Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Backing
We are filming a movie starring Iroha as the protagonist.
It was going smoothly, but pressure began to mount from the film industry, which remains stuck in old ways.
They apparently don't like that we ignored established interests and hired a young director.
Creativity is a world of merit; age should not matter.
Those who can shoot, shoot.
After the world froze, people were busy just trying to eat.
Even so, movies were made as entertainment and released here and there.
That is because analog film-style movies are not affected by the dungeon's influence.
Furthermore, since conventional silicon semiconductors could no longer be used, countless works stored in storage and on the net could no longer be retrieved as they were.
People were starving for entertainment.
They may pride themselves on arriving in this frozen world, but that is no excuse for denying chances to the young.
I liked Flaminia-san's video, so I paid money and entrusted her with directing.
I will not let anyone interfere.
Speaking of which -- if we transport silicon semiconductor storage to space, perhaps we might be able to access it.
In fact, the computers on GPS satellites floating in space are still running.
Perhaps such businesses will start to dig up past legacies left behind inside semiconductors.
-- That is the situation, but what about the pressure from the film industry?
For now, I decided to meet with the director -- Flaminia-san and the others.
When I told them this, Iroha came as well.
We meet with them at a hotel cafe.
I am with the Princess there.
"..."
Flaminia-san and Quadrifoglio-san are looking down with blue faces.
Filming has stopped for now, but they seem to be enduring it.
I sit facing them.
Only Iroha, with her large body, sits in the seat behind us, facing us.
"Since most of the shooting is already done, cheer up."
"Y-yes... we have dragged the staff into this as well..."
It seems they are being told not to work with them in the future if they get involved with us.
They say they were also denied the use of the studio.
This is likely pressure from those in the film industry as well.
If the studio side is told they won't be used by the film industry in the future, they should be in trouble since it is business.
We cannot blame them.
"How despicable!"
"Indeed."
The Princess is furious as well.
"Let me see -- the remaining cuts are just the final battle scene with the Demon King, right?"
"Y-yes -- but if we can't use the studio..."
"Hmm, would a large warehouse not do?"
"We originally planned to shoot the final battle scenes and such, so we needed a wide place..."
"If it is a battle between adventurers, a normal studio might be a bit too small."
"That is true."
Then a warehouse might be good.
"In that case, I have a lead, so I will ask."
When thinking of a large warehouse, it is the specialized place in Haneda for dismantling giant monsters.
The utilization rate there is low, so they probably aren't running refrigerators all year round.
Besides, only people like us bring back prey big enough to use such a place.
"Thank you very much!"
The director and Quadrifoglio-san bowed their heads.
"Well, it might not work, so we will think of something else then."
There is also the option of diving into the dungeon to shoot, but the darkness is a drawback.
The last scene -- that is, the most exciting part.
It is better to have the clearest possible footage.
"Understood."
"Now, what to do next -- we need to get a big ally on our side as well."
"Eh...? We have absolutely no such connections..."
"Hmm, asking the Prime Minister for this might not work either."
The two were surprised by my words.
"Eh?! Is, is that Prime Minister the Prime Minister?!"
"Yes, I happen to know the Prime Minister."
"Eeee~!"
"Darling seems to be working using an Item Box."
I haven't told them the details of the work, but Iroha knows about that.
"I see."
"But, well, I can't really ask for something like this... so the remaining leads are..."
"Mmph! Mmph..."
The sharp-witted Princess seemed to notice my words.
"There is no choice."
"I oppose it!"
"But there is no other way."
"Mmph..."
"Um, what kind of lead is this exactly..."
Quadrifoglio-san raised her hand.
"Yes, I don't know if she will agree, so please keep it secret for now."
"Understood~"
Since there are no moves we can make at the moment, we dispersed as is.
After parting with the director and the others, I immediately made calls to various places.
First, to the uncle who buys things.
I asked if the warehouse could be used as a film studio.
It might be a bit unreasonable, but after hearing the director's story, that place fits perfectly.
"Sure, I don't usually use it. I don't know what you plan to do, though."
"We plan to use it for filming a movie."
"A movie?! You are doing something outlandish again, hahaha!"
"Well, yes."
"So, what kind of movie are you making?"
I hesitated for a moment.
If I tell the uncle, the news of the movie might spread.
I worry, but I cannot help but tell the person in charge of the warehouse the purpose of use.
