Re-written date: 7 / 13 / 2025
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Chapter 33: The Beginning of a New Era
To truly promote KonoSuba, the Southern Territory Adventurers' Guild had clearly gone all in. The change was already obvious from the shift in atmosphere within the Guild itself.
Edward, of course, was excited to see how the film would be received. But since he had handed over all the distribution and marketing work to the Guild, he didn't plan on micromanaging—except for the premiere. That, he had to personally oversee. There was no way he was leaving the very first film premiere in this world to a bunch of people who barely understood what a movie even was.
Fortunately, judging by the information he'd gotten from the Guild, the Southern Territory Adventurers' Guild Master had taken his advice seriously.
Very seriously.
In just the two hours they'd met, the Guild Master had internalized Edward's suggestions and moved swiftly to organize a proper, modern-style premiere.
To begin with, KonoSuba would premiere in the Nosrick City, held at the one and only local venue big enough for it—the Nosrick Grand Theater.
Traditionally, this theater was used for stage plays, which in this world were considered rare and prestigious entertainment. Though the format was limited and often repetitive, traveling troupes toured the entire empire, and every time they stopped in a city, audiences flocked in, eager for the rare chance to watch a live performance. Rich folks, especially, never missed a show.
But the stage play format had its flaws. First and foremost: the traveling troupe system. Since each troupe had to travel from city to city, performances were few and far between. You needed time, luck, and location all to align just to catch one.
On top of that, tickets were expensive—at least five silver coins per show—a price equivalent to nearly a week's worth of meals for the average commoner. For the lower classes, this kind of entertainment was nearly unreachable.
Worse yet, the plays themselves weren't exactly accessible. For most uneducated townsfolk or rough adventurers, the themes, wordplay, and symbolic gestures of theater made little sense. They clapped along with the crowd, but more often than not, they had no clue what was going on.
That was why, from the very beginning, when Edward set out to film KonoSuba, he knew he wanted it to be something different—something new.
A film.
Unlike stage plays, films didn't require huge casts or traveling troupes. All you needed was a imaging crystal and a magician to provide the mana.
Production time? Massively reduced.
Cost? Dirt cheap.
Edward's personal collection of backup imaging crystals had cost him less than ten gold coins in total, and the actual filming costs had been practically zero. Compared to traditional plays—which easily ran into the triple digits in gold just to produce—movies were absurdly efficient.
And thanks to all that, the Southern Territory Adventurers' Guild took Edward's proposal to heart. They went bold. They slashed ticket prices down to just five copper coins per screening—a tenfold drop compared to stage plays.
What did that mean?
It meant that if you skip one mug of ale, you could afford to see a full hour-and-a-half of entertainment on the big screen.
Not just affordable for the common folk—even the poor could manage that. And if you didn't care about having the best experience, you could even haul an imaging crystal out to a rural village and show the film outdoors at night.
If things went well, this wouldn't just be a hit in Nosrick City or even just in the Southern Territory provinces.
It could set fire to the entire empire.
Of course, getting KonoSuba shown as a movie had been the result of a long and careful negotiation between Edward and the Guild Master.
Because this wasn't just business.
It was a gamble.
And more than that, it was a once-in-a-generation opportunity—the kind that might actually change the entire course of history.
Of course, calling it a gamble wasn't just for show.
This new form of entertainment completely ignored existing industry standards. Once it spread, it would shake the foundations of every artistic institution in the empire. Countless interest groups stood to suffer. And when that happened, the backlash wouldn't just be aimed at Edward—even the Southern Territory Adventurers' Guild might not be able to withstand the storm.
But in that risk lay an equally massive reward. If this brand-new form of art took off, it could generate profits far beyond anyone's imagination. For both Edward and the Southern Territory Adventurers' Guild, the possibilities were staggering.
More than that, they would go down in history as the pioneers of a new era.
If films became the norm, if they reached audiences far and wide, the ripple effect would be unstoppable. The old world, where entertainment was a luxury for the rich, would collapse. People who could barely afford to eat might soon find themselves laughing in a crowded theater, sharing joy without breaking the bank.
And that—that was what Edward wanted.
Sure, there was a bit of selfishness behind his dream. But it was that same selfishness that pushed him to bring joy to others. It was that desire to give people more than just survival—it was about giving them something to look forward to.
He wasn't interested in chasing some lofty magical ideal. He came from a civilization leagues beyond this one, from a world full of creativity and progress.
What he wanted—what he truly craved—was to change this boring world.
Call it dramatic, call it delusional, but if someone asked him what his goal was, Edward would say it plainly:
"I want to be the one who changes the world."
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That very afternoon, once he'd received confirmation that the Guild had finalized all the arrangements with the Nosrick Grand Theater, Edward brought Winry along and headed over for a final inspection.
And just as the Guild Master had said, the Grand Theater truly lived up to its name.
The elegant design, the ornate decorations, and the sheer historical weight of the building left Edward genuinely impressed. Even he had to admit—this was the perfect place for a premiere.
Soon, they were greeted by the manager of the theater: a young noble who carried himself with a certain flair.
According to the Guild, this man—Viscount Baniel—had family ties to the Durin Family. The theater itself was a family inheritance, and when he heard about this new thing called "film," he immediately demanded a private viewing.
And after seeing KonoSuba for himself?
Completely sold.
He didn't hesitate for a second. He immediately agreed to host the film's premiere at the Grand Theater.
"Ah! Lord Durin! It's an honor—Viscount Baniel, at your service. I'm the one currently managing the Nosrick Grand Theater."
Edward had barely said hello before the man launched into a full-on verbal assault. Question after question came flying out—what happens next in KonoSuba, could he get a role in the next film, and, most shockingly, that he'd already canceled contracts with several long-standing theater troupes just to make room for the new film schedule.
While Edward appreciated that the man was open-minded and willing to embrace change, he couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.
Eventually, he cut in with a sigh, "I'm here to discuss the premiere specifics. Can we leave the rest for another time, Viscount Baniel?"
The viscount froze mid-sentence, then gave an awkward chuckle. "Ah—yes, yes, of course! My apologies, Great Grand Mage. Please, let me show you around the theater first. Right this way!"