"Alright, since everyone's finished catching up, let's begin."
Director Furina announced today's final shooting schedule. They mainly needed to film some street scenery and daily life for environmental atmosphere in the film. Afterward there would be a cameo scene with Ayato and Yoimiya showing how outsiders viewed Fontaine's musketeers.
Since Ayato would arrive a little later, the crew first shot some flowers, plants, and distant street views.
This should have been easy for Lumine, who had been working as the photographer for over ten days under Mu Yang's guidance. Yet today nothing felt right. No matter what she did, she couldn't get the shot she wanted.
Lumine tried adjusting the focus, but the Kamera suddenly broke.
"Ah, wasn't it working fine just now?" Furina immediately ordered the props master to swap equipment.
The moment they started using the second Kamera, it broke too. They had only brought two Kameras today.
Veronique rushed off to the workshop with the broken Kamera. Lighting technician Bonnot headed to the warehouse to look for spares.
By the time Ayato arrived, the entire set was in chaos. Not only the two Kameras—almost everyone's tools had been damaged to some degree.
[Those hands aren't very clean, huh.]
[They moved way too fast.]
Accidents kept piling up. Nothing was going smoothly. Even so, Director Furina did her best to maintain order. Since Ayato was here, she sent the actors to get makeup done while they waited for the Kameras to be repaired.
After some time, Veronique ran back with the repaired Kamera. The workshop repairman said a part that held the lens in place had fallen off. Veronique found it strange—she had checked everything yesterday before leaving and there had been no problems at all.
"For now, let's not worry about that. Let's hurry up and start."
Furina had everyone quickly take their positions and quiet down. Action.
This take was Ayato and Yoimiya's cameo.
Yoimiya asked Ayato, "Ah? Have you heard about those two musketeers?"
"Mm. They've caused quite a stir in the city."
"I heard that because they can't catch anyone, the chief's round belly is about to explode with anger."
"Oh? I can't even imagine how that belly could get any—"
"Not good! Director, not good!" Before Ayato could finish his line, Bonnot rushed onto the set.
"We're in the middle of filming. Can't this wait until the scene is done?"
Bonnot hadn't even caught his breath. "The negatives that were already shot and stored in the box have all disappeared somehow!"
This was a serious matter. If the negatives were truly gone, all the crew's hard work over the past many days would be wasted. Everyone prepared to search.
Furina remained calm. "Listen to me. Everyone not involved in the current scene, follow Bonnot to find the negatives. The rest of you stay here and continue filming."
Furina frowned. She refused to believe that all the bad luck could possibly pile up on the same day.
[Furina's cool and commanding presence.]
[After all, she once built her own intelligence network. She's not just some idle person.]
[Bennett: Really? All on the same day?]
[You brat, can your special talent even compare?]
After some time, Mu Yang returned leading the search team.
"Found them in a drainage ditch."
"Any contamination on the negatives?"
"L luckily Mr. Mu Yang used a tracking spell and found them in time. No major damage. We've already checked—they're fine for now."
Furina's tense heart finally relaxed.
"Ah… that scared me to death. I thought all our previous efforts were wasted."
"I don't want to experience that kind of despair ever again…"
[Mahafish, you've had enough.]
[Are you trying to poke at me or what?]
[Furina, stop thinking about these things.]
[If only Teyvat had backups.]
At this point, everyone understood. Today's incidents were not simple bad luck. Someone was deliberately trying to sabotage the crew.
"Could it be a competitor?" Furina didn't connect it to today's investor.
But Mu Yang and Chiori's gazes were far less kind. Both of them, however, tacitly said nothing. They had both been asked by Chevreuse to cooperate in putting on an act.
Furina didn't have time to investigate further either. She wanted to finish everything today. Although more accidents occurred during the remaining shoots, the crew overcame them one by one.
"I declare that the film The Two Musketeer has officially wrapped!!"
Amid cheers and applause, Director Furina gave a short speech. Despite the many difficulties during filming, everyone here had contributed their own unique strength to the project.
Xavier took the stage, moved to tears. When the investor had said there were funding problems, he had already despaired. He never expected to meet such a wonderful group of people afterward.
"Alright, alright. Save your award speech for later and practice it at home," Furina said, unable to watch any longer. A grown man crying like this when the film hadn't even screened yet…
"Next is party time. Everyone, please head to the seaside. Let's throw a wrap party loud enough that even the Blubberbeasts underwater can hear it."
[Blubberbeast: A-minos!]
[Blubberbeast: What are you making noise about so late at night, you **]
[Blubberbeast: What the hell is that racket?]
[You Blubberbeasts are a bit abstract…]
"I'm exhausted. I didn't expect we'd film this late." Paimon stretched lazily.
"By the way, we haven't seen Mu Yang since earlier."
Lumine put her hands on her hips. "Since it's about the banquet, of course he wouldn't just stand by!"
Paimon suddenly understood, saliva almost dripping. "Then we should hurry over!"
Everyone arrived at the seaside…
You like the salty scent of the sea breeze…
Sea breeze, moonlight, delicious food.
The crew felt relieved after finishing the film. Lumine walked over to Mu Yang. "Do you need any help?"
"You're the most tired today. I'll handle this."
"Not really that tired, just…" Lumine glanced at the investor chatting with Yoimiya not far away.
"Just feeling a bit annoyed?"
"No choice. Since I promised Chevreuse, the act has to continue."
Paimon finished the food on the table and ran back to grab more from Mu Yang.
"Did you hear? Veronique turned down Xavier's invitation. She plans to travel around like the two of us."
"She even asked me a lot about the Sumeru Desert just now."
Mu Yang handed her the skewer in his hand.
Sometimes he really did envy Paimon—so cute and carefree, with no brain. She never overthought complicated matters.
Did Veronique actually like traveling?
She was preparing to empty her magazine and then make a run for it.