In Nosrick, the moment the cinema replaced its posters with the ones for the new movie, the news spread rapidly across the southern territories.
The announcement of a new movie had become a grand occasion in this world—nothing else could compare to the allure of a film.
Beyond the usual audience, even the members of Edward Film Studio who weren't involved in the filming of this new movie were intrigued.
Based on the information trickling out over time, it seemed that Edward's latest work had broken free from the conventional narrative of adventurers and brought audiences into a completely new world with a unique setting.
This wave of curiosity and anticipation was palpable as, when Baniel announced the public release of the trailer, even though the Edward Tavern had temporarily ceased operations, everyone gathered at the central square to witness the preview, which would be shown in a loop across the empire for the next two days.
By the time Edward was dragged to the central square by a group of excited Edward Film Studio staff, the area was already packed with people from all walks of life.
Merchants, workers, blacksmiths, and apprentices alike—anyone with free time had come to catch a glimpse of what this new movie's story would be.
Amidst the crowd, staff from the Nosrick Cinema were handing out Fate/Zero viewing guides. Spotting the members of Edward Film Studio, including the unmistakable Headless Knight, the staff hurried over to give them the brochures.
Accepting the promotional material, which was not particularly luxurious but still well-made, Viz was the first to comment, "Isn't producing so many free booklets a bit expensive? That must be a significant cost..."
Hearing this from the lich who managed to run a bustling tavern into monthly deficits, Edward merely replied calmly, "This is just basic marketing. Thanks to the well-developed printing technology in this world, even though the quantity seems large, the total cost is relatively low. And if these booklets end up in the hands of people who've never seen a movie before, that means we've gained a potential viewer. It's a long-term investment, but in a world where the market is still forming, this approach is a sure win."
Edward's explanation, filled with terms unfamiliar to the crowd, left most of them looking dazed.
They could only muster expressions that said, Wow, that sounds impressive.
Feeling a bit isolated by the lack of someone like Baniel to talk business with, Edward watched as the others eagerly flipped through their brochures.
After skimming the Fate/Zero guidebook, the group showed a range of reactions. Helena was the first to comment, "Magicians? Servants? A Holy Grail War? What a strange story…"
If even a magician like Helena found the premise peculiar, it was no wonder the rest of the group looked utterly baffled as they tried to make sense of the synopsis, which described seven Masters and their seven Servants.
Predictably, Edward simply turned his attention to the trailer being screened in the distance.
Around him, voices of commentary began to reach his ears.
The trailer opened with a scene of the snowy Einzbern Castle, where a man in a black trench coat inspected the Command Seals on his hand before stepping up to a mercury-based summoning array, chanting his incantation.
"Is this guy a magician? What spell is he casting? It doesn't seem like magic…"
"Check the guidebook. Look, based on his description and outfit, he should be Saber's Master, Kiritsugu Emiya. By the way, what's a Saber? And isn't that a weird name?"
"Didn't the book mention this is a whole new world? It's not even set in our world, so why does the name matter?"
As the crowd debated, the ritual scene reached its climax, and just as the array glowed brightly, the screen suddenly cut to another scene.
A massive library came into view, where a young man studied intently while narrating the concept of the Holy Grail War.
"Legend has it that the Holy Grail is a treasure capable of granting any wish. To claim its power, seven magicians summon heroic spirits from history, engaging in a battle royale known as the Holy Grail War."
Before the audience could fully process this explanation, the screen cut once more. The scene showed a fierce battle between a sword-wielding woman and a spear-holding knight. The thrilling fight immediately won over the audience, who cheered at the action.
Clearly, no matter how complex the story seemed, the spectacle of blades and combat still captivated most viewers.
As long as it delivered exciting battles, many would overlook the intricacies of the plot.
The trailer continued to showcase more fights and revealed the seven Servants: Saber, the blonde swordswoman; Lancer, the dashing spear-wielder; Rider, the brawny conqueror; Caster, the eerie sorcerer; Berserker, the dark knight; Assassin, the shadowy figure; and Archer, the golden-haired "King of Heroes." Each character's unique personality elicited waves of cheers from the crowd.
Meanwhile, the magicians, or Masters, received far less attention, as discussions fixated on the charismatic Servants.
"This movie looks interesting, but isn't the jump in theme a bit too drastic? I thought it'd be another adventure story."
"Yeah, I still prefer stories about adventurers risking their lives and thrilling heroics."
"But these Servants are so cool! They're much more captivating than the unruly adventurers."
As the lively chatter spread, the trailer drew to a close.
It returned to the trench-coated man completing his summoning ritual, culminating in the golden-haired swordswoman stepping out of the array. Her voice rang out:
"Are you my Master?"
With that line and a sudden fade to black, the entire square—and every other city simultaneously showing the Fate/Zero trailer—erupted into ecstatic excitement.
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