"Anyway, it looks like there's going to be a magic change here. Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Stanley said suddenly.

"Magic change?"

"Well, before I came to you, I learned what several factions in those 'God's Playground' were going to do to clean up the interior, and some of the Infinite Masters had a 'World Connectivity Project'."

"So the main gods are going to connect their worlds together?"

"Well, maybe there will be some 'reincarnators', 'players' and so on from the 'main god space' coming here, and there will be creatures from other worlds arriving here."

"The supreme power here will also reach the Creation Rank, right?"

"Hmm."

"Do you say, will you see the king? Wang: He didn't say anything when he was running away from work, is it possible to get here? ”

"Why don't you show off your Tianyan Divine Eye?"

“…… Didn't you see the king even if it was light? Now he is still struggling to approve the documents on behalf of the king. ”

"I think it will, right?"

The two didn't know that when they met the God King in the future, it would be a situation that the two of them didn't want to see.

……

Boundary wall, stage area, foothills of the Dawn Mountains. Art exhibitions, exhibition halls.

The time goes back to dusk.

Asuka leaves the Black Rabbit and Sixteen Nights behind and wins a fierce chase with the Pointed Hat Elf. She ran in the opposite direction to Sixteen Nights and the others, through the red window corridor, and came directly below the boundary wall. The foothills of the mountain, with its huge chandeliers, are still illuminated by red lights, even though they are shrouded in shadow.

Asuka slung the exhausted Pointed Hat Elf on his shoulders and began to wander along the street at the foot of the Boundary Wall.

"I'm not trying to catch you and eat you, I'm just hoping for a traveling companion."

“…… Ahh

The elf lay in a large zigzag on the bird's shoulder, and let out a tired cry.

Asuka breaks off a cookie he bought from a shop at the foot of the mountain and gives it to the pointed hat elf.

"Here, here you go. It's proof that you're friends. ”

“！”

Lured by the sweet scent, the pointy-hat elf immediately sat up.

The freshly baked biscuits have a delicious aroma blended with the rich aroma of almonds and caramel barbecue, which will make even the elves who are tired from chasing me hungry. "Whoa, whoa?" After eating a biscuit that was almost about the same size as himself, the pointy-hat elf let out a cute cry and climbed onto the bird's head.

Asuka thought silently

(It seems that the battle with food was successful!) ）

"So, now that we've become friends, let's introduce ourselves. My name is Asuka Kudo, can you pronounce it? ”

“…… Flying birds? ”

"The tone is a little too long, not enough to sound very unenergetic. Finally, let's be a little more explicit. ”

“…… Asuka Hollow? ”

"It's a little bit closer, keep it up. At the end of the pronunciation, it should be simply finished. ”

The pointed hat elf, who spoke like a toddler, shook his head from side to side several times before he tilted his head slightly sideways and called out the name of the bird.

“…… Birds? ”

"Yes, that's the pronunciation, be spirited, don't doubt."

“…… Birds! ”

"Hee-hee, thank you. So, can you tell me what's your name? ”

The pointed hat elf stood up on the bird's head and said with great spirits:

“Rattenfanger～！”

“？ Ratten……？ ”

Asuka looked a little surprised. Although she didn't understand the meaning of the word, she thought that the elf's appearance was so cute, and the name gave a rather serious impression.

She grabbed the pointy hat elf and held it up in the palms of both hands.

"Is this your name?"

"No~ Together!"

"Together...... The name of the community? And what is your name? ”

“？”

The elf tilted his head, as if he didn't understand the meaning of the question.

Asuka suddenly remembered what Leticia had said, and Leticia called the little creature "the herd elf".

So is she the elf of that race?

(It can't be that there are no other names, right?) ）

In that case, perhaps it would be correct to call her "Rattenfanger" as the elf answered. However, Asuka could not change the impression that the name was too serious. She put her finger on her cheek and thought for a moment, then proposed to the elf:

"It's rare to have a fate, can I help you choose a name?"

“？ No~No! Rattenfanger～！ ”

"Well, so apart from the name Rattenfanger......"

"No~No!' Bait'! ”

The pointed-hat elf shook its head in the affirmation on the bird's palm.

“Rattenfanger～！‘ Bait'! ”

“…… Grapefruit? That's your name? ”

"No~No! Rattenfanger～！ ”

Asuka, who still couldn't grasp the point, sighed, since he couldn't communicate, there was nothing he could do. She decided to give up asking for a name for a moment and began visiting the exhibition in the cave with the Pointed Hat Elf.

This is a town symbolized by giant chandeliers. In addition to the unique candlesticks and lanterns, the exhibited works also display many stained glass of various sizes.

In the exhibition hall inside the boundary wall, Asuka looked back and forth at the rock ledge and ceiling, and muttered in admiration:

"That's an amazing amount...... It turned out that so many communities came to the exhibition. ”

In front of the exhibits are the names of the communities and flags that were responsible for the production, and the particular thing that catches the attention of Asuka is a silver candlestick with a flag engraved on the top.

