Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

Two hours before the official broadcast of “Machine God Chronicles”.

Not only the production team involved in making the animation, but all the voice actors and staff had gathered at my house.

The reason was simple.

Serika had suggested that we all gather at my house to watch at least the first episode of “Machine God Chronicles” together.

…Actually, I still don’t quite understand why we decided to gather at my house instead of the spacious Grinewald Duke’s mansion.

Anyway, after having a discussion with the magician in charge of broadcasting to check if there were any problems with the animation broadcast.

The staff had already taken their places in the living room of our house.

Among them, Serika and Kaya were sitting amicably on my personal chair, which could be called the best seat.

‘Why are they sitting on my chair of all places, leaving all the other good chairs?’

I wanted to politely ask them to please get off my seat, but.

Painful memories of not being able to say a word even when bullies sat in my seat and chatted during breaks in my school days came to mind, so I ended up keeping my mouth shut.

As I was sipping a glass of wine trying to forget my PTSD that had resurfaced after a long time, I start to hear the voices of the staff chattering excitedly.

“This day has finally come. To be honest, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep properly last night.”

“Even when I was watching ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ in the theater, I never thought I’d be in a position to make animation myself, it feels kind of strange.”

“I applied to work on this animation thinking it would be something similar to ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’, but I feel somewhat cheated. I can’t believe the genre the director chose for his next work was mecha.”

“But ‘Machine God Chronicles’ has its own unique charm different from ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’, right? Looking at the long term, I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Machine God Chronicles’ becomes even more popular than ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’.”

“What? Are you disrespecting ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ now? I admit ‘Machine God Chronicles’ is an interesting anime, but it’s still far from surpassing ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’…!”

“Have you forgotten what kind of animation we’re making? You traitor!”

As the staff were talking like this, they suddenly split into factions supporting ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ and those supporting ‘Machine God Chronicles’ and started arguing.

After quarreling loudly for a while, they finally ran to me asking for mediation.

“Director. In your opinion, do you think ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ is more popular, or will ‘Machine God Chronicles’ surpass it soon?”

“I think the director would be able to make a wise judgment on this issue…!”

“…..”

To be honest, I couldn’t understand at all why these guys were making such a fuss.

But since the staff were looking at me with such sparkling eyes, I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“Well, right now ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’ is bound to be more popular. Because ‘Machine God Chronicles’ is a 50-episode animation, so the story development is bound to be a bit slower.”

However, I added one more thing to that.

“But I think there’s a possibility that people’s reactions might change a bit after the first episode of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ airs. Because as you all know, we put a somewhat impactful scene at the end of the first episode of ‘Machine God Chronicles’, right?”

At my words, the staff showed somewhat mysterious smiles, and then started giggling.

“Ah… right. Indeed, I’m looking forward to people’s reactions after the first episode airs.”

“I don’t think anyone would have expected the first episode of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ to end like that. It’s a bit of a shame we can’t see people’s expressions in real-time when the first episode ends.”

Hearing such words from the staff, I also smiled.

People in this world are not yet familiar with animation, and especially know nothing about the mecha genre.

What kind of reaction will these incredibly innocent people show when we drop a dopamine bomb called ‘cliché’ on them?

Two hours later.

Finally, the official broadcast of “Machine God Chronicles” began across the entire empire.

At a certain tavern in the Imperial Capital Gradium.

The owner of this tavern had recently made up his mind to purchase an artifact called ‘television’.

Because he had heard that the producer who made “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel” was planning to broadcast a new animation called “Machine God Chronicles” through this artifact.

Of course, this artifact is installed in places like squares or government offices where many people come and go, so people can watch the animation there too.

But he was targeting a niche market, thinking there might be people who want to watch anime quietly while having a beer at a tavern rather than in such crowded and busy places.

Sure enough, as rumors spread that the owner had purchased a television, twice as many people as usual were sitting in the tavern.

They had all ordered a beer each and were just looking at the artifact installed in the middle of the tavern, waiting for the animation to start broadcasting.

Finally, as the clock struck 9 o’clock sharp, the animation broadcast began.

The animation started with a backdrop of a city that was almost half in ruins and crumbling.

In the middle of that city, the protagonist Kai was walking somewhere, guided by a female soldier named Rinoa.

[I thought the army had already been defeated by unidentified monsters, but they were still around?]

[The army was indeed defeated. But people who wanted to defeat the Outer Gods, transcending all nations and races, gathered and created a secret organization.]

[What is it?]

[…Illuminati. A name given with the aspiration to lead humanity to the truth from the hands of those Outer Gods someday.]

