A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

17 – A Smash Hit

“Mo…vie? Movie? What on earth is a movie?”

This was the reaction of most Imperial citizens who encountered the word “movie” for the first time. Because of this, I had to allocate time before the start of the movie to explain to the peasants with the help of theater staff.

“It is an edited play filmed using a camera. It is then shown for viewing.”

To ensure that the unfamiliar sight wouldn’t deter the citizens from visiting the theater, I invested a large sum of money in advertising. The circus performers became incredibly effective promoters in this aspect.

“Come see the movies! It is an edited play filmed with a camera! It offers you exciting entertainment and joyful laughter. heheheho!!!!!”

The clowns’ flamboyant costumes and the noisy music caught the attention of many people, and they began to visit the theater out of curiosity spurred by the advertisement. Thanks to the large-scale job creation I initiated, the peasants’ pockets were now full, allowing them the luxury to indulge themselves.

The price of a movie ticket was 8 copper.

It was an incredibly cheap price.

Thanks to such successful marketing, the theater began to overflow with people who came in wondering what this was all about.

And my expectations were met.

“Un…believable!!! Un…believable!!!!!!!!!!!”

The crystal-clear images, perfectly filmed, began to replay, offering a reality even more vivid than reality itself. The theater was filled with shocking visuals, and those who were watching a movie for the first time let out screams or cheers, showing fervent reactions.

Three movies were shot and screened.

As a comedy, ＜Hooray for the Great Warrior Nari!!＞, a traditional drama and historical epic, ＜The Beginning of the Empire.＞, and ＜Circus Show＞, which was filmed to showcase the possibilities of camera visuals.

“Elephant!! It’s an elephant!!!”

“Look at that clown!!!”

“Oh my!!! The sword is going into his mouth?”

The circus show was one of the popular spectacles among the peasants. With the help of editing and filming techniques, it was reproduced even more brilliantly and grandly, causing people to shout, scream, and enjoy themselves.

The show, filmed with the IMAX device boasting 3DX 16K resolution and unbelievably clear visuals, captivated the hearts of people.

Those who watched the circus show and were captivated by the stunning visuals came out with a dazed expression, but upon hearing laughter bursting from the next theater, they paid again and went to see another movie.

＜Hooray for the Great Warrior Nari!!＞ captured the imagination of many peasants. The simple plot where an ordinary peasant pulls out a sword of a warrior buried in his field and becomes a warrior who fights against looting and tyranny was filled with satire against nobles with a saturation level of 120%.

“Oh my!! What’s in this box? Isn’t it our stolen grains?”

“Please save us, Warrior!!”

“It won’t do. We can only save them by pulling out these grains. Run like a pig since your belly is swollen like a pig!! Save me when you become thin and take on a human form, even making pig sounds!!”

“Squwaaak!!! Squawk!!!!!”

The comedy actor in the ridiculous noble disguise delivered such hilarious slapstick and made pig sounds while running, that it was so popular that some people faint from laughter.

After being captivated by the visually stunning circus show to the point where their minds became hazy, and laughing until their minds went blank with ＜Hooray for the Great Warrior Nari!!＞, it was finally their turn to be moved by ＜The Beginning of the Empire＞.

From beginning to end, it was a magnificent epic. The actors put their hearts into their solemn performances.

The novel excerpt described a movie that was filled with patriotic sentiments and the grandeur of the emperor, who married a dragon and saved humanity from numerous monsters and demons, establishing an empire. It portrayed how the emperor, while rejecting the whispers and temptations of the demons, emotionally moved the empire’s citizens. After watching the movie, people were deeply moved and some even cried, feeling a sense of pride in being citizens of the Ailam Empire. They spread the word to their families and friends, and the movie industry achieved great success as expected. People repeatedly watched the movie, and some even begged the theater staff to extend the screening time. Merchants from the Western Karamba Empire, who had come to Elond as part of a trade, were so captivated by the movie that they paid to watch it. Within three days, the movie attracted over a million viewers, and within a month, it had reached ten million viewers. The theater staff had to exchange the overwhelming amount of money coming in for gold coins at the bank. Carl Hanson, in a state of excitement, brought me a pile of gold coins. He couldn’t even close his mouth, as if even demons would not be able to resist smiling so wickedly. He exclaimed with enthusiasm, saying it was a jackpot, just as I had predicted. The profits earned were more than twenty times the amount invested in Macguffin and Illusion Company. He added that even now, spectators were flocking to the theater in real-time, causing chaos, and they might need to build a new theater. I jokingly suggested building three more theaters would be sufficient. He chuckled and asked me how I planned to spend the money. It was obvious to me where to spend it.

“I should make the next movie. Bring in the band and theater troupe, call the singers and make the next movie.”

“What kind of movie should we make?”

I momentarily pondered, then burst into laughter.

Having frequently met with the farmers here, I knew what they liked.

They loved music.

When things were tough, they would sing and forget about their worries. They would sing while working. They would sing during festivals. They would even sing when they were sad.

“Let’s try making a love story where singers sing and dance. It’s about a young female singer with dreams who comes to the commercial city Porto and falls in love with a young male actor there.”

“Singing and… dancing?”

“Yes. It’s a genre called musical. And there are various other genres as well.”

