Animation Producer in a Fantasy World

In this world, there exists a theory called the zero-sum game.

If I were to explain this in detail, it would be endless, so to put it simply, it’s a concept that when you gain something, you simultaneously lose something.

Should I say it’s a concept similar to the law of equivalent exchange that appears in a certain alchemist manga?

And.

“Your Majesty, are you really in your right mind! No matter how much you disliked the ending of “Machine God Chronicles”, how could you threaten the Director!”

“…I’m sorry.”

Such laws of the world were something that even the Emperor, the master of the Empire, could not possibly avoid.

Because at this moment, the Emperor was receiving terrifying scolding from Kaya, who belatedly learned what had happened to Ragna.

“I never imagined Your Majesty would be so short-sighted. Moreover, this was something Your Majesty didn’t even need to come out for in the first place.”

Kaya opened her mouth with an expression that looked truly pained.

“The Director never intended to end “Machine God Chronicles” like that in the first place. He had planned from the beginning to wrap up the whole story with a true ending through the director’s cut!”

That’s right.

From the beginning, Ragna never intended to conclude the ending of “Machine God Chronicles” with the extinction of humanity.

No matter how much Ragna was aiming to become a NEET, before that, he was an animation producer who wanted to create a good work.

Before his reincarnation, Ragna clearly remembered how empty he felt when he saw the orange juice ending of ‘that work’.

That’s why Ragna secretly prepared a true ending where everyone could have a happy ending in the director’s cut, while ending the TV version with the extinction of humanity.

Of course, the reason Ragna prepared the true ending version in advance was strongly for ‘insurance’ purposes in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Kaya simply believed that Ragna didn’t reveal this fact in advance because of his pride as an artist.

“I thought Your Majesty was someone who loved artists and respected their free will. Then why did you act so inappropriately?”

In the past, there was a time when the ending of a detective novel that the Emperor greatly enjoyed reading ended somewhat absurdly.

That is, the author suddenly ended it with an ending where the protagonist dies, saying he wanted to write a novel in a different genre.

But at that time, although the Emperor felt somewhat dumbfounded, he didn’t go to find the author to say something or take any measures.

Only occasionally, he would mutter impure soliloquies like ‘Should I have locked him in the basement and fed him only steamed buns….’

But now, what on earth is the reason for acting like this towards Ragna?

“…I know well. I know that I did something I shouldn’t have done. But, but…!”

The Emperor wailed like a protagonist appearing in a tragedy.

“Humanity perished! All of humanity perished! Even the imperial subjects that I must protect to the end all died! I’ll give you treasures, positions, everything! So please just save them!”

“…..”

The Emperor, who had already fallen deeply into “Machine God Chronicles”, had reached the point of somewhat confusing reality and anime.

But that was just the Emperor’s personal circumstance.

Kaya spoke in a somewhat cold tone.

“What if the Director says he won’t make animations anymore because of this?”

“…What?”

“Your Majesty seems to be misunderstanding something, but we are by no means in a superior position. Rather, we are in a thoroughly inferior position. Have you already forgotten who created the genre of animation in this world, and from whose fingertips works like “Machine God Chronicles” came?”

“…..”

“So from now on, please absolutely do not interfere with what kind of animation the Director makes or what kind of story he conceives. Promise me.”

“…Alright, I promise.”

The Emperor said so in a somewhat cowed voice, but Kaya was not satisfied with this.

“And the Director said that from now on, he won’t give Your Majesty the preview copies of the animations in advance.”

“Wh-What!”

At that moment, the Emperor made an expression of shock.

So, from now on, he won’t be able to watch the broadcast version of the animation that will air two weeks later in advance?

For the Emperor, who enjoyed gathering nobles and teabagging them with spoilers, this was nothing short of a death sentence.

“Th-That alone cannot be. I have done terribly wrong. I am truly a damnable person, so please have mercy…!”

The Emperor pleaded, putting aside all his pride and everything, but Kaya shook her head with a firm expression.

“Absolutely not. Give up.”

“Arrrgh…!”

In the end, the Emperor collapsed on the floor, having lost his will to live.

The law of equivalent exchange.

