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Chapter 266: Soft Power (3)
Chapter 266: Soft Power (3)
Chapter 266: Soft Power (3)
Movies are one of the most universally popular cultures in the world. Unlike written works or comics, they stimulate the imagination by literally showing recorded visuals to people.
However, just because it’s a movie doesn’t mean it necessarily depicts stories that only come from imagination. While most are fictional tales, there are also many movies based on true stories.
Movies that maximize people’s imagination and visual effects have become an indispensable part of civilization.
Even when various items and media, including television, emerged, the movie market did not disappear but merely hesitated.
Movies not only symbolize the golden age of culture but can also serve as a true fusion of culture and science, indicating the progress of technology.
Moreover, various famous works like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, 007, Marvel, and many others, when transformed into movies, also delight people’s eyes.
However, there’s no guarantee that it will always succeed. This is inevitable because everyone’s imagination varies, and movie directors are distinctly different from the original creators.
As a result, it’s not uncommon for unfamiliar elements, which were absent in the original work, to appear and either puzzle or even ruin the experience for fans.
Naturally, the original creators would feel saddened by this. On the other hand, there are also cases where ordinary novels or comics are adapted into films and gain recognition later on. This truly demonstrates the difference in the director’s capabilities.
While it’s possible to depict fantasy medieval worlds on Earth, it’s nearly impossible to accurately portray Earth in the world I currently inhabit. However, what about depicting a fantasy world? Especially if one possesses the ability to substitute CG with magic?
In fact, there’s no need for CG at all. Just follow the script provided by the director and fight accordingly. Sprinkle in some magical effects here and there to enhance the spectacle.
[Why don’t you give up? I’m an elf, and you’re an old human now. Even now, giving up is…]
[Elisha, even after 30 years, you’re still beautiful. The reason I can’t give up on you is precisely because of this. So please, smile for me one more time, so I can depart peacefully.]
In a scene filling the stage front, a beautiful elf and an aging man engaged in a tender conversation.
When the elf woman spoke, she was illuminated, and when the man spoke, he was illuminated, focusing on each other’s expressions. Until the angle was adjusted to see both faces at the same time.
Is it because it’s the first time they’re filming? They seem to be putting a lot of effort into each angle. It’s even so immersive that I end up smirking rather than admiring it.
‘They say a master and a pervert are just one sheet of paper apart…’
Along with that, even an OST that seemed to express the affectionate relationship between the two. As expected of the music composed directly by the Rirus Orchestra.
The visual beauty was perfect, and even the sound is at a perfect level. However, according to Cecily’s words, the end of this performance, no, the end of the movie, is Kair’s death.
There’s still plenty of time left. It means that the quality was not at all inferior compared to my past life, so instead of getting bored, I just focused.
Above all, it’s in color, not black and white. Although occasionally, it showed a strange imbalance due to the existence of magic.
‘Is culture less developed because of magic? Or what.’
I silently pondered the question while focusing on the movie. As soon as the movie started, the concert hall fell into silence, as if movie etiquette was automatically created.
If someone coughed here, the gazes around would pour out immediately.
Sometimes the whining of an immature child was heard, but it was quickly suppressed by the parents. Otherwise, they would leave the theater altogether.
[If I come back···]
[…]
[No. I’ll talk later.]
Now the highlight was approaching gradually. Along with this, the urge to eat popcorn and cola arised.
If the movie ends, should I secretly ask Cecily? Anyway, since she’s already kinda convinced that I’m a reincarnator, there’s nothing I can’t do.
Anyway, even if it’s about Kair, how did they manage to cast an elf actor? They said it was a project conducted secretly in Helium, so it seems they managed to persuade an elf somehow.
Unless they used magic or makeup. Just like what I did to Cherry.
[Long time no see, master.]
[You…!]
Finally, Kair’s former disciple, Envy, appeared. Before facing Envy head-on, Kair infiltrated the demon’s base and demonstrated his power as a messenger of the gods, which was a bonus.
And Envy’s appearance… it’s just as I imagined it, as described in the novel.
Unlike Xenon, who had ordinary colors with brown hair and brown eyes, he was a man with blonde hair with a stoic face.
[Did you fall into the hands of devils? Why are you here?]
[I didn’t come to talk about the past, master.]
Starting with Envy rushing in without even answering Kair’s confused question, a spectacular battle scene unfolded.
Envy, much stronger than Kair had expected, thanks to the power of the devil. And since he could even use magic, Kair began to struggle.
However, the battle style of Envy was all based on Kair’s teachings. Kair meticulously strategized each move through decades of experience and expertise.
Clang!
“Oh…”
Just as the Matrics Troupe displayed astonishing choreography in real-time, the movie also brilliantly showcased its strengths. Whenever Kair and Envy clashed their swords, subtle shockwaves occurred, shattering the surrounding environment, or a missed strike cleanly cleaved through rocks.
