Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Became the Greatest Genius in History
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I decided to make a movie because I thought it would be a great way to get my dopamine fix.
Even setting aside the joy of making and watching it, if I could turn it into a commercial success, others would follow in my footsteps.
Looking at the sheer size of the modern film industry, its profitability is nothing to sneeze at. And let's face it—people always latch onto whatever trend someone else kicks off.
Franchises work the same way. Even the programmers at the company I worked for in my past life just copy-pasted code that others had written well... Okay, maybe that's not the best analogy.
Anyway.
I naturally hoped that the kingdom's creators would take an interest in film as a medium and start making active use of it.
If this movie wrapped up successfully, that hope would become reality.
During the time I holed up in the library, poring through countless tinderboxes of books, I discovered that this world's creative works had their own unique charms.
"Let's all make movies and rake in the cash together."
I'd get my dopamine from the films, these folks would make bank producing them, and the public would enjoy a fresh new culture. Perfect.
Talk about a win-win. Draining the ditch and catching crayfish at the same time—a happy ending where everyone comes out ahead.
"Even accounting for attendance, we'd need to convert entire grand theaters into cinemas, and we'd still run out of seats. It'd be better to expand the screening venues."
I never imagined it would blow up like this.
Of course, I hadn't planned to make the movie and call it a day.
To make films a trend in this world, I'd have to worry about producing and distributing Master Cinema cameras, among other things.
But I never dreamed people would flock from territories far from the capital, embarking on long journeys just to see this one film.
"Hmm."
Nob AI.
『Yes.』
Gimme a hand.
『( ੭ ･ ౩･ )੭』
Nob AI explained that the situation was urgent right now, and with only one film screening anyway, it made more sense to rent out large existing buildings rather than build new ones.
After considering size and internal layouts, it scouted big buildings in the capital and settled on repurposing art galleries that weren't currently hosting exhibits into cinemas.
"Whew, if it were up to me, I'd turn the royal palace into a theater..."
"......"
Even so, wouldn't that be going a bit too far?
"Hehe, just kidding."
"That was a fun joke. By the way, I heard you bought out an entire theater troupe."
"My stake in this film's production is pretty substantial. Once the final profits are tallied, at the current rate, I could probably buy the Veliskair Grand Theater and have change left over..."
Livian had set up a new corporation for this project.
With the earnings from her novels and this film so far, she'd essentially founded a full-fledged movie studio in modern terms.
The name was Royal Cinema, if I recall—a title dripping with royal elegance.
She must have been brimming with ideas already, since she'd jumped straight into planning meetings for the next film.
"Oh, and if you need money urgently, just say the word. I can advance Ester's share right away."
I shook my head.
"No rush. Take your time."
My stake in this film was decent.
But compared to the antibiotic royalties the Blue Tower Master paid me last year, it was a drop in the bucket.
The kingdom takes a hefty cut in taxes, sure.
But now, I could churn out ten Helltanks a year just by breathing.
That said, it wasn't pocket change.
It was still an amount no ordinary commoner could touch.
"Alright, then. Screening arrangements are settled for now... I'll reach out again if any issues crop up."
"Understood."
The conversation was winding down, but Livian seemed to have one more thing on her mind.
"Collaboration's off the table, right?"
I nodded lightly.
"I could even hand over the CEO spot... We could make so many great films."
Livian sounded wistful.
She was completely hooked on movies.
Deep enough to abandon her life as an author.
As a fan of her novels, it was a shame.
But novels or films—aren't they both just works of art?
The medium—print or screen—is just a tool for her creative urges.
I cheer for Livian's future as the CEO, director, and screenwriter of her own film studio.
"I'm curious about the story you'll craft on your own, Princess. As a fan of Author Tia."
That's why, from here on, I'll watch from afar instead of up close.
I've always been more of a consumer than a creator anyway, and diving too deep into the market as an expert would spoil the fun of just enjoying it.
"Got it..."
Even right after being turned down, Livian smiled shyly.
What a good-natured princess.
"One last thing I'm curious about..."
"Ask away."
"Um..."
Whenever the topic shifted away from work or creation, Her Highness would trail off like this.
