chapter 21
“Ugh, you should consider it an honor that we didn’t put The 13th Knight back on stage. Right?”
“Ahahaha…”
Then, one of the production staff mustered the courage to speak.
“In that case, if you could increase this production’s budget a little, we could make an even better play…”
“No, do you really think you could beat the newcomers Damian and Melanie? The budget is exactly the same as it was for The 13th Knight.”
“That’s not it.”
“Nothing has ever been as big a hit as The 13th Knight. How do you expect me to increase the budget now?”
“Th-the budget is too small for the direction and equipment…”
“Let’s not blame money. Honestly, with enough passion and effort, it’s not impossible.”
“……”
But The 13th Knight was a play from over ten years ago.
Now, the value of money had fallen, yet the budget remained the same.
Other theater companies were buying better equipment, while the Veldert troupe was stagnating—it was sad just seeing it.
Never mind the quality of the production—the safety issues were also concerning.
Why didn’t anyone care about the squeaky stage or the old, dangerous seats?
After Polius left the conference room, the production staff all sighed in unison.
“Master Polius doesn’t understand theater. He’s just arrogant about The 13th Knight…”
“If Master Damian were running the troupe, would things be a little different?”
“Shh, quiet. Saying that could cause trouble. Didn’t talking about Master Damian already make things messy?”
“But… I’m just envious because I heard he made amazing equipment and lent it to the troupe.”
“Well, yes, that’s true.”
And both of them simultaneously recalled past memories.
“This equipment is so old it might break… my father wouldn’t let me replace it, so I tried to improve it myself, even if only a little.”
“Wait… you did that, Master?”
“I’ve been learning magic from my mother lately.”
Even though he was still just a boy, he understood troupe management and even spent his own money fixing the equipment.
And even after Damian had grown into an adult, they were still using the equipment he repaired.
“Later, when I grow up, I’ll make sure to provide even better equipment. I’m sorry.”
Damian had apologized even while helping improve the equipment.
Polius, by comparison, didn’t measure up at all.
“When we were kids, Master Polius used to say he’d help the troupe when he grew up… he said he’d repair all the equipment, support us to make better plays…”
But those promises were never kept, and now he didn’t care about the troupe at all.
“Yet Master Damian continues to show interest in the theater.”
The gap between Damian and Polius—both production staff thought the same thing simultaneously.
But they didn’t dare say it out loud, just in case Polius overheard.
After all, reality that hadn’t changed in over ten years wasn’t going to suddenly change.
And they didn’t want to get scolded for speaking carelessly.
So, they hurried off to their late schedules, leaving a bitter taste behind.
A few days later, as the memory of meeting Wizard Printz began to fade,
I was reviewing documents brought by a staff member when my face stiffened.
“Wait, who tampered with the quality of the vid-stones?”
Normally, the technical side of the vid-stones was handled by Damian, Master of the Magic Tower.
But anything involving magic crystals had to be reported to me too.
After all, the crystals were mined from my own mine.
“We decided to use leftover crystals to reduce costs for mass production, so why were upgraded crystals used instead?”
“Director Clotilde… well…”
The unit price difference was hundreds of times. And upgraded crystals weren’t even more durable.
The quality of the visuals had improved, but unless the screen size was larger, it wouldn’t make much difference.
Even though Master Damian probably filtered it, imagining the consequences if this had gone ahead was terrifying.
“Have them come to the director’s office immediately.”
I spoke in the firmest tone since starting the vid-stone business.
When the wizard arrived, I grit my teeth.
“I heard you called, Director.”
“Seeing you again, Wizard Printz.”
I was not pleased at all. And neither was he, judging by his attitude.
He now addressed me as ‘Director’ politely, but so what?
He had dismissed me and the other staff on the most important matters.
“Why did you order upgraded crystals?”
I knew Wizard Printz disliked the mass production approach discussed in meetings.
But why would a wizard, whose focus should only be technical development, meddle in someone else’s domain?
