Red-colored ......Red-colored iron giant?"
"Biggggg!"
That's right, the object that was displayed in the center was a giant man made of red-colored iron, looking both magnificent and monstrous, Asuka and the faerie lifted their heads to look at the huge body, becoming speechless because of the view.
The matching red and gold colored decorations on it's monstrous body that was about 30 feet high. The depiction on it's armor used light as a fundamental idea for the abstract painting, making it look like it possessed an overwhelming courage.
To add on, those huge arms that were twice the size of a human body.
Looking at that mono-spaced head and body, it couldn't help but make people wonder how could they have moved it here through such a small entrance.
It also could be felt that the creator built it with extreme enthusiasm due to the delicate decorations on it's red armor.
"How........How wonderful, which community made this...?"
"Asuka! Rattenfänger!"
The pointy-hatted faerie jumped down from Asuka's shoulder with sparkling eyes.
The nameplate of the exhibit was written with: "Creator: Rattenfänger, Title: Deen."
Feeling extremely surprised, Asuka started asking:
"This thing was made by your community?"
"Hehe!" The pointy-hatted faerie puffed out her chest. Looks like it was the truth.
Asuka lifted her head up again to gaze at the iron doll with the name [Deen]. If the said monstrous sized iron doll was really made by these things called [Flock faeries], they must have spent an alarming amount of labor just to get it done.
"Is that so........ The community [Rattenfänger] must be very powerful."
The pointy-hatted faerie was shyly smiling, she must be very happy.
"After a closer observation, the other items displayed here in this place are all the main exhibits. After some comparison, I think that your community might be the one to win this gift game."
The pointy-hatted faerie was vivaciously bouncing while continuing to hum out: "Rattenfänger!"
A bit dumbfounded, Asuka picked the faerie up and placed her on her shoulders, intending to look at the other exhibits.
——It was at this time when a change happened.
"......Yaaaah.....!"
Whoosh~~ A gust of wind blew through the cave.
The gust of wind extinguished the flames illuminating the cave, Asuka couldn't help it but let out a soft yet sharp scream.
The other patrons also started exclaiming as the confusion spread out like a ripple of a wave.
"What happened ! Why was the flame extinguished?!"
"Be careful ! It might be the Rakshaha demons!"
"Quickly light up some of the nearby lanterns!"
The cave that had lost the light was plunged into darkness, only the people's strange screams echoed back and forth.
On reflex, Asuka grabbed the candlestick besides her body and lit the candle up with matches that were prepared.
It was at this time when a strange spot appeared deep in the cave.
"Found it......I've finally found it ....!"
A strange tone mixed with deep resentment and strong dedication echoed throughout the cave. Although Asuka was aware of the dangers, she searched all four directions, trying to find the hidden person that produced the sound.
The echoed voice made it hard to narrow down the right place. As a last resort, Asuka gave a powerful shout.
"You despicable thing! Stop hiding and come out!"
The powerful shout echoed deep into the cave but the culprit did not give a reply.
Instead, the sound of a flute being played echoed through the cave, stimulating the senses and shocking the place with a weird tone.
"——Haha, found it......The daring impostor that dares to use the name [Rattenfänger]!!!"
After the loud roar that shook the whole cave, came a moment of silence. Just when everyone was looking at each other——Thousands of red-eyed objects started climbing out of the cave's gaps, forming groups and attacking the crowd.
Immediately someone let out a frantic cry.
"This............are ra......are rats! They are all rats!"
The things that filled up the cave and were creating a disturbance were indeed rats.
The rats that covered the floor started forming waves and were advancing. This scenario sent chills down Asuka's spine.
"Al........Although I did call you to come out, this is far too many already!"
"Ah~!" The pointy-hatted faerie gave a horrible shriek.
Asuka turned her back away from the waves of rats, swiftly sprinting away with the faerie hanging on. The others also did the same, running away in the narrow cave, just like a panic attack.
If this continued there would be a serious tragedy. Realizing this point, Asuka turned her back and faced the rat army.
"This.....This is enough! Stop this and go back to your nest!"
Asuka shouted. But the rats continued advancing, showing no intention to stop at all.
Unable to manipulate the rats, Asuka started feeling anxious. At this time a group of rats jumped towards her, making her take her gift card out on reflex, summoning the silver cross sword that was used during the [Fores Garo] fight.