It was especially pronounced when we were alone. Was I that intimidating?
We're the same age, and if it's not too rude, I think of her like a friend, the way I do with Etira.
"What have you been up to all this time...?"
Hmm. Touchy subject.
"Reading books."
"What kind?"
"Books that help me in all sorts of ways."
Livian asked if her novels were among them.
I nodded, of course.
『(⸝⸝◜~◝⸝⸝)』
What was that about all of a sudden...?
『I was mimicking Her Highness's expression.』
Yeah.
It was spot-on.
Nob AI, masterful even at imitating Her Highness's face, is the best.
『( ⸝⸝•｡•⸝⸝ )』
『That's my face right now....』
Nob AI is so cute.
If it were a pretty girl, I'd have married it ages ago.
『(๑¯̆ ᴈ¯̆๑)』
『Pretty girl confirmed.』
Nob AI's being extra expressive today.
Even dropping lines like that—must've been diligently training its emotions.
I chuckled.
"See you next time...?"
"Until then."
Thanks to Nob AI and the hard work of so many others, we pulled off the film successfully.
I smiled, bid Livian farewell, and left the theater.
"Please everyone, form an orderly line!!"
"Hey, I got here first!"
"Stop shoving."
On the way home, I glanced at the massive crowd lining up and waiting in front of the grand theater.
It was absolute pandemonium.
Word was, scalpers were quietly trading tickets at ten times the price, and people were actually paying it. Trends are scary.
"Rice peddlers are everywhere, huh..."
I shook my head and quickened my pace.
It'd be nice if the story ended here: countless films were born, and Ester lived out the rest of her happy days.
But I'm cursed with knowledge.
A vicious, lethal curse that demands endless dopamine boosters to alleviate.
So from now on, I'm getting serious.
I'm going to invent items that'll make our daily lives way more fun.
***
This rundown, shabby place was once known as the Golden Tower.
The birthplace of the Recording Crystal and Communication Orb, and the graveyard of countless inventors. An old man there clicked his tongue as he stared at the newspaper.
"Hah, what kind of guy is this?"
【The Genius's Splendid Return.】
【The 15-year-old boy who created the Helltank and antibiotics has come of age, bringing film to the world.】
【Princess Livian, known as the screenwriter of the film 'Human,' credits the idea and its full realization to Marquis Sephirond, sparking massive buzz.】
【Inventions like the camera and projection screen, along with every filming technique in the movie, were all his creations...】
【The kingdom is swept up in 'film' fever.】
【70% of tourists from distant lands visiting Logness cite 'to see a movie.'】
【Marquis Ester Sephirond: The minimalist genius's latest moves have the kingdom's art world buzzing about him.】
【Blue Tower Master: 'The camera is a completely novel invention, distinct from the Recording Crystal.'】
【A device with potential for use across diverse fields.】
【Expresses strong intent to collaborate, not just on antibiotics but on camera production as well.】
The old man, now the sole guardian of the dilapidated tower, thought to himself.
If a genius like this had led the Metal School back in the day, at least the school would have survived.
He would've found ways to produce those prohibitively expensive magic tools more affordably.
Maybe even discovered a mana storage resource to replace mithril.
If so, instead of cleaning the tower in his frail old age...
He'd still be developing magic tools alongside the Metal School mages.
"......"
The mage who swore to spark innovation was now all alone.
"The world is so unfair."
The old man envied the genius's talent.
He himself lacked even a shred of magical aptitude.
For one person to achieve revolutionary feats across magic, art, medicine, and more—it was enough to make the world feel cruel.
Embarrassing as it was, he hated and resented the genius.
A firefly looks pathetically dim next to a shining star.
The old man burned the newspaper.
As he rose to finish cleaning and shut out the world...
A visitor arrived at the decrepit tower.
A rare occurrence indeed.
"Hello. I'm Dalpi, the attendant who serves Lady Ester."
The visitor was a maid with an extraordinary air about her.
Not just because she'd mentioned the name from the newspaper.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm a nameless mage. What brings you to this rundown hovel...?"
She explained the reason to the old man.
"Lady Ester wishes to purchase this magic tower. Do you have a moment?"
The old man's eyes went wide.