Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: 5. Mecha God Chronicle (5)
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Two hours before the official premiere of Mecha God Chronicle.
The entire production team involved in making the anime had gathered at my house, along with the voice actors and staff.
The reason was simple.
Serika had suggested that, at the very least, we all watch the first episode of Mecha God Chronicle together at my place.
...To be honest, I still couldn't quite wrap my head around why we'd chosen my house instead of the spacious Grinebalt Duke's estate.
Anyway, after hashing things out with the mage handling the broadcast to make sure there wouldn't be any issues with the airing,
the staff were already settling into spots in my living room.
Serika and Kaya, in particular, were cozied up side by side in my personal favorite chair—what you'd call the prime seat.
What the hell? Why are they in my chair when there are plenty of perfectly good ones around?
I desperately wanted to politely ask them to please vacate my spot,
but painful memories from school days flooded back—thugs lounging in my seat during breaks, and me too scared to say a word—so I bit my tongue.
As I nursed a glass of wine to shake off the resurfacing PTSD, the staff's excited chatter reached my ears.
"The day has finally come. Honestly, I was so hyped I barely slept last night."
"When I watched Eli and Hamel's Disappearance in theaters, I never dreamed I'd end up making anime myself. Feels kinda surreal."
"I signed up for this thinking it'd be something like Eli and Hamel's Disappearance, but now I feel scammed. Who'd have thought the director would pick a mecha genre for the next one?"
"But Mecha God Chronicle has its own unique charm that's different from Eli and Hamel's Disappearance, right? Long-term, I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up more popular."
"What? Are you dissing Eli and Hamel's Disappearance? Sure, Mecha God Chronicle is fun, but it's got a long way to go before it tops that...!"
"Have you forgotten what anime you're even working on, you traitor?!"
The staff's banter quickly split them into factions—pro-Eli and Hamel's Disappearance and pro-Mecha God Chronicle—and they started arguing fiercely.
After a noisy back-and-forth, they eventually rushed over to me, demanding I settle it.
"Director, in your opinion, does Eli and Hamel's Disappearance have more popularity right now, or will Mecha God Chronicle surpass it soon?"
"We figured you'd give a wise ruling on this, Director...!"
"..."
Honestly, I had no clue why these idiots were making such a fuss.
But with them staring at me like eager puppies, I had no choice but to speak up.
"...Well, right now, Eli and Hamel's Disappearance has the edge in popularity, obviously. Mecha God Chronicle is a whopping 50-episode series, so its story builds slower."
That said, I added one more thing.
"But after the first episode airs, reactions might shift a bit. As you all know, we packed quite the punch into that final scene of episode one."
At my words, the staff exchanged sly grins before bursting into chuckles.
"Ah... yeah, you're right. People's reactions after episode one airs are gonna be something."
"No one saw that ending coming for the first episode. Shame we can't watch their faces in real time as it wraps up."
Hearing that, a smile crept onto my face too.
The people of this world weren't familiar with anime yet, especially not the mecha genre.
What kind of reaction would these pure souls have when I dropped a dopamine bomb called a 'cliché' on them?
Two hours later.
Mecha God Chronicle finally began broadcasting across the entire empire.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In a certain tavern in the capital, Gradium.
The owner had recently splurged on an artifact called a 'television.'
Why? Because he'd heard the creator of Eli and Hamel's Disappearance was airing a new anime called Mecha God Chronicle.
Sure, these artifacts were installed in busy plazas and government offices where anyone could watch,
but he was targeting the niche crowd who preferred sipping beer quietly in a tavern over crowded spots.
And sure enough, word spread about the TV, drawing twice the usual crowd.
Everyone had ordered a beer and was glued to the artifact in the center, waiting for the anime to start.
As the clock struck nine on the dot, the broadcast began.
The anime opened on a city reduced to near-ruins, teetering on collapse.
In its center, protagonist Kai walked under the guidance of a female soldier named Rinoa.
[I thought the army got wiped out by those mysterious monsters. It's still around?]
