Re-written date: 7 / 13 / 2025
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Chapter 41: A Movie Fan
'Movies are amazing!'
That was the only thought running through Daphne's mind as she stepped out of the Nosrick Cinema, having just watched KonoSuba.
As the only daughter of the Southern Territory Grand Duke, Daphne had grown up within the pristine and orderly walls of her family's castle. She had seen more stage plays and operas than she could count, all filled with over-the-top performances and forced elegance. As a child, she had been enchanted by them. But as she grew older, the illusion wore thin. The dancing, the singing, the exaggerated gestures—everything about it started to feel hollow.
These days, she would much rather spend her free time reading the knightly novels her guards brought back from their travels.
There was a simple reason behind this preference: stage plays never felt real. No matter how skilled the actors were, you always knew they were pretending. There was a barrier between the audience and the story—a visible string tugging the puppets behind the scenes. Novels, on the other hand, were immersive in a different way. Despite lacking visuals or sound, their written words could transport readers into another world. A good story made it easy to believe, even just for a moment, that the events were real.
So when Daphne first heard about "movies," she immediately assumed it was just another gimmick—some new version of the same old stage tricks. If anything, she expected it to be even worse, cobbling together all the flaws of stage drama into a longer, more tedious experience.
And yet… the moment she bought a ticket and sat down to watch KonoSuba, she realized how wrong she had been.
Horribly, wonderfully wrong.
Movies weren't like stage plays at all. They didn't feel artificial or forced. Quite the opposite—they felt real.
So real, in fact, that Daphne completely forgot she was watching a performance. The sets, the characters, the magic—it all felt like a window into another world. A world where adventure was just around the corner, where even mundane days had laughter, danger, and friendship.
If it hadn't been for the ending credits, she would never have believed the people on screen were just actors.
By the time the film ended, Daphne was dazed. Not because she was confused—but because her mind was still lingering in that world. It felt like Kazuma and his companions still existed, somewhere out there. Maybe in a little village, still taking on silly quests and bickering over petty things. It felt so real that a part of her almost believed she could run into them herself—if only she became an adventurer.
In the end, she couldn't tell where fantasy ended and reality began.
And maybe... she didn't want to.
That was the charm of it all. Unlike the stage, where you knew everything was fake, a movie made you feel like it was real. As though a true slice of another world had been captured and played back for the audience.
She had laughed until her stomach hurt. The story was ridiculous, sure, but also endlessly entertaining. For the first time in her life, she had experienced a performance that didn't put her to sleep. She looked at the long list of names in the credits and whispered to herself:
"I didn't know movies could be this fun... I want to try being part of one too."
But her quiet words didn't go unheard.
The cloaked woman seated beside her—a guard who had accompanied her throughout her journey—immediately spoke up in a firm voice.
"My Lady, I strongly advise against getting involved with this film crew."
"Huh? Why?" Daphne turned, clearly confused.
The woman didn't answer right away. After a short pause, she said softly, "While the average person might not be able to tell which parts of that movie were real and which were fabricated, anyone with sufficient strength can sense just how dangerous some of those scenes truly were. The spells, the swordplay—they weren't tricks."
She hesitated, then continued with more urgency, "There was a scene with a headless knight... His aura, his technique—it wasn't staged. I'm almost certain that was the actual Headless Knight. If I'm right, then even with me at your side, I can't guarantee your safety if you get involved with those people."
That shut Daphne up.
She hadn't considered it before. To her, it was just a really, really good movie. But now that she thought about it, some of the magic in the film had felt... too powerful. Too perfect. The kind of thing that only the most advanced mages could pull off.
And that knight—the one who had faced off with the protagonist—there was something about him that made her skin crawl, even through the screen.
The bodyguard continued grimly. "This isn't just a regular group of actors, milady. That director, Edward Durin... he's the youngest Grand Mage in recorded history. And those two 'undead' in the film—Belldia and Viz—they're not just costumes or effects. They're real. Real undead. The kind of beings the Empire would pay handsomely to have vanquished."
Daphne's eyes widened.
She had wanted excitement, but... she hadn't expected this level of reality.
Still, as she glanced again at the now-faded screen, part of her still felt the same as before:
'I want to be part of that world…'
Even if it meant danger.
Even if the line between fantasy and truth no longer existed.
"The Headless Knight, huh? I was already wondering while watching the movie… Is he really the ruthless demon people say he is?" Daphne mused aloud, her eyes glimmering with thought. "According to legend, wasn't he once a blessed warrior, charging into battle on the front lines for his kingdom? And just because he turned into an undead, everyone came to hate him. Isn't that… a bit too heartless?"
It was a bold thing to say.
Blasphemous, even.
If a single priest or cleric had heard her, they'd likely brand her a sympathizer of evil on the spot. But Daphne didn't seem bothered at all—likely because she'd grown up in the southern territory, where the Church's influence was weakest and the people were more open-minded. Or maybe it was just part of her personality: the same part that led her to sneak away from her noble life in search of adventure.
Her bodyguard, however, looked visibly uncomfortable. After a long pause, the cloaked woman sighed and muttered, "You do realize you're traveling under the guise of a priestess, right? If the Church found out that their so-called 'holy maiden' was defending an undead knight, they'd probably tie you to the stake and light the fire themselves."
Daphne just laughed, brushing off the concern with a carefree smile. "Sure, I believe in the Holy Light, but I have no interest in the Church as an institution. Too old-fashioned, too stuck in their ways. Honestly, I think Lady Aqua from the movie felt more like a true goddess than the one the Church keeps preaching about."
The bodyguard gave her an unreadable look.
She wanted to say something, anything, but how do you argue with someone who treats divine doctrine like a casual opinion?
"And besides," Daphne continued, twirling a strand of her blonde hair, "I just realized something. The director of the film—Baron Durin, wasn't it? I think I met him once at a family banquet when I was younger. He didn't seem like the kind of person who'd pose any danger to me."
'That's not the point…'
The bodyguard sighed again. Her charge could be so reckless sometimes.
Still, there was no stopping Daphne once she'd set her mind on something.
Finally, the guard gave in. "Fine… But when you go to meet the crew, you have to let me accompany you—closely. If anything happens to you, I won't be able to face the Grand Duke."
"Of course! I wouldn't dream of leaving you behind," Daphne grinned. "But don't you dare tell Father, alright? I don't want him ruining this fun little trip of mine with guards and lectures."
"Yes, yes... as you wish, my lady." The woman's tone was tired, but resigned.
Daphne stood up, beaming with excitement. Just before they left, she suddenly remembered something and turned back. "Oh, and make sure to get me another ticket for tomorrow. I want to watch it again."
"Huh? Then… would it be alright if I got one for myself too?" the guard asked, awkwardly scratching her cheek. "I know it sounds strange, but… that movie was really something. It's nothing like the stage plays back at the castle—I nearly dozed off every time during those. But this one… I actually want to see it again."
Daphne chuckled at her usually-stoic bodyguard's confession. "Of course you can! I wouldn't want to watch it without you anyway."
The two of them exchanged a rare, genuine smile—one born not from nobility or duty, but from shared delight.
As they exited the cinema and made their way into the bustling streets of Nosrick, Daphne paused. Her eyes lingered on the posters outside the theater—the vibrant colors, the characters she now adored, the bold letters spelling out the film's title.
She looked up at the posters and smiled, a mixture of wonder and excitement swirling in her gaze.