for the new year."

　While speaking out for himself, Ray laughs intolerably.
　The man Ray had seen before, who seemed to be a black wolf... for I couldn't imagine him living his daily life at all.
　Moreover, I can't imagine anything more than my daily life, such as preparing for the end of the year.

(Make New Year's noodles... No, there is no soba in the first place, and there is no such custom.)

　As far as Ray knows, there is no such dish as New Year's noodles in the world as Elgin.
　There may be, so as far as Ray knows... should we describe that there is no such dish in places like guillem and anasis?
　Instead, it's not uncommon for such a New Year's party to be held.

(There will be New Year's parties and New Year's parties. ... It must be a lot of trouble, especially for Georgimas who cook for the party, you can't afford to study ramen.)

　That's how I felt. Ray had the same gaze as I had before... not feeling emotionally, not observing.

"... Here it is. Come on out."

　Perhaps I heard Ray muttering, but suddenly a sign appeared on the veranda roof.