Creating Anime In A Fantasy World

On the same day that the filming of Goblin Slayer was completed, in the mansion of Rock City, the main city of the Southern Territory:

“Movie?”

Hearing the word suddenly spoken by the elderly man sitting in the distance, Imperial Knight Commander Wycliffe showed a surprised expression and quickly asked, “Sir, what did you just say? What movie?”

The elderly man replied with a look of interest, “Yes, a movie, Wycliffe. I didn’t expect something so interesting to emerge in the Southern Territory. I’m quite intrigued. They say there’s a showing not far from Nosrick.”

“Th-that’s unacceptable, Sir! We’re here to discuss the upcoming war with the Orc Kingdom with Duke Viktor of the Southern Territory. How could we waste time on something like that!”

Despite Wycliffe’s protest, the elderly man just smiled and waved off the discussion as if it were trivial.

Caught off guard by how such a minor matter seemed to interest his superior, Wycliffe felt a headache coming on.

He then turned and yelled, “Rhine! Where is that idiot Rhine?! Get over here! You’re the one who told the General about this nonsense movie, weren’t you?!”

“…”

To no one’s surprise, a knight named Rhine, scratching his head, sheepishly emerged from behind the door. “T-Teacher, I… I only let it slip when we returned. I didn’t deliberately spread the word to the General…”

“You idiot! When we get back, you’re spending a month training with the recruits!”

“Noooo!!!”

Yes, in this mansion in Rock City, Imperial Knight Commander Wycliffe, his disciple Rhine, and General Wilhelm, who commanded all of the empire’s forces, were staying temporarily to negotiate with the Duke of the Southern Territory about the war with the Orc Kingdom.

Watching the banter between this master and apprentice, General Wilhelm simply smiled and said, “Don’t look at me like that. I was just an ordinary coachman before.”

“Sir, you’re being far too modest,” Wycliffe responded quickly. “Everyone knows that you were once a coachman for the prince, who is now the king.”

Revealing his past, Wilhelm smiled wryly and quickly changed the subject. “So, let’s go see this movie. They say it’s a revolutionary new technology.”

“Hmph, just some trickery by these southern folk. To me, watching a movie is far less exciting than the Orc Kingdom’s gladiatorial arenas. If it weren’t for the abolition of slavery in the empire, I would’ve set up a similar arena by now.”

Wycliffe’s statement made his stance clear—he held little regard for something as trivial as movies, preferring blood and battle.

It was also true that since Wycliffe had taken office as the Knight Commander, his strict military style had significantly improved the discipline of the entire knight order.

Even the empire’s army had shown growth under his leadership.

However, Wycliffe was also a staunch warmonger.

He was the first to support war in the current conflict with the Orc Kingdom.

Although he had no backing from any interest groups, his zeal for war was stronger than that of any other faction.

So, to Wycliffe, movies were just as dull and meaningless as stage plays.

“Let’s just go and see it together, Wycliffe. Don’t worry. They say movies are nothing like theater performances, and you won’t doze off halfway through.”

“I refuse. You and Rhine go ahead. I need to continue training.”

Amused by Wycliffe’s stubbornness, Wilhelm said, “Training? Don’t think I don’t know. Ever since you reached the fifth level of Sword Saint, you haven’t found any path for further advancement, right? Swordsmanship only has five levels, and Sword Saint is the peak. Anything beyond the fifth level is beyond the reach of mortals. Aside from that one legendary figure, no matter how gifted one may be, the sixth level has eluded everyone. For those of us at this level, training only maintains our current strength, not advancement.”

“But, Sir… you’re only one step away from that level…” Wycliffe said, sounding despondent.

Though Wilhelm’s words were cold reality, Wycliffe found it hard to accept.

The gap between himself and Wilhelm was painfully clear—a chasm that made him keenly aware of his limitations.

That’s why, despite everything, he couldn’t give up training in swordsmanship, using Wilhelm as both his benchmark and motivation.

Wilhelm, lost in thought, murmured, “Yes, just one step away. But it’s that single step that I haven’t been able to cross in my lifetime. If it weren’t for meeting that person during my campaign in the Northern Territory, I wouldn’t even have reached this level.”

Suddenly, Rhine chimed in with excitement, “Ah, General, you’re talking about your savior again! I remember, I remember! You got separated from your main force and were nearly killed by a powerful undead outside the northern chaos lands. But in that moment of crisis, a Headless Horseman saved you and indirectly helped you break through to your current level, right?!”

“Haha, you little rascal…”

Though surprised by Rhine’s sudden interjection, Wilhelm chuckled, realizing how often he had shared this story.

Yet, even if he had shared it countless times, it still wasn’t enough.

Wilhelm knew how much the Headless Horseman was misunderstood by society, and he felt compelled to clear that name, even in small ways.

After all, the Headless Horseman wasn’t the malevolent undead people believed him to be.

On the contrary, he had saved Wilhelm’s life and enabled his rise to the position of Imperial General.

Decades ago, Wilhelm had been a young and ambitious knight, already one of the top knights in the empire.

In order to hone his skills and push for a breakthrough to the fifth level, he led an expedition into the northern chaos lands to hunt monsters and undead.

However, young and brash, he had underestimated the danger of those lands.

After just two days, his squad encountered a disaster, and Wilhelm nearly met his end.

If not for the sudden appearance of a powerful knight who saved him, he would have been a meal for the monsters.

Even now, Wilhelm vividly remembered the black knight with no head, charging into hordes of monsters and using astonishing swordsmanship to tear them apart.

That memory haunted him for years, and since then, he had sought any news of the Headless Horseman.

But society’s animosity toward undead meant he could never openly ask about him.

The church had branded all undead as evil, so even as an Imperial General, Wilhelm had to keep this story to himself, only sharing it with a select few.

Years had passed, and Wilhelm had grown older, but he had never gotten the chance to repay his debt to the Headless Horseman. Nor had he advanced any further in his swordsmanship. The knight’s techniques had brought him to his current level, but he hadn’t been able to move beyond.

If… if he ever had the chance to meet that Headless Horseman again, perhaps…

“Anyway, Wycliffe, stop being so stubborn. Since we’ve come all this way to the Southern Territory, we should try something new. At least in that respect, Rhine is more open-minded than you.”

With no real choice, Wycliffe reluctantly nodded.

As the Empire’s Knight Commander, he had no authority to refuse a direct order from the General.

Seeing this, Rhine beamed with excitement.

He had wanted to see the movie ever since they arrived, but hadn’t found the time.

Now, with General Wilhelm’s approval, he finally had the chance to experience the southern sensation that had everyone buzzing—the movies!