Elena, who had been taken out of the party room, looked like a Duchess rather than the usual princess general.
　Elena, though not as good as Marina, who usually wears party dresses, is well-dressed.
　The white fabric and not so conspicuous a figure... Still, if you look at Elena today, there will be many men and women who will be fascinated.

"Huh? What's wrong with you, look at you so much? ... Well, by any chance, doesn't it look good on me?"

　Ray must have felt a little uneasy at the way he was staring at himself. When Elena asks him so, Ray shakes his head.

"No, I think that's refreshing to see Elena,"
"I don't think so. Frankly speaking, I don't like this kind of outfit. Marina can wear this kind of outfit on a regular basis. Not only that, but I'd be impressed if she could move around like that."

　Elena's party dress isn't that big of an exposure itself.
　Her breasts and back are not as wide as Marina's... yet Elena's figure is as feminine as Marina's, and some viewers, though not as attractive as Marina's party dress.

"In the case of Marina, that's her everyday clothes. She's used to it, isn't she? ... Do you want to drink it first?"

　So Ray took fruit water out of the mistling.
　Elena takes it in silence and moistens her throat with cold fruit water.
　For a moment there is silence in the room.
　What I hear is the merry voices of those who are enjoying the party in the hall.
　Elena, moistened with fruit water, opens her mouth.

"And? Why did you bother to put me here? Something happened... I'm sure."

　It was obvious from Ray's appearance that he didn't just call him out because he wanted to talk to him.
　But Elena would have gladly accepted the call, rather than angry, because she wanted to speak to herself alone.

"Frankly speaking, ... I just met someone I thought was a black wolf."
"...what?"

　A moment ago, Elena's gaze, which she had hoped for a kind of romance, was changed to that of a princess general in a word from Ray.
　It is natural that the Black Wolf, now the strongest assassin in Annesis, was in the Duke of Kelebel'
　A party is being held today to pay tribute to the servants, but that doesn't mean the Duke of Kelevel's security is slack.
　No, because the party was taking place, the security should have been even tighter.
　It is impossible for Elena to be unconcerned that a black wolf is sneaking into such a place.

"I'll ask you, isn't it some sort of joke?"
"Oh, I'm sure there was. Just...I'm sure that's the case, but the one I've met is not the Black Wolf."
"What do you mean?"

　Elena frowns slightly at Ray's pointless remark.
　If Ray says he's a black wolf, he almost certainly is.

"You said you met someone I thought was a black wolf, didn't you? The guy I met today had the same face shape, but his hair color was black to silver, and his hair length was as short as his back to his shoulders."
"That's..."

　Elena is a little bewildered when asked why Ray can't say for sure.
　Because there are many ways to do things like dyeing your hair differently or using magic items, and cutting your hair differently in length.
　I think so, but I wonder why you go out of your way to imitate me like that.

"That's why I think we're probably the same partner, but I don't have any proof."
"But, if it were a disguise, why would you imitate it?"
"If I know that, I'm not worried. I don't think there are many people who can imitate me to disappear without leaving a trace in an instant."

　In other words, Ray had some proof that he was the same person when he had such skills...or magic items.

"Say that first. ... There can't be so many people who can trick Ray and Sett. But I don't think Sett was involved in tonight's case. So, have you found out anything?"

　As Elena asks for confirmation, Ray shows his right hand, which is completely gone.
　But Elena, suddenly shown her right hand, just nods her head, not knowing what Ray meant.

"What is the matter with that right hand?"
"I fought with a black wolf, but my right hand was numb when I was attacked."
"...what?"

　Elena, who was wondering why she was holding out her right hand, changed her face to a serious one.
　It's natural. Not many people give Ray a numb blow on his right hand.
　In other words, black wolves are more skilled than originally expected.
　I don't mean to underestimate Ray's ability from the time he told him about the black wolf.
　But it's also true that, after all, since he was an assassin, he felt that Ray was overwhelmingly superior if he fought head-on.
　That feeling disappears instantly when Ray says he's paralyzed his right hand.
　If it's enough to numb Ray's arm at one blow, it's no wonder he's a high-ranking adventurer or notorious.
　It was completely unexpected for Elena, too.

"Is that not a joke, but a real thing?"
"Yes, but I won, considering that I prevented the black wolf from hitting me."
"No, I don't think it's a matter of winning or losing... but I see. At least I can fight Ray head-on."

　While he says it doesn't matter, Ray's superiority also provides some relief to Elena.
　It is not so much a matter of military power as a matter of delight that the man I love had the upper hand.

