In the following days, as the scene of the The Three Kings Discussion was filmed and concluded, the first chapter of Fate/Zero also approached its final stages.
Due to Edward's decision to compress the storyline by cutting the episode featuring the young Rin Tohsaka, many scenes were filmed at an accelerated pace. The reason was simple: as May approached its end, the enrollment season for the Tower of Mages' summer admission drew closer, leaving only half a month before it officially began.
To keep on schedule, Edward worked tirelessly, skipping unnecessary scenes and pushing forward with the production. At last, they successfully completed the filming of the The Three Kings Discussion. Of course, the scene where Rider unleashes his Noble Phantasm still couldn't be filmed yet. Edward planned to ask General Wilhelm for a favor—specifically, to borrow an idle military division for shooting the scene in the western desert.
Eventually, as filming progressed, the final arc began to take shape. The focus shifted to Caster and Ryuunosuke as they returned from hunting humans, only to discover that their lair had been destroyed by the King of Conquerors and Waver.
....
"Good heavens… this is outrageous!!"
"All those masterpieces we painstakingly created… destroyed! How despicable! Whoever did this is no better than a beast!!!"
....
"So you're saying that even if it's destroyed, we can simply recreate it?"
....
"Exactly! Ryuunosuke, your keen understanding is truly your greatest gift!"
....
"Once, I committed what was likely the most heinous and blasphemous act imaginable in this world! Ryuunosuke, compared to what I did, your acts of evil are mere child's play! Yet, no matter how many lives I took or how much I desecrated, no divine punishment ever befell me. By the time I realized this, I had already spent eight years pursuing the path of depravity. Thousands of children's cries and lamentations had vanished into the void of darkness!"
"In the end, it wasn't a god that brought me to justice, but humans just as driven by greed as I was. The church and the king declared me guilty and executed me, not out of moral righteousness but for the sake of seizing my wealth and lands. Their actions were not justice but naked avarice!"
....
"—So, Ryuunosuke, do you believe that God loves humanity?"
....
"Of course! Without a doubt, with all His heart! A God who could write the script for this world and sustain it for thousands or tens of thousands of years must truly love humanity! I think God must pour great effort into crafting this narrative, delighting in His own creation, and being moved by the love and courage within it."
"While He enjoys courage and hope—the songs of praise from the mortal realm—He must also revel in blood-soaked despair and wailing. Otherwise, the hymn of life would not be painted in such vivid colors. So yes, Master, this world is undoubtedly filled with God's love."
....
"Blasphemy or praise—it's all the same form of worship to you, isn't it? Ah, Ryuunosuke, your philosophy is profoundly insightful. If the gods who toy with countless humans like mere playthings are themselves nothing more than jesters… fascinating! In that case, their twisted sense of amusement becomes easier to understand."
"Very well. Let us dye the divine realm in even brighter hues of despair and lamentation. Let us show the gods above that true entertainment does not solely belong to them!"
....
"Do you have a brilliant new idea, Master?"
"Indeed. Since it's decided, let's hold a celebration! Ryuunosuke, tonight's banquet will begin with your new faith as its centerpiece!"
"Understood! I'll do my utmost to make it as COOL as possible!"
....
The final shot captured Ryuunosuke and Caster reveling in their newfound faith while coldly sacrificing the children they had abducted. Offering the children's souls to the god of death, they sang a requiem drenched in horror and despair.
....
"Good, with this scene completed, we only have the final sequence left!"
As Edward spoke and put away the Magic Video Recorder, the staff and actors surrounding them were left deeply shaken by the performances of the actors portraying Caster and Ryuunosuke.
Even Edward himself couldn't help but feel awed once again by the talent of the Snowflower Troupe. To see actors dive so completely into their roles, delivering a performance that felt truly like witnessing the twisted glee of demons, sent shivers down his spine. Much of this was thanks to Chase's rapid adaptation to the filming style, which had driven the troupe's actors to excel together.
Noticing the peculiar gazes directed their way, the two actors quickly shed their sinister personas and began bantering with the crew.
Taking advantage of the light-hearted moment, Edward reminded them, "Once the film is released, you better watch yourselves on the streets. If you get beaten up, don't come crying to me."
The two actors didn't fully grasp his warning, but Chase stepped in to provide them with detailed feedback on their performances. Watching Chase's professional demeanor, Edward couldn't help but wish he could just hand over the director's role and enjoy being a hands-off producer.
Meanwhile, far away from the lively crew, Latisha stood lost in thought, captivated by the harrowing scene she had just witnessed. When Edward noticed her, the lich suddenly asked, "Do you believe there are gods in this world?"
Caught off guard by her sudden philosophical musing, Edward replied nonchalantly, "Maybe there are. Maybe there aren't."
"That's such an infuriatingly vague answer."
"But isn't it the most accurate one? After all, 'gods' are merely a term for things we cannot understand. They might be beings, laws, or concepts beyond comprehension and dimension. When we ask if gods exist, we first need to ask ourselves—do we believe in them? If you believe, then they exist. If you don't, then they don't."
Edward's response was rooted in his rational worldview. As a materialist and atheist raised in China, he naturally didn't believe in gods. However, in this bizarre world where the impossible seemed plausible, the existence of beings called 'gods' could not be entirely dismissed.
If he stubbornly clung to atheism in such a world, he would be contradicting the very principles of materialism he claimed to follow.
"That's an answer I can tolerate…"
Unaware of Edward's inner musings, Latisha remained immersed in her profound reverie, her thoughts spiraling into the depths of her memories, stirred by the haunting scene she had just witnessed.
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