Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

[Professor Hermione, who used to write critical articles about “Machine God Chronicles”, declares he will no longer write critical articles.]

[Professor Hermione: The creator of “Machine God Chronicles” is an artist on a different level from ordinary people like myself… I’m just sorry I didn’t realize it until now…]

[Professor Hermione reveals plans to utilize “Machine God Chronicles” in Academy classes starting next year… “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece”]

‘Fuck.’

The next morning, I couldn’t help but crumple my face when I saw those headlines prominently featured in the newspaper.

My heart ached.

Professor Hermione, who had been an incredibly reliable ally in my efforts to lead “Machine God Chronicles” towards a disastrous ending, had finally defected to the other side.

Was this how Liu Bei felt when he heard the news of Guan Yu’s death in Jing Province?

If not that, was this how Ash felt when he tearfully released Butterfree?

In any case, now that my most trustworthy and powerful ally had betrayed me, there weren’t many options left for me to take.

‘Damn… what should I do now?’

At this rate, I might end up being pushed by public opinion to complete “Machine God Chronicles” as a masterpiece with a neat beginning, development, turn, and conclusion.

Then I’ll end up living a miserable life as the Emperor’s personal slave, making anime for the rest of my life until I die.

What an unimaginably terrifying thought!

‘As much as I’d like to kill off more easy characters again…’

But unfortunately, I was in no position to arbitrarily kill off characters in “Machine God Chronicles”.

Because after watching episode 17, the Emperor had called me separately and said something like this:

Ragna, I would like you to refrain from killing off characters as much as possible.

…Pardon?

Ho ho, although he was just a minor character, watching a pilot who sacrificed himself for humanity die so miserably made my heart ache terribly.

Your Majesty…. Luke’s death was an unavoidable sacrifice for the story’s progression…

That’s why I’m not saying anything to you about it, am I not? But… if Saya or Eileen were to die, I’m not sure what I might do to you.

….

I have no desire whatsoever to interfere with the story progression or ending of “Machine God Chronicles”. But I’m asking you to show at least a little mercy, that’s all I’m saying.

…Well, that’s more or less the kind of conversation that took place.

‘At least I got a definite promise from the Emperor that he absolutely wouldn’t interfere with the ending part, but…’

Still, losing the easy method of making the atmosphere within the work gloomy by killing off characters was truly a painful loss.

‘At this rate, the path to an orange juice ending seems to be getting further and further away.’

I just have a small and modest goal of exterminating humanity in the ending part, but why are there so many obstacles?

As I was heaving a deep sigh like that, I realized that the time had come to use the secret weapon I had been saving until now.

‘Right, he just asked me not to kill characters if possible, didn’t he?’

Then if we interpret those words a little differently.

As long as I don’t kill characters, doesn’t that mean everything else is allowed?

That’s how I was able to complete episode 25 of “Machine God Chronicles”, which was set to shock and terrify all viewers following episode 17.

After episode 17 of “Machine God Chronicles” aired.

The interest and attention towards “Machine God Chronicles”, which was already high before, skyrocketed to incomparable levels.

This was because episode 17 featured a shocking storyline that no one had even imagined before.

From the Outer God absorbing a Machine God, to Unit 0 going berserk, to the death of a fellow pilot.

The developments that seemed to burst the viewers’ dopamine made even those who hadn’t been watching “Machine God Chronicles” until now sit in front of their televisions.

So people complained of severe addiction to “Machine God Chronicles” and sat in front of their televisions again, but.

Contrary to the wishes of viewers who wanted developments full of dopamine, the story afterwards flowed rather ordinarily.

On the surface, the storyline of “Machine God Chronicles” didn’t differ much from before episode 17.ity is still threatened by Outer Gods, and new Outer Gods come to attack humanity again.

And Kai and the other pilots board their Machine Gods to fight against the Outer Gods, and eventually emerge victorious.

But at the same time, everyone could realize that the atmosphere within the work called “Machine God Chronicles” had changed greatly.

“Somehow… doesn’t the atmosphere feel more depressed?”

“It feels like something big is about to happen soon, you know?”

That’s right.

Until then, even though “Machine God Chronicles” had a setting where humanity was on the brink of extinction due to Outer Gods, the atmosphere within the work wasn’t that dark.

No, rather it was a bright and lively mecha anime full of hope, but.

After episode 17 of “Machine God Chronicles” where Luke died, that atmosphere completely changed.

“I boarded the Machine God to save someone, but because of me, someone else died. Is it really okay for someone like me to pilot a Machine God…?”

The protagonist Kai was experiencing internal conflict about why he should pilot a Machine God due to the trauma of killing Luke.

“…Kai. I can’t do anything while you’re suffering so much. When I see you sad, I feel sad too, but tears don’t flow from my eyes. Am I… really just a doll after all…?”

Saya was secretly watching Kai suffer with a gloomy expression.

“Machine God, I have to board the Machine God. I have to kill Outer Gods in place of that idiot. Only then… only then can I be acknowledged by others… That’s the only value I have in living…”

Eileen was showing severe obsessive symptoms about defeating Outer Gods.

“Everything is… according to my plan.”

“Are you really sure about this? The old men in the Senate might interfere with your plans.”

“It doesn’t matter. That’s within the scope of expectations too. From after we exterminate all Outer Gods… that’s the true beginning of all plans.”

The Commander-in-Chief and Vice Commander were busy having conversations filled with sinister scheming.

And decisively.

“What exactly… are Machine Gods? What is the true identity of Machine Gods that allows them to wound and kill Outer Gods?”