"First of all, I'm sure you're a tough guy. ... That's why I'd have chosen to get rid of it today if I could. There were a lot of things, and I couldn't do that. I don't know exactly how it's gone."
"...that's troublesome. Can't Ray really figure out how to do it?"
"Oh, at least, I don't think I could afford to use magic items... but maybe it doesn't take long to use them, and that's the kind of magic items that can be used as soon as you want, and it's even more troubling when you have skills."

　In the case of magic items, there is a possibility that they are using very high-performance items that can be called the legacy of ancient magic civilization available in dungeons, and the conditions for activating them can be said to be varied in terms of skill.
　In Ray's case, it is basically necessary to mention the name of the skill directly with a sense that the skill will be used properly, but it is not surprising that there are some people who can use the skill without imitating it like that.

"If it's a magic item, I want to steal it after I defeat the black wolf."

　Stealing magic items from someone you beat is almost like robbing.
　But for Ray, who is called a bandit eater, there was no sense of guilt in taking him away from someone who would harm him.
　Without a trace... it was a very attractive magic item for Ray that he could not feel the trace, either transitioned or otherwise disappeared.

"I thought you'd say that because you're talking about Ray."

　Elena has also known Ray for a long time.
　That's why I know what magic items Ray likes.

"At any rate,"

　I got Ray's point, but there was more to ask in the current situation.

"As long as the black wolf is in, do you think we should strengthen our guard?"
"Ah... I don't know. Honestly, I think Elena and Filma are the only ones who can fight with the Black Wolf as far as I know. Of course, I don't know everything the Duke and Duchess of Quevel have, so maybe there are other forces."Elena and Filma are by far the most powerful forces of the Duke and Duchess of Quelevel.
　That's the power to overturn quantity with quality like Ray.
　It's hard to say that there's no other possibility of such a military force in the Duke of Quevel.
　That being said, there is no point in asking Elena such a question, unless she is expected to answer it honestly.

"I'm afraid it's only me and Filma at the moment,"

　I don't know if that's true. I don't know, but... I don't care if it's a lie.
　for Elena is not only Ray's companion, but also the daughter of the Duke of Kelebel, and a symbol of the nobility of the Princess General.
　In fact, if you let out something that was supposed to be kept secret, it makes you uneasy.

"I see,"

　That's why Ray only answers briefly.

"Well, for the time being, the story of a black wolf breaking into our house will need to be told to my father, whether or not he can deal with it."
"Ah... well, I suppose so. I am the head of the Duke of Quevel, and of course I need to give you some information about it."

　But Liberte's chances of dealing with the intrusion of black wolves into his estate would be hurtful.

"For the time being, I'd like to spend a little more time with Ray here, but that's not the case with the Black Wolf. ... I'll be back."
"Oh,"

　Ray has no particular objection to Elena announcing that she will return to the party.
　The reason why I came here was to inform you that the black wolf had appeared in the first place.
　Now that I've informed you of it, it's only natural that I'll be back at the party soon.
　But it was a little too much for Ray to end his time with Elena in a party dress.
　Nevertheless, if you think about the black wolf, you can't say anything selfish.

(Well, for some reason... for some reason, that black wolf didn't seem to interfere with anything but me.)

　Ray doesn't know much about the black wolf either.
　On the contrary, I had only met him in person twice, and what was more, the black wolf I met today had a different hair color and length than the first time I met him, and I was not sure he was the same person.
　...I don't know what skills or magic items are or anything else, but I didn't think there were so many people who could do things that would disappear without a trace from before Ray.

"The moon is beautiful."

　On her way back to the party, Elena stopped and muttered, looking out the window in the hallway.
　The words also make Ray look out the window.
　Today may be a party, but the magic of lights never stops at the Duke of Quevel.
　Although not all of the vast Duke of Kelebel's mansion is lit up by lights, there are still too many magic items of light around.
　The Duke and Duchess of Quelevel are capable of such imitations because of their enormous wealth.
　However, even in the midst of such a large number of magic items, it is impossible to hide even the bright moonlight floating in the night sky.

"Yes,"

　Ray also pauses next to Elena and agrees with her, looking at the moon.
　Speaking of winter nights, I had the impression that the moon was hidden by thick clouds, but now there is no cloud in the night sky that Ray and Elena are looking up at, so I can clearly see the beautiful moon.
　Ray and Elena, who had been watching the moon in the night sky for a few minutes, had to inform them of the black wolf, so they started walking back to the party hall.