The Frost Film Festival had finally arrived under the watchful eyes of countless people.
On this day, the entire Southern Territory of the Empire, the Imperial Mage Academy, and even parts of the Northern Territory were bustling with excitement. In the freezing winter, countless people rushed out of their homes, heading to the cinemas set up in towns or crowding into television taverns located in various corners.
"Sorry, even though Fate/Zero is indeed quite spectacular, I still choose to watch KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!"
"Hmph, you really have no taste. How can KonoSuba compare to the thrilling special effects of Fate/Zero?"
"Going to the cinema costs money, but watching in a television tavern doesn't. As long as you get a seat, you can watch for free!"
"Ha, and you don't drink at the tavern? Last time, I remember you downed drinks for an entire day! This kind of bundled marketing is obvious to anyone!"
"Even so, I still prefer watching on TV! The atmosphere in a television tavern is amazing—you can shout and cheer as much as you want without worrying about disturbing others!"
"That's blasphemy! A movie this amazing should be enjoyed in a quiet environment on a giant screen!"
"No matter what you say, TV is the best way to watch!"
"No, cinema is!"
"Watch TV!"
"Watch movies!"
"…"
For a while, debates like this were happening everywhere.
The war between the TV faction and the cinema faction had started long ago when The Garden of Sinners was released, but this year's Frost Film Festival had completely ignited the discussion.
This just went to show how bored people in this world really were.
. . . . . .
At the same time, inside Edward Tavern.
Nearly all the members of the film studio, including Edward, were gathered there.
With Edward's permission, Winry had specially come from Durin Castle. She looked noticeably thinner than before, no doubt due to the increasing pressure from the southern nobles against the Edward family.
Edward could only offer her some words of comfort while secretly making up his mind to confront the southern nobles head-on after the film festival.
Zat, Aya, and Helena, the main cast of KonoSuba, were already present in the tavern.
As for the actress who played Darkness, she had mysteriously disappeared after filming ended, making it impossible to figure out where she had gone adventuring.
Besides them, the undead members of the tavern—Belldia, Wiz, Saeki, and Latisha—were also present.
These four often gathered together to study the mysteries of the undead, and over time, their relationships had shifted from unfamiliar acquaintances to a close-knit group who could sit and chat casually.
Under Edward's influence, the tension between Belldia and Latisha had also eased somewhat.
At the very least, Belldia had come to terms with many things and no longer harbored deep hatred toward the lich who had twisted his fate.
After all, despite Latisha appearing to be an immensely powerful lich, she had chosen to enter eternal slumber in the chaos land. It was clear that she, too, was just a tragic soul with no control over her own destiny.
This world held no mercy for the undead.
As a Headless Horseman who had survived alone for centuries after becoming undead, Belldia understood this better than anyone.
Additionally, Chase, the manager of the Snow Flower Troupe, had arrived as their representative.
He had been pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion these past days, filming KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! and Fate/Zero. As an ordinary human, his physical endurance was far inferior to Edward's, making his efforts all the more grueling.
Notably, Daphne hadn't snuck out of the duke's mansion this time, leaving everyone wondering what might have happened.
As for the Southern Territory Duke, Edward had already planned to pay him a visit.
Once the Frost Film Festival concluded, he would begin addressing the many unresolved issues that had accumulated in the Southern Territory.
Dropping the bombshell that was cinema into the stagnant waters of the South had caused massive ripples. While it seemed as if nothing had happened on the surface, many matters were simply brewing beneath.
When the time came, everything that was meant to happen would inevitably unfold.
After all, in an era where change was occurring at such an unprecedented pace, Edward had long since become a thorn in the side of countless individuals.
. . . . . .
While the people at Edward Tavern eagerly anticipated the new films, Juno stood at the gates of Nosrick, anxiously waiting instead of heading to a television tavern or cinema.
Before long, a caravan appeared in the distance. It looked unremarkable, loaded with various goods, and its members appeared ordinary.
Yet, the moment she saw it, Juno's expression tensed.
As the caravan members disembarked, a white-haired old man walked forward at a calm and deliberate pace.
The moment he reached Juno, she nervously greeted him:
"Member of the Dark Blade, Juno, welcomes the Oracle."
The old man remained indifferent, responding in an even tone:
"Don't draw unnecessary attention. Once we enter the city, I'm just an ordinary tourist from the Western Territories, and you're my granddaughter. Don't forget that."
"Y-Yes!"
Even as she answered, Juno found it difficult to mask her nervousness.
Seeing her stiff demeanor, the Oracle sighed helplessly.
"I strongly opposed their decision to send you here as a spy. You're far too clumsy—you were bound to get exposed sooner or later. But this time, you've indeed done a great service, so try to relax. Just treat me like an ordinary old man who knows nothing."
"I understand, Gran—Grandfather Ohari."
"Haha, now that's more like it."
With that, the two of them merged into the bustling city crowd.
As they walked, Juno hesitated before asking, "Grandfather Ohari, why did you come here personally? To be honest, it's too dangerous."
"Haha, and what of danger? For us, danger is opportunity. Wasn't our kingdom founded amid peril?"
"But… is it really worth it just to watch a movie? There are many terrifying powerhouses in this city…"
"Heh, whether it's worth it or not—we'll only know after watching. At the very least, after reading the contents of your letter, I felt that I had to come. The future of the Beastkin Kingdom might be decided because of this."
"This…"
Juno hadn't expected the Oracle to take this so seriously. In the end, she simply nodded.
Without further hesitation, the two of them headed straight for the Nosrick Cinema. Their first film of the night, of course, was the much-anticipated Fate/Zero Chapter 2!
<+>
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