Creating Anime In A Fantasy World - Chapter 87: I'll Die Without More Fate!

During the three to four hours that the movies played, the castle’s hall was filled with eerie laughter.

Despite the lich’s initial disdainful attitude, it had unconsciously become fully immersed in the stories unfolding on screen.

Indeed, while watching the films, the lich displayed an unusual level of engagement.

Even though it was only a skeleton, it somehow managed to convey a look of suspense as the plots reached their climaxes.

Although Edward had explained from the start that the films were just staged performances, the intense immersion offered by the medium had drawn the lich deeply into the tales.

After KonoSuba and Goblin Slayer finished, the lich seemed a bit disappointed with the abrupt end of each story.

With nothing showing in its skeletal expression, it spoke, “Human, this ‘movie’ thing is actually… quite interesting. Well, I mean, it’s not bad to watch. Do you have any more? If you can provide more performances like these, I might just allow you to continue your little projects here in my castle…”

Yes, after years—who knows how many—in this desolate place, this was the first time this undead had encountered such an unusual way to observe the changes in the world.

For the first time, it had experienced the enjoyment of a compelling story, even without the ability to read.

And so, eager to see more films, the lich had granted the humans the freedom to move around the castle.

In the past, even before becoming undead, it had only heard stories from bards or bishops.

To this anticipated reaction, Edward, still keeping his composure, nodded with a smile. “Thank you for the compliment. Unfortunately, I only have these two completed Imaging Crystal right now. But if you’d like to see more, you can wait until I finish filming the new movie.”

“The new movie? How long will that take?”

“A month or two, maybe a bit longer.”

Edward chose this timeframe because he had planned to complete this new movie before the Mage Tower’s admissions began, which would be three months from now in early summer.

Hearing his response, the lich snorted in mild disdain, “A month or two? Perhaps that’s long for humans, but for an undead like me, that’s barely a nap…”

The lich’s nonchalant remark triggered a bold idea in Edward’s mind.

After pausing, he took out an Imaging Crystal that was still only half complete, and with Belldia watching in surprise, he offered it to the lich, saying, “Actually, I have another Imaging Crystal with an unfinished movie. Are you interested?”

“Oh? Didn’t you say you only had two?”

“Yes, only two complete ones. This one’s just a half-finished work…”

“Half-finished?”

Already captivated by the whole “movie” concept, the lich didn’t hesitate to accept.

As the crystal began projecting onto the wall, the first few scenes of Fate/Zero appeared.

Edward had already filmed much of the prelude before heading to the chaos land to film the summoning scenes at Einzbern Castle.

Once those scenes were done, the crew could move straight to the Holy Grail War shoot in the town of “Fuyuki.”

Though Fate/Zero’s content hadn’t been heavily localized, and the Heroic Spirits in the story were fictional figures unknown to this world, the narrative’s clarity and the character introductions offered sufficient groundwork for viewers to follow along.

Over a span of about thirty minutes, the scenes progressed from the collaboration between the Tohsaka family and the Church to Tohsaka Tokiomi giving his daughter to the Matou family, Kariya joining the Holy Grail War to save Sakura, and finally, to the Einzbern family’s summoning with Kiritsugu Emiya.

This prologue delivered a condensed yet information-rich setup within its limited runtime.

Even so, the final cut of Fate/Zero would likely span over two and a half hours.

Luckily, as Edward practically monopolized the movie industry in this world, he had no restrictions on the runtime.

As the prologue played, Edward couldn’t be entirely certain of the lich’s reaction, given Fate/Zero’s ensemble cast and lack of a traditional protagonist.

This format might be disorienting for ordinary viewers.

Yet, seeing the lich’s rapt attention despite some visible confusion at the setup, Edward relaxed, realizing that a well-told story can captivate audiences regardless of its structure or the nature of its main characters.

“And then what?”

Without realizing it, the lich, deeply absorbed in the Fate/Zero prologue, voiced its dissatisfaction when the clip ended.

As the soul-fire in its eye sockets flared with intensity, Edward sensed he might now be dealing with a terrifyingly impatient fan.

He quickly explained, “Yes, this is what I meant by ‘unfinished.’ Although I’ve planned out the full story, there are still filming challenges. It’ll take some time to complete.”

“I see…” The lich, belatedly recalling Edward’s earlier words, realized how thoroughly it had been drawn in, nearly forgetting its own identity in the process.

Feeling slightly awkward but also eager, it urged, “You said one or two months? Can’t it be any sooner?”

Yes, if before the lich thought one or two months was nothing, now the thought of waiting that long for more Fate/Zero seemed unbearable!

To sum it up in simple words: I’ll die without more Fate!