Only then did Wizard Printz realize why he had been summoned and looked flustered.
“I thought Master Damian would be informed of this…”
“Is that really the important part right now?”
My voice dropped unconsciously.
“It was already decided in the meeting that leftover vid-stones would be used for mass production. Wizard Printz, you only need to focus on your own work.”
“……”
“Currently, vid-stones are only used in large events. Black Moon wants to create productions like plays with vid-stones to make them accessible to the public.”
“But it carries the Tower’s name. We can’t release low-quality products.”
“Exactly. That was already taken into account by me and the other wizards in discussion.”
Yet Wizard Printz repeated the same words like a parrot.
“The Tower’s products must always be the best.”
Ah, this wizard really thinks he’s superior.
The Tower is him, and he is the Tower.
I had noticed he ignored not only me but also non-magical staff; if they weren’t wizards, they’d be invisible.
“Of course, we are considering a high-end line in the future.”
“Then just make the high-end line.”
“And what about mass production, which I’ve repeatedly said is necessary?”
“If Tower products sell cheaply, doesn’t that make the Tower itself seem cheap?”
“That’s Wizard Printz’s perspective.”
“Then mass production could be Director Clotilde’s perspective, couldn’t it?”
He didn’t seem to understand. I sighed audibly.
I pressed my temples, feeling a headache coming on.
“I understand concerns about cost, but quality matters more, doesn’t it?”
“This decision wasn’t made by me alone. Multiple staff discussed it. We’re not acting unilaterally like Wizard Printz.”
To prove it, I called other staff into my office.
Soon, three employees entered.
They were the ones who discussed the direction of the vid-stone business with me.
The first to speak was surprisingly a timid new employee.
“I really like Black Moon’s approach to mass production!”
She supported lowering costs with leftover crystals and making the products approachable.
“Commoners have a hard time enjoying culture. It’s not easy to go where nobles are. Of course, the biggest problem is the lack of money.”
As someone from a commoner background, she added how grateful she was that the Duchess herself had approached her first with a smile.
“I was touched when Director Clotilde said it was to let more people see plays. Please also understand Black Moon’s policy of wanting many people to enjoy culture.”
Next, a staff member from Clotilde’s merchant company gave their opinion.
“We’re not ignoring the high-end line entirely. When vid-stones become popular, some people will want to feel superior. We can sell the high-end line to those people.”
He gave Wizard Printz a somewhat sideways glance.
“I think it’s better than selling only the high-end line and limiting accessibility. Ah, maybe as a user of rare words, Wizard Printz thinks differently?”
He seemed still annoyed that Wizard Printz had used difficult words to belittle non-magical staff in the last general meeting.
“Quibbling over words…!”
“Come on, Wizard Printz. I actually agree with your opinion on many points.”
Finally, the third staff member spoke.
She was not particularly active in supporting mass production.
With her speaking, Wizard Printz calmed down and listened.
“I think using the Tower’s existing image to target only a few people is already a good strategy.”
“See, even now…”
“But mass production seems safer… also, the idea of many people enjoying vid-stones, not just money, left a strong impression.”
She glanced at the first employee, from a commoner background.
“You can’t ignore other employees’ opinions. It’s not a one-person job.”
“Hah, I thought I was doing the right thing… I feel like I’m the bad guy now.”
Wizard Printz seemed to think if he said more, he’d become the bad guy, so he withdrew obediently.
He seemed to rely on the third staff member, but her reference to “other employees’ opinions” left him with nothing to say.
I had proved I didn’t make the decision alone.
In the end, Wizard Printz sighed and surrendered.
“I apologize. Whatever my intentions, it was wrong to make changes without saying anything.”
…But it wouldn’t be long before I realized that finishing things like that was only my illusion.
“Wizard Printz went to see Master Damian of the Magic Tower?”
I let out a bitter laugh. He finished talking to me, then went to Damian?
So what does that make me? Isn’t that blatant disrespect?
