Chapter 204: Episode 5 · Paradox Spiral! (2)
At this very moment, the nobles gathered at Duke Constantine's estate were collectively dumbfounded.
Whether or not they had ever truly watched a movie or television show before, all the nobles present now found themselves half-forced to view the latest release—Kara no Kyoukai: Paradox Spiral.
Among them, some nobles with a certain degree of familiarity with film and television couldn't help but let a flicker of anticipation appear in their eyes.
However, not wanting to reveal their identity as enthusiasts to those around them, they pretended to remain aloof.
Each one maintained a composed demeanor, sitting with an air of indifference as if utterly unimpressed by the notion of a film.
Meanwhile, a significant portion of the nobles had never experienced movies or television at all.
Though they had heard from various sources about this rising craze sweeping through the southern territories, the low barrier of entry for such entertainment deterred them.
Even the poorest families could easily afford a ticket to the cinema, making film and television appear to be a pastime for commoners. Naturally, the prideful nobles saw no reason to partake in such "lowly" amusements.
This resulted in many of them having only a superficial understanding of the concept of film and television, without ever truly engaging with it firsthand.
In a way, it was precisely because they had never experienced it that they could so adamantly oppose the rise of movies and television.
After all, human nature often inclines people to dismiss what they do not understand as meaningless and without merit.
The only way to break through such a mindset is to force them to confront and familiarize themselves with the very thing they once so fervently despised.
And so, as these nobles were now compelled to watch the film being screened before their eyes, an inexplicable sense of fear mingled with an even stronger sense of anticipation began to well up within them.
...
While the nobles reluctantly began watching Kara no Kyoukai, the taverns equipped with televisions across the southern territories were already packed with ordinary citizens who had gathered after work.
It could be said that while most people in the south might forget their wedding anniversary, they would never fail to remember the exact release date of each monthly installment of Kara no Kyoukai.
Some had even started experiencing withdrawal symptoms a day or two before the release, causing all sorts of chaos and bizarre behavior, demonstrating just how low people could stoop when pushed to the limits of boredom.
This included, but was not limited to, artistic types covering city streets with graffiti inspired by the film's content.
Then there were the passionate fans who began by discussing the plot but ended up in heated arguments that escalated into physical fights, leading to both parties landing in jail.
Others drowned themselves in alcohol at the taverns, mistaking random passersby for their "waifus," such as Saber, Ryougi Shiki, or Kurisu Makise, in their drunken stupor.
In short, these antics caused endless headaches for the urban management officials in cities across the southern territories.
That said, movies and television had, in a way, provided a significant outlet for many, alleviating boredom to such an extent that incidents of violent crime across towns and cities had actually decreased.
For the law enforcement agencies, this shift was a double-edged sword—both a relief and a frustration.
On the day of Kara no Kyoukai's release, even members of law enforcement shed their uniforms, joining the excited crowds in the taverns.
They mingled with strangers, exchanging tall tales while eagerly awaiting the start of the film.
Movies and television, without much fanfare, had already begun to transform the daily lives of everyone in the southern territories.
...
While the citizens of the southern territories were ecstatic over the latest release of Kara no Kyoukai, the students at the Imperial Mage Academy were no less enthusiastic.
The moment the announcement came, every student rushed to the ground floor of the Alchemy Tower, crowding around the only television in the hall, their voices buzzing with excitement.
"The fifth episode of Kara no Kyoukai is finally here. I thought my heart would shatter waiting for it!"
"Heart? Mine's already in pieces."
"If they delayed it any longer, I'd probably die of insomnia."
"Why are you all so fragile? It's just an episode of a TV series. Why the fuss?"
"Hey, could you at least use an illusion spell to cover up those dark circles under your eyes before talking?"
"…"
The hall echoed with a cacophony of voices. Everyone's anticipation for this episode, which had already been teased as breathtakingly exciting, had reached its peak.
In the days leading up to the release, nearly all the mages had suffered from insomnia, anxiety, or even irritability over the wait.
But now, with the broadcast about to begin, all those symptoms vanished without a trace.
Most of the mages were now fixated on the modestly sized screen in front of them, their eyes glued, eagerly awaiting the stunning content they were sure would unfold.
Even the Archmages, who had stationed themselves at the top of the Alchemy Tower to "observe" the show more efficiently, were no exception.
As for their method of directly accessing the raw broadcast signal, Scar—well accustomed to their antics—couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind.
...
The opening of Kara no Kyoukai begins with a series of eerie and unsettling visuals.
After drenching the atmosphere in a near-perfect blend of terror, the scene focuses on an unfamiliar red-haired youth.
The boy, who was resting on a bed, suddenly opens his eyes.
Simultaneously, the perspective shifts to the adjacent living room, where the boy's father is gripping his mother's hair, seemingly engaging in an act of domestic violence.
In the next moment, the mother, a middle-aged woman, grabs a kitchen knife without hesitation and plunges it straight into the father's body, blood spraying everywhere.
In a rapid sequence of disjointed cuts, the mother, now holding the bloodied knife, moves toward the boy's room with an unnerving, almost inhuman motion.
"Tomoe, I beg you, just die," she mutters in a bone-chilling tone. Without hesitation, she raises the knife and strikes down at the boy, whom she believes to be sound asleep.
The scene cuts abruptly again.
Now, it's the mother lying lifeless on the floor, while the red-haired boy, Tomoe, is repeatedly stabbing her with the kitchen knife.
Strangely, no blood is visible on the corpse—though it could simply be hidden by the boy's figure as he continues his relentless assault.
After finishing the deed and realizing he had just killed his own mother, the boy, overwhelmed with fear and breathing heavily, fled the room in a panic.
The scene then transitions outside, revealing that this was actually a towering apartment complex, far surpassing the average architectural standards of this world in height and grandeur.
At that moment, a vagrant who seemed to be a petty thief was wandering from door to door, searching for anything valuable to steal. By chance, he opened the door to Tomoe's apartment.
What greeted him was utter chaos—bloodstains, overturned furniture, and the lifeless bodies on the floor.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
The thief screamed in terror at the horrifying scene inside and immediately fled the apartment.
Some time later, the vagrant, still trembling from fear, led the police back to the scene. His hands shook uncontrollably as he recounted what he had witnessed.
But just as his fear reached its peak, the next scene unfolded, worsening his trembling.
The door creaked open, and standing before him and the police was a completely unharmed middle-aged man—the father Tomoe's mother had killed.
With a calm, composed expression, he looked at them and said:
"May I help you with something?"
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