Box Office Boom
"Movie... what? Movie? What in the world is a movie?"
Most citizens of the empire reacted this way upon first hearing the word.
Because of that, I had to gather the theater staff before the screening to explain it to the farmers.
"It is an edited play recorded with a device called a camera. We simply project it for everyone to see."
Worried that people might avoid the theater due to the unfamiliar entertainment, I poured a fortune in gold coins into promotion.
The circus troupe members proved incredibly effective as advertisers.
"Come see the movie! Come see the movie! It is an edited play recorded with a camera! It will give you thrilling sights and hearty laughs! Hihihahaha!"
The clowns' loud costumes and noisy music drew countless eyes, and curious crowds began heading for the theater.
This luxury was possible only because I had created so many jobs that the farmers' pockets were now full.
A ticket cost eight copper coins.
An incredibly cheap price.
Thanks to the successful promotion, the theater soon overflowed with people who had come to see what all the fuss was about.
My prediction proved correct.
"G-good heavens! Good heavens!"
The Illusion Stones projected footage so perfectly that it looked more vivid than reality itself.
The entire theater filled with shocking images, and first-time viewers screamed, cheered, and reacted with wild enthusiasm.
Three films were shown.
The comedy Long Live the Great Hero Nari!!, the historical drama The Founding of the Empire, and Circus Show, filmed to demonstrate the visual potential of the camera.
"An elephant! It's an elephant!"
"Look at that clown!"
"Oh my! The sword is going into his mouth!"
The circus was already a familiar sight to the farmers.
When it was recreated even more spectacularly with editing and camera techniques, the audience shouted and roared with delight.
The performers' dazzling acts, captured in 3DX 16K clarity that made IMAX look ordinary, instantly captured everyone's hearts.
People who staggered out of the circus show in a daze heard laughter from the next theater and immediately paid to watch another film.
Long Live the Great Hero Nari!! had the farmers clutching their stomachs with laughter.
The simple story of an ordinary farmer who pulls a hero's holy sword from his field and punishes corrupt nobles was packed with sharp satire aimed at the aristocracy.
"Oh ho! What is inside this belly? Is it not the grain you have stolen from us all this time?"
"Please spare me, Hero!"
"I cannot. You must vomit up that grain if you wish to live! Your belly is swollen like a pig's, so run like one! Slim down and regain human form, and I shall spare you! Make pig noises while you run!"
"Oink oink! Oink oink!"
The scene of a comedian in ridiculous noble makeup performing slapstick while squealing like a pig was so popular that some viewers fainted from laughing too hard.
After being stunned by the visual spectacle of the circus show and laughing themselves silly at Long Live the Great Hero Nari!!, it was time for their hearts to swell with pride.
The Founding of the Empire was a grand epic from beginning to end.
The actors performed with genuine conviction.
It told the story of the first emperor who married a dragon, sacrificed his life to save humanity from monsters and demons, and founded the empire.
Of course, I had laced it with plenty of patriotic messages so that no citizen would ever say the empire was terrible.
"They are the people! The empire is its people! What use are power and treasure if the people shed tears? A true ruler never makes his subjects weep!"
Many citizens wept as they watched the first emperor reject the devil's whispers and temptations with majestic resolve.
By the time the film ended, people left the theater wiping away tears, proud to be citizens of the Ailam Empire.
Laughter, spectacle, and national pride.
Deeply moved viewers returned to their families and friends and began spreading the word.
Even in the far more advanced modern world, word of mouth is the most important factor for a film's success.
"You have to see this movie."
"It's insane. Time just disappears."
"I went in the morning and came out at night."
"They have a restaurant there too. They sell snacks."
"Be careful with Long Live the Great Hero Nari!!. You might die laughing."
Just as I expected, the film industry became a massive hit.
People watched the same movies dozens of times.
"Can't you show the films a little longer?"
"It is already one in the morning! We need to go home too!"
Some begged the staff to extend the screenings, while others camped outside the theater doors to be first in line the next day.
Even merchants from the western Karamba Empire who had come to trade in the Elrond barony paid to watch the movies.
One million viewers were reached in just three days.
Within a month, ten million people had visited the theater.
The staff had to run to the bank so often exchanging copper for gold that their legs cramped.
Karl Hansen brought the mountain of gold coins he had earned and placed them before me.
His grin stretched so wide that even a demon might have looked less wicked.
"It is a huge success, Lord Landor! A massive success!"
"I told you it would be."
"We have earned more than twenty times the amount invested in MacGuffin and Illusion Company! Audiences are still pouring in and the theaters are packed! We need to build new ones!"
"Build them. Three more should be enough."
"Uwahaha! What will you do with all this money?!"
The answer was obvious.
"We make the next movie. Call MacGuffin's circus troupe, theater company, and singers. We are filming again."
"What kind of film will it be?"
I thought for a moment, then smiled.
From meeting the farmers so often, I knew what they liked.
They loved songs.
They sang to forget their troubles when tired, sang while working, sang at festivals, and sang when sad.
"Let us film a love story where singers dance while they sing. A young singer with dreams comes to Portu Commercial City and falls in love with a young actor there."
"Songs and... dancing?"
"Yes. It is a genre called musical. There are many other genres as well."
Compared to me, who had lived in a modern world overflowing with entertainment, Karl Hansen was practically a novice in this field.
I instructed him to film a romance musical, a suspenseful prison-break story, and a western action film.
The plots were already in my head, so there was no problem.
Copyright issues would not arise in another world.
"What shall we call them?"
"Call the romance musical Loroland, the prison-break film Shawshank Escape, and the western Jengo. I will explain the scripts to the directors later."
"Understood!"
Karl Hansen grinned and dashed off like a bullet, clearly overjoyed.
Watching him go, I finally let out a long sigh and relaxed.
"One hurdle cleared."
I had successfully countered the Vineyard Party's attacks, and two new businesses were growing nicely.
I had been running too hard for too long.
The territory was running smoothly and the businesses were sailing along without trouble.
"Maybe it is time for a date with Karia."
When you have the chance to relax, you should enjoy it.
The heroine who had reached the peak of misery in the original novel.
The heroine who had never once heard Landor say he loved her.
The tragic character whose unwanted fall readers had pitied despite her misdeeds.
I wanted to make her happy.
I went straight to find her.
Of course, she did not refuse.
"How do I look today?"
She had set aside her usual armor and sword and wore a simple, modest dress like an ordinary village girl.
I could not answer right away.
I simply stared at her in a daze.
Her red hair was neatly tied in a ponytail, and a delicate necklace highlighted her pale neck.
The dress clung to her body, emphasizing her slender waist, rounded hips, and full chest that was hard to look away from.
Even ordinary clothes looked regal on her.
My face flushed and I quickly lowered my head.
She is unfairly beautiful.
To receive this woman's love yet only think of ruining the empire was infuriating.
My anger toward that bastard Landor flared even hotter.
I cleared my throat and offered her my hand.
"You look absolutely beautiful."
The clothes we wore were plain commoner attire, and we had disguised our faces with light makeup.
No one would recognize us as Landor and Karia in this state.
"Come. Let us go watch a movie!"
"A movie?"
"Yes. We will watch a movie, go on a date, and enjoy the day. You have worked hard, so you deserve at least this much fun, do you not?"
Karia smiled brightly at my words.
"Yes, Landor! I would love that!"
"Shh! Do not use names outside. Understand?"
"Yes!"
I took her hand and slipped into the crowd with her.
We spent the day like ordinary people.
We bought snacks, laughed and chatted while watching movies at the theater, then went to a nearby restaurant and ate commoner food without any dignity, talking and enjoying ourselves.
She laughed so much.
Pure and joyful, like a child.
Watching her, I felt tears well up for reasons I could not quite explain.
Landor... please. Just once more. Let me be selfish one last time.
The line from the original novel, where she smiled sorrowfully and begged with tears before the final battle, came to mind.
Just once... can you tell me you love me? Just once?
It had been her desperate final request, spoken with the last of her strength after realizing she was mortally wounded.
There is no time, Karia. Go stop the enemies. Quickly!
And that bastard Landor had said those words while preparing to flee alone.
Karia lowered her head and marched into the final battle.
She fought alongside the guardian dragon against the entire Wyvern Knights and perished gloriously.
That scene had wrecked my mind when I read it.
"Look over there, Landor! People are singing!"
And there she was, laughing and holding my hand, looking so happy.
Why did it move me so?
Perhaps it was the gap between that miserable moment in the novel and her innocent smile now.
Without thinking, I pulled Karia toward me as she suggested dancing with the singing farmers in the middle of the street.
"Land..."
Her words stopped.
Of course they did.
I was kissing her.
Karia's eyes widened, then filled with tears.
She accepted the kiss.
I held her tightly.
No one around us looked at us strangely.
We simply looked like any young couple.
After the kiss, I whispered into her ear.
"I will make you happy. No matter what it takes, I will. I will make you happy. I love you."
"I am already the happiest I have ever been."
She hugged me tightly, her voice trembling.
We stayed like that for a long time, holding each other in the middle of the street.
I could no longer deny it.
It was not mere pity for an unfortunate character.
I genuinely wanted to love this woman.
When such a beautiful woman looked only at me, how could I not develop feelings?
It had begun with her forcing herself on me, but now I wanted to take it seriously.
I wanted to make things work with her.
Still, our carefree life together would have to wait.
Many problems remained in the empire.
"Half a year from now."
Having read the original novel, I knew what was coming.
Half a year from now, a terrible epidemic would sweep through the western empire.
If I failed to stop it, the tragic route would be forced upon us.