"Well, although it's hard to explain, they generally come for the interview knowing what they want to do."
Nodding, Du Lin realized that Wen Li had indeed done what he asked. He looked at the figures in the distance, and finally, after making a rough judgment in his mind, he said, "Send these scripts to them and let them rehearse now. I will review them later."
Hearing Du Lin's words, Wen Li nodded and quickly went to carry out the task issued by the other party. Du Lin, who stayed where he was, looked at the script in his hand that he had revised countless times and murmured: "It looks like it will be completed soon."
Yes, under normal circumstances, film and television shooting takes a lot of time to complete. After all, under normal circumstances, film and television production requires a lot of time on reshooting actors, arranging shots and producing special effects, but these problems do not exist for Du Lin.
Since there is no such profession as actor in this world yet, Du Lin has no choice but to choose when it comes to acting. It is good enough for him if the actors can give a rough performance. Apart from that, there is no need to consider the camera and special effects because of magic. As long as the actor selection is over, he is confident that he can shoot the rest of the plot within a few days.
The only thing that troubled him right now was the script that needed to be revised and the problem of background music. After all, there were no flying cabbages in this world, and this part of the plot was the kind of important one that could not be deleted, so in order to modify this part of the plot to a state where there was no sense of incongruity, Du Lin was exhausted.
As for music, to be honest, there wouldn't be any problem. After all, what this fantasy world lacks the least is bards. These guys are musicians who can play any instrument in their own style. You can just go to a tavern and spend some money to ask them to play some BGM for you.
What Du Lin didn't expect was that the person who finally solved the music problem was not the bard, but Wiz who accidentally heard him mumbling.
"Music? If you want music, I can help you. After all, I was born in an aristocratic family in the imperial capital, and was forced to learn to play various musical instruments since I was a child. Although I am a little rusty now, I should be able to help you."
"Really?"
Durin was surprised that he could get it so effortlessly. He asked Wiz to play a piece. It turned out to be just as he said. Wiz's playing skills were real. Perhaps it was because he became a lich, his mental power to express emotions was more focused and thorough. He was a perfect performer!
Realizing that the situation was going better than he had imagined, after some calculations, Du Lin was almost certain that he could complete the filming of the movie within a week.
After all, this theatrical version is just a work that Du Lin used to test the waters. Compared with the things he plans to shoot later, the filming difficulty of "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World" is quite small. Only if this theatrical version can be successful, Du Lin will have the confidence to continue filming. Otherwise, he will have to admit that he cannot change the times by his own strength.
... ... .
Adventurer's Guild, filming in progress.
When Zat, who was exhausted, was half lying on his seat petting his cat, Aqua, who was holding a large bucket of leftovers, walked over and said with a smile, "Look, there is some leftover food in the store today. They said I can pack it up and bring it over. I'm making a profit."
In response to the girl's innocent smile, Zat, who was getting more and more annoyed the more he looked at her idiotic face, simply said lightly: "Hey, Aqua, although I don't want to say it, to be honest, I think it's impossible for the Demon King to escape. Think about it, I don't have powerful strength like the protagonist in the story. The battle with the Demon King's army should be left to those who were sent here before me and have powerful abilities and weapons..."
"... ..."
After a moment of silence, Aqua suddenly turned around and said loudly with tears in her eyes: "How can this be possible?! Will I never be able to go back like this?"
"Haha, wait until you can guide the hero like a true goddess, seal the devil before the hero grows up, and buy time for the hero, you good banquet performer!"
"Wooo ...
Facing Aqua's crying, Zat just said mercilessly: "So, think about whether there is any easy way to make money, and also, teach me your only advantage, the recovery magic!"
“No~ Only recovery magic won’t work!! Don’t take away the only meaning of my existence!!! If I’m here, it’s okay for you not to learn it!! Wuwuwuwu~~~”
The girl's loud crying attracted the attention of the adventurers around her. Huihui, who was still eating, looked over and said, "Zat, your attack power is too terrifying. If you speak your mind without any scruples, most girls will cry!"
The new adventurer Darkness crossed her arms and muttered, “Well, if you’re putting too much pressure on me, I’ll take Aqua’s place and be scolded by you.”
When she said this, her face was slightly flushed...
The actor who played Darkness was carefully selected by Durin from among the adventurers who applied for the job. Although in reality there was no choice, at least his performance was acceptable and he was not stage-frightened. As long as he met these requirements, Durin could fill in the rest with suggestion magic.
