Inside the theater, most of the audience had already taken their seats.
These fans, who had eagerly awaited the premiere since the night before, anxiously stared at the blank white screen in the distance, waiting for it to light up. In the meantime, the theater was filled with a cacophony of voices.
Amid the lively scene, Edward, seated silently in the best spot, made himself comfortable and closed his eyes, waiting for the film to begin.
However, before he could settle in, familiar voices rose from the seats behind him.
"Oh, so this is a movie theater? This is my first time here—it has quite the atmosphere..."
"Shhh! Didn't I tell Your Majesty not to use such titles here? We're sneaking out, remember?"
"Father... I mean, Daddy, this popcorn is so tasty!"
"..."
The voices made Edward's brow twitch twice as he turned around.
Sure enough, sitting behind him were the familiar figures of a certain Imperial general, the Emperor himself, and the young princess.
"Uh... if I'm not mistaken, are you all here on a field trip?" Edward asked, his voice quivering slightly.
The old General Wilhelm, seated beside the Emperor, chuckled awkwardly. "I'm just accompanying His Majesty to watch a film, nothing more."
"A film...?" Edward raised a skeptical eyebrow.
He knew full well the implications of the Emperor leaving the royal castle.
Normally, news of the Emperor's departure would shake the entire royal court and the nobility.
If it were an official outing, the front of the theater would already be swarming with knights.
Understanding the boy's doubt, Wilhelm quickly clarified, "Ahem, you're the one who invented the Magitech that allows long-distance calls, aren't you? What used to be a hassle has become a simple matter. With me coordinating from the outside, all it took was one call—what do you call it? A telephone?—to sneak His Majesty out of the castle."
"Hah, so it's my fault now, is it..." Edward sighed, amused by the old general's impressive deflection skills.
Despite his exasperation, Edward didn't object further.
After all, his purpose in creating films was to give everyone, Emperor or commoner, the opportunity to enjoy entertainment.
Noticing Edward's tacit approval, Emperor Hubbard displayed an appreciative smile.
Just as he was about to speak, the theater lights dimmed, and the white screen began to glow.
"Oh, is it starting?"
"Finally! My snacks are almost gone."
"Anyone up for a second viewing? I've already bought tickets!"
The various voices quickly faded as Edward and his audience turned their full attention to the screen.
In theaters across the Empire, as well as the Mage Tower, the synchronized signal of Fate/Zero began to play, transmitted through Edward and Ska's latest alchemical video projection device.
The opening scene revealed a misty white world. With it, Fate/Zero's story officially began.
<+>
"It's a boy," a maid cheerfully announced, her voice breaking the silence as she opened the door to call for Kiritsugu Emiya.
Thus began the prologue, with scenes focusing on Kiritsugu and Irisviel, cradling their newborn child.
Though it was a moment that should have been joyous, the atmosphere between the couple was anything but. Rather than a scene of welcoming new life, it felt more like one of mourning.
As if confirming the tone, Kiritsugu uttered, "Iris, one day, I will have to bring you to your death."
This line shattered any illusions the audience might have held.
Despite the glimpses of darkness in the trailer and guidebook, seeing it unfold on-screen drove home the bleak and tragic nature of the story.
The prologue continued with snippets of characters' lives, offering the first mention of the "Holy Grail War." At that moment, the audience realized that the real story was just about to begin.
Given the dark tone of Goblin Slayer, many viewers braced themselves for similarly intense scenes.
However, their expectations were subverted.
The opening was focused on setting up the story.
The interactions between Tohsaka Tokiomi and Father Kotomine explained the rules and nature of the Holy Grail War.
Yet, for much of the audience, it was a confusing and slow-paced sequence, with some even stifling yawns.
"Where's the blonde knight from the trailer?!" many whispered in frustration.
The dissatisfaction grew as the story introduced Matou Kariya, who discovered that his childhood friend's daughter had been adopted into the Matou family.
He returned home to confront the sinister Matou patriarch, only for the tension to be overshadowed by the slow pacing.
If not for the reputation of Edward's earlier work and the compelling trailer, many might have walked out.
Though some still sneaked out for bathroom breaks, they eventually returned, unwilling to miss out on such a coveted opportunity to watch the premiere.
It was a gamble Edward had anticipated.
Despite being warned by the cast and crew to reconsider the prologue's pacing, he insisted on a gradual buildup.
As expected, this choice tested the patience of the audience.
But finally, as the narrative shifted to focus on Waver Velvet, the story reached the much-anticipated Holy Grail summoning scenes.
The theater, which had been filled with sighs and whispers of disappointment, fell silent as viewers leaned in, drawn by the familiar imagery from the trailer.
For the first time since the film began, the audience felt truly captivated.
<+>
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