The promotion for KonoSuba (Blessings to This Wonderful World) progressed smoothly, quickly spreading aajor cities in the Southerory.

  Due to the Adventurer’s Guild’s efforts to show the movie in outdoor venues within cities with local theaters, traditional theaters, in a bid to protect their own is, openly broke ties with the Southern Adventurer’s Guild.

  The dirty tricks and sabotage were obvious, but even in the face of such tactics, they were powerless against the tide of ge.

  They could only watch as their audiences flocked to the emerging film industry.

  Traditional theater reveook a signifit hit within a short time.

  For these theater groups, the only silver lining came from a few old aristocrats.

  These nobles could n themselves to appreciate something accessible to oners and stood with the theaters, though they stopped short of directly opposing the film industry.

  Their stance made it clear that they were ued in the flourishing of ema.

  Despite the old powers’ suppression, ema made its way into the publisciousness of the Southerory.

  Even in the most remote vilges, young people were discussing this exg new medium.

  The Southern Adventurer’s Guild’s most anticipated oute was now in full effect: a massive surge in adventurer recruits.

  With the rapid increase in numbers, the Southern Guild, ohe smallest, became the rgest in terms of adventurer popution.

  Although it still couldn't pete in terms of quality, what mattered to the Southern Guild was sheer numbers.

  As these massive ges took p the South, news of films and KonoSuba spread far beyond the regioe the world’s underdeveloped transportation and slow unication systems.

  ...

  At the top floor of the Mage's Tower, an old man sat quietly in his room.

  Across from him sat a retively young figure, Roy, the chief mage uhe Southern Duke, and sed only to Edward in magical prowess.

  Even someone like Roy remained respectful in the presence of the old man.

  “Master Hohenheim, this is a sample of the imaging crystal Edward ied. I used my authority uhe Southern Duke to secure it from the Southern Adventurer’s Guild,” Roy said, pg a modestly sized magical crystal between them.

  He then eled magito the crystal, and soon, vivid images from KonoSuba were projected onto the wall.

  “This...,” Hohenheim’s eyes, which had been half-closed in thought, suddenly widened.

  Despite being the administrator of the Mage’s Tower and the head of the Empire's Mage Academy, the top-tier sage showed geonishment.

  He reached out to touch the crystal, but the proje remained ued.

  Roy expined, “This is the imaging crystal that Edward ied. It project recorded images like this. As you see, it's caused a huge sensation in the Southerory. I suspect the news will soon reach the Imperial Capital as well.”

  Hohenheim pohis, his brow furrowing. “And how do you think the Empire will respond?”

  “This teology is only being used for films right now, but ohe Empire learns about it, they’ll immediately think of its applications in military and intelligence operations. If Edward refuses to hand over the teology, he might even face the threat of fi.”

  Hohenheim silently nodded, arriving at a simir clusion.

  Given the Empire's increasing tensions with neighb tries, they would stop at nothing to gain military advantages.

  A teology that could record and project images would undoubtedly be coveted, and Edward, the ior, would be at the ter of it.

  “That boy never listeo me. He had a bright future ahead, iing everything from me. But instead of fog on his magical abilities, which could easily make him a great sage, he indulged in alchemy…,” Hohenheim grumbled, recalling old frustrations.

  Roy, sensing an opportunity, added fuel to the fire.

  “I remember when you expelled Edward from the academy. You were so upset you locked yourself in this tower for days. If you didn’t care about him so much, you wouldn’t have let him go.”

  “Who said I cared about that brat?! I’ll never call him back, even if it means going without a successor for the rest of my life!”

  “Yes, yes. But what do we do now? For the time being, I keep the news from reag the capital too quickly. But if the Empire finds out about Edward’s rec devices and imaging crystals, they’ll defiry to get their hands on them. And knowing Edward, I doubt he’ll just hand it over.”

  Hohenheim frowned, looking at the imaging crystal again.

  After a long pause, he sighed and said, “That boy once gave a lecture about alchemy being the future. He cimed that magic-alchemy would be the driving force ress. I dismissed him back then and even expelled him to make him face reality. But now, he’s actually proven me wrong. I ’t even find a reason tue.”

  “So... what are you going to do?” Roy asked, fused. His master rarely spoke without purpose.

  With a tone of finality, Hohenheim said, “The Mage’s Tower must fully support that boy from now on. Whatever Edward decides—whether he hands over the teology or keeps it to himself—it’ll be his choice. Also, who’s currently in charge of the Alchemist’s Tower?”

  “I believe it’s Ska, the younger brother of one of your former disciples.”

  “Good. Inform him that from today, the Alchemist’s Tower will no longer be a subsidiary of the Mage’s Tower. It will be an indepe institution. Magic-alchemy will now be reized as its own discipline, equal to other branches of magic. The teiques Edward has ied will bee part of magical history, and his name will be engraved on the Mage’s Mo.”

  Roy’s eyes widened in surprise at this moal decision.

  It was clear that the wheels of history were now turning, and the magic world would never be the same.

  Zaztra_Vandesh