[The army did fall. But people from every nation and race banded together to fight the Outer Gods, forming a secret society.]
[What's that?]
[...Illuminati. A name born from the dream of one day leading humanity to truth from the grasp of those Outer Gods.]
Honestly, I'd wanted to name the secret organization something like Hydra or the Templar Knights.
But that sounded too villainous, so we settled on Illuminati.
Kai followed her into the Illuminati's secret base.
And there it was—the Mecha God from the trailer that had everyone's hearts racing.
"Whoa, that's the Mecha God...!"
"A giant machine modeled after a person, and someone rides inside it? The creator really gets what men dream of!"
"Hey, quiet down! Can't hear what the characters are saying!"
[Board the Mecha God, Kai.]
[Huh?]
[I said board the Mecha God, Kai. And strike down the Outer God invading this place. That's the only reason we brought you here.]
[Get in or get out. Your choice.]
Kai initially tried to refuse the commander's order,
but seeing a blonde girl covered in wounds—Saya—gasping for breath as she tried to climb back into the Mecha God changed his mind.
[...I'll do it.]
[Hm?]
[Instead of sending that dying little girl back to the battlefield, let me pilot the Mecha God!]
As Kai boarded, the operators reported his status in real time.
[Mecha God cooldown disengaged. Restraints unlocked and connected.]
[Cockpit inserted into core. Contact between pilot and Mecha God initiated.]
[Avatar link all clear. Synchronization between Mecha God and pilot confirmed.]
[Neural links from A307 to A608 established normally.]
[No rejection from the core. Mecha God maintaining stable levels.]
[...Impressive. First boarding with no rejection reaction.]
[He's a 'compatible one.' It had to recognize him.]
[Alright, Unit Zero—prepare for launch.]
[Launch prep complete!]
"..."
"..."
Hearing the dialogue between the operators and soldiers, the men in the tavern felt something stirring deep in their chests—a strange thrill.
What to call it?
They couldn't pinpoint why, but it satisfied some hidden romantic longing buried inside.
Most of the guys found the lines a bit cringy, yet undeniably cool at the same time.
Ignoring their reactions, Kai piloted the Mecha God out of the base to face the Outer God.
Rinoa, who'd brought him there, calmly explained to the tense-faced Kai.
[Listen well, Kai. You haven't learned to pilot a Mecha God properly yet. Beating an Outer God head-on is impossible right now. Just buy time against it. Once Saya's wounds are healed, she'll come relieve you.]
[...Got it.]
Kai fought desperately, as if he couldn't believe it was his first time piloting.
But his skills were too raw, and within a minute, the Outer God had him on the brink of death.
Kai blacked out in the cockpit, freezing the Mecha God.
"Damn... too much for him, huh?"
"That's impossible by any logic. Beat a monster like that on your first try? Winning would be weirder."
"Wait, is that the issue? The protagonist's about to die in episode one?"
"So when's Saya coming to save him? Kai's done for!"
As the Outer God's massive hand crept toward the Mecha God's core, everyone in the tavern shouted—
At that exact moment.
Giiiing—
The Mecha God's eyes lit up, despite lying motionless like it was dead moments ago.
And then.
Kwajik—!
With utterly overwhelming power, the Mecha God pulverized the Outer God's right arm in an instant.
[M-Mecha God reactivated!]
[W-What?]
[Didn't the pilot pass out? How's it moving?]
[I-I don't know. Mana's depleted—it shouldn't be able to move—]
[I-Incredible! Sync rate between Mecha God and pilot over 80%!]
[All Mecha God stats unreadable! Sensors malfunctioning!]
At the operators' reports, the commander and everyone paled.
[This phenomenon... no way...]
[...Rampage?]
[Guoooooh—!]
The Mecha God let out a beastly, ominous roar.
The screen went pitch black.
Followed by merciless text.
[To be continued next episode.]
"..."
"..."
Mecha genre cliché special.
The protagonist's mecha always rampages in episode one.