“…It’s exactly as you know. A man-made anti-Outer God weapon created by humanity, that’s all Machine Gods are.”

“…Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think I’m an idiot with no thoughts? Until now, no weapon created by humanity has worked against Outer Gods. But only Machine Gods are able to kill Outer Gods? Does this make any sense?”

“So? What changes if you doubt that fact?”

“…What?”

“As your longtime friend, let me advise you. Don’t dig any deeper into the true identity of Machine Gods. This is… the final warning.”

The relationship between Linoa, the operations commander, and Rachel, her close friend and also a talented scientist in the organization, was falling apart.

For viewers who had been getting dopamine from scenes of Kai and other pilots defeating Outer Gods until now, they naturally couldn’t help but feel perplexed.

“Come on, it’s fine to tie up loose ends, but couldn’t they do it in a bright atmosphere like before? Do they really have to progress the story in such a gloomy atmosphere?”

“Well, the fact that Illuminati is a suspicious organization and that there’s some secret to the Machine Gods has been hinted at since episode 1. It was something that had to be addressed at some point anyway.”

As opinions were divided even among viewers like that.

Finally, the day for episode 25 of “Machine God Chronicles” to air arrived.

“I wonder if we’ll see scenes of Linoa trying to uncover the truth about Machine Gods again today.”

“There have been too many depressing scenes lately, so I hope there’s some exciting development this time.”

As if to live up to such expectations from viewers, episode 25 of “Machine God Chronicles” began with a scene of an Outer God invading the base.

“This unique wavelength! It’s an Outer God! Outer God appearing in front!”

“…The 15th Outer God, The Crawling Chaos. Nyarlathotep, was it?”

“We must not underestimate it. According to the Book, The Crawling Chaos is an extremely powerful Outer God even among Outer Gods. Then we’ll have to give it our all too.”

So the Commander-in-Chief simultaneously deployed Kai, Eileen, Saya, and Chloe to face the Outer God.

But.

“Oh my god. The Outer God currently has as many as 15 layers of dimensional barrier fields. Normal attacks from Machine Gods won’t work!”

“Units 1 and 2. Both Machine Gods have lost over 70% of their bodies due to the Outer God’s attack! We’ve lost signals from the pilots!”

“…Unit 3, complete silence. Destrudo reaction has disappeared.”

“What about Unit 0? What happened to Unit 0?”

“Unit 0 has only minor damage so far. But…”

The current Kai no longer had the same spirit as before.

After killing Luke with his own hands, Kai’s synchronization rate with the Machine God had been continuously declining, and he hadn’t been able to achieve any results in battles against Outer Gods.

It was impossible for such a Kai to kill the 15th Outer God, said to be the strongest.

In the end, Kai is overwhelmed by the Outer God’s overwhelming offensive power and finally collapses.

But then.

“Oh, my god. The Outer God is absorbing a Machine God again!”

“It’s devouring Unit 1! The life signal of the pilot on board Unit 1 is about to be cut off!”

Before Kai’s eyes, just like that time, the Outer God was absorbing a Machine God.

And inside it was Saya, who had learned to smile faintly after learning humanity from Kai.

Seeing that sight, Kai felt as if something was snapping inside him.

“…No.”

The scene from that day when he killed Luke with his own hands flashes before Kai’s eyes.

“…Not that, anything but that. I don’t want to experience that pain again. So, Saya….”

“Give her back!”

The next moment, Kai’s eyes glow red and Unit 0 starts to let out a huge roar.

“Guooooo-!”

“Yeah, this is it!”

“It’s almost disappointing if Unit 0 doesn’t go berserk in a crisis situation now, you know?”

The viewers watching that scene thought Unit 0 had gone berserk as usual.

But.

“It’s not berserk? Is that… awakening?”

The current berserk state of Unit 0 was somehow different from the previous ones.

Until now, when Unit 0 went berserk, the pilot lost consciousness, and Unit 0 attacked the enemy with movements like that of a beast, but.

The current Unit 0 has Kai clearly maintaining consciousness, and he’s controlling the berserk Machine God with his own will.

However, perhaps as a backlash from controlling the awakened Unit 0 in his right mind, Kai’s current state was far from normal.

“The pilot’s mental contamination level has broken through to negative levels! It’s too dangerous to go any further!”

“Stop it, Kai! If you go any further, you won’t be able to maintain human form!”

Linoa and Rachel desperately try to dissuade Kai, but he ignores their advice and approaches the Outer God, thrusting his hand into its heart.

And.

“This time, I will save you. Absolutely!”

Responding to Kai’s determination to definitely save Saya, Unit 0 emits light and spreads its wings from its back at that very moment.

Giiing-!

A huge pillar of light connecting heaven and earth is created, and then destroys everything it touches.

The size of the pillar of light was initially about the size of a mountain, but soon it grows to cover an entire mountain range.

Seeing that incomparably majestic sight, viewers open their mouths without much thought.

“By the way, is Saya confirmed as the heroine of “Machine God Chronicles” with this episode?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? How can a woman who just died become the heroine?”

“Oh, be quiet for a moment! It looks like that controversy will be settled by the end of this episode!”

But contrary to people’s expectations, the pillar of light kept expanding its size and eventually swallowed the entire continent-

“…Huh?”

A moment later, people blinked their eyes as they looked at the screen.

Because they simply couldn’t believe what they had just seen.

“Um… so who’s the real heroine in this case?”

“…You idiot. Unit 0 just blew up the entire Earth and that’s what you’re concerned about?”