Although using the magic of suggestion to make a person think that he is a masochist is a rather subtle thing, this is for the sake of a noble film, and Du Lin did not hesitate at all!
"Emergency notice, emergency notice, all adventurers please arm themselves immediately and assemble at the main gate of the town in combat mode!"
The receptionist's sudden words made all the adventurers present look surprised, and Du Lin, who was filming on the side, put down the video camera as expected.
"The timing is perfect."
He did not tell the receptionist and other adventurers of the Adventurer's Guild what he was filming, and naturally, these people had no idea what caused this sudden situation.
The reason for doing so is naturally to achieve a more perfect effect. After all, the quality of extras determines the quality of a drama to a certain extent. Instead of spending money to let these people act out a weird look, it is better to let them act in their true colors. Anyway, he has colluded with the guards at the city gate and the adventurer's manager and shut their mouths with money, so there will be no problem no matter how you think about it.
So, as all the adventurers came to the city gate with all kinds of thoughts in their minds, the knight riding on a horse with nothing above his neck in the distance also appeared in front of them.
Chapter 25: The Headless Horseman's First Appearance
Chapter 25
At the town gate, many adventurers looked at the strange figure in the distance in horror, and everyone swallowed their saliva unconsciously.
"How is it possible?! It is actually..."
"Headless Horseman?! Why did you come here?!"
"It was rumored that the Dullahan had come to the Southland. Is this actually true?!"
All of a sudden, as a commotion broke out, Zat and others who were mixed in the crowd began to rehearse their lines according to the script they had memorized long ago. After all, they knew very well that Du Lin was still filming under such circumstances.
At the same time, the Dullahan on the horse coughed a little. The fact that this was his first performance and there was no way he could do NG made him a little nervous, but he quickly said, "I'm the Dullahan who moved to the castle not long ago!"
"It's the Headless Knight!"
"What should I do? This is the first time I've seen an undead!"
"We don't have a church in the South Territory. What should we do at a time like this?!"
Compared to Durin and the others who knew clearly that this was all an act, the other adventurers all showed expressions of despair at this moment. After all, a legendary monster like the Headless Horseman had to be at least a super level six monster-level powerhouse. In comparison, these ordinary level one or two adventurers were simply sending themselves to death.
The Dullahan seemed to be too nervous. He was stunned for a moment and continued according to the movements he had rehearsed countless times: "Every day~~!!! Every day, every day, every day, they cast explosion magic in my castle without fail! Who is this stupid idiot with a diseased brain!!!"
As a burst of special effects lightning flashed behind him, the crowd at the town gate suddenly became silent, and then an uproar broke out.
... ...
What happened next was almost exactly as Durin had planned. Although the adventurers in the "extras" looked confused, they were led by Beldia to find Huihui, the only one who could use explosion magic.
Although Huihui was panicking inside, she still pretended to be strong on the surface and had a very subtle verbal battle with the Headless Knight.
Finally, the Dullahan, who was successfully fooled by the other party, showed surprise and said disdainfully: "Well, whatever, I am not here to play with you little minions. I will live in that castle for a while. Don't use any explosive magic on me anymore. Do you hear me?"
The so-called castle is real. It is a dilapidated castle that Durin bought with the remaining property of his family. It was used for filming the previous scene of continuously releasing explosive magic. After all, these are expenses that have to be paid and cannot be saved even if you want to.
That is why Du Lin is really betting the fate of the Edward family on this filming. If problems arise during the period and the deficit cannot be made up, the Edward family will probably declare bankruptcy on the spot.
At the scene, in response to the Dullahan's threat, Huihui, who had an indifferent expression, just said calmly: "I can't do it. We, the Crimson Demons, must use one explosion magic every day, otherwise we will die."
"Huh? How come I've never heard of such a thing? Don't talk nonsense!"
"Yes, of course there is such a thing! If I don't use explosion magic, the magic power in my body will itch, and then I will die in agony!"
Although Huihui was just talking nonsense, the Dullahan, who was unaware of this, was stunned and said helplessly: "Although I am under the Demon King, I am also a knight and do not want to bully the weak. But since you are so aggressive..."
In an instant, before everyone, including Huihui, could react, the black air of death gradually condensed in the hands of the Headless Knight.
After witnessing this scene, some of the 'knowledgeable' adventurers were surprised and said, "Death Proclamation?! A Death Proclamation that can only be used by top-level undead?!"
