Ch.266Soft Power (3)

Film is one of the most popular cultural forms shared across the world. Unlike writing or comics that have breaks, it literally stimulates people’s imagination by showing recorded footage.

However, films don’t necessarily show stories that seem to come from imagination. While most are fictional, there are quite a few films based on true stories.

Films, which maximize human imagination and visual effects, have become an indispensable culture for civilized people.

Even when various items and media including television flooded the market, the film industry never disappeared, merely hesitated.

Film can be called a true unification of culture and science, symbolizing the golden age of culture while also indicating the measure of scientific development.

Also, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, 007, Marvel and various comics, etc. Famous works transform into films and please people’s eyes.

The drawback is that there’s no guarantee they’ll succeed.

This is inevitable because people imagine things differently, and film directors are distinctly different people from the original creators.

As a result, it’s common for settings that weren’t in the original to appear, causing fans confusion or even ruining the work. Naturally, the original creators can only feel sad.

Conversely, there are many cases where ordinary novels or comics gain recognition belatedly after being made into films. This truly shows the difference in directors’ abilities.

I’ve gone on too long, but the films I watched in my previous life maximized science to make the impossible possible.

Like giant monsters roaming downtown, some genius billionaire becoming a hero in an iron suit, or flying into space and experiencing various incidents.

This is strictly possible because of “science” called CG, and it’s something that even magic cannot accomplish.

This means that while it’s possible to depict a fantasy medieval era on Earth, it’s almost impossible to depict Earth in the world I’m living in now.

But what about expressing a fantasy world? Especially if you have the ability to replace CG with magic?

Actually, there’s no need for CG. You just fight according to the script given by the director. Add magical effects in between to amplify the directing.

[Why don’t you give up? I’m an elf, and you’re now an old human. Giving up now would be…]

[Elisha. You’re still beautiful even after 30 years. That’s why I still can’t give up on you. So please smile for me once more. So I can depart in peace.]

On the screen filling the front of the stage, a beautiful elf and an elderly man have a tender conversation.

When the elf woman speaks, the camera focuses on her, and when the man speaks, it focuses on him, concentrating on their expressions. Then the angle adjusts to show both their faces simultaneously.

Is this really their first time filming? They’re putting so much care into every angle. It’s so immersive that I find myself laughing in disbelief rather than admiration.

‘They say there’s only a thin line between a master and a pervert…’

Along with this, there’s even an OST that seems to express the tender relationship between the two. As expected, it’s music composed directly by the Lilus Orchestra.

The visuals are excellent, and the sound is perfect too. But according to Cecilly, the end of this performance, or rather film, is Kayre’s death.

That means there’s still a lot of time left. The quality doesn’t fall short compared to my previous life at all, so I find myself focused rather than bored.

Above all, it’s in color, not black and white. Occasionally, due to the existence of magic, it shows a strange imbalance, and it seems the film is the same.

‘Is culture less developed because of magic? Or what?’

While harboring doubts inside, I focused on watching the film. As soon as the film started, etiquette was automatically generated, and the theater fell into silence.

If someone were to cough here, they would immediately draw stares.

Occasionally, the whining of thoughtless children could be heard, but they were promptly stopped by their parents. Or they left the theater altogether.

[If I come back…]

[… …]

[No. I’ll tell you later.]

Now the highlight is approaching. Along with this, I feel the urge to eat popcorn and drink cola.

When the film is over, should I secretly tip off Cecilly? Since she’s already internally confirmed that I’m a reincarnator, there’s nothing I can’t do.

By the way, I understand about Kayre, but how did they cast an elf actress? Since it was a project carried out secretly in Helium, they must have somehow persuaded an elf.

If not, they used magic or makeup. Like they did with Cherry.

[It’s been a while, Master.]

[You…!]

Finally, Kayre’s former disciple, Jealousy, appears. Before confronting Jealousy head-on, Kayre infiltrated the demon faction’s base and demonstrated his prowess as a bonus.

And Jealousy’s appearance… it’s exactly as I imagined, as if they directly adopted the description from the novel.

Unlike Xenon, who has ordinary brown hair and brown eyes, he’s a man with blonde hair and blue eyes. His face is also inorganic, unlike Xenon who looks lively.

[Have you really fallen to the demons? Why you?]

[I didn’t come to talk about old stories. Master.]

In response to Kayre’s confused question, Jealousy doesn’t even answer and charges forward, beginning a spectacular battle scene.

Jealousy, who received the power of demons, is much stronger than Kayre expected. Since he could even use magic, Kayre started struggling.

But Jealousy’s fighting style is all based on Kayre’s teachings. Kayre tackles each move one by one through decades of honed experience.

Kwang!

“Oh…”

Just as the Matrix troupe showed tremendous directing skills in their live performances, they fully displayed those strengths in the film as well.

Every time Kayre and Jealousy clash swords, a slight shockwave occurs, destroying the surrounding environment, or a missed strike cleanly cuts through rocks.

