Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

After that, the Emperor’s teabagging of the nobles continued for quite a while.

“Ho ho, the taste of water served by our Duke is very good. If I were a spirit mage, I might have felt like this when summoning Undine.”

“…..”

“Hm? Why the expression, Duke? As if you’re being forced to do something you can’t bear?”

“…It’s nothing, Your Majesty.”

Duke Grinewald unconsciously crumpled his face like a piece of paper upon hearing the Emperor’s words.

But he couldn’t possibly refute the Emperor’s words, so he had to calm his mind with superhuman patience.

Especially in a situation like now where episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles” was being held hostage.

If there was any consolation, it might be that the Emperor was satisfied with this level of minor deception against the nobles.

If they could watch episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles” a week early in exchange for briefly playing along with the Emperor’s antics, it wouldn’t be such a bad deal.

After toying with the Duke and other nobles for quite a while like that, the Emperor seemed to feel some satisfaction and showed a very pleased expression.

“Well, now that I know how serious you are about episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles”, shall we stop the joke here?”

“…That’s the most fortunate news I’ve heard so far, Your Majesty.”

It was truly fortunate news for the nobles whose patience in their hearts was rapidly wearing thin due to the Emperor’s deception.

“I can’t just sit still as the Emperor of the empire when you show this much sincerity. In that sense, I’ll specially reveal episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles” to you.”

“…Is that true!”

“…Ah, finally!”

Hearing those words from the Emperor, the nobles finally showed bright expressions as if their mood had improved.

The Emperor’s endless deception and teabagging using episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles” as hostage, for a whole hour…!

All the resentment and sorrow that the nobles had to endure until now vanished in an instant.

Enjoying such reactions from the nobles, the Emperor began to operate the artifact placed on the table with a very relaxed motion.

Giiing-

At the same time, a very familiar sight began to appear on the screen of the artifact.

Needless to say, it was the appearance of Unit 0 that the nobles in this place knew all too well.

Moreover, it was Unit 0 transformed into a transcendent form with a halo generated above its head and 6 pairs of wings on its back.

As Dr. Rachel said, the current Unit 0 had awakened as a complete god with the power of creation for unknown reasons.

“Guoooo-!”

According to Unit 0’s gestures, the forms of all things in heaven and earth begin to transform, and a pillar of light centered on it envelops the entire Earth, trying to annihilate everything.

The power of mere humans like Linoa or Dr. Rachel couldn’t stop or restrain such a Unit 0, so they could only helplessly watch that scene, when at that very moment.

“…Hm?”

“What’s that?”

From high up in the sky, a Machine God with a very familiar appearance to the nobles suddenly reveals itself.

That Machine God, which appeared without any precursor or sign, threw the holy sword it was holding towards Unit 0.

Puwak-!

The holy sword thrown at tremendous speed hits right into Unit 0’s heart.

And the next moment.

Kwaching-!

At the same time, both the halo generated above its head and the wings on its back disappear without a trace.

What remains here is only the appearance of Unit 0, which has returned to an ordinary Machine God from the complete god that was performing creation.

Quietly looking at such an appearance of Unit 0, ‘someone’ on board the Machine God opens their mouth in a very low voice.

“This is as far as it goes, Kai. If you had gone any further, you wouldn’t have been able to return as a human.”

That voice was the very voice that the nobles knew all too well.

“N-No way, the owner of this voice is…!”

“I-Impossible. I thought she had retired long ago after being defeated in battle against the Outer Gods…!”

“Chloe…! To think Chloe would appear here…!”

That’s right.

The person who just now thrust the holy sword into Unit 0’s heart and stopped the creation ritual was none other than Chloe.

Meanwhile, Chloe on board the Machine God looks at Kai sleeping inside Unit 0 with a very pitiful expression.

That expression was the very embodiment of maternal love that seemed to miss and worry about someone, to the extent that even the nobles watching that scene were momentarily captivated.

“I’m sorry for hurting you. But… I had no choice. A world without you has no meaning to me.”

“So just sleep there for a very short while. This time, I will definitely make you happy.”

“…..”

“…..”

At this moment, the nobles were concentrating on the screen without even being able to make a proper breathing sound.

The Third Apocalypse and creation ritual mentioned by Rachel.

The unidentified holy sword that silenced Unit 0, which had awakened as a complete god, in one go.

And up to Chloe’s sudden rise to prominence, who until now was thought to be just a villain without much importance in “Machine God Chronicles”.

All these elements combined were causing tremendous dopamine to be secreted in the nobles’ brains, when at that very moment.

“Well then, that’s it for now.”

Click.

The Emperor raised his hand and stopped the artifact that was broadcasting episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles”.

At the same time, the expressions of the nobles who were watching the screen with their hands tightly clenched also froze.

“…N-No, Your Majesty, what on earth…!”