The alchemist brothers lost their arms, legs, and body while attempting human transmutation to revive their mother.

And the Emperor was re-educated after oppressing Ragna to change the ending of “Machine God Chronicles”.

That was the way of the world.

A few days later, in the square in front of the Imperial Palace.

Currently, the usual tranquility was nowhere to be found, and it had become a hustle and bustle where one could barely find a place to step.

Because the entire square was filled with people who had lined up early to buy the director’s cut of “Machine God Chronicles”.

And Duke Grünewald, who had gone out to the square from early dawn and lined up at the end, was able to get his hands on the director’s cut of “Machine God Chronicles” before anyone else.

A person of the Duke’s stature could have sent a subordinate to buy the director’s cut, but he deliberately lined up and purchased it himself.

Because this director’s cut of “Machine God Chronicles” was a limited edition that sold only one per person.

And the Duke wanted to fully enjoy the joy of the moment when such a limited edition came into his hands.

On the cover of the director’s cut case in his hand was written the word [RE-MAKE].

“…Remake? Does it mean it was made anew?”

Moreover, upon checking, the length of the bonus video attached to the director’s cut was only 1 hour at most.
Seeing that, the Duke couldn’t help but feel a sort of expectation along with tremendous anxiety.

Because in the Duke’s view, the ending of episode 50 was something that was utterly impossible to recover from.

All of humanity had turned into a handful of blood due to the Ascension Plan, how could all that be resolved in just 1 hour?

“In my opinion, there is no way to neatly resolve the story. But…”

Ragna, that guy might show something that surpasses my expectations-

Thinking so, the Duke quickly returned to his mansion and played the artifact.

Zzzzt-

On the played screen, there was only the Earth overflowing with blood, and the figures of Kai and Eileen, the only two survivors.

“…I feel, bad.”

Eileen mutters so while closing her eyes, perhaps due to the disgust of being the only one to survive while all of humanity perished.

A bad ending itself where literally no dreams or hope exist.

Looking at Eileen like that, Kai closes his eyes with an expression stained with guilt.

And-

“…Huh?”

When he opened his eyes, it was an unfamiliar ceiling.

And looking at the ceiling, Kai makes a perplexed expression.

He was surely closing his eyes in a place where all of humanity had turned into a handful of blood.

Why is he now opening his eyes in a place like this?

But, right then.

“Oh my, you’re already awake?”

Someone speaks to him from beside him.

Reflexively turning to the side, Kai makes a surprised expression.

Because.

“R-Rachel?”

She, who had died due to the Human Ascension Plan, was not only alive in front of him but was even speaking to him.

What on earth is going on?

Is he seeing an illusion right now?

Meanwhile, Rachel smiles seeing Kai like that.

“My, it seems being swallowed by the Outer God was quite a shock even for you?”

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t you remember? You were sucked into the 11-dimensional imaginary space created by the Outer God and barely escaped. If it weren’t for Eileen and Saya’s help, you would have surely died there.”

“…”

He remembers. At least that such a thing happened during the battle with the Outer God.

But wasn’t that.

A past story that happened a few months before all of humanity died due to the Human Ascension Plan?

But why is Rachel talking now as if such a thing happened recently?

No, why is Rachel even breathing alive in the first place?

“…Could this be.”

Kai now realizes what has happened to him.

Likewise, the Duke, who was focusing on the screen without even breathing properly, realizes what has happened to Kai.

“…I see. This is completely crazy.”

In the Duke’s view, there was no way to normally resolve the ending of “Machine God Chronicles”.

But if you can’t resolve the ending, can’t you just turn back time and treat everything as if it never happened?

“Regression…! Was regression the answer…!”

That’s right.

The current Kai has, for reasons unknown, turned back time and returned to the point before all the tragedies began.

And in a state where he knows everything that will happen in the future, including the Human Ascension Plan!

“I see. Then I… have returned after seeing the end of this world.”

Muttering so, Kai clenches his fist.

“I won’t be swayed by others anymore. From now on… I’ll live for myself.”

Life’s second round, the returner Kai.

Monopolizing everything for myself alone, and leveling up alone.

Let’s go.