"Isn't that a super-level spell?! How can a Death Knight who isn't a magician use it?"
"Perhaps it was because the aura of death was too strong that he eventually realized this terrifying ability."
"It's like this, it's worthy of being an immortal monster that lived hundreds of years ago..."
Faced with the adventurers' well-reasoned analysis and horrified looks, Du Lin, who was secretly filming in the corner, really had no idea what expressions these people would show if he told them that it was just an ordinary curse spell, and the effect was to make the cursed person become unlucky within a day, probably to the extent of stepping on banana peels when going out or eating glass shards.
In short, seeing that the Headless Knight was about to release such a powerful spell, the adventurers present finally couldn't help themselves. However, compared to their speed, the Headless Knight was obviously faster with a slight wave of his finger.
"You are hereby declared dead! You will die in a week!"
As soon as he finished speaking, before the stunned Huihui could react, Darkness had already rushed in front of her and blocked such a horrible attack for her. The visible black energy made the surrounding adventurers stop in their tracks, and also made the cursed Darkness reveal an expression of unbearable pain.
In response to this situation, the Dullahan on the small dirt slope simply said, "You adventurers have such a high awareness of your companions. This will only make you more miserable. Listen carefully, this female knight will die in a week. Haha, you will watch your important companion being tortured by the fear of death. You must be terrified!"
Huihui's face suddenly turned pale at the Dullahan's words, but Darkness, in contrast, had a completely different expression, as if she had not been cursed at all. "How, how could this be! In other words, you have cursed me to death, and if I want to remove the curse, I must obey you! Is that what you mean!"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, the Dullahan showed a strange expression, not understanding what Darkness was saying at all, but Darkness hadn’t finished her words yet.
“Tsk…! A mere curse won’t make me surrender…! Won’t I surrender…! What, what should I do, Zat! Look at that obscene look under the Dullahan’s helmet! It’s like he wants to take me back to the castle like this, and if I want to remove the curse, I have to shut up and obey. It’s a perverted look that will demand unimaginable perverted play!”
In front of everyone, the poor Dullahan was suddenly called a pervert. He once again muttered in a daze: "... Eh?"
"Even if I let you do whatever you want with my body, don't even think about trapping my heart! Imprisoned in the city, a female knight being ordered around by the demon king's minions with unreasonable demands! Ah, what should I do, what should I do, Zat!! This is an unexpected situation! I don't want to go, but I have to go! I will resist until I am done, so don't get in my way! Then I'll go!"
“Eh hey hey!?”
"Stop, don't go! The dead will be in trouble!"
Looking at Darkness who was completely immersed in the role, Durin in the distance couldn't help but wipe the sweat off his forehead and wonder if the amount of suggestion magic he used was too large. Otherwise, how come the suggestion magic that could only affect the subconscious at most seemed to have changed the personality of the female adventurer
I remember that during the interview, he was a quiet, well-behaved, and good-looking kid. But after rehearsing, he seemed to have awakened something extraordinary...
Chapter 26 The Possibility of a Cinema
Chapter 26
The Death Knight's debut was successfully concluded. Although some time was spent on the special effects of the Holy Light spell, and preventing adventurers from actually reporting to the Knights of the South took a while for the logistics minister Winry to deal with, in the end, the shoot was successfully concluded.
"After the next few small theaters, as long as we finish filming the final battle with the Headless Horseman, our crew's first shoot will be officially completed. Don't slack off during these days, and do your best to present the best film!"
"Yes, Director Du Lin!"
After everyone, who had already gotten used to this title, answered in unison, Du Lin returned to the hotel where he was staying temporarily, and took out the large pile of imaging crystals that had been photographed so far and placed them on the table under the candlestick.
As magic power was slowly input, the video footage stored in the crystal was projected into the air, and Du Lin, who quickly understood the operation, quickly presented the footage on a not-so-large piece of curtain cloth.
In an instant, just like the movies he watched in the square when he was a child in his previous life, the scenes of the stories he had previously filmed appeared in front of Du Lin's eyes.
"Once this film is released, people interested in this technology will flock to it."
This was something Du Lin had thought of a long time ago. After all, the potential of the magic video recorder and imaging crystal was unimaginable. Although for Du Lin, these were just props for filming movies, for the empire, this technology, whether for military or civilian use, would at least bring about a change of the times. After all, this world didn't even have cameras, so it transitioned directly to video recorders.
