Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [43]
I looked with satisfied eyes at the device I had made.
'This much is enough!'
I hung a large white comforter on the stick from which the bed curtains hung, then placed two chairs in front of it.
Besides, I prepared a cold drink that the maid brought, along with some special desserts that I made myself.
The maid said hesitantly:
“I popped the corn as the lady recommended...but can it really be eaten like this?”
“Open your mouth.”
I put a piece of popcorn in her mouth and she chewed it hesitantly, then her eyes quickly widened in surprise.
“Oh my God...! These pills... they really are...”
“Delicious isn’t it? We shouldn’t miss it.”
Although in my previous life I visited hospitals more than anywhere else and only went to the movies a few times, the delicious shock of the first popcorn there remained engraved in my memory.
'Now I too can eat popcorn while watching a movie...!'
How I envy those who sit in movie theaters eating popcorn and watching movies with normal enjoyment!
I placed the display stone I had prepared earlier on the stand.
Popcorn, drink, screen, and viewing stone… everything is ready.
At that opportune moment, a knock was heard at the door.
When I opened it, Arkell had changed his clothes and greeted me lightly.
“Kick! Come in.”
"Good."
Arkle entered the room and looked around curiously at what she had prepared.
When his eyes fell on the large white quilt hanging from the curtain rod, he asked me:
“Ma’am, is this…?”
“This will make viewing clearer and easier.”
I smiled proudly.
It's true that the display stone displays images in a vacuum, but projecting them onto such a thick screen makes them much clearer.
'It's like a projector.'
I never thought that my old wish, to install a projector in my own home one day, would come true in this way.
I placed the popcorn and drink on the lap of Arkell, who was sitting on one of the two chairs.
His face again seemed strange to him, so I put a piece of popcorn in his mouth as I had done with the maid a moment ago.
“...!”
As he chewed it silently, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Ma’am...this is...”
They were the same words that the maid had said, but with a completely different meaning.
I smiled widely.
“Now you're like us, you can't watch a movie without popcorn.”
“Popcorn...”
Arkle muttered as he stared at the exploding white corn.
“Let's get started then?”
"Good."
I turned off the lights and turned on the projector.
As soon as I sat in the chair, the movie started playing on the large white comforter.
We skipped the introduction that Hwan included in the montage, and then the Knights of Cayenne appeared, the human heroes setting off on their adventure, so that the film could truly begin.
Arkle said, watching carefully:
“Indeed, when the image is projected onto this surface, it appears much clearer.”
“From now on when we use the Projection Stone...”
“Shh-”
I put my finger to my lips and whispered:
“One of the rules of watching movies is to remain silent.”
"I apologize."
Arkel said in a low voice, then put his finger to his lips, imitating me:
“Shh.”
Then he turned his gaze to the screen to watch quietly.
I shot him a furtive sideways glance.
He sat upright and motionless like a carved statue.
'What is he thinking now...?'
Unlike Hwan, who would panic and show revulsion even in non-scary scenes, Arkle's reaction was difficult to read.
I even wondered: Is he really watching the movie? No sound came from him after that whisper, “Shh.”
I felt a little disappointed as I munched on the popcorn.
The real reason I invited him to watch the movie with me was to see his reactions.
'I thought that if he suddenly got scared, he would look unexpectedly cute...'
But it looks like that won't happen.
'Maybe he doesn't find the movie interesting?'
If so, it would be a little disappointing.
'No, not necessarily. The world is wide, and not everyone enjoys horror movies... As long as I enjoy it, that's enough for me!'
Yes, originally I made this film for me.
Remembering this, I realized that my excessive concern for the opinion of others was not appropriate for me.
'It's true that my tastes don't agree with Erkel's, but it's unfortunate...but I love him, and that's enough for me!'
Then I was able to focus on the movie as usual.
Since it was made to my own taste, it was of course a lot of fun.
The deadly chase between humans and the undead has begun...
‘Computer effects? Special makeup? No, none of that.'
That would never compare to true realism.
After a long chase between the pursuer and the pursued, the film ends with the scene in which the humans are arrested before fleeing the village.
It was a B-grade horror film, so full of screams and wails that even I, its maker, felt satisfied with it.
'This is what makes me satisfied.'