When combined with the intense performance of the Rirus Orchestra, which seemed to heighten the tension of the battle, it became impossible to look away.
As I mentioned earlier, the difference between a master and a pervert is as thin as a paper. And giving time and budget to such a person clearly demonstrates what kind of result will emerge.
‘Wait a minute. But are they really fighting?’
Even if they use magic to substitute for CG, wouldn’t that kind of production be difficult? Nevertheless, since during the previous exhibition, there was an extra who appeared to have been pierced by Sakran, it seems they researched separately.
The reason I’m saying this is because Kair severed one arm of Envy with his experience and skill. This was also in the original work.
However, such a strike was soon overshadowed as Envy’s arm regenerated immediately, emitting black blood akin to a symbol of the devil, not red blood.
This scene serves as evidence that Envy is closer to a devil than a human, a moment that his master could not help but lament.
[What happened? You weren’t like this before.]
[Do I need a reason to hate the world?]
[You became a devil to destroy the world all because of such reasons? Pitiful! Envy!]
By the way, the real name of Envy is Beelzebub. Originally, the devil symbolizing Envy was Leviathan, but I modified it because there was a monster with that name.
Kair continued to struggle, but here, the worst match-up appeared. That is none other than ‘youth’ itself.
Envy is originally young and vigorous, empowered by the devil’s power, but Kair is nearly a hundred years old, which can be considered the limit of human lifespan.
It was only due to strength that transcended the human category that he could maintain his youth to some extent, but he could not break the limit itself.
Moreover, Envy possesses regenerative abilities bestowed by the devil’s power, making it practically impossible to win in a fight.
In the end…
[Farewell, Mr. Kair.]
Swoosh!
His chest was pierced by the disciple’s sword that he himself had grown. As the sword pierced his chest, bright red blood spurted out from Kair’s.
“No…”
“Ah…”
As Kair was pierced by the sword, pitiful reactions sporadically erupt in the auditorium. The development itself was so dramatically executed that even the original author, myself, would flinch.
[Groan… Cough! Cough!]
Kair was spewing blood continuously from his mouth. The disciple knelt down and glanced indifferently at the master trying to cross over to the afterlife.
Kair, who had essentially raised him as an orphan, what could be going through his mind? Envy harbored quite complex emotions, not yet described in the original work.
However, there exists a hint of affection towards the master, refraining from disrespecting the corpse. Instead, the disciple directly went to Alvenheim to deliver Kair’s body.
[Ah…]
Whether expressing Kair’s fading consciousness or his vision gradually blurring. The blurred vision turned dark, soon engulfed in complete darkness.
In such darkness, Kair’s tender voice echoed faintly.
[Just once… if only I could see her smile just once…]
In the original story, Kair’s life ends here. Subsequently, Envy places Kair’s corpse in Alvenheim, starting the next volume.
However, strangely, the dimmed vision slowly brightens again. As if a sleeping person was opening their eyes, the eyelids repeated opening and closing.
[Iyr! Kai… r!]
As the vision brightened, a voice filled with melancholy resonated throughout the auditorium. It’s uncertain whose voice it was, but it’s definitely a woman’s.
Eventually, as the eyelids fully opened, what became visible was a bright flower field and Kair lying in that flower field. And…
[Kair! Are you awake now?]
The beautiful face of a woman full of liveliness. A striking elf with elongated ears and bright green eyes, Elisha. Adorned with a crown made of flowers on her head, she had the “smile” Kair desires.
[Hurry, let’s go over there! There are even prettier flowers over there!]
“Ah.”
This scene felt familiar, and I realized it through that line. This isn’t the main story but one of the beautiful memories of Kair and Elisha from a ‘prequel.’ It was the happiest time for the two, a moment when they confirmed their love. Finally, the beginning of all this tragedy.
Kair, the owner of the view, either confused by sudden old memories or realizing that “the dead have no words,” remained silent.
Following only Elisha’s guidance, he slowly moved his steps towards where the bright light shines. The hand held with Elisha’s belonged not to a wrinkled old man but to a vigorous young man.
[Did you like it when I smiled, Kair? Want to see it once more?]
At Elisha’s words, Kair’s gaze shifted towards her. Until her last breath, Elisha wore the smile Kair longed for.
As he reaches out towards that smile.
Crack!
Instead of darkness, a bright light filled the screen.
“··· ···”
The movie has ended. However, no one hastily clapped.
Even the description of feeling dumbfounded falls short of describing the directing and quality that left me speechless. Especially the directing that connects to the prequel at the end was a technique commonly seen even in my past life.
It’s like the story of the “Lamp of Spirits,” showing the most beautiful memories just before death. How much character research must have been done to present such impressive directing?
As the movie ended and the lights around me began to come on, I found myself raising my hand as if entranced.
Clap, clap, clap…
The sound of my applause echoed through the quiet theater.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!!
Soon, 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 episode come out?’
Now, I’ve become the one waiting.
Translators note: