Chapter 266: Soft Power(3)
Chapter 266: Soft Power(3)
Cinema is one of the most universally beloved forms of culture. Unlike text or comics, which are consumed in segments, it presents recorded images that stimulate the imagination in real-time.
However, movies don't always depict things that only exist in the imagination. While most are works of fiction, a significant number are based on true stories.
In this way, film—which maximizes human imagination and visual effects—has become an indispensable part of culture for any civilized people.
Even when televisions and various other media platforms flooded the market, the film industry only faltered; it never disappeared.
Cinema symbolizes the golden age of culture and serves as a yardstick for scientific progress. It is, in essence, the true unification of culture and science.
Furthermore, famous works like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, 007, and various Marvel comics have been adapted into films to delight audiences.
The only drawback is that there’s no guarantee of success.
This is unavoidable, as everyone imagines things differently, and a film director is fundamentally a different person from the original author.
Because of this, it’s common for non-canonical elements to crop up, leaving fans bewildered or even ruining the experience. Naturally, the original author can't help but feel saddened by this.
On the other hand, there are plenty of cases where an ordinary novel or comic finds its true brilliance only after being adapted into a film. It really comes down to the director's capability.
To make a long story short, the movies I watched in my previous life utilized maximized science to make the realistically impossible possible.
Giant monsters roaming through the middle of a city, a genius billionaire becoming a hero in a suit of steel, or people flying into space and experiencing various adventures.
This is only possible through the 'science' of CGI, something even magic can't quite replicate.
In other words, while it’s possible to depict a fantasy medieval era on Earth, it’s nearly impossible to depict Earth in the world I live in now.
But what if it’s the other way around? What if you're depicting a fantasy world? And what if you have the ability to replace CGI with magic?
Actually, you don't even need CGI. The actors just have to fight according to the script provided by the director. Then, you simply add magical effects here and there to amplify the production value.
[Why won't you give up? I am an elf, and you are now an old human. It’s not too late to...]
[Elisha. You are still as beautiful as you were thirty years ago. That is exactly why I still cannot give up on you. So please, smile for me one more time. So that I may depart in peace.]
On the screen filling the front of the stage, a beautiful elf and a man who has entered his twilight years share a poignant conversation.
When the elven woman speaks, the camera focuses on her; when the man speaks, it focuses on him, highlighting their expressions. The angle even adjusts so that both their faces can be seen simultaneously.
Is this really their first time filming? They’re pouring their heart and soul into every single angle. It’s so immersive that I find myself letting out a hollow laugh of admiration.
'They say there's a thin line between a master and a fanatic...'
Accompanying this is an OST that perfectly captures the tender relationship between the two. As expected, the music was composed by the Lirus Orchestra itself.
The visual beauty is top-notch, and the audio is flawless. However, according to Cecile, this performance—no, this movie—ends with Kair's death.
That means there’s still plenty of time left. Since the quality doesn't fall short of what I saw in my previous life at all, I’m not bored; I’m completely focused.
Most importantly, it’s in color, not black and white. I’ve noticed a strange imbalance in this world's development due to the existence of magic, and it seems movies are no exception.
'Is culture less developed because of magic? Or is it something else?'
I pondered this internally while remaining focused on the screen. As soon as the movie began, a natural sense of etiquette seemed to take hold, and the theater fell into a deep silence.
It was the kind of silence where even a single cough would draw a barrage of glares.
Occasionally, the whimpering of a restless child could be heard, but it was immediately suppressed by the parents. If not, they were taken out of the theater entirely.
[If I return...]
[... ...]
[No. I will tell you later.]
The highlight is approaching. Along with it, I feel a sudden urge for popcorn and cola.
Maybe I should give Cecile a subtle hint after the movie is over. She already practically considers me a reincarnated soul anyway, so there's no harm in it.
By the way, Kair aside, how did they cast the elf actress? Since they said it was a secret project conducted in Helium, they must have persuaded an elf somehow.
If not, they might have used magic or makeup, just like they did with Cherry.
[It has been a long time, Master.]
[You are...!]
Finally, Kair's former disciple, Envy, made his appearance. As a bonus, before the direct confrontation with Envy, Kair showed off his individual prowess by infiltrating the demon base.
And Envy's appearance... It seems they took the description from the novel literally; he looks exactly as I imagined.
Unlike Xenon, who has the common features of brown hair and brown eyes, this man has blonde hair and blue eyes. His face is also stoic and inorganic, unlike the more expressive Xenon.
[Have you truly fallen to the demons? Why you?]
[I did not come here to reminisce about the past, Master.]
Without even answering Kair's bewildered question, Envy charged, and a spectacular battle scene unfolded.
Having accepted the power of demons, Envy was much stronger, just as Kair had anticipated. Since he could even use magic, the fight began with Kair struggling.
However, Envy's fighting style was entirely based on Kair's teachings. Kair used the experience he had honed over decades to dismantle his opponent's moves one by one.
CRASH!
"Oh..."
True to the reputation of the Matrix Theater Troupe, which showed incredible production value even in live stage performances, they displayed their strengths to the fullest in the film.