The simple final sign I had hurriedly prepared went up, so I got up and relit the room.
But Arkell kept his gaze fixed on the screen.
'I can't… whatever it is, I want to hear his opinion!'
“What do you think?”
I asked him cautiously.
Just then he turned to me and said:
"Ah, ma'am. May I speak now?"
He asked me as if he was excited:
“I didn’t know exactly at what moment the so-called movie would end, so I remained silent.”
“Oh, sorry! It seems I caused a misunderstanding… I didn’t mean for you to remain completely silent. You could have laughed a little, or shown your fear.”
Natural interaction, with its various emotions, is in itself respect for the creator.
'Yes... I now seem to understand why they say the harshest reaction is indifference.'
It would have been better for him to make explicit negative criticism, rather than remain silent and say nothing.
“So…what do you really think?”
I asked him again.
He began to massage his chin with his hand as if deep in thought, then he let out a hesitant moan:
“Hmm...ummm...”
My heart trembled with disappointment.
“I see, this is your opinion then...”
“What?”
“You don't have to force yourself to talk. It may not be your thing, and that's normal.”
I said that, pretending to be calm, but inside I was a little sad.
With the exception of Huan, who could not watch the film seriously due to fear and panic, Arkell was almost the first real viewer.
It seemed that I was hoping inside myself that his taste would match mine.
“Anyway, thank you for taking your time. Even if you didn't enjoy it...”
I smiled apologetically, but Arkell suddenly looked confused and said quickly:
“No, it's not... It was really fun.”
"truly?"
"I'm just at a loss for words... I was thinking about how to describe it. But yeah, it was very interesting. It's honest."
'Was that the face of someone who found this interesting?'
I recalled the image of Arkle, motionless as a statue, not moving an inch throughout the show, and I hesitated for a moment about how to respond.
But he added seriously:
“It was a first experience for me. For a moment, I felt like I was forgetting my reality, as if I had become one of the humans going out on an adventure.”
He was trying hard to express what he felt, even if his speech was simple and repetitive, repeating “It was amazing” more than once, but he did not seem like a liar.
“…Charlie’s death was only a little harsh, but—”
“That is my favorite scene! The person who ignores advice and persists in his tyranny is usually destined for the most horrific death.”
“Sure, it was a fair punishment.”
Arkell said, giving him a thumbs up.
I felt like it sounded a little contrived, but it made me happy that we at least had the same taste.
“Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching the movie with me and talking about it.”
“But I am the one who thanks you.”
Arkle smiled warmly and replied gently:
“It's always a pleasure to be with you.”
It was a beautiful smile that I had not seen in a long time.
Its breathtaking beauty made me feel dizzy as if I was in a dream.
'Really... his features are fit for an elite movie star, or even the very top... Ah, if you made him the hero, even if he was not good at acting, the hall would be filled with the beauty of his face alone... Wait a minute!'
Suddenly I had a bright idea:
‘Cinema! What if I created a real theater to show the film?'
My mind started working fast.
In my opinion, this was a very promising business venture.
The nobles here are always looking for entertainment.
'Besides, the more controversial it is, the more everyone will talk about it.'
An empire that reveres its ruler imposes a disciplined and strict way of life, so in response, many nobles seek wild pleasures and daring games.
'Yes! I'll show it first at the party Martha said she was throwing!'
I'll monitor the reactions there, and since most of the nobles will be in attendance, I'll be able to estimate the film's likelihood of success.
‘Tomorrow morning I will ask Martha to add this as new entertainment for the party!’
“Thank you, Arkell, it's all thanks to you.”
I said with a bright smile as I bid him farewell.
He said with a puzzled face:
“What do you mean?”
'Thanks to your movie face, man... long live beauty!'
But I didn't say anything, I just smiled.
He smiled too, even though he did not understand.
“Then, ma’am, good night.”
“You too, Arkle.”
After Arkel left the room, I was overcome with excitement as I prepared for bed, eager to reveal the idea of my new project.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I went straight to Martha.
There I heard good news from her...
****
My translator friends and I opened a special channel to leak novels, chapter announcements, events, and also requests and promotions...and if I disappear, you will find me there.
Here is the channel link. Take a screenshot and go to Google Lens from it:
https://t.me/+OedqgPvPKXoyZDFk