Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Next Work Plan (4)
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"Well then, I have some matters to attend to, so I should be heading back."
The princess declared her sudden departure from this place, just as abruptly as she had stormed into the baron's territory in the first place.
"For now, I'll go report to His Majesty about the plans we've made here."
"...You're going to inform His Imperial Majesty?"
I couldn't help but make a troubled face at the princess's words.
No, if a report about making an anime goes up to the emperor, then there's no backing out anymore.
"Well, I know it might feel burdensome to you. But even as a princess, I can't just handle imperial budget matters on my own."
With that, the princess patted my shoulder and flashed a bright smile.
"But you don't need to worry about a thing. Tedious stuff like budgets or artifact distribution—I'll take care of all that. If anyone pesters you over animation-related issues, feel free to name-drop me as much as you want."
"Hmm. Is that so."
I didn't know about the rest, but as a mere chikorita in noble society, I was thrilled that someone on the level of a legendary Pokémon—at minimum a Lizaemon—was backing me up.
"Remember, I'm always on your side. Well then, I'll be off."
The princess left those words behind and departed with light steps.
I ground my teeth watching her go, then threw myself into preparations for producing a 50-episode epic anime series.
The first thing I tackled was writing the synopsis.
"...Synopsis? What's that?"
"Well, it's like a planning document for making the anime. You jot down the title, the intent behind it, the plot, the settings—all that in brief."
Serika tilted her head, looking like she didn't quite get it.
"But we didn't do anything like that when we made Eli and Hamel's Disappearance. So why write a synopsis this time?"
"Because things are a lot different from last time."
That was right.
Back when we made Eli and Hamel's Disappearance, there weren't many elements I had to worry about.
It was just a two-hour theatrical anime, so it wasn't a huge undertaking requiring a full synopsis.
Most of the work got solved with a simple snap via illusion magic or duplication spells anyway.
But this time was different.
'Even with magic handling most tasks, making a 50-episode series all by myself is impossible.'
So, just like back on 21st-century Earth before my reincarnation, I needed to assemble a production team to make the anime.
'Starting with mages who can use illusion and duplication magic alongside me, writers to plug plot holes, an assistant director to support me... Oh, and voice actors for the supporting roles and extras, plus staff to handle all the miscellaneous chores...'
Just imagining it was already a headache.
Before reincarnating, I'd been a freelance hack, scraping by on subcontracts from subcontracts—I'd never dealt with that kind of team setup.
So how was a total shut-in like me supposed to round up experts from every field and form a team?
'Argh, damn it. Should I just ask the Grinebalt Duke for help?'
I was agonizing over begging the guy who always looked at me like I was trash when...
"Hmm, I heard the news and came over. Raguna, you're having trouble putting together a production team, right?"
The princess, who was supposed to be off meeting the emperor, popped up right in front of me.
"...How did you even know that?"
Did she plant a spy around me or something?
Even as I stared at her in disbelief, she didn't bat an eye and spoke up.
"Well, that's not the important part right now. More to the point, I think I can be of help to you."
"Your Highness is going to help me? How?"
And in the next moment, I doubted my own ears at her words.
"I want to join your anime production too. I'd like to help out as one of the staff. What do you say?"
Pardon? What did you just say?
****
After that conversation with Raguna about the anime production, the princess immediately returned to the imperial palace and had an audience with the emperor.
The man she'd met in person, Raguna Tersion, was someone tirelessly striving to create anime that every citizen of the empire could watch and enjoy.
Then, as his business partner, shouldn't the princess do her utmost in her own role?
At present, the only thing she could do for Raguna was secure a hefty budget to let him realize his vision on the grandest scale.
"Ho, animation, eh? That thing that's all the rage in the capital lately?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. After speaking with Tersion Young-style—the very man who created it—I became convinced that using his animations, we could create something for all imperial citizens to enjoy. On a broader note, I believe this could advance the empire's culture."
"...Hmm."
The emperor pondered her words for a moment before speaking.