Every time Kair and Envy clashed swords, faint shockwaves erupted, shattering the surroundings, and missed strikes sliced cleanly through solid rock.
Combined with the intense performance of the Lirus Orchestra, which heightened the tension of the battle, it was impossible to look away.
As I said before, there's a thin line between a master and a fanatic. And this was a clear demonstration of what happens when you pour time and a budget into such people.
'Wait. Is that... are they actually fighting for real?'
Even if magic replaces CGI, wouldn't that kind of production be difficult? Then again, since there was an extra whose body was pierced by Sacran during the last exhibition, they must have researched it separately.
The reason I say this is because Kair, using his experience and skill, managed to sever one of Envy's arms. This was an event from the original work.
But despite that strike, Envy's arm regenerated instantly. Instead of red blood, he sprayed black blood—the very symbol of a demon.
It was proof that Envy was no longer human but something closer to a demon, a scene that would be heart-wrenching for a master to witness.
[What on earth happened to you? You were never this kind of child.]
[Does one need a reason to hate the world?]
[You became a demon to destroy the world for such a reason? How pitiful! Envy!]
For the record, Envy's real name is Behemoth. Originally, the demon representing envy is Leviathan, but I changed it because a monster with that name already exists.
Kair continued to face off against Envy, but here, the worst possible mismatch revealed itself. It was none other than 'youth' itself.
Envy was naturally young and brimming with energy after receiving demonic power, while Kair was nearly a hundred years old—the very limit of a human lifespan.
He had only managed to maintain his youth because of his superhuman strength; he couldn't break the limit itself.
Furthermore, since Envy possessed regenerative abilities granted by demonic power, winning a war of attrition was practically impossible.
In the end...
[Farewell, Master Kair.]
Thwack!
His chest was pierced by the sword of the disciple he had raised himself. As the blade transfixed his heart, a mouthful of crimson blood erupted from Kair's mouth.
"No..."
"Ah..."
As Kair was impaled, gasps of sorrow broke out across the theater. The development was so dramatic that even I, the original author, flinched.
[Kh-gh... cough! cough!]
Kair coughed up blood repeatedly. The disciple looked down indifferently at the master who had raised him—a man who was essentially his only family—as he prepared to cross over to the afterlife.
What was he thinking? Envy has a fairly complex backstory that I haven't fully depicted in the original work yet.
However, a shred of affection for his master remained, so he did not desecrate the body. Instead, he personally traveled to Albenheim to deliver Kair's remains.
[Ah...]
As if representing Kair's fading consciousness, the vision on screen began to blur. The blurred vision turned dark, and soon, it was covered in complete blackness.
In that darkness, Kair's sorrowful voice echoed softly.
[If only once... if only I could see her smile one last time...]
According to the original work, Kair's life ends here. The next volume begins with Envy placing Kair's body in Albenheim.
But strangely, the darkened vision slowly began to brighten again. Like a person waking from a deep sleep, eyelids flickered open and closed.
[...air! Ka...ir!]
As the vision cleared, a muffled voice echoed through the theater. I couldn't tell whose voice it was, but it was definitely a woman's.
Finally, as the eyelids opened completely, what appeared was a radiant field of flowers and Kair himself lying within it. And...
[Kair! Are you awake now?]
The beautiful face of a woman, cheerful beyond measure. An elf with striking bright green eyes and long, elegant ears: Elisha.
She wore a crown made of flowers on her head and wore the 'smile' Kair had longed for.
[Let's go over there, quickly! There are even prettier flowers over there!]
"Ah."
I felt like I had seen this scene somewhere, and those words made me realize it.
This wasn't from the main story; it was one of the beautiful memories of Kair and Elisha from the Side Story. It was their happiest time, the moment they confirmed their love for each other.
And finally, the starting point of all this tragedy.
Kair, the owner of the vision, remained silent—perhaps confused by the sudden memory, or perhaps to signify that 'the dead tell no tales.'
He simply followed Elisha's lead, walking slowly toward the bright light. The hand holding Elisha's was not that of a wrinkled old man, but the hand of a vigorous young man.
[Kair, you always liked it when I smiled, didn't you? Want to see?]
At Elisha's words, Kair's gaze turned toward her. Elisha wore the smile Kair had wanted so badly until the moment he died.
The scene ended with Kair reaching out toward that smile.
Flash!
Instead of fading to black, a brilliant light filled the screen.
"... ..."
The movie was over. Yet, no one dared to clap.
The production and quality were so high they left even me speechless; describing the audience as 'stunned' wouldn't do it justice.
In particular, the technique of connecting the ending to the side story was a common trope in my previous life. It’s the concept of a 'life flashing before one's eyes'—showing the most beautiful memory right before death.
How much research did they do into the characters to present such an impressive ending? As the lights in the theater began to turn on, I raised my hands as if possessed.
Clap, clap, clap—
The sound of my clapping echoed through the silent theater.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!!
Soon after, thunderous applause filled the hall.
The first work heralding the golden age of culture had revealed itself to the world.
And...
'I wonder when the next part is coming out?'
Now, I was the one waiting.