Re-written date: 7 / 13 / 2025
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Chapter 38: Adventurer's Guild
In the days that followed, the name KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World spread through Nosrick City like wildfire.
It was everywhere. Every street corner, every alleyway, every tavern—people were talking about it. From noble ladies sipping tea to rowdy laborers unloading carts, everyone was buzzing about the strange new form of entertainment that had swept into their town: film.
In just a few short days, KonoSuba had gone from a mysterious name on a poster to a cultural phenomenon.
Even the theater's hastily made handbills—slightly crude, some still wet with ink—were now prized items. They were pinned to tavern doorways, stuck on alley walls, handed out to strangers in marketplaces. Some people even saved them as keepsakes.
And at the center of it all was the Nosrick Grand Theater, now reborn as a "cinema."
Those who had already watched the film were suddenly the center of attention, surrounded in taverns by people begging to know what it was like. They proudly recounted each scene, exaggerated or not, reliving the laughter and absurdity of the story over and over again like veterans of some grand adventure.
Meanwhile, those who hadn't seen it treated every ticket release like a battlefield.
They waited anxiously, calculating exactly when the next wave of tickets would go on sale. Some even went as far as camping outside the ticket window the night before—just to make sure they wouldn't miss out. It wasn't long before someone spent an entire night in line just to get a seat.
If anyone in this world had invented the concept of ticket scalping yet, Nosrick City would already be in a state of chaos.
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Nosrick City Adventurer's Guild – Second Floor Lounge
Edward sat in a comfortable chair beside a window, slowly sipping tea offered by the Guild Master of the Southern Territory Adventurer's Guild.
Outside, the streets bustled with activity. From his seat, Edward could see a long line stretching out from the Grand Theater's box office all the way down the block. A grin tugged at his lips.
"Incredible," Edward muttered as he watched the crowd shuffle forward, "Even the Guild's registration desk is starting to wear out from overuse. And this is just the beginning. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of adventurers in the south doubled in the next few weeks."
The Guild Master chuckled, placing his own teacup down. He was a broad-shouldered man with sharp eyes, but right now, he looked genuinely amused.
"We owe this all to you, Lord Durin. When I saw the movie for the first time, I already had a hunch something big was coming. But this?" He gestured out the window. "This is beyond what I imagined. I've even heard rumors that several secluded mages—ones we haven't seen in years—have come out of hiding just to register as adventurers."
Edward laughed, tapping his finger against the porcelain rim of his teacup. "Come on now, mages are still people too. No one's immune to the charm of cinema. Just wait until KonoSuba spreads to the Imperial Capital. You'll see dozens of robe-clad shut-ins lining up to join adventuring parties. And probably more than a few lunatics running around throwing fireballs while shouting 'Explosion!' like they're in the movie."
He said it with a grin, but his expression carried a subtle edge of seriousness.
The Guild Master smirked, shaking his head. "I'll be sure to prepare the healing potions ahead of time."
He then changed the subject. "That said, while the theater's operations are going smoothly, it's clear that demand is already outpacing supply. A single screen that seats only fifty? That's nothing compared to a city with tens of thousands of people. There's going to be a real bottleneck soon."
Edward nodded slowly, already expecting this line of thought. "The duplication process is ready," he said. "I've already made multiple copies of the sound-recording crystal, memory crystal and imaging crystal. Once Viscount Baniel completes the expansion of the theater, those can be deployed right away. We've also mapped out time slots for multiple showings per day, so that should ease the pressure—for now."
Edward had already trained several apprentice mages under Baniel in the basic operation of the projection crystals. Since showing a film only required stable magical output, it was a job even weak, unranked mages could handle.
Even so, Edward wasn't about to stop there.
He was already experimenting with prototypes for a simplified switch-based activation system, something that could let non-magic users play films with a single touch.
Because in his mind, the grand vision hadn't changed one bit.
DVD sales were coming.
He just needed to figure out how to make them work in a world without electricity.
The Guild Master, already well-informed, nodded thoughtfully at Edward's response. Then, with a hint of curiosity in his voice, he brought up another topic.
"I heard from Viscount Baniel that you're planning to collaborate with him to build a full production industry?"
Edward smiled at that. "That's right. I've already submitted the paperwork to Nosrick City's Commerce Bureau. It's a brand-new sector, but with Viscount Baniel's endorsement, the application went through smoothly. From today on, you can officially call me Director Durin. As for the studio itself, I'm naming it the Durin Film Production Company. Also, the Nosrick Grand Theater has now been formally renamed to the Nosrick Cinema."
There was pride in his voice—subtle, but unmistakable. This wasn't just a side project anymore. It was a real, legal business. A foundation for the future.
The Guild Master didn't dare be casual about it. He immediately raised his cup in a toast and said, "Congratulations, Director Durin. With things moving this quickly, I wouldn't be surprised if a new film is already in the works. If that's the case, I'd like to throw my name in for a role. Who knows? Maybe I'll discover a hidden talent."
Edward laughed lightly. "Viscount Baniel said something similar to me not long ago. But now that the Durin Film Production Company is officially registered, we'll be conducting proper auditions for all roles. If you manage to pass the screening, I won't object to giving you a role."
His tone was polite but clearly firm. It was a graceful way of saying "no," while leaving the door open.
The Guild Master didn't seem offended in the slightest. He smiled good-naturedly and leaned back in his seat. "Either way, the Southern Territory Adventurer's Guild owes you a great deal. You've sparked something powerful, Director Durin."
Edward waved it off. "Just mutual benefit. That's all."
But just as the conversation seemed to wind down, the Guild Master's expression grew a little more serious. He hesitated briefly, then said, "There's one more thing I should let you know. I submitted a report about our investment in your film to the Empire's Central Adventurer's Guild. It was just standard procedure—I didn't expect anyone up there to pay it any mind."
Edward tilted his head. "But?"
"But," the Guild Master continued with a wry smile, "someone did read it. And that someone seems… extremely interested in this whole 'movie' concept."
Edward narrowed his eyes. "Who exactly?"
The Guild Master gave a slightly awkward chuckle. "The Guild Master of the Northern Territory Adventurer's Guild—someone of the same rank as me, but... from a very different world."
Edward's eyebrows lifted slightly. That got his attention.
The Guild Master continued, "Unlike the south, where someone like me—a reasonably wealthy merchant—can hold a Guild Master position, the north is a battlefield. The Northern Territory borders the unclaimed Dark Territories. Their adventurers fight monsters, undead, and all sorts of horrors daily. It's not a place for soft hands or business minds. If someone climbs to the top there… well, let's just say, their strength and status are not to be underestimated."
He took a sip of tea and gave Edward a knowing glance.
"She's no ordinary administrator, that's for sure. You don't survive in the north without being extraordinary."
Edward leaned back in his seat, eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the information.
A top-ranked, battle-hardened adventurer from the north… interested in his film?
That was unexpected.
Of course, Edward had long accepted that KonoSuba would spread beyond Nosrick City. He even expected it to reach the capital. But to attract the attention of someone from the other side of the empire—and someone like that—was still outside his initial calculations.
"…When's she planning to meet me?" Edward asked.
The Guild Master scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, uh… actually, she's already here. Came down personally. Last I heard, she went straight to the cinema to watch KonoSuba."
Edward blinked. "She's watching the movie right now?"
"Most likely, yes. And if she's as interested as she seemed earlier," the Guild Master said with a dry chuckle, "I'd expect her to come find you herself. Soon."