Combined with the intense performance of the Lilus Orchestra that adds to the urgency of the battle, it’s impossible to look away.

As I said earlier, there’s only a thin line between a master and a pervert. And it clearly shows what kind of result appears when time and budget are poured into such a person.

‘Wait. Is that actually real fighting?’

Even if magic replaces CG, such direction would be difficult. But there was an extra who was pierced through the body by Sacran during the last exhibition, so they must have researched separately.

The reason I’m saying this is because Kayre cut off one of Jealousy’s arms with experience and skill. This was in the original work too.

But despite such a blow, Jealousy’s arm regenerated immediately. Spewing not red blood, but black blood, which is almost a symbol of demons.

It’s evidence that Jealousy is not human but close to a demon, and as a master, it’s a scene that cannot be lamented enough.

[What on earth happened? You weren’t this kind of child.]

[Do I need a reason to hate the world?]

[You became a demon and try to destroy the world for such a reason? How pitiful! Jealousy!]

For reference, Jealousy’s real name is Behimos. Originally, the demon symbolizing jealousy is Leviathan, but there’s a monster with that name, so it was modified.

Kayre continued to confront Jealousy, but here the worst compatibility appears. That is none other than “youth” itself.

Jealousy is originally young and energetic with demon power, but Kayre is close to 100 years old, which can be seen as the limit of human lifespan.

He was able to maintain his youth somewhat due to strength beyond human category, but he couldn’t break the limit itself.

Moreover, since Jealousy has regenerative abilities from demon power, winning a war of attrition is virtually impossible.

Eventually…

[Goodbye, Teacher Kayre.]

Pook!

His chest is pierced by the sword of the disciple he personally raised. As the sword penetrates his chest, a bowl of bright red blood spurts from Kayre’s mouth.

“No…”

“Ah…”

As Kayre is pierced by the sword, sympathetic reactions sporadically erupt in the theater. The development itself is so dramatic that even I, the original author, flinch.

[Keureu… Kuluk! Kuluk!]

Kayre spits blood from his mouth repeatedly. The disciple kneels and looks down indifferently at his master who is about to cross over to the afterlife.

Kayre was the one who raised Jealousy, who was essentially an orphan, so what kind of feelings would he have? Jealousy has quite complicated circumstances, which haven’t been described in the original work yet.

But there exists a bit of affection for his master, so he doesn’t desecrate the corpse. On the contrary, he personally visits Alfheim to deliver Kayre’s body.

[Ah…]

Perhaps to express Kayre’s fading consciousness, the view gradually becomes blurry. The blurred view turns dark, and soon it’s covered in complete darkness.

In such darkness, Kayre’s sorrowful voice softly echoes.

[Just once… if I could see her smile just once…]

According to the original work, Kayre’s life ends here. The next volume begins with Jealousy personally placing Kayre’s body in Alfheim.

But strangely, the darkened view slowly brightens again. Like someone who was asleep opening their eyes, the eyelids repeatedly open and close.

[…ire! Ka…re!]

As the view brightens, a muffled voice echoes in the theater. I’m not sure whose voice it is, but it’s definitely a woman’s.

Eventually, as the eyelids fully open, what’s seen is a bright flower garden and oneself lying in that garden. And…

[Kayre! Are you awake now?]

The beautiful face of a woman who couldn’t be more cheerful. An elf with impressive elongated ears and bright green eyes, Elisha.

With a flower crown on her head, she wears the “smile” that Kayre wanted.

[Let’s go over there quickly! There are prettier flowers over there!]

“Ah.”

This scene, I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere, and I realized through that line.

This is not from the main story but one of the beautiful memories of Kayre and Elisha from the “side story.” The happiest time for the two and the moment they confirmed their love.

And finally, the starting point of all this tragedy.

Kayre, the owner of the view, doesn’t say anything, either because he was confused by the sudden old memory, or to show that “the dead don’t speak.”

He only slowly moves his steps toward the place where bright light shines, following Elisha’s guidance. The hand holding Elisha’s is not that of a wrinkled old man but of a vigorous young man.

[Kayre liked to see me smile, right? Want to see?]

At Elisha’s words, Kayre’s gaze turns to her. Elisha is smiling the smile that Kayre so desperately wanted until his death.

With Kayre reaching out to that smile…

Hwak!

Instead of the view going dark, a bright light filled the screen.

“… …”

The film ended. But no one dared to applaud.

Even I am at a loss for words at the direction and quality, and even saying I’m dumbfounded feels insufficient.

Especially the direction connecting to the content from the side story at the end is a technique I often saw in my previous life. It’s called a panorama of life, showing the most beautiful memory right before death.

How much character research must they have done to showcase such impressive direction? As the film ended and the surrounding lights began to turn on, I raised my hand as if entranced.

Clap clap clap-

The sound of my applause echoed in the quiet theater.

Clap clap clap clap clap!!

Soon after, thunderous applause filled the theater.

The first work heralding the golden age of culture has revealed itself to the world.

And…

‘When will the next one come out?’

Now I’ve become the one waiting.