Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

“I’m going out with Lady Kaya for a while.”

“…Going somewhere alone with Lady Kaya? What for? Don’t tell me…”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not what you think.”

I sighed at Serika’s expression of utter disbelief.

How should I put it?

It felt like whenever I walked down the street, I heard two passing high school girls having a conversation like, ‘Hey, your boyfriend is passing by.’ ‘Do you want to die? Isn’t he actually your secret boyfriend?’

‘Well, I guess it’s not strange for her to act like that.’

Objectively speaking, I was indeed far behind in specs compared to Kaya… I mean, Her Highness the Imperial Princess.

Normally, there would have been such a difference in status that I wouldn’t even dare to make proper eye contact, let alone speak so familiarly. I guess I’ve come a long way, should I say.

“It’s nothing much, I got a summons from the imperial family. They said they want to see me for a moment.”

“…From the imperial family? Why on earth?”

“Well, I’m not sure either, but it’s probably about ‘Machine God Chronicles’.”

At my words, Kaya standing next to me nods in agreement.

“That’s right. As you well know, Serika, recently ‘Machine God Chronicles’ has been having an enormous impact on the entire empire, beyond just being popular, right? It seems His Majesty has something he wants to say to the director about that.”

“His Majesty wants to see you, Ragna, directly…”

At Kaya’s words, Serika bites her lip firmly, then opens her mouth with an expression as if she’s made some decision.

“I want to come too.”

“What?”

“I’m not sure what His Majesty wants to say to you, Ragna, but I might be able to help you if needed, right? For example, I could testify that you weren’t responsible for the protest that happened last time…”

At Serika’s words, Kaya standing next to her smiled bitterly and said.

“It’s a very admirable spirit of sacrifice, but there’s no need for you to go that far, Serika.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Actually, the real reason His Majesty is calling the director this time is not to say anything to him, but to brag publicly.”

“…Brag?”

What is he trying to brag about?

Don’t tell me he’s going to brag about the fact that ‘Machine God Chronicles’ is an anime made with support from the imperial family?

“Um… actually…”

Kaya said with an awkward smile as if she found it embarrassing to explain.

“Should I say he wants to brag about the superiority of knowing exactly how the anime’s plot will progress from now on?”

“…?”

The Imperial Palace, in the meeting room where the Emperor usually discusses policies with his ministers.

Right there, the Emperor was laughing as if he was in a very good mood.

“Hahaha, Ragna! Yes, I’ve been hearing the news. I hear that recently ‘Machine God Chronicles’ has been causing a huge sensation throughout the empire?”

Saying this, the Emperor kept patting Ragna’s back as if he was truly pleased.

“According to a recent survey conducted at the imperial level, the number of people wanting to learn to read among the imperial citizens has increased by nearly 5%. And that’s to understand ‘Machine God Chronicles’ a little better. Do you know how pleased I was to hear this news?”

If you just hear the number 5%, you might say ‘Is that all?’, but.

5% of the population of the entire empire, which boasts the most vast territory on the continent, was an incredibly enormous number.

“Until now, I have made countless efforts to solve the illiteracy problem of the imperial citizens. Because there were too many poor people who suffered in daily life because they couldn’t read, and couldn’t enjoy the rights they should rightfully enjoy.”

But despite the Emperor’s many efforts over the past decades, there was no sign of the imperial citizens’ illiteracy problem being solved.

Even in 21st century Earth, where going to elementary and middle school is mandatory education, and it’s possible to acquire knowledge very easily using the internet or smartphones, the literacy problem of people couldn’t be perfectly solved.

Although they have a civilization that defies common sense by utilizing means such as magic, it was virtually impossible for the empire, which overall still had a civilization at the level of the modern era, to solve the illiteracy problem.

But Ragna changed all of that situation.

The imperial citizens encountered the anime ‘Machine God Chronicles’ created by Ragna and became deeply immersed in it.

Eventually, they started to voluntarily learn and practice reading to know more about ‘Machine God Chronicles’.

Because ‘Machine God Chronicles’ was a mecha anime, and due to its characteristics, it often conveyed content through secret documents or reports, so it was a bit difficult for people who couldn’t read to understand the content.

Well, if you think about it, they weren’t trying to learn to read, but were just trying hard to indulge in their otaku hobbies.

For the Emperor, such trivial matters were not a consideration.

“Indeed, I should say it was worth believing in you and sponsoring you. Gentlemen, do you know this? Actually, the anime called ‘Machine God Chronicles’ is a work being produced with sponsorship from the imperial family.”

The Emperor said with a smile.

“Also, the imperial family was in charge of distributing televisions throughout the empire before ‘Machine God Chronicles’ was broadcast. While Ragna’s contribution is the greatest in ‘Machine God Chronicles’ doing so well now, you could say the imperial family also has some stake in it.”