"We'll talk about those things later. After all, I'm a time traveler but I don't even have a cheat. I have to rely on my mental power as a magician to recall the memories of my previous life. It's really too hard..."
Muttering to himself, Du Lin slowly peeled off the magic power in the imaging crystal. Looking at the curtain cloth that had lost its image due to the loss of magic power, he couldn't help but frown and said, "I originally planned to sell this crystal like a DVD disc and create a disc market, but now it seems that the design of the cinema is the best output method. After all, this thing needs magic power to drive it. In this era, it seems too fantastic to want every household to have magic power..."
Shaking his head and temporarily putting aside thoughts about the future, Du Lin refocused his attention on the present. After all, he hadn't even finished shooting a single movie yet, so there was no point in thinking about things that would happen so far in the future.
According to Du Lin's plan, the film "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Beautiful World" has been filmed for 60 to 70 percent. The remaining parts are only the water purification mission, the rivalry with the former time traveler Yu Jian, and the final showdown with the headless knight.
Among these three parts of the plot, the task of purifying water is not difficult to shoot. Although it may be too exciting for the actress Aya, there will be no danger with the great magician Durin watching. After all, if the situation is really not right, Durin can always consume more magic power to skip the chanting and directly freeze the lake with a level 5 magic Ice Age. Although Aya will definitely be frozen together, she will just catch a small cold at most.
In addition to that, actors for Yu Jian and some small extras have also been found for the remaining two scenes. This world is also an era where money can solve most problems. At the same time, even if the actors are not of good quality, Du Lin can use some suggestive magic to make people who don't know how to act instantly enter the role.
So, with this plan in mind, the shooting process started in full swing again the next day.
... ... .
In front of the lake around Northrick, an entire crew is gathered here at this time.
After everyone gathered, Durin first asked Wiz to cast a corrosion spell directly into the lake. Because even Durin did not know this kind of undead spell, only Wiz, who had learned undead spells without a teacher after becoming a lich, could barely use it.
Watching the color of the lake gradually change from clear blue to a mixture of black and purple, Du Lin instructed Lawrence beside him: "Put those crocodiles in. Don't worry, this is just a primary necromancy spell. At most, your monsters will have diarrhea in the next two days."
"Well, Director Du Lin, you have already told me this before."
Having said that, Lawrence opened the door of the cage on the carriage without hesitation, and all of a sudden, the crocodiles that Lawrence kept in captivity jumped into the lake one after another, completely unaware that some strange changes had taken place in the lake water.
"But it's amazing that you can raise crocodiles. Are these some special monsters?"
"They're not particularly special, it's just that I like monsters very much. Of course, although I like most monsters, I only captured these few because they are not picky eaters and are easy to raise."
Seeing Lawrence's smiling face, Du Lin, who really couldn't understand the other party's aesthetic taste, showed a subtle smile, and then shouted to Zat in the distance: "Are the actors ready? Hasn't the ideological work of Aya been done yet? If not, pull her over and let me give her a buff!!"
"!!"
Du Lin's words obviously worked. In the resting area in the distance where the actors were resting, Aya, who was originally very reluctant, finally climbed into the cage. However, from her fearless look, it was obvious that she still couldn't adjust.
"… Hey… Are we really going to do this? Can't we find someone to replace me?! And why does it have to be the one where I get tricked? Wouldn't it be better to just let Zatt go in?!"
Hearing the girl's rogue voice, not to mention Zat, whose forehead was bulging with veins, Du Lin was the first to say, "Don't act like a big shot. There is no such thing as a stand-in in this era. Act well and honestly, or don't blame me for giving you a buff!!"
"Alas!!"
In the end, Aya, with a look of despair, was thrown into the lake. However, because the water level was not very deep, even though Aya was sitting in the iron cage, she was not drowned. Even under such circumstances, the filming officially began.
... ...
"… I feel like a tea bag has been taken out of it…"
Since no monsters had attacked after two hours, Aqua gradually relaxed and even felt like chatting with Zat and others who were looking at her nervously.
At this moment, Huihui, who looked a little awkward, suddenly said, "The cruel crocodile didn't come at all. It would be great if this could end peacefully."
The moment these words fell like a flag—
“Ahhh!! It’s coming!! It’s really coming!!”
As if hearing some slogan, the steel cage that Aqua was in was surrounded by a large number of crocodiles, biting them and making a crunching sound.