"It is an action movie gathering top-ranked adventurers."
"Hey, hey, does Cherry Princess appear in that?"
Unexpectedly, the uncle took a bite.
He won't say he is her fan, will he?
Well, the Princess is extremely popular even among adventurers, so it is unavoidable.
"She appears, of course..."
"My daughter is a fan. If she hears it is becoming a movie, she will be happy."
The uncle has a daughter?
Speaking of which, the Prime Minister's granddaughter was also a fan.
"Wait, wait -- keep the fact that we are filming a movie a secret? If you tell your daughter, it might spread instantly."
"Grr... t, true... but I want to talk."
"If you do that, I will consider having you buy the items."
"Wait a minute! This is business for me too! I understand that point! It will be fine!"
"Please take care of it."
"Thanks to you, brother, I have made enough money to build a building. Hahaha! I cannot be ungrateful."
It is like throwing away money that should be earned with light banter.
A wise businessman would not do such a thing.
For now, I got an OK for the warehouse issue.
I made one more call.
It is a person who might become our backing.
When I spoke with them, they agreed immediately.
-- Later, we invited the director and the others to our room.
Iroha was with us, and today Eito was with us as well.
Today, dressed in casual clothes, he was surprised by the luxurious room and looked around.
"--And so, I have arrived!"
She stands with arms crossed in a Ganna pose before us, wearing a pink suit.
"This place is just like the Princess."
"Yes."
Kaorulko nods with a smile.
"Not alike!"
The two voices harmonized.
"Eh?! Eh?! There are two Cherry Princesses?! What is going on?!"
The director and Quadrifoglio-san are surprised, but...
"She is the older twin sister of the Princess -- Cherry Princess."
"Eeeh?! The Cherry Princess has a twin?!"
The director is surprised.
"That is right. Everyone is surprised."
"Gnnn..."
Although the Princess seems to oppose Kako's arrival... there are no other leads.
"Is your older sister an adventurer as well?"
"You can tell by her appearance -- no."
I denied Eito's question.
"But Darling, why did you call the Cherry Princess's older sister?"
Iroha tilts her head at my actions.
She knows about the Cherry Princess and Kako, so it should be understandable, but...
"Well, of course, to have her become our backing."
"Um, I understand she is the Cherry Princess's older sister, but what is a backing..."
The director also seems to not quite understand.
"Huh? Is it not widely known that the Cherry Princess is the daughter of the Yaegashi Group?"
"We heard that in rumors, but is it true?"
"Yes, since the Princess herself has not confirmed it..."
Even if it is said on the net -- it remains a rumor.
It seems to have been treated as an urban legend whether it was true or not.
"I have no relation to the group anymore!"
"--And so, since the Princess always says that, I brought her older sister."
"So, in short, the group should become the sponsor of the movie Darling is making!"
Eventually, Kako also started calling me Darling.
"Well, that is correct."
"Stop it!"
She accepted easily, but there is a solid reason for it.
Without compensation, she would not accept such a thing.
"Um, um..."
The director sought to speak.
"I do not understand the merit of the Yaegashi Group becoming our sponsor..."
"As expected of the wise director, you noticed a good point."
"Mmph~"
The Princess seems displeased that I praised the director.
"Cut out the scenes where the Cherry Princess appears from the filmed video, process it nicely -- make it like a PV, and send it to her."
"Eh?! Is, is that okay?"
"That is fine, right?"
"Of course!"
She is breathing heavily.
"???"
The director seems to not understand the meaning.
"Let me explain!"
"Please take care of it."
"As you can see, the two are twins and clones, right?"
"Y-yes."
"For the older sister, the Princess is a clone who does things she cannot do, flies through dangerous dungeons, and slays monsters one after another."
"A! I understand!"
"Do you understand?"
"She wants a cool PV where her clone is active."
"That is correct!"
I strike a pose sharply.
"..."
Since it was said bluntly, Kako looks a bit embarrassed.
With her arms crossed, her face turns red.
"But, Darling. Even if the Yaegashi Group becomes the sponsor, will the harassment stop?"
"Ah, I think it will stop."
Quadrifoglio-san seems to explain.
"Heh, is that so?"
"Yes -- the film and cameras used for filming the movie are also products of the Yaegashi Group."
When the world froze, analog film-style movies revived, and that continues.