"Hee-hee, this silver candlestick is even very delicate and beautiful."

"Beautiful~!"

The pointy hat elf who returned to Asuka's shoulder let out a cute cry with Asuka. She was also looking at the carved glass when the two met before, and considering this, she really liked beautiful things.

Asuka picks up the candlestick and confirms the maker.

"Production: [Willo'wisp]? It's the community that makes walking candlesticks. ”

The pattern carved with a delicate technique must be based on the flag.

Does this candlestick engraved with a burning flame give the flame itself a special power?

It makes the birds and the pointed hat elves feel as if they are drawn to the warmth of a campfire.

(Is there a community flag, but it will also make the presentation of the work different...... ）

Asuka sighed with a somewhat melancholy look in her eyes. This comment is correct, if they [NoName] participate in this kind of art festival, they will have to bear many overwhelming disadvantages.

A community without an organizational name or symbol.

Once the elements that can assert oneself are limited to one's name and technique, the first impression will be different.

(If you want to be a good "organizer" in the future, you can't be rigorous enough without a flag - you have to take it back from the Demon King anyway.) ）

Asuka clenched his fists lightly, rekindling his fighting spirit.

The two of them looked around looking at a large number of exhibits. The exhibition hall is a corridor that is carved into the interior of the boundary wall to resemble a cave, so the depths are quite dim, and the outside light cannot shine through. However, this is also to bring out the glorious design of the display products, right? The many candlesticks and lanterns that glow with a warm fire, as well as the beautiful stained glass that is simply stunning when illuminated by the light source, shine brighter than any other work seen outside.

After that, the two of them continued to move forward in the exhibition hall to a large hollow, which must be the center of the venue.

Although he suddenly came to an open area, Asuka did not pay any attention to the crowd or its surroundings, but stared at the objects that adorned the center of the large hollow.

"That's ......!"

Both the crowd and the surrounding noise disappeared because of the impact of the huge display in front of you. The object placed in the center of the Great Cavern has a powerful impact that the previous exhibits simply cannot match.

"Red ...... The red steel giant? ”

"It's huge!"

That's right, the object on display in the center of the Great Hollow is a giant made of red steel, and in any case the whole body is very gorgeous and frighteningly large. The birds and elves looked up at the massive bodies in front of them in silence.

With the red and gold decorations, the height is probably about 30 feet. The armor depicts an abstract painting based on sunlight, and it is very overwhelming.

Plus it should have gigantic hands and feet twice the size of a human.

Looking at the head and body of the same width, one can't help but wonder how it was moved into this narrow entrance and exit in the first place.

According to the slender decoration on the red armor, the extraordinary passion of the makers for the work can be felt.

"Good...... Great, which community made the ......? ”

"Asuka! Rattenfanger！ ”

The pointy-hat elf, with its sparkling eyes, jumped off the bird's shoulder.

The sign on the display does read:

[Production: Rattenfanger, Title: Dean]

Asuka was very surprised and asked:

"Is this something your community made?"

"Hey, hey!" The pointed-hat elf puffed out its chest. It seems that this is indeed the case.

Asuka looked up at the steel doll named "Dean" again. If the steel dolls with their huge bodies were really made by these small creatures called "group elves", they must have spent an astonishing amount of labor.

"Really...... The community [Rattenfanger] is amazing. ”

The Pointed Hat Elf smiled shyly, and she seemed genuinely happy.

"After a little observation, it seems that in addition to the red giant, the other works displayed in the big hollow are also the main exhibits. In contrast, your community may be the winner of the Gift Game. ”

The Pointed Hat Elf continued to shout as she bounced around, "Rattenfanger! ”

Asuka, a dumbfounded, grabbed her and put her on her shoulder, moving to see the other exhibits.

- Immediately after that, there was a change.

“…… Yikes! ”

Whew~ A gust of wind blew through the big hollow.

The gust of wind caused many lights to go out with it, and the birds couldn't help but scream in low voices.

The other guests screamed in the same way, and the chaos spread like ripples.

"Something happened! How did the fire suddenly go out! ”

"Be careful! Maybe it's a demon or something! ”

"Hurry up and light the lights near you!"

The large, unlit cavern was locked in darkness, and only the screams of the crowd inside echoed eerily.

Asuka reflexively held the candlestick beside him and lit it with a match prepared next to it.

At this moment, a strange point of light appeared in the deepest part of the Great Hollow.

"Found it...... Finally found ......! ”

A strange tone mixed with deep resentment and intense attachment echoed within the Great Hollow. Although Asuka sensed the danger, he was desperately looking around, trying to find out where the prisoner was hiding through the sound.

However, due to the constant reverberation, it was impossible to find the right place. As a last resort, Asuka had no choice but to launch his strength and scream.

"This despicable thing! Don't hide anymore and get me out! ”

Powerful shouts echoed through the cave, but the prisoner did not respond.

In its place, there is the sound of a flute that stirs the senses, and an eerie tone that shakes the entire space.

"-Ahh A daring fanatic assuming the name of Rattenfanger! ”