Actually, Ragna wanted to name the secret organization Hydra or the Knights Templar.

But honestly, those names sounded too villainous, so he had no choice but to settle on Illuminati.

So Kai entered the secret base of the Illuminati with her.

And finally, before Kai’s eyes, the figure of the Machine God that had excited people’s hearts in the preview appeared.

“Oh, so that’s the Machine God…!”

“So a person rides inside that huge machine that looks like a human? As expected, the creator knows what a man’s romance is!”

“Ah, be quiet for a moment! I can’t hear what the characters are saying!”

[Get in the Machine God, Kai.]

[Pardon?]

[I said get in the Machine God, Kai. And defeat the Outer Gods invading this place. That’s the only reason we brought you here.]

[If you’re going to ride it, get on quickly, and if you’re not going to ride it, get out of here. The choice is yours.]

At first, Kai tried to refuse the commander’s words.

But he changed his mind when he saw Saya, a blonde girl with wounds all over her body, gasping for breath as she tried to board the Machine God again.

[…I’ll do it.]

[Hm?]

[I’m saying I’ll pilot the Machine God instead of sending that dying girl to the battlefield!]

As Kai boarded the Machine God, the operators began to report the situation in real-time while looking at him.

[Initiating Machine God cooling release, restraint connection release complete.]

[Insertion of cockpit into Machine God’s core complete. Contact start between pilot and Machine God.]

[Avatar body connection all clear. Synchronization between Machine God and pilot confirmed.]

[Normal connection of basic terminal nerves from A307 to A608 has been achieved.]

[No rejection response from the core. The Machine God is also maintaining stable readings.]

[…Amazing. This is his first time piloting, yet there’s no rejection response.]

[That’s because he’s the ‘compatible one’. He’s been acknowledged by the Machine God, so it can’t be helped.]

[Alright, then prepare Unit 00 for launch.]

[Preparing for launch!]

“…..”

“…..”

And as they listened to the dialogue between the operators and soldiers, the men watching the scene felt a strange emotion as if something was boiling in their chests.

How should I put it?

The exact reason is unknown, but it was a feeling as if it was fulfilling the romance hidden deep in their hearts?

Most of the men present felt that this series of dialogues was somewhat embarrassing, but at the same time, it seemed kind of cool.

Leaving behind such impressions of the men, Kai went out of the base riding the Machine God and faced the Outer God.

Rinoa, who brought him here, calmly explains to Kai, who looks very tense.

[Listen carefully, Kai. You haven’t formally learned how to pilot a Machine God yet. It’s impossible for you to win in a head-on fight against an Outer God right now. So for now, just focus on buying time against the Outer God. Once Saya’s wounds are fully treated, we’ll send her out to escort you.]

[…Understood.]

So Kai fought so hard that it was unbelievable that this was his first time piloting a Machine God.

Unfortunately, due to his extremely low piloting proficiency, he was in danger of being killed by the Outer God in less than a minute.

Moreover, Kai inside the cockpit fainted, and the Machine God stopped moving.

“Oh no… Was it too much after all?”

“This doesn’t make sense. How can he beat such a monster with a Machine God he’s piloting for the first time in his life? It would be stranger if he won.”

“No, is that the problem now? The protagonist is about to die in the first episode?”

“So when is Saya coming to help? Kai is about to die!”

Just as everyone in the tavern was shouting while watching the scene of the Outer God’s giant hand slowly approaching the Machine God’s core.

Beep-

The eyes of the Machine God, which had been lying on the ground as if dead until just now, start to light up.

And then.

Crack-!

With a power on a completely different level from before, the Machine God instantly crushes the Outer God’s right arm.

[Ma-Machine God reactivated!]

[Wh-What?]

[Isn’t the pilot unconscious right now? How is the Machine God moving?]

[I-I don’t know. It shouldn’t be able to move anymore with all its magical power depleted-]

[Un-Unbelievable! The synchronization rate between the Machine God and pilot has exceeded 80%!]

[Unable to measure various ability values of the Machine God! The observation system is not functioning normally!]

At such reports from the operators, the faces of the people, including the operation commander, turn pale.

[This phenomenon is possibly…]

[…Berserk?]

[GROOOOAR-!]

The Machine God lets out an ominous roar as if reminiscent of a beast.

The screen turns black.

And then, merciless letters appear following it.

[To be continued in the next episode.]

“…..”

“…..”

Mecha genre cliché special.

The mecha piloted by the protagonist in the first episode must go berserk.