Chapter 171: Episode 4: The Hollow Shrine (Part 1)
At the TV tavern in Nosrick City, a crowd of eager viewers had their eyes glued to the latest episode of KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!.
The show was airing on TV in the usual format—episode by episode, with commercials wedged in between.
So, by the time Fate/Zero was nearing its conclusion, KonoSuba was also wrapping up its final episode.
Among the tightly packed audience stood a young adventurer named Joseph, blending in with the rest.
He had arrived at the TV tavern early in the morning just to watch the weekly broadcast of KonoSuba, now adapted into a TV series.
However, his companion and fellow adventurer Sam—who'd been keeping his true identity under wraps—hadn't come along. Sam had dashed off to the theater instead, more excited about catching Fate/Zero on the big screen.
Of course, Joseph was hyped for Fate/Zero too. But honestly, he was more drawn to the story of KonoSuba, which better reflected the life of an adventurer. Besides, his earnings this month had been downright tragic. Going to the movies was a luxury he simply couldn't afford right now.
As Joseph watched the final episode unfold, Sam finally showed up at the tavern after his trip to the theater.
The moment they met, Sam couldn't help but launch into a rant.
"This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! Fate/Zero cut off right at the most critical part! Who ends it like that?! That director is a monster!"
Joseph quietly thanked his lucky stars for not wasting his money on a movie ticket. He chuckled and teased,
"Told you TV is better than movies. If you'd stayed here with me and watched KonoSuba, you wouldn't be this upset. TV shows don't pull that kind of stunt."
"Oh, shut up, you smug TV-lover. Just laugh already, I know you want to. Still, no matter what, I'll always prefer movies. So—where's the show at now?"
"We're pretty much at the ending."
"Perfect! Then we can roll straight into The Garden of Sinners afterward!"
As Sam buzzed with excitement, Joseph could only offer a helpless smile.
But just as he turned his eyes back to the screen, expecting the story to wind down peacefully, an unexpected twist punched through the calm—stunning every viewer in the room.
...
On screen, a stern female prosecutor marched into the Adventurers' Guild, commanding her soldiers to immediately surround none other than Satou Kazuma.
Caught completely off guard, Kazuma blurted out,
"Arrest? You're arresting me? For what?!"
"For attempted assassination by sending an explosive device to the lord."
"Huh?!"
"You ordered the teleportation of the mobile fortress's core, the Coronatite, didn't you? That ore was later found inside the lord's mansion—the one governing this land."
"HUH?!?!"
"The lord is unharmed, but the mansion's been blown to bits. As for compensation... and your legal punishment—you're coming with me!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAA?!"
And just like that, as Kazuma was swallowed in despair, the story ended—cutting off with a jarring cliffhanger no one had seen coming.
...
The audience exploded.
The chaos in the TV tavern mirrored the emotional meltdown happening at the theater. People were flipping stools and threatening vengeance on the production team.
After all, compared to Fate/Zero's somewhat tolerable cliffhanger, KonoSuba's season finale had completely gone off the rails!
Everyone was burning with the same question—what the hell happens next? Would Kazuma really get taken away?
"What is Director Durin thinking?! Is he trying to break me?!"
"I'm dying, I'm seriously dying! If I don't get the next episode soon, I might actually die!!"
"I was laughing at the moviegoers earlier... who knew I'd end up like this…"
"Aaaaargh! Director Durin, you sadist! Just stab me and get it over with!"
"Haha, does anyone know where Director Durin lives? I just want to talk about storytelling. Also, has anyone seen my knife?"
"Yeah, maybe don't. The guy's a Grand Mage. You'd just be handing him your head on a platter."
"..."
Just like everyone else in the room, Joseph was so frustrated he nearly slammed his fist into the table.
Just moments ago, Joseph had been laughing at Sam's frustration, he had never imagined that the pain of a cliffhanger would so swiftly strike him too.
"What the hell?! You call that an ending?! That's just cruel!"
Still reeling from the whiplash of the final scene, Joseph could barely contain himself. Sam, however, was grinning ear to ear, absolutely basking in schadenfreude.
"Told you! Cliffhangers hurt just as bad, no matter where you're watching. That director's a real sadist!"
"He's not even human!"