"Well, you have a point. It's not a bad thing for the people to have some entertainment everyone can share."
"...Thank you for understanding, Your Majesty. Then, I'll arrange the relevant budget right aw—"
"However, there's one condition."
The emperor cut her off mid-sentence.
"If the imperial family is funding this anime production, we need to ensure the budget is being used properly. Can't have this Raguna fellow wasting it somewhere shady."
"...Pardon? Ah, well..."
The Raguna she'd seen firsthand would never do such a thing.
But the emperor had a valid point, so she couldn't argue back.
However.
"To that end, we should send someone from the palace to monitor and oversee whether he's making the anime properly."
"...Pardon?"
"Listening to you, it seems like if we use animation right, we could do a lot with it. For instance, slip in some content praising the imperial family, don't you think?"
"....."
Hearing that, the princess felt her heart sink.
In her view, the greatest strength of Raguna's animations was their boundless imagination and the freedom it brought.
Both Nymph and Goblin and Eli and Hamel's Disappearance had become masterpieces precisely because they broke free from the shackles of reality, letting Raguna pour in exactly what he wanted.
But if the palace meddled constantly, forcing him to make anime to their tastes?
Could anything produced in such an environment become a masterpiece like Eli and Hamel's Disappearance?
'No, I absolutely can't allow that!'
That's why the princess stepped up herself.
If she volunteered as the imperial overseer, no one else would have a chance to interfere with Raguna's work.
'Raguna, you just focus on making your anime. I'll handle all the filthy worldly affairs.'
Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of all this, Raguna just stared at her in utter bewilderment.
"...You're serious? Sorry, but anime production is grueling, backbreaking work. I don't think it's something for someone of Your Highness's station."
"Doesn't matter. Do I seem like some naive fool who doesn't grasp the reality? Besides, I'm quite confident in administrative tasks. In a situation like this, where you're struggling to form a team, I can assure you I'd be a huge help."
"Hmm..."
Raguna made a thoughtful face at her words.
But only for a moment. He let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"...One more time: during production, I absolutely won't give the princess any special treatment."
"Doesn't matter. I'm not joining for that."
"Also, I'm the total director of the anime. If Your Highness joins the team, you'll have to follow my orders unconditionally."
"Got it. Or rather, I will. I promise to unconditionally follow Director Raguna's instructions during production."
"If you insist that much... All right. I'll accept Your Highness as a team member. Assistant director position."
"Call me Kaya on the team, not Your Highness. If you call me that, it might cause misunderstandings with the others."
"...Got it, Kaya."
Having officially joined the production team, the first thing Kaya did was satisfy her burning curiosity.
"So, Director. What kind of anime are you planning for the next one?"
"Huh?"
"Even a rough outline of the plot would be fine. Just a hint—I've been dying to know. Something fairy-tale-like with romance, like Eli and Hamel's Disappearance? Or light and humorous like Nymph and Goblin?"
"Um... well..."
Raguna scratched his head awkwardly at Kaya's question.
Because he couldn't exactly say, 'It's a story where the protagonist gets a group applause saying "Congrats" from everyone at the end, and humanity turns into orange juice.'
As Raguna hemmed and hawed, Kaya let out a quiet sigh and changed her question.
"Sigh... Then at least tell me the title of the next work. We're starting production soon anyway, so that much should be fine, right?"
"Hmm... The title, huh..."
Raguna pondered what to name this one.
"Not sure exactly, but I think it'll be something like A Cruel Angel Becomes a Myth."
It was a trendy webnovel-style title these days, and a perfect nod of respect to the benchmark work it drew from—not plagiarism, of course.
Unaware of Raguna's inner satisfaction, Kaya made a troubled face.
"Um... Director... the title... Could you rethink it one more time?"
"...Why?"
"Well... sentence-style titles just feel so weird... Could you please hold off on that...?"
"....."
Raguna's face twisted at Kaya's words.
'Damn it.'
If you talk like that, what happens to the Korean webnovel market?
The princess just doesn't get people.