Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

“My Struggle,” a group created by Hikardo that was also a revolutionary organization.

This was originally a group created by Hikardo to discuss matters related to “Machine God Chronicles”, but.

Today, it has transformed into an organization that deals with all kinds of animations, not just “Machine God Chronicles”.

Well, when we say all kinds of animations, there were only “Nymph and Goblin” and “Ellie and Hamel’s Disappearance” made by Ragna.

This organization boasted powerful influence in its early days of establishment, to the point of causing protests in the middle of the system.

But now that “Machine God Chronicles” has concluded, its influence has somewhat waned.

Therefore, their headquarters, the beer hall, had also temporarily recovered its original function… that is, its function as a tavern.

However.
Today, there were far more people who came here with other purposes than those who came to drink beer.
“Hoho, it’s been quite a while since I visited the beer hall. Is this the first time since “Machine God Chronicles” concluded?”
“Oh, Professor Ermion! How did such a busy person like you come here?”
“It’s to appreciate Director Ragna’s new work, “Book of Life and Death”, together with you folks. What fun would there be in appreciating such a work alone, cooped up in my room?”
“As expected, you really know your stuff, Professor!”
That’s right.
It was none other than the news that Ragna’s new work, “Book of Life and Death”, would be aired that naturally brought together the members of the organization.
Thus, the members of “My Struggle” who gathered after a long time were able to wait for the airing time of “Book of Life and Death” with quite joyful hearts.

As the clock struck 9, the long-awaited airing of “Book of Life and Death” began.

“Oh, it’s finally starting!”

“This is Director Ragna’s new work…!”

The animation started with the scene where Louis, the cadet who showed the most outstanding performance at the Imperial Academy, picks up a strange object.

“What is this? Book of Life and Death? Some kind of childish prank?”

At first, Louis didn’t believe in the existence of the Book of Life and Death, which could kill others just by writing their names, but.

He realizes that the Book of Life and Death is real when he hears the news that a public figure of the Empire, whose name he wrote for fun, died in prison that day.

“Could this be… really an object of the Shinigami?”

Louis, who had lived only as an honor student until now, felt guilty about the fact that he had killed someone, but.

At the same time, he makes one firm resolution.

“In this world, there are too many bad people who cannot be punished by law.”

“Human life is precious. But… I’m not killing people. I’m just cleaning up the trash scattered in society.”

“I will change this world. Into a world where criminals don’t exist, where only good people exist.”

“…Hmm, was it Louis? That guy doesn’t seem like such a bad person?”

“That’s right. To be honest, doesn’t everyone think like that at least once?”

“Rather, trying to deal with only bad guys despite picking up a Book of Life and Death that can kill people at will is something difficult to do with ordinary mental strength.”

And watching the early actions of Louis, the protagonist of “Book of Life and Death”, the viewers were nodding without realizing it.

Of course, no one here didn’t know that what Louis was doing was clearly murder and wrong in itself, but.

At the same time, they felt favorable towards the fact that Louis was using the Book of Life and Death for this world, not for himself.

But.

“Dare… you attempt to catch a god? How preposterous.”

“The one who tries to catch the god who will change this world, he too will soon become evil.”

Such resolution that Louis held starts to change gradually.

He kills an investigator sent by the imperial family just for investigating ‘Zodiac’ who was eliminating criminals.

He kills a person just for saying Zodiac is evil in the middle of the system.

Eventually, at the sight of Louis killing even an innocent person just because they declared on broadcast that they would catch Zodiac.

“…Ah.”

“So it ends up like this after all.”

The viewers couldn’t help but let out sighs.

Because they realized that Louis, whom they had been secretly cheering for until just 10 minutes ago, had already become an evil.

Also.

“…Hm?”

“Oh? Something… seems strange?”

“Louis’s face… doesn’t it seem somewhat different from the beginning?”

That’s right.

At the beginning of “Book of Life and Death”, Louis had a gentle look, a face that could only be described as a good person no matter where you looked, but.

As time passed, Louis’s eyes and face were gradually changing.

The initial gentle face was already gone.

What remains here now is just one murderous spirit with an ice-cold face and eyes filled with killing intent.

Normally, all viewers should have noticed at once that Louis’s face had changed, but.

Because it changed very slowly and subtly as events unfolded in the work, they could only notice belatedly.

“…I see. So as Louis’s mentality changes, his eyes and face reflecting his mind also change?”

“I didn’t notice at all. I didn’t know it was possible to foreshadow like this…”

People expressed admiration for Ragna’s delicacy in explaining something indirectly, even though there wasn’t a single specific explanation in the work.

Thus, the viewers were able to very naturally immerse themselves in Louis as the protagonist and at the same time accept the fact that he was evil.

And.

“But… how on earth can we catch that Louis?”

“Isn’t it impossible to catch him if Louis keeps hiding and writing the names of criminals like this?”

The viewers were no longer enthusiastic about Louis eliminating criminals, but were now only expecting him to be caught.

However, that was almost impossible.

Because the Book of Life and Death was the authority possessed by a Shinigami, the power of the human world couldn’t track or interfere with him.

No matter what tracking artifact is used, even if a person who has reached the position of great magician attempts to search, no evidence can be found.

Moreover, one of the Empire’s great magicians was killed by him while trying to catch Louis, so there’s practically no one in the world who can stop him.

But.

“I don’t know by what means you commit murder. I couldn’t deduce at all whether it’s magic or if you’re using a special artifact.”

“However, if nothing else, I was able to deduce what you, Zodiac, are thinking.”

Instead of revealing how Louis commits murder.

A person appeared who tries to pursue him through psychological analysis of Louis.

His name was Alpha.

He was a detective who had solved numerous cases happening on the continent.

“Actually, this broadcast is not being aired across the entire continent, but is currently only being transmitted in the eastern part of the Empire.”

“We were planning to broadcast to each country on the continent starting from the east, but… I’m really lucky. To think I could find out where you live right from the start.”

“Moreover, judging from the fact that you can’t kill me now, there must be some conditions for killing humans, right? Otherwise, there would be no reason not to kill me.”

“…”

“Ooh…”

“How could this be, to think there was such a method!”

“I see. Although the Book of Life and Death is an object beyond the principles of the human world, it targets the fact that Louis, who is actually using it, is still human!”

And the viewers watching that scene couldn’t help but let out exclamations of admiration.

To think they could reveal, albeit roughly, the area where Louis is currently living and how he commits murder through such an ingenious scene!

“I see, you say you’ll catch me?”

But watching that broadcast that cornered him, Louis coldly laughs.

“Interesting. I was just getting a bit bored of just cleaning up trash, this will be an entertaining diversion.”

“I’ve decided, Alpha. I’ll personally write your name and kill you.”

Zzzzt-

Before the screen goes dark, Louis’s face filled with killing intent and Alpha’s face lost in thought somewhere are contrasted.
It was itself an implication that soon, two geniuses would start moving in earnest to kill each other.

Thus, as soon as episode 1 of “Book of Life and Death” ended.

People fell to the floor making pterodactyl noises from their mouths.
“…This is insane. This is completely insane!”

“It deserves… worship, right?”
“Next episode! Please give me the next episode! If you can’t give me the next episode, someone please knock me out until tomorrow evening! Please!”

Several days after episodes 1 and 2 of “Book of Life and Death” aired.

I was able to greet Serika and Kaya running towards me with happy faces.

“Director! Have you heard the news?”

“What news do you mean?”

“”Book of Life and Death” has literally become a huge hit!”

Kaya said so with an expression that couldn’t contain her joy.

“Not only are praises endlessly continuing among viewers, but according to Prince Kaisel, it’s also gaining tremendous popularity in the Kingdom of Rihardt! He says no one is saying anything bad about “Book of Life and Death”!”

Kaya and Serika were making a fuss as if they thought “Book of Life and Death” wouldn’t be as popular as “Machine God Chronicles”, but.

At least I wasn’t very surprised because I had expected “Book of Life and Death” to be a commercial hit.

Because even on Earth, ‘that work’ which became the motif for “Book of Life and Death” was enjoying tremendous popularity even after 20 years since its conclusion.

If the popularity of “Book of Life and Death” was poor, I would have been unable to hide my surprise at that fact instead.

“Um… But it seems some kind of problem also occurred related to “Book of Life and Death”.”

“…A problem? What is it?”

To my question, Kaya opened her mouth towards me with a somewhat serious expression.

“Well… In “Book of Life and Death”, the protagonist Louis receives the Book of Life and Death from a Shinigami and gains power, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But over the past few days, the number of people claiming they summoned a Shinigami and gained power has greatly increased.”

“…Pardon? They summoned a Shinigami?”

For a moment, I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at those words.

Because a Shinigami was just a being appearing in “Book of Life and Death”, and there was no way such a divine being would exist in reality, but.

This was a fantasy world where summoning magic or dimensional magic actually existed.

As such, the possibility that they had actually summoned a Shinigami through some kind of magic I didn’t know about was not zero.
But.

“Well… I’m not sure if it’s real or not, but they claim to have gained a Mystic Eye through a deal with a Shinigami. A Mystic Eye that sees death… they say they can see the form of death as lines and points. There are also people saying they’ve become able to handle eternally burning black flames. Mainly cadets from the Imperial Academy are making such claims.”

“…..”

No.

Don’t tell me, that’s.

Meanwhile, Kaya opened her mouth in a very serious tone.

“Considering what tragedy occurred in “Book of Life and Death” through Louis receiving power from a Shinigami, we certainly can’t just sit still.”

“No, that-”

I tried my best to stop Kaya somehow, but.

“Don’t worry, Director. I’ll take care of such trivial matters myself!”
In the end, I could only watch silently as Kaya left to catch the Mystic Eye possessors.
“…..”

‘…I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.’

For the Academy cadets who will suffer countless pains from the popular kids in the future.

Everyone.

Let’s have a moment of silence.