Chapter 194: Steins;Gate Has Finished Screening! (Part 2)
At the very top of the Mage Tower, the Arch Mages sat in deep silence. They, too, had watched Steins;Gate—and like everyone else, found themselves swallowed by the same, all-too-familiar frustration.
After all, cliffhangers are universal in their cruelty. Regardless of your status—be you a peasant or the wisest Arch Mage in the Empire—that gnawing feeling of unfinished is enough to make anyone want to drag the creator out and give them a piece of their mind.
But of course, these were the Empire's most erudite minds. And after a brief moment of shared grumbling, they quickly gathered their composure and began doing what they did best: dissecting the film.
"This Steins;Gate may not have been quite as visually exciting as some of the previous films, but the depth of thought it provokes is far greater."
"Indeed. In all my years, I've never encountered a story born purely of speculation about the future. Watching it gave me a feeling… almost like enlightenment."
"Forget the Magitech Alchemy props for a second—even the worldbuilding is fascinating. The society in that film has an entire research system in place. Every researcher fulfills a specific role in pushing forward innovation. And all of it… is led by people without a shred of magical ability."
"In a world with no mages, the burden of unraveling the mysteries of the universe falls to ordinary people. And shockingly—they actually succeed, through experimentation and logic…"
"That premise alone shakes the very foundation of our original doctrines. We of the Tower have long believed that mages are heaven's chosen—born to guide humanity and seek the truth of the world."
"It was our pride. We've created a nearly egalitarian system within our ranks, yes, but in doing so, we've also isolated ourselves from the rest of humanity… drawing a line between 'mage' and 'ordinary.'"
"But in our world, magic does exist. Normal people can't even perceive the elemental currents around them, let alone manipulate them. Doesn't that prove we are the chosen?"
"Or is that just our own arrogance speaking? Suppose, one day, the powers of magic could be studied and wielded by the masses—what then? The advancement of magic would explode beyond imagination."
"Could such a future… truly be possible?"
"Maybe… that is the future."
And with that, the chamber fell into silence.
For a long moment, not one Arch Mage spoke. Their thoughts spiraled inward, each of them trapped in a vision of what the future might hold. The film's details—its symbols, its concepts—echoed through their minds like ripples in a pond.
Eventually, one voice broke the quiet.
"It seems… the changes this world is facing far exceed what we imagined. The Mage Tower can no longer cling to the old ways. We must evolve with the times."
The one who had spoken was none other than Administrator Hohenheim, and his words startled the others.
"What do you mean?" one asked, baffled by his tone.
Hohenheim closed his eyes in thought, and after a pause, spoke with gravity:
"I mean that we, as mages, can no longer lock ourselves in isolation. We are part of this Empire—its people, its culture, its future. It's time we take an active role in guiding it forward."
That statement hit the room like thunder.
The other Arch Mages looked at one another, stunned. They had not expected such a declaration from their ever-prudent Administrator.
But Hohenheim wasn't joking. His expression was steady, eyes unwavering. Slowly, the others began to realize it wasn't a mere opinion—it was a call to action. And one by one, the greatest mages of humanity began to reflect on what that would mean… not just for themselves, but for the entire future of their civilization.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Meanwhile, back in the southern territory…
The first day of the Frost Film Festival had come to a close. But the fire it lit in the hearts of the people was far from dying.
As soon as the screenings ended, audiences flooded into local taverns—not to drown their frustration, but to share it.
Loudly.
Boisterously.
Passionately.
They weren't just ranting. They were seeking others like them—fellow moviegoers who had watched Steins;Gate and felt the same whirlwind of emotions.
From bitter cliffhanger outrage to awe at the movie's intricate plot, conversations filled every corner of every bar. Discussions, debates, theories, and wild speculation flew from one table to the next.
Even though Hubbard held the lofty status of Emperor, he still participated fully in the bustling post-screening discussions, smiling as he chatted with those around him about their experience watching the film.
Unaware of the true identity of the man before them, the people of the southern territory were exceptionally enthusiastic—blurting out everything they thought, from what should be said to what probably shouldn't.
The conversation flowed freely: starting with the movie's plot, veering into actor gossip, skimming over southern trade, and finally brushing against the Empire's political landscape itself. No topic was off-limits—everywhere and everything was fair game.
Even Emperor Hubbard himself was stunned by the range of topics and the sheer breadth of knowledge displayed by the southern folk. Some of their comments were more insightful than what he'd heard from so-called "experts" at court.
It was only then that the Emperor began to realize something: thanks to the Empire's well-developed printing industry, the cost of producing books was relatively low. As a result, the public's access to information was far less restricted than he had assumed.
While most books lacked illustrations, words alone were proving sufficient to educate and enlighten. The Empire's low illiteracy rate allowed even traditional publications to dramatically expand the knowledge of its people.
And now—with the emergence of movies and television—the previously image- and audio-deprived realm of learning was about to undergo a revolution.
This world wasn't yet experiencing an information explosion, but it was clearly just one step away from that threshold.
The common folk… were far from ignorant.
That truth left a profound impression on Emperor Hubbard. He found himself thinking that all the years he'd spent either behind palace walls or on the battlefield hadn't taught him nearly as much as this brief journey among his people had.
And so, deep in his heart, he made a firm decision.
Before he stepped down from the throne—before his reign came to an end—he would personally eliminate all resistance to the development of television and film within the Empire. He would usher in a true golden age of culture and information.
"I've seen everything I needed to. It's time to return."
It was late in the day, and Emperor Hubbard muttered those words under his breath.
The knights beside him immediately grew serious. Though they'd spent the journey pretending to be the Emperor companions, none of them had ever forgotten their actual roles.
Nearby, Princess Amy looked reluctant to leave, but she knew full well that this outing wasn't officially sanctioned. If they delayed their return too long, chaos would break out in the palace.
At the same time, the Beastkin Oracle, still lost in animated conversation with the locals, snapped back to reality. He silently chastised himself for getting too caught up in film discussions and forgetting his original mission—to gather intelligence on the Empire. Somehow, he'd ended up swapping fan theories instead.
Just as the group was preparing to leave, the tavern's rear door swung open.
In walked Saeki, pushing a cart stacked with freshly printed booklets.
Seeing everyone's puzzled looks, Saeki calmly announced:
"Director Durin's Fate/Zero: Heroic Spirit Compendium and Steins;Gate: Character Anthology are now available for sale across the southern territory. Two silver coins per copy. Anyone interested can come buy them from me."
"Holy sh—!"
The room exploded.
In an instant, the tavern-goers swarmed toward the cart, desperate to snatch up copies of the booklets—cheap to print, barely worth a few copper coins each, but now worth their weight in gold to the fervent fans.
The sight left Emperor Hubbard stunned.
And then, laughing heartily, he led his knights into the frenzy, joining the crowd in a chaotic yet joyous rush to secure their own copies.
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