"Damn.....Damn it.....!"
She raised the sword to her eye level, then slashing laterally with it.
Although the silver sword had the power to break the evil force, it did not have any effect when facing ordinary rats. Asuka could only hack some of them at best, and it was nearly impossible to calculate how many thousands of them were left. The rats that ran along the ceiling were already in front of her.
Asuka decided to ignore the rats and continue moving forward, but it was much trickier to avoid thousands of small animals forming groups than a large beast.
They were a devilish group that could probably finish eating a whole forest within a night.
The rats kept jumping down from the ceiling to attack the shivering pointy-hatted faerie that was on Asuka's shoulders.
"Ah!"
"Danger!"
Asuka was forced to jump towards the back. Since she couldn't order the rats, she could only retreat. And due to the confusion, the people that were at the entrance were in a state of wanting to leave but couldn't leave, shrieking and forcefully pushing one another, scrambling to escape.
"Get out fast!" "Arghhh!" "What is happening here!" "Let.....let me out first! Stop blocking the road!" "Stop pushing! Get out fast!" "No use! They already caught up, we can't...."
"Everyone listen to me and run together!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The vexed Asuka started shouting loudly. The chaos instantly died down, everyone was neatly saluting to Asuka.
After that everyone started to run towards the cave's exit in an orderly manner, showing quite a fantastical scene.
Asuka, who was escaping from the grand march of the rats by following the rear-most of the group, started feeling suspicious towards the enemy's true colors.
(The gift to manipulate hadn't disappeared yet....! So what is going on.....?)
The rats were still focusing their chase on Asuka.
Even if she had the power of manipulation, she was still an ordinary human, so she was slower in terms of speed compared to beasts. Not long after, the rats began to attack Asuka, having reached their target range.
Undaunted by the blade that was swung by Asuka, the rats continued to attack her.
Their method of attacking seemed to let Asuka realize something.
(It can't be......Their target is this child...?)
Asuka looked at the immature faerie that was tightly grasping on to her shoulder.
The pointy-hatted faerie was tightly grabbing onto Asuka, showing a face as if she was going to cry. To the faerie that was nearly the size of a human palm, the rats were definitely huge monsters in her eyes.
"...........................Guuuuu~!"
Since the target was the immature faerie, Asuka would be able to escape from the situation once she threw the faerie off her shoulders.
However, Asuka's pride did not allow her to abandon a trembling young figure that was scared.
Asuka dismissed the fragile thoughts in her mind, daringly pulled her chest clothing and squeezed the faerie inside.
"Wuahh?"
"Hide inside! Don't fall off!"
Asuka, having decided what she must do, used her full power to sprint ahead on the rat-infested floor.
The current motive was to get to the exit. Although the red dress protected Asuka from being harmed by the rats, the parts of the body that weren't covered suffered a different fate.
Getting bitten by the rats' sharp teeth, Asuka's hands and legs started bleeding.
Even so, the option to [Abandon the young faerie] still did not appear in Asuka's heart.
(The exit is not too far away from here....!)
The one who kept on running was Asuka and the one who wouldn't give up on the chase was the devilish group.
However, at the next moment, countless blades of shadow appeared, with a silhouette of a person nearby.
"——How dare you, mere rats, bare your fangs at my compatriots!"
The high-speed razor blades of shadow, like a tornado, started making a stirrer-like action inside the narrow cave, mincing and absorbing the rats in just a matter of seconds.
Not even having a chance to blink, the action was already completed, exterminating the enemy without breaking any of the exhibits.
Asuka held down her hair that was blown by the wind, with a surprised action, she exclaimed.
"Th.......The shadow......In such a short time just finished all those rats....?"
Asuka turned her head to look, and was surprised again.
According to the voice earlier, Asuka determined that it was Leticia who came to her rescue. But Leticia's appearance was totally different, leaving Asuka stunned.
Leticia's appearance did not match the usual look of the young maid.
The cute young girl transformed into a lady that exudes out a flirtatious temperament, the ribbon on the beautiful blonde hair was taken off, flashing out a dazzling brilliance.
The maid uniform changed into a dark red leather jacket, with an intriguing skirt that seemed to have restraints on it. People who looked at the dramatic transfiguration couldn't think that it was the usually gentle Leticia.
Becau