The group acquired a manufacturer that made film in the past, whole and entire.
Recently, the net has revived, so subscription types like in the old days are increasing.
"Oh, I see. Then you cannot offend the sponsor, hahaha!"
Finally, Iroha seems to understand.
"Actually, it is common for sponsors to be attached to movies."
"Yes! Yes! So, does this mean we can film again?!"
Eito, who was listening, stood up.
"Probably, it will be fine."
"Yes, I think so... I cannot say it for certain."
The director still looks worried.
"It will be fine, right? If the Yaegashi Group becomes the sponsor, what happens if someone interferes with the filming...?"
"If they are careless, the heads of the upper echelons of the film industry might lose their jobs."
Kaorulko says something scary with a smile.
She does not show it on her face, but she was also into this movie, so she is quite angry that filming was interfered with.
"People like that will have dust come out if you knock on them, so there is also the option of leaking such material."
Kako also says something scary.
"Well, I think they will give up once the group becomes the sponsor..."
"Let us hope they are not fools beyond imagination."
With the Princess's words, the meeting ended.
"Darling, I am hungry."
Suddenly, Iroha says such a thing.
"Eh?! Wait, wait, even if you say that, there is nothing here? Shall we order room service?"
"Inside Darling's Item Box?"
"There is, but I haven't dived into the dungeon recently, so there isn't much... I am sure I made simmered vegetables and pork soup."
"That is fine!"
"Oga! Why don't you show some restraint?"
The Princess has a point, but Iroha is a child like this.
"What is it, the relationship between me and Darling, right?"
"Understood, understood."
For now, I take out a large golden pot filled with simmered vegetables.
Carrots cut into flower shapes, konjac, taro, beans, fish cakes, chicken meat, and other ingredients are simmered slowly with soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and dashi, allowing the umami of the ingredients to soak in.
"Wow! It is really there!"
She reaches her hand into the pot, picks up a fish cake, and puts it in her mouth.
"Ah! Hey! Bad manners!"
"Hehehe! Delicious~"
My warning means nothing.
She shows no shame.
"This is why people without proper upbringing..."
The Princess mutters.
"Kaorulko, sorry. Please take out the dishes and arrange them."
"Yes."
"Director-san and Quadrifoglio-san, would you like to eat as well?"
"Eh? Ah, um... Is that okay?"
I also take out pork soup and a mountain of rice balls from the Item Box.
"Yay! Let's eat!"
Iroha takes a rice ball in her hand and opens her mouth wide to bite into it.
"Of course it is okay. It is like my grandmother's cooking, but sorry -- hahaha."
"That is not true!" "Did Niwa-san make everything?"
"Well, yes."
"Am, am I not allowed to eat?!"
Eito is in tears.
"There is no way that is true. Eat."
"Yay!"
"The simmered vegetables are cold, but when they cool down, the flavor soaks in."
"Darling, it is delicious!"
"Hey! Oga! Don't just eat the chicken!"
"Hehehe..."
"It has a comforting taste." "Delicious."
It is well received by the director and Quadrifoglio-san as well.
"Daisuke-san, why is lotus root included in this?"
Eito picks up lotus root with his chopsticks.
"Simmered vegetables are originally for celebrations. Lotus root has a wish for 'clear vision'."
"Then what about burdock root!?"
"Root vegetables, didn't they mean 'to take root in the ground'?"
"Wow~"
Unlike us who are noisy, Kako eats silently.
"It might not suit a super lady's palate."
"It is like Jiyuniku, isn't it? Delicious."
"Thank you, hahaha."
"Besides, I have never eaten home-cooked meals like this."
"Eh? So you have never eaten your mother's cooking... or something?"
"Yes..."
"That might be a bit pitiful..."
"When there were school events, I envied everyone's bento."
"My house didn't have a mother either, so I never ate my mother's bento."
Speaking of which, Iroha said her parents were gone.
"My school event bento was -- rice balls, fried chicken, rolled omelet, wieners, and quail eggs."
"Hahaha, my house was like that too~"
Eito's house seems to be a normal family.
And yet, they are adventurers.
It is a very dangerous profession, yet it became the number one job young people want.
Well, it is true that there are not many other jobs.
"Nice, a bento..."
Iroha bites into the bento talk.
"Hahaha, if you like, I will make it."
"Really?!"
