Chapter 183: Steins;Gate Premieres! (Part 1)
As crowds flooded the many theaters across the southern territory, preparations for the second screening at the Imperial Mage Academy were also well underway.
Under the personal command of Student Council President White, students from the Special Element Branch had begun casting the Shadow Veil. The massive plaza was gradually enveloped in a movie-watching atmosphere.
Students and lecturers from across the academy had gathered, murmuring with curiosity about what this new film might contain.
"I heard this time the movie's actually about real mages," someone whispered excitedly. "Not like the fictional magi from Fate/Zero or The Garden of Sinners—but actual, proper spellcasters!"
"For real?! That's amazing! You think we'll get to see Grand Mages or even Arch Mages going head-to-head with actual spells on-screen?"
"Hah, I doubt it. You know how destructive fifth- or sixth-tier magic can be. Trying to film a scene like that without blowing everything up? Yeah, right."
"True, true. But I bet the main character's a High Mage at the very least."
"Wait, hold up. Where are you guys even getting this info? How do you know Steins;Gate is about magic?"
"You didn't hear? The casting for Steins;Gate was done right here at our academy. The audition notice is still pinned to the board in front of the Student Council office. With the actors all being actual mages, it'd be weird if the story wasn't about us!"
"Yeah! I even auditioned myself, but my acting was so bad I got cut immediately."
"Same here! I didn't make it either, but I did get to see Senior Durin in person! It felt like a dream—he's been my idol since forever!"
"Your idol? Wasn't he a problem student back in the day?"
"You don't know? Before he went rogue, he was first place in every single magic subject. No matter the field, he could unravel the most complex mysteries like it was nothing. Even the headmaster said his talent was beyond belief. The only shock bigger than his brilliance was when he chose the most obscure path—Magitech Alchemy. That alone shook the entire Mage Tower."
"Right? And now he's actually made Magitech Alchemy into something legit! Honestly, I think we're witnessing a once-in-a-millennium genius."
"Oh, now I remember! So that mythical 'once-in-a-thousand-years prodigy' and the Magitech Alchemy weirdo are the same guy? No wonder his name sounded familiar."
"Seriously, where have you been? After the first episode of Fate/Zero aired, news about Senior Durin was everywhere."
"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't on campus back then…"
"Well, that explains it—wait a sec, who are you again?"
The student turned to the girl beside him—only to find the space empty.
She was gone. Vanished without a trace.
Panicked, he scanned the crowd around him, but saw no sign of her.
A chill ran down his spine.
Had he just… talked to a ghost?
. . . . . . . . . . . .
High above the main plaza, on one of the surrounding platforms, Edward and Ska had picked a prime spot for the screening.
All around them stood professors and lecturers from various Branches. Naturally, as dignified faculty members, they weren't about to wrestle students for spots in the crowd below.
When the instructors noticed Edward and Ska's arrival, surprise flickered across their faces.
But not one of them greeted the duo.
Clearly, their old bias against Magitech Alchemy hadn't quite faded.
Even now, they hadn't come to terms with the Branch's sudden rise in status.
Edward wasn't particularly surprised by the cold reception from the professors. Instead, after glancing down toward the plaza, he suddenly raised a hand and called out cheerfully:
"Hey! Gebrun, Chris—why don't you come up here?"
Hearing Edward's warm invitation, Gebrun and Chris, who had originally been heading for the main plaza, stopped in their tracks, clearly stunned.
Chris hesitated for a moment, but Gebrun—the eternal repeat student—was completely unfazed by the professors on the platform, many of whom he knew far too well. With zero concern, he cheerfully made his way up.
"Yo! Long time no see, huh? So, have any of you finally leveled up in your teaching ranks these past years?"
"Oh! Branny, we used to be in the same class, didn't we? And now you're a lecturer! Haha, time really flies."
"Man, I've gotta thank all of you," Gebrun said with a laugh. "If I didn't have company all these years, doing research alone in this dusty old academy would've been soul-crushing."
The other lecturers responded to Gebrun's overly enthusiastic banter with awkward smiles. Professor Streige, in particular, gave him a sharp glare, clearly urging him to tone it down.
Sensing the warning, Gebrun did rein himself in somewhat. Still, dragging along the reluctant Chris, he made his way to stand beside Edward.
"You're looking way too lively for your own good," Edward muttered, a little exasperated.
Gebrun responded with a smug smile.
"Hahaha, can't help it. I'm always locked in battle with dangerous shadow organizations. If I don't keep my heart rate up at all times, how can I maintain razor-sharp awareness and reflexes to survive the constant peril? After all, I'm—"
"Okay, okay, I get it," Edward interrupted quickly, waving his hand to shut him down.
He'd instantly recognized it—Gebrun was an even purer case of extreme chuunibyou than Helena. Edward had no energy to deal with that.
Fortunately, Gebrun was self-aware enough to drop the act once he saw Edward wasn't playing along. With an exaggerated sigh, he composed himself.
At that moment, under the eager eyes of the entire academy, faint images began to flicker across the massive movie screen in the distance.
Down in the plaza, students from the Magitech Alchemy Branch—Picole and Dillon—were already in place, their expressions glowing with excitement.
The two of them had spent the entire morning arguing about what the new movie would be about after watching Fate/Zero, and now they were finally about to find out.
Meanwhile, across the empire in the faraway southern territory, the theater doors had opened. Throngs of excited viewers surged inside, all desperate to be among the first to see the new film.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Time ticked by.
One by one, everyone who had planned to watch the film arrived at their respective venues.
In the Nosrick Cinema, the Edward Production team, Emperor Hubbard, the Beastkin Oracle, and their entourages had all taken their seats.
At the Imperial Mage Academy, every student and lecturer had gathered in the plaza. Even the grand sages had taken their places atop the Mage Tower.
And then, with countless eyes watching, hearts pounding in anticipation…
The screen came to life.
The new film, Part 1: Steins;Gate – The Butterfly's Flap of Fate, has begun!
<+>
If you want to see more chapter of this story and don't mind paying $5 each month to read till the latest chapter, please go to my Patreon[1].
Latest Post In Patreon: Chapter 239: The Premiere of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure! (Part 1)[2]
Link to the chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138667623?collection=162522[3]
https://www.patreon.com/collection/162522?view=condensed[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/162522?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/138667623?collection=162522
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/138667623?collection=162522
[4] https://www.patreon.com/collection/162522?view=condensed