Chapter 227: The Third Battle of Camlann in Fuyuki City
The smooth progress of the Spy Among Spies and Ultraseven X production teams was good news for Shinji.
For the film investors, the best news was that the projects were advancing smoothly and would be released on schedule.
Looking back at the post-2020 film industry from his previous life, Shinji truly understood the phrase: "you don't know what you've got until it's gone."
Filmmakers probably never imagined that one day, simply having a movie released in theaters as planned would become a luxury.
However, the fact that everything was going so well wasn't necessarily good news for Shinji personally—his schedule for most of the year was already packed to the brim.
From March to April, he had to complete the first phase of Fate/Apocrypha filming.
In May, he'd be busy promoting Super 8 for its release, shuttling between North America and Japan.
June wasn't any easier—he'd be attending the Shanghai International Film Festival in the first half of the month, then supporting Spy Among Spies in the latter half.
Even in July and August, Shinji wouldn't get a break, as Ultraseven X was set to compete in Venice.
At first glance, it might seem manageable, but in between, he also had to oversee the production progress of Magical Girl Illya, manage the total DVD sales of Heaven's Feel, and handle pre-production for Kara no Kyōkai...
Fortunately, Udagawa Nao had begun taking over the daily operations and management of Type-Moon. Otherwise, Shinji might have gone insane.
"Fine, I guess I'm just destined to be a workaholic—running around everywhere, never able to stop."
Looking at his jam-packed schedule, Shinji sighed in exhaustion.
Arturia teased him, "Master, you should be telling this to your past self from the end of last year. Back then, you were slacking off and enjoying it."
"Shut up."
Shinji grimaced. "Arturia, don't get too full of yourself."
"..."
Arturia didn't say a word—she simply narrowed her eyes at Shinji.
Faced with her vacant yet slightly yandere-like gaze, Shinji instinctively took half a step back.
"W-What are you doing?"
"Didn't you just tell me not to talk, Master?"
There was a hint of grievance in Arturia's tone.
"You're acting a little aggressive today. What's wrong?"
Arturia snorted in irritation and pointed to the film set being arranged around them.
"Master, you really have the nerve to ask? You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
At this moment, Shinji and Arturia were standing on a hillside. The set design indicated that it was a desolate, war-torn battlefield, littered with the "corpses" of countless knights.
Anyone even slightly familiar with Fate or the legend of King Arthur would recognize this place—it was Camlan Hill, the site of King Arthur's final battle.
So, the conclusion was obvious—Shinji was filming Mordred's flashback of the Battle of Camlann for Fate/Apocrypha.
And that was exactly why Arturia was upset.
"Master, couldn't you have just used footage from previous films?"
Arturia pursed her lips and brought up this suggestion—again.
This wasn't the first time Shinji had filmed the Battle of Camlann.
He had already shot this scene in both the Fate/stay night movie and Fate/Zero.
Now, this was the third time. And in the future, there would probably be a fourth, a fifth…
After all, as Type-Moon's biggest icon, Arturia's story would continue to be retold from various perspectives.
And so, this father-son duel would inevitably be reenacted—again and again.
"Alright, Arturia. We all agreed from the start that we'd reshoot this scene."
Shinji patted Arturia's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. "You weren't this resistant when we filmed the Battle of Camlann before, were you?"
"That's because I was young and naive."
Arturia's expression turned awkward, and her gaze drifted evasively.
"Young? What do you mean?"
"I didn't expect—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a sweet, love-struck voice interrupted from behind them.
"Father—!!"
Mordred, beaming with joy, lunged straight at her Father without hesitation.
Neither she nor Arturia seemed to care that they were both wearing full metal armor. The result?
Creak... Creak...
The unbearable sound of metal grinding against metal made Shinji wince and shudder.
"Mordred, that's enough! Can't you see that Arturia is troubled?"
Shinji rubbed his ears. To prevent further torment, he had no choice but to step in and put an end to Mordred's overenthusiastic antics.
"What are you talking about, Master?!"
Mordred bared her teeth, looking like a fierce yet adorable little lion cub.
"Master! Are you displeased with the beautiful bonding moments between a parent and child? How dare you disrupt the sacred joy of a father and their child reuniting?! Master, are you serious right now?!"
She raised her knight's sword, her expression dead serious.
Meanwhile, Arturia calmly patted the dented parts of her armor and restored them to their original form with mana.
"It's fine, Master. I'm not troubled at all," Arturia said coldly, casting a blank glance at Mordred. "Because I didn't feel anything to begin with."
"F-Father—!"
Mordred froze as if struck by lightning, standing there in complete shock.
Seeing her child wear the expression of an abandoned puppy, Arturia let out a resigned sigh.
"Sir Mordred."
"Yes?"
"Let's do our best later."
"Yes!!"
Mordred's eyes instantly sparkled with stars, and even her lips glistened with excitement.
A chill ran down Arturia's spine. Slightly regretting her words of encouragement, she quickly made her escape from the scene.
Shinji, on the other hand, covered his mouth with his hand, trying to hide his amused grin.
"You're actually very troubled, aren't you, Arturia? Otherwise, you wouldn't still be resisting this reshoot."
Despite feeling a twinge of sympathy for Arturia, Shinji had no intention of stopping the shoot.
The set was already built, the actors were in full makeup—calling it off now would just be a waste of money!
Besides, why pass up the chance to watch such an entertaining family sitcom unfold up close?
"Master... You're totally enjoying this, aren't you?"
Jeanne smirked as she called him out.
"Obviously."
"Master!!"
At that moment, Mordred suddenly raised her hand and loudly called out to Shinji.
"Since we're filming the Battle of Camlann, you have to capture the fight between me and my father perfectly! Make sure to film every single detail of our battle!"
"First, I attack Father's leg and smash her knee! Then, she retaliates by slashing my back open!"
"Next, Father uses all her strength to stab a spear through my body, pinning me to the ground!"
"And finally! Coughing up blood, I drive my sword straight through her stomach, ensuring she can never rise again!"
Mordred's voice was brimming with passion, making it sound more like she was cheerfully hyping up her idol rather than describing a brutal battle.
"Master! The final shot must freeze-frame on me and Father clutching each other tightly! Just like that last scene in Heaven's Feel where Rin and Sakura embrace!"
Listening to Mordred's increasingly chaotic monologue, Shinji chuckled.
"Such enthusiasm... Looks like we'll get plenty of takes."
Jeanne, troubled, scratched her cheek.
"Hearing her describe it in such detail, I honestly can't tell... do she and Arturia have a good relationship or a bad one...?"
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