"Yes."
"Yay!"
"Let your younger sister eat it too."
"Of course."
Iroha smiles showing her white teeth more than ever before.
"Darling!"
The Princess is sulking, seemingly displeased with the conversation with Iroha.
"What, what -- of course the Princess can eat too. I will make a lot."
"..."
"Of course, Kako can eat too."
"Thank you..."
"But, eggs have become luxury goods now, and quail eggs... can they be obtained?"
"They are served at high-end restaurants, so I think they are in circulation..."
The high-end restaurant Kaorulko mentions is truly a luxury shop.
Can they only be obtained from such places?
"Speaking of which -- don't Harpies lay eggs?"
"Buah!"
Iroha, who heard my mutter, spits out rice grains.
"Oga!"
It seems it landed on the Princess.
"What happened?"
"Darling, don't let us eat monster eggs!"
"Everyone eats monster meat, so it is too late now?"
"B-but..."
"Well, I won't force you to eat them, so don't worry."
"I beg you..."
I also pick up a rice ball and bite into it.
Most of them are katsuobushi rice balls.
Katsuobushi is easier to obtain than umeboshi, but...
"Oh, by the way -- Director-san."
"Yes."
"We got permission to use the warehouse for filming."
"Really?! Thank you!"
"Let's go see if it is usable later."
"Yes!"
With that large warehouse, battle scenes can be filmed without problems.
"The movie is interesting, but once filming is done, we have to think about clearing Floor 7."
"Um, is it that difficult?"
The director asks while eating a rice ball.
"The entrance is 100m high from the floor."
"100m?!"
"Yes, yes, I tried to build a scaffold but failed."
"Hmm..."
"Stone Gargoyles were flying in the sky. I think there is magic for flying as well."
"Yes, yes!"
Eito raises his hand.
"What is it?"
"How about catching that Gargoyle and flying?"
"It would be nice if we could control the monster. If we can do that, we can use Golems as heavy machinery too."
"That would be nice!"
Iroha claps her hands.
"Yes!"
The director, who was listening, raises his hand.
"Yes, Director-san."
"We just need to go up, right?"
"Yes."
"How about a hot air balloon?"
"Oh? That might be good! That could be interesting."
I bring a hot air balloon into my Item Box and heat it with Warm magic.
Since a burner cannot be used, it might take time...
"I see -- interesting."
The Princess seems interested as well.
"It is good to hear opinions from non-adventurers once in a while..."
"Yes~"
Kaorulko laughs at my words.
"If even one person can go up, we can lower ropes or rope ladders."
We cannot go straight to the main event.
In fact, the question is whether we can bring it into the dungeon and fly it with Warm magic.
We will need to try an experiment.
We ate noisily as is, and the meeting ended.
-- After that, the harassment that had been troubling us... had an effect almost laughably quickly.
The severe harassment stopped abruptly.
Staff who were scared of being blacklisted from the industry returned, and filming started immediately.
"Amazing!" "It is so big! The ceiling is so high!"
The director and Quadrifoglio-san are touring the warehouse to be used for filming.
The two look up at the high ceiling.
"This is a dismantling facility for super-large monsters. It might smell a bit, but the space is sufficient, right?"
"Smell does not show up in video, so it is fine."
"That is true, hahaha."
Since they realized it can be used for filming, they will start work immediately.
Of course, after use, restore the original state.
It seems they will build the Demon King's throne here for the final battle.
If so, a high ceiling makes it look more appropriate.
Scaffolding is assembled, and parts like rocks and stone pillars are brought in.
Of course, they are not real rocks, but imitations made of polystyrene, but you cannot tell from a distance.
The Demon King's chair with a high backrest seems to be assembled on high stairs.
Those stairs are of course not real either.
They are assembled with plywood, and a red carpet is laid.
When you walk, it makes a hollow sound, but since sound effects will be added in editing, it is no problem.
"Heh, this is amazing! It doesn't look like a warehouse at all! It is like inside a dungeon!"
The uncle who buys things, who came to see, is amazed.
"Roughly speaking, the setting is that there is a Demon King's castle deep in the dungeon."
"I see..."
As the person in charge here, he is probably worried about how it will be used.
"If there is any damage, we will compensate properly, so it is fine."
"Hahaha! I am counting on you!"
Despite twists and turns, the final filming has begun.