In fact, it was the Imperial Princess who first suggested supporting the anime production, and the distribution of televisions had been planned for a long time.

But the Emperor shamelessly spoke, omitting such mentions.

“So remember this, gentlemen. That sometimes the pen can be a more powerful weapon than the sword. And also how powerful an influence culture can have on people.”

But then.

“But Your Majesty. While I don’t think there’s a problem with praising Lord Ragna’s achievements itself, I don’t think there are no issues that need to be addressed at the same time.”

One of the ministers who had been quietly listening to the Emperor’s self-praise disguised as praise for Ragna quietly opened his mouth.

“The anime ‘Machine God Chronicles’ created by Lord Ragna is certainly a very well-made work of art. I also think positively about the fact that imperial citizens can find comfort in their lives through the anime. However, at the same time, we cannot help but point out a few concerns we have while watching that anime.”

“Concerns? What are they?”

“For example, if you look at episode 1 of ‘Machine God Chronicles’, isn’t there a scene where the imperial army is annihilated by the Outer Gods in a pathetically easy way? If we’re not careful, people might get the preconception through such scenes that the imperial army is weak-”

“Ah, there’s no need to worry about that.”

The Emperor suddenly cut off the minister’s words midway and said.

“In the first place, the existence called Outer Gods was something that not only the imperial army but humans couldn’t stop. That’s because, according to the setting, Outer Gods are-”

“…Your Majesty.”

Kaya sighed and stopped the Emperor’s words.

“Didn’t the director earnestly request when he gave that to Your Majesty? He said it’s fine for Your Majesty to enjoy it alone, but please refrain from spoiling the content to the outside.”

“Ah right, that’s true. I’m really sorry, Kaya.”

At Kaya’s words, the Emperor apologized with an expression that didn’t look sorry at all.

“…Your Highness. What on earth… is His Majesty talking about now?”

Naturally, the ministers couldn’t help but express doubt seeing that scene.

What on earth is the Emperor talking about now?

What is it?

That tone… as if he knows how ‘Machine God Chronicles’ will develop in the future?

People silently demanded the truth from the Emperor and Kaya with their eyes.

In the end, Kaya had no choice but to spit out the ugly truth that had been hidden until now to them.

“The thing is… actually, His Majesty is currently watching in advance the content that will be broadcast a few weeks later.”

“…Pardon?”

“What on earth do you mean by that, Your Highness!”

At Kaya’s revelation, the ministers present looked at the Emperor with shocked eyes.

Because most of the people present here were also ardent fans who were watching ‘Machine God Chronicles’ live every weekend.

As such, they too were very curious about how the plot of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ would unfold in the future.

Among them, there were also people who wanted to grab Ragna and ask various questions about ‘Machine God Chronicles’.

They just weren’t showing it outwardly due to their social status and face.

But now, the Emperor was abusing his power to watch the upcoming episodes of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ in advance?

Can such an ugly thing really happen blatantly under the heavens?

“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t oppress Ragna with power or anything, I just exercised my rightful rights as a sponsor.”

The Emperor said with a distasteful smile on his lips.

“I am the financier who is covering all the production costs of ‘Machine God Chronicles’, and at the same time, I am the examiner who checks whether the content of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ will have a negative impact on the imperial citizens. In other words, my watching the upcoming episodes of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ in advance is a kind of work.”

“…Th-That-”

“Even so, how could such a thing-”

The ministers looked at the Emperor with expressions as if jealousy was boiling up.

The Emperor was wearing an expression full of superiority as if he was only pleased with such expressions of the ministers.

“So, is that all you have to say? Do you have nothing more to say to me?”

“…No. There’s still more left. So, the scene in episode 17 of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ where the protagonist Kai’s Machine God kills Luke might be seen as a scene that glorifies murder-”

“Ah, it’s not like that.”

“…Pardon?”

“I know well what you’re concerned about, but you don’t need to worry about that. Because in the next episode 18, Kai-”

The Emperor, who had been speaking up to this point, looks at the nobles who are focusing on the spoilers coming out of his mouth without even breathing properly, with a very pitiful gaze.

“…Ah, you don’t know?”
“…Your Majesty?”
“It’s nothing. Oh my, I almost told you something about two weeks too early again. I almost made a big mistake. A very big mistake.”
“…..”
“Aren’t you all bodies that have to watch episode 18 of ‘Machine God Chronicles’ next week? So it’s natural that you can’t communicate with me who’s currently watching episode 22. This is… a sad and pitiful thing. Indeed it is.”

“…..”

“…..”

Watching the scene of the Emperor eagerly teabagging the ministers, Ragna tightly closed his eyes.

He didn’t want to watch any longer the sight of the Emperor becoming an ugly b**ch.