Chapter 43: "Hidden Title"
As Durin descended from the second floor, he found the tavern already packed with people, despite its capacity for only forty or fifty patrons. The crowded atmosphere made it feel suffocating. Amidst the throng, Durin easily spotted the towering figure of the Headless Knight.
The knight was diligently performing the duties of a bartender, seeming to enjoy the role despite the tavern having hired new staff. Standing behind the bar, the undead knight was a dazzling spectacle.
For patrons who had watched "Konosuba God Blessings on this Wonderful World," being served drinks by the Headless Knight felt like encountering a real Gundam handing out balloons at an amusement park.
Deciding not to disturb the knight, Durin turned to leave through the back door. He had already planned to deliver the new movie script to the Guild Master of the Northern Region Adventurer's Guild.
However, just as he was about to leave, Wiz emerged from the crowd and called out to him. Approaching quietly, she said, "Mr. Durin, someone wishes to speak with you."
"Speak with me? I believe I mentioned that I wouldn't be seeing anyone for a while."
Perplexed by Durin's response, Wiz hurriedly explained, "I'm not entirely sure about the details either, but Viscount Banil informed me. It seems that the person who wishes to see you isn't just anyone; they require your personal attention."
"Not just anyone?"
Encountering such a situation for the first time, Durin pondered for a moment before responding, "In that case, ask them to come upstairs. Let's treat this as a business negotiation. If there are any similar collaborations in the future, inform me first and direct the guests upstairs."
.....
After waiting for a while upstairs, Durin soon met the supposed guest. To his surprise, it was a young girl—a girl with a unique aura, dressed in priestess robes.
To be honest, at first sight, Durin thought she might be a representative from the church. After all, the Headless Knight and ghosts portrayed in the movie were both targets of persecution by the church. So, when a priestess suddenly appeared, it was highly likely that the church had come to cause trouble.
Realizing Durin's misunderstanding, the girl walking ahead quickly said, "You've misunderstood, Mr. Durin. I'm not a follower of the Light God, and I'm wearing these priestess robes purely to conceal my identity. Let me introduce myself. I am Daphne Victor, the daughter of the Duke of the Southern Region."
"Oh... I see! Miss Daphne, to be honest, I was almost about to take action just now..."
It wasn't entirely Durin's fault. After all, he was quite aware of the dangers posed by religious zealots. If this were not the Southern Region, he might have put up a sign at the tavern's entrance saying 'No church personnel or dogs allowed' as soon as the movie was released.
Once Durin calmed down, he realized he had seen the girl before. It was at a banquet hosted by Duke Victor several years ago. Durin had attended such an event only once, and he remembered this girl standing beside Duke Victor, captivating the attention of everyone in the room despite her silence throughout the evening.
Of course, recalling what he had heard from Roy about her running away from home, he suddenly couldn't fathom the reason for her visit.
So, after giving it some thought, facing Daphne, who was wiping away sweat due to his previous words, Durin said slowly, "So, Miss Daphne, what brings the daughter of a duke like you to seek an ordinary baron like me?"
Although Durin knew Duke Victor had been eager to bring him into his fold, he didn't suspect any ulterior motives from the duke's daughter.
As a grand mage, Durin had a natural talent for reading minds. He could understand a person's character by simply looking into their eyes.
To him, this girl named Daphne was like a blank canvas, a canvas yet to be painted with many colors. Frankly, if her status weren't so special, he would have considered recruiting her as an actress. After all, such unpolished gems were quite precious.
Upon hearing Durin's words, Daphne didn't beat around the bush. She said directly, "Mr. Durin, you're too modest. Um, though it may seem a bit forward, if possible, I would like to participate in your next movie."
"Oh, a movie... Wait, what? A movie?"
Completely caught off guard by the daughter of a duke expressing interest in making movies, Durin felt like reality had suddenly become somewhat surreal. Before he could even process it, Daphne hastily continued, "Yes, Mr. Durin, no, Director Durin. After watching 'Konosuba God Blessings on this Wonderful World,' I had this idea. Compared to dull and boring stage plays, this kind of performance, which seems like experiencing a second life, really piqued my interest."
Seeing the girl suddenly approach him with such innocence, Durin couldn't help but feel unsure how to respond. He sighed and said, "I see. Well, regarding this matter, it's possible, but you'll need to pass my audition."
Durin didn't expect to have an actress come knocking on his door. What he lacked at the moment were actors, especially those who caught his eye as potential lead actors. Although the daughter of a duke standing before him clearly hadn't acted before and might appear inexperienced, Durin needed her to portray a character filled with such innocence. Moreover, her appearance matched Durin's requirements.
Therefore, both parties quickly reached an agreement. Durin and Daphne agreed to hold auditions the next day, right here in the tavern.
...
After dealing with the matter concerning the duke's daughter, Durin proceeded to the Adventurer's Guild once again.
Upon his arrival, Alyssa, the Guild Master of the Northern Region Adventurer's Guild, spotted him on the ground floor and quickly greeted him.
This immediately drew the attention of most people in the guild hall. After all, a beauty of her caliber would attract attention wherever she went, and most people refrained from approaching her out of respect.
Of course, there were also several newly formed adventurer teams that attempted to approach her but were turned away.
"Director Durin, is the script ready?" Alyssa wasted no time in asking, displaying an unexpected level of concern for the matter.
In response, Durin calmly retrieved the stack of scripts and said, "It's all done. Rest assured, I believe this will be a script that meets your expectations."
Seeing Durin confidently place the stack of scripts on the table, Alyssa first glanced at the confident man in front of her and then curiously picked up the script.
She was eager to see if the man who could write a humorous story like "Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World" could deliver a story that met her requirements.
And what did she find?
Looking at the large title on the script cover—"Goblin Slayer"—Alyssa immediately realized that this story was completely different from "Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World." Intrigued, she couldn't wait to start reading.
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Chapter Title " Goblin Slayer "