Compared to me, who had lived in a modern society with overwhelming entertainment options, Carl Hansen had little knowledge in this area. I instructed him to make a romantic musical, a suspense prison break film, and a western drama for the next movies.

The content was already in my mind, so there was no problem. Plus, there wouldn’t be any copyright issues in this world.

“What should we title them?”

“Lala Land for the romantic musical, Save and Escape for the suspense prison break film. Let’s name the western drama Chyung-gu. I’ll tell the directors the details of the screenplay later.”

“Understood!!!”

Carl Hansen laughed and ran off like a bullet. He seemed very happy.

Only after seeing his figure could I finally let out a long sigh and relax.

“We’ve overcome a hurdle.”

We successfully countered the attacks from the Vinyard Party members and the two new businesses were thriving.

I had been running around too hectically.

The territory was doing well, and the businesses were smoothly sailing.

“How about going on a date with Karia after a long time?”

When there is free time, it’s necessary to occasionally enjoy it.

The protagonist in the novel, who had reached the peak of exhaustion.

The protagonist who had never once heard Randor say that he loved her.

The tragic character who made readers sympathize with her unwanted downfall despite the crimes she committed.

I wanted to make her happy.

I immediately went to see her.

Of course.

She did not refuse.

“Oh, how about today?”

She was in a state of wearing a simple dress like an ordinary commoner, having discarded her usual armor and sword.

I couldn’t respond to her words immediately.

I only stared at her blankly.

Her red hair was neatly tied up in a ponytail style, and she wore a light necklace that accentuated her snowy white neck. The dress was snugly fitted to her body, emphasizing her slender waist, plump hips, and her hard-to-look-away lumpy chest.

Even in ordinary clothes, she turned them into clothes that oozed elegance once she put them on.

My face turned red in an instant, and I hurriedly lowered my head.

“She’s incredibly beautiful, even deceitfully.”

Receiving the love of a woman like her, all I could do was to destroy the f*cking empire.

My anger towards Landoir, that b*tch, burned even hotter.

After coughing dryly, I extended my hand to her.

“You are truly beautiful.”

The clothes she was currently wearing, as well as the clothes I was wearing, were very commoner-like clothes. And by slightly altering our appearance, we disguised our faces.

If we mixed in like this, no one would know we were Landoir and Karia.

“Let’s go! Let’s go watch a movie!”

“A movie?”

“Yes. Watch a movie and have a date. Let’s enjoy a day of happiness. After all the hardships, we should be able to enjoy this much, right?”

In response to my words, Karia laughs brightly.

“Yes! Landoir! I like it!”

“Shh! Don’t call me by name outside. Understand?”

“Yes!”

I took her hand and secretly sneaked into the crowd of citizens. And we spent the day like ordinary people.

We bought snacks, watched a movie at the theater, laughed and chatted happily. After leaving the movie theater, we went to a nearby restaurant and enjoyed ourselves, eating food that the commoners would eat without any dignity.

She laughed a lot.

Innocent and happy like a child.

Watching her like that, as a reader of the novel, I felt a strange sensation that made me want to cry.

[Landoir……..please. Just one last time. Just once, be selfish.]

Before entering the final battle. The scene from the original novel came to mind, where she pleaded with tearful eyes and a sad smile.

[Just once………can you tell me that you love me? Just once?]

She, who had a sense of impending doom and was on the verge of death, squeezed out her last bit of energy to make an agonizing final request to him.

[We don’t have time. Karia, go stop the enemies. Now!!!]

And Lando, that f*cking bastard, said that while preparing to take on the battle alone. Karla lowered her head and joined the final fight.

And she fought alongside Suho and the entire Dragon Knight Order, valiantly sacrificing herself.

I was really shaken reading this passage.

“Look, Lando! People are singing!”

And in front of my eyes, I see a woman holding my hand and bursting into laughter, looking incredibly happy.

I wonder why.

Perhaps it was because of the gap between the moment in the novel where despair reached its peak and this innocent laughter that made me feel emotional.

Without realizing it, I pulled Karla, who was singing and dancing with the peasants in the middle of the city, towards me.

“Lando…”

Her mouth stopped talking.

Well, of course.

Because I was kissing her.

Karla’s eyes widened and soon started to fill with tears. She accepted my kiss.

I held her tight.

No one looked at us strangely. We just seemed like any other young couple.

After the kiss, I whispered in her ear.

“I will make you happy. No matter what it takes, I will definitely, definitely make you happy. I love you.”

“I am already the happiest I can be right now.”

She clings to me, her voice trembling.

The two of us stood in the middle of the street, holding each other tightly.

Now, I couldn’t deny it anymore.

It wasn’t just because she loved me out of sympathy for a miserable character.

I was sincerely starting to develop feelings of love for this woman.

Shouldn’t I create feelings that didn’t exist before, as this beautiful woman looks at me alone?

It started off with her taking advantage of me, but now it was serious.

I wanted to be good to her and have a sweet life together.

But it seemed like it would take some time to achieve that loving and affectionate life with Karla. There were still many problems to be solved in the empire.

“It’s six months from now.”

Having read the original novel, I knew.

Six months from now.

An enormous epidemic spreads in the western empire.

If it’s not stopped, it will be confirmed as a hopeless, widespread infection.