Re-written date: 7 / 13 / 2025
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Chapter 43: Goblin Slayer
When Edward came down from the second floor, the tavern was already packed. The space, meant to comfortably fit maybe fifty people, was now so crowded it felt like a festival. Even from the stairs, Edward could easily spot a tall, unmistakable figure behind the bar—the Headless Knight.
Despite the crowd, the undead knight stood dutifully at his post, fulfilling his role as bartender with unexpected enthusiasm. Although the tavern had since hired additional staff, it seemed the once-feared monster had taken a liking to this quieter way of life. Just standing behind the counter, serving drinks, he'd somehow become part of the scenery—an oddly fitting landmark.
To most of the patrons, especially those who had seen KonoSuba, being served a drink by the film's "final boss" was like going to an amusement park and being handed a balloon by a real-life Gundam.
Wanting to avoid disturbing the scene, Edward quietly turned around and made his way toward the back door. He had other business to attend to anyway—namely, delivering his latest script to the Northern Territory Adventurer's Guild Master.
But just as he was about to slip out, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Mr. Durin, wait a moment!"
It was Viz, who had just managed to push through the crowd. Reaching him, she lowered her voice and said, "There's someone here asking to see you."
"See me? I thought I told everyone I'm not taking any meetings right now."
"I know, and I tried to explain that, but this one's... different," Viz said quickly. "I heard it from Viscount Baniel. Apparently, the person requesting the meeting isn't someone you can just ignore."
"Hm?"
That piqued Edward's curiosity. It wasn't every day someone of high status came looking for him in person.
"Alright," he said after a short pause. "Bring them to the second floor. I'll treat this as a potential business matter. From now on, if anything like this comes up, just send them upstairs and let me know first."
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A little while later, the so-called guest arrived.
To Edward's surprise, it was a young girl—a girl in a priest's uniform, no less, with a refined presence that immediately set her apart.
At first, Edward stiffened. His instincts screamed trouble. A priest outfit? Right after releasing a film featuring undead and a headless knight? This had church inquisitor written all over it.
But before he could act on that thought, the girl held up her hands and spoke quickly.
"You're mistaken, Mr. Durin! I'm not a follower of the Church of the Holy Light. I'm only wearing this outfit to conceal my identity. Please allow me to introduce myself—my name is Daphne Viktor, the daughter of the Southern Territory Grand Duke."
"O–Oh! I see now. Lady Daphne," Edward said, relaxing just a bit. "To be honest, I was just about ready to throw you out the window..."
It wasn't paranoia on his part. Edward knew better than anyone just how zealous the Church could be. If this weren't the southern territory—where the Church's influence was weakest—he would've posted a "No Priests or Dogs Allowed" sign at the tavern the day the film launched.
Now calming down, Edward took a closer look at the girl and realized why she seemed familiar. A few years back, at one of Duke Viktor's banquets, he'd briefly attended as a guest. Even then, he'd noticed a quiet, sharp-eyed girl standing beside the duke. She hadn't said a word the whole evening, but her presence had drawn the attention of the entire room.
And now, here she was, standing before him, wiping the sweat from her brow from his earlier reaction.
Trying to make sense of why the duke's daughter had come all the way here, Edward finally asked, "So then, Lady Daphne… what business does the daughter of a duke have with a lowly baron like me?"
Although Edward had long known that Duke Viktor had a strong interest in bringing him under his wing, he didn't think the duke's daughter would approach him with any kind of hidden agenda.
After all, Edward wasn't just a noble or a director—he was a Grand Mage. And with that came certain... innate talents. One of them was an almost intuitive sense for people's true natures. All it took was eye contact, and he could more or less read what kind of person someone was.
And in his eyes, Daphne was like a blank sheet of paper. A clean slate. Untouched, unpainted, full of potential. Honestly, if her identity weren't so politically delicate, he would've been tempted to draft her into his cast on the spot. Untamed raw talent like hers was rare.
Edward's thoughts were interrupted when Daphne, still standing confidently across from him, answered his question without hesitation.
"You're being too modest, Lord Durin. I know this may be sudden, but... I'd like to be part of your next movie."
"Oh, a movie, huh—? Pfft! Wait, what?! A movie?!"
He almost choked.
Of all the things she could have said, Edward had never expected that. A duke's daughter, the sheltered jewel of one of the most powerful noble houses in the South, wanting to act? And not in a royal performance, but in his film?
While he was still trying to process it, Daphne stepped closer with a serious expression. "Yes, Director Durin. Ever since I saw 'KonoSuba', I've had this idea. Compared to the rigid, lifeless theater performances I grew up with, this felt like... like actually stepping into a second life. I couldn't look away."
She spoke with such genuine fascination that Edward didn't even know how to react. She really was serious.
With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair. "So that's it, huh? Well... I suppose I can consider it. But you'll still have to pass my audition."
Having someone like her walk in uninvited might have been a headache under normal circumstances—but for Edward, who was desperately in need of actors, this was like a gift from the heavens.
Especially since Daphne's demeanor—awkward yet earnest, untouched by formal training—was perfect for the role he had in mind. She wasn't polished, but she didn't need to be. The rawness was what he needed.
And it didn't hurt that she looked the part.
So, without much resistance, the two of them quickly struck a deal. They would meet again the next day for a screen test, right here at the tavern.
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With that settled, Edward returned to the Adventurer's Guild.
As soon as he walked in, the familiar voice of Eliza, the Northern Territory Adventurer's Guild Master, called out to him from the first floor. She stood near the entrance, waving to him with a bright smile.
As usual, her appearance turned heads all across the guild hall. She was the kind of woman who would draw eyes no matter where she went. And it wasn't just her beauty—her status as the Guild Master made her the subject of admiration and intimidation alike.
That also explained why most people hadn't approached her directly—at least not after several failed attempts from overconfident rookie adventurers who had been politely, but firmly, rejected.
"Director Durin," she called, walking over. "Is the script ready?"
She didn't waste any time with small talk. Clearly, she was more invested in this project than she let on.
Edward smiled, reached into his coat, and pulled out a neatly stacked script. He set it down gently on the table between them.
"It's done," he said calmly. "I think you'll be pleased with this one."
Eliza raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She studied him for a moment, as if trying to read his confidence, then turned her attention to the top page of the script.
Bold black letters stared back at her:
GOBLIN SLAYER
The title alone was enough to make her pause.
Her expression shifted. The lighthearted anticipation she'd worn vanished in an instant. This was not another comedy.
Without hesitation, she flipped it open and started reading—her eyes narrowing, her grip tightening slightly.
Edward watched her silently, knowing full well what kind of ride she was in for. Compared to Konosuba, this was a story from an entirely different world.
And by the look in her eyes, she already knew that too.