Now, truly understanding the meltdown his friend had suffered earlier, Joseph completely lost it—joining the surrounding viewers in their collective breakdown.
...
Meanwhile, in a cozy corner of Edward Tavern, Director Durin suddenly shivered. The chill in the air seemed to thicken around him.
The distant echoes of rage and protest were getting louder by the minute.
Grimacing, he made a mental note: Always keep an emergency teleportation circle within arm's reach. Just in case the mob finally snaps.
Still, compared to the TV-watchers who had sat through the show since morning, the folks from the Edward Film Studio—and those exiting the movie theater—were considerably more chill.
After all, they'd only caught the ending in passing; they didn't watch enough screen time to get emotionally hijacked.
In fact, some of them took genuine pleasure in seeing the TV crowd suffer the same heartbreak they had just experienced.
A sense of karmic justice settled over them, soothing their earlier complaints.
This small shift in mood made Edward all the more confident that releasing both film and TV versions simultaneously had been the right decision.
...
The fury that had gripped the audience after KonoSuba's abrupt season finale gradually began to dissolve.
Following a short set of frosty, winter-themed ads for the upcoming Frost Film Festival, a new image flickered to life on the screen.
The opening frames of The Garden of Sinners appeared.
At once, the howling and table-flipping came to a stop. Even those who had been screaming for Edward's head just seconds ago fell silent in reverence.
At the same moment, the doors to the TV tavern opened.
In walked His Majesty Emperor Hubbard, his royal knights, the Beastkin Oracle, and Juno.
Together, they had crossed the cold and quiet streets from the theater, and finally breathed easy as they stepped into the warmth of the tavern.
"So this is what they call a television? That tiny box plays the same programs as a cinema?"
The Beastkin Oracle eyed the TV with fascination.
Before Juno could answer, the Emperor himself chuckled and replied,
"All of this is thanks to the brilliance of Lord Edward Durin—or rather, to the marvel of the Magitech Alchemy itself. Lord Durin once said that the Magitech Alchemy would give birth to a brand-new world."
"A brand-new world..."
The Oracle softly repeated the phrase, rolling it over his tongue. He followed the Emperor and the others to a decent open spot and took a seat.
Since they arrived rather early, there were still seats available.
Later arrivals weren't so fortunate. Some had to stand through the broadcast, while others left to try their luck at other taverns.
"Seems like there still aren't enough TVs," Emperor Hubbard noted.
Wilhelm, standing beside him, nodded gravely.
"Lord Durin promised to increase the number tenfold within half a year. If he succeeds, overcrowding like this should no longer be a problem."
"Tenfold, huh? That should be enough to cover the southern provinces. But what about the rest of the Empire...?"
"Your Majes—Sir, do you believe these televisions are ready to spread beyond the South? Even so, there are… certain complications…"
"I know what you're thinking. Whether it's TV, cinema, or Magitech Alchemy, to some people, it's all too… threatening. The South may accept it, but other regions—especially the imperial capital—will resist fiercely."
"You know that, and yet... why push forward?"
"As Edward himself said, the future will be a new world. And when that world arrives, what can the old one truly do to stop it? Besides… I haven't abdicated yet. Before I do, there's still more I must accomplish."
"…"
Wilhelm fell silent, eyes flashing with resolve as he gave the Emperor a firm nod.
These two men had once carved their way through blood and fire—from brutal succession wars to commanding armies across the Empire—until its borders were finally secured.
Their trials over the decades were known to none but themselves.
Even now, long past their youth, their bond was unshakable. A few quiet words were all it took to end the conversation.
But though the topic was closed, the conviction behind it had already taken root—and would not vanish.
At the side, the Beastkin Oracle watched the two aged titans—men who had once made the Beastkin kingdom tremble.
Though wary, he couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration.
After all, it is often your fiercest enemy who knows you best.
Decades ago, Emperor Hubbard and General Wilhelm had left indelible marks on the political and military history of both nations.
Now aged, their presence was no less daunting. And that made the Oracle all the more certain that now is not the time for war between the two nations.
He would do everything in his power to prevent it.
Resolved, the Oracle turned his attention back to the screen, just as The Garden of Sinners – Episode 4: The Hollow Shrine began to play.
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