Creating Anime In A Fantasy World

Early the next morning, Edward gathered a large group of people at Nosrick City’s only teleportation circle, preparing for an inter-city transport.

In recent days, Nosrick City’s teleportation services had seen unprecedented demand. In the past, the teleportation circle might not even be used once in several months, with the high-level mage in charge of it spending most of their time at the Mage Tower.

However, thanks to the booming success of films, the teleportation circle now lit up nearly every day. The high-level mage managing the energy points of the Nosrick City circle had earned a fortune during this time, becoming one of the hidden wealthy elites of the Mage Tower. Naturally, he understood who was responsible for this newfound prosperity and had made a private arrangement with Edward. At the very least, Edward and those accompanying him were exempt from any teleportation fees.

Having meticulously planned everything, Edward glanced at the bustling crowd, then decisively activated the teleportation circle. In the next moment, everyone was transported to Winter City, a location Edward had previously designated as a potential filming site.

Yes, since the setting of The Garden of Sinners was as modern as Fate/Zero, Edward mainly needed to adjust the storyline. The location requirements were not particularly high—his only stipulation was the inclusion of a tall structure for certain panoramic scenes.

To this end, Edward had chosen the Northern Territory for filming. Winter City and its surrounding cities, built during wartime, were fortified with towering walls, making them an ideal backdrop for the movie.

Long before deciding to film The Garden of Sinners, Edward had already arranged with Eliza, the Guild Master of the Northern Adventurers’ Guild, to shoot the movie in this distant border city.

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The reunion with Guild Master Eliza went smoothly—or rather, thanks to her inexplicably enthusiastic demeanor, Edward and his crew received VIP-level treatment. Guided by escorts and attendants at every turn, Edward felt that if Eliza went as far as hanging a welcome banner, the scene would resemble an executive inspection from another world.

After catching up with Eliza, the Guild Master of the Northern Adventurers’ Guild, Edward finally understood the reasoning behind her overwhelming hospitality. It all stemmed from the success of Goblin Slayer in the Northern Territory.

Yes, the release of Goblin Slayer not only addressed the reckless behavior of young adventurers in the region but also indirectly boosted Northern Territory tourism. Recently, wealthy merchants and nobles from the Southern Territories, intrigued by the most perilous lands of the empire depicted in Goblin Slayer, had flocked to the region—well-protected, of course—to witness the infamous goblin hunter’s environment firsthand.

This development made sense, as Edward had explicitly mentioned the filming locations in Goblin Slayer. Anyone paying attention would have noticed. As the film’s influence grew, the rise of tourism tied to cultural phenomena was only natural.

For the Grand Duke of the Northern Territory, who unexpectedly enjoyed the economic benefits brought by the tourism boom, this was a blessing worth thanking Edward and the Northern Adventurer’s Guild for. Consequently, Eliza’s influence in the Northern Territory had risen significantly, explaining her current enthusiastic care for Edward and his crew.

While such treatment was undoubtedly pleasant—many of the actors even felt flattered—Edward wasted no time in asking Eliza to scale things back upon arriving at the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Ahem,” Edward said bluntly, “I brought these people here to make a movie, not for a sightseeing tour. Using the same reception you’d give to merchants and nobles is just… odd.”

Realizing her oversight, Eliza sighed. “Well, it can’t be helped. Some nobles love this sort of pomp. I assumed Director Durin, being a noble, might enjoy it too…”

“Pfft! That’s such a stereotypical assumption. Anyway, tell them to stop. Have you prepared the locations I requested?”

Eliza nodded. “Yes, I’ve arranged everything with the nobles managing those abandoned walls. In fact, they’re thrilled that these dilapidated structures will shine in one of your films. Though, I suspect their true hope is for these areas to develop into tourist attractions, just like the Goblin Slayer locations.”

“Perfect. Then later, I’ll have you guide us to the agreed-upon filming site. Right now, I need to brief the actors on the script.”

With that, Edward turned to face the assembled cast for The Garden of Sinners, particularly the actors for the first chapter’s “Overlooking View” scenes. Unlike Fate/Zero, the main cast for The Garden of Sinners was much smaller, with most participants being extras. Only a few were primary actors.

Among them, Rosa, the Arch Mage, was handpicked by Edward to play Aozaki Touko. However, the role of Ryougi Shiki was given to a young woman Edward discovered during auditions at General Wilhelm’s military unit. Her appearance and aura matched Ryougi Shiki perfectly, leaving no doubt in Edward’s mind that she was the ideal lead actress.

The choice to cast from the military stemmed from the need for someone capable of executing high-difficulty action sequences. A regular stage actor wouldn’t suffice. Meanwhile, the role of Kokutou Mikiya went to a member of the Snow Flower Troupe. This actor had previously played a minor role in Fate/Zero and caught Edward’s eye with his performance.

Initially, Edward worried about potential chemistry issues between the actors, given their differing backgrounds. To his surprise, he discovered that the actors for Ryougi Shiki and Kokutou Mikiya were childhood friends who had grown apart due to their career paths. Their reunion during casting reignited their bond, saving Edward the trouble of orchestrating any “chemistry-building” exercises. This fortuitous match expedited pre-production, allowing preparations to be completed within a week.

As for the antagonist, Araya Souren, Edward utilized necromantic materials provided by Leticia to summon a banshee, perfectly suited for the role. With the cast finalized, production for The Garden of Sinners commenced at full speed.

Unlike Fate/Zero, Edward planned to air The Garden of Sinners as the debut of his television broadcast. To make an impact, he decided on a three-episode premiere, covering the first three chapters of the series in one go.

Edward meticulously scheduled the entire summer to ensure filming proceeded smoothly. Even with this ambitious plan, there was ample time left for the next phase of Fate/Zero.