“Haha, Your Majesty. It seems you’ve made a mistake, so please quickly play episode 26 again. Surely you didn’t do that intentionally. Isn’t that right?”

The nobles said so while suppressing the harsh words that were about to come out of their mouths with superhuman patience.

But then.

“I told you. That this is as far as it goes.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ve told you in the past. The reason I can watch 5 episodes of “Machine God Chronicles” in advance is because the imperial family is supporting the production of “Machine God Chronicles” at the imperial level, and I’m playing a role no different from a kind of inspector.”

The Emperor said while tapping the artifact with his finger.

“If we reverse this statement, it means that if I wasn’t playing such a role, watching “Machine God Chronicles” in advance would never have been allowed. Even if I am the Emperor ruling this empire.”

“…!”

“Even at this moment, the imperial citizens are very curious about how episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles” will unfold. And I, as the one who has become the Emperor of the empire, cannot grant you the privilege of showing only you episode 26. Because that would be too unfair. Isn’t that right?”

Certainly, the Emperor’s words were the very essence of proper argument, so there was no way to refute them.

“Th-Then why did you show us that video earlier-”

“Well, that’s because you showed such desperate looks, so I showed you a preview. I can’t show you any more. Be satisfied with this much.”

The Emperor said so in a very firm tone.

But of course, the nobles couldn’t simply give up on episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles” like this.

If they hadn’t seen anything from the beginning, it might have been different, but they had already seen something like that.

So how could they simply back down like this…!

In the end, at this moment, there was only one choice the nobles could make.

“Your Majesty, then what if we pay a price?”

“…A price?”

“Yes. Instead of us watching episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles”, if we pay a price to Your Majesty, wouldn’t all problems be solved?”

At the nobles’ desperate words, the Emperor makes an expression as if something is interesting.

“Oh, that’s an interesting thing to say. A price. Well, what do you intend to pay to me?”

“If Your Majesty permits, I’m willing to pay 10% more taxes from our territory this month-”

“No need.”

At those words, the Emperor said with an expression as if his expectations had been greatly disappointed.

“The empire won’t become wealthy just by collecting 10% more taxes from you. And isn’t it too presumptuous to think you can buy episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles” with mere money?”

“I was thinking of gifting Your Majesty the 19-year-old wine from Valefor Mountain that I’ve been saving until now-”

“I don’t particularly like that drink.”

“The giant diamond that has been passed down in our family for generations-”

“I already have a lot of jewels, so not particularly.”

“…..”

At the Emperor’s continued refusals, the nobles felt as if their breath was suddenly cut off.

This doesn’t work, that doesn’t work.

So what, what exactly are they supposed to do?

‘Could it be that His Majesty never intended to show the full episode 26 of “Machine God Chronicles” from the beginning?’

He gives hope and then takes it away.

The moment they realized that this was the high-level teabagging… I mean, fan service that the Emperor had prepared, the nobles finally made expressions of despair.

‘Is this the end of everything?’

But, at that very moment.

“…Then, may I make an offer you can’t refuse, Your Majesty?”

“Oh?”

Despite seeing other nobles being retired by the Emperor, there was someone who bravely stepped forward.

It was none other than Duke Grinewald.

And seeing the Duke’s actions, the Emperor laughed.

“An offer I can’t refuse… Well, if it’s the Duke, unlike others, there’s a possibility you might make an attractive offer to me. So go ahead and speak. I will gladly listen to your words.”

The Emperor’s true purpose from the beginning was to toy with everyone here and plunge them into despair.

As such, no matter what offer the Duke made, he was confident he could listen with one ear and let it slide.

But.

“A 1/6 scale figure of Elli and Hamel kissing, made directly by the production team of ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’.”

“…What?”

“It’s an item that Ragna and Serika gifted to me as a sponsor when I supported the production of ‘The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel’. Naturally, it’s the only one of its kind in this world.”

“…..”

For a moment, the Emperor made an expression as if he had been caught off guard.

He never imagined that the Duke would offer such a valuable item for this deal.

But the Duke’s words weren’t completely finished yet.

“In addition, I’ll give you the 1/144 scale Unit 0 plastic model that Ragna made as a prototype for creating “Machine God Chronicles”. And in return, I’d like to perform the role of inspector who previews “Machine God Chronicles” along with you from now on. What do you think of my offer?”

“…Ugh, uuum!”

Stagger.

The Emperor staggered as if he could no longer maintain his composure.

A figure and plastic model made directly by the animation production team, which even the Emperor at the pinnacle of the empire couldn’t possibly have.

Now that the Duke had offered to give those up, there was only one thing the Emperor could say.

“…Alright, I’ve lost. I accept that deal.”

“A wise decision, Your Majesty.”

Hearing the Emperor’s declaration of surrender, Duke Grinewald smiled contentedly.

It was the very smile of a victor.