Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Mecha God Chronicle - Episode 17 (3)
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Life has a way of making you feel like the world is out to screw you over sometimes.
For instance, when you desperately need quick cash and try to sell off some meso, only for the market price to crash right then, leaving you unable to even cover minimum wage.
Or when you buy stocks at the absolute peak, and they plummet the second you do, like some ghost is haunting your trades.
Or even when you brace yourself for backlash and make an anime that's straight-up trashy garbage.
Yet people watch it and scream "masterpiece!"
"..."
How the hell did things end up like this?
No, honestly, isn't Mecha God Chronicle Episode 17 just trashy plot development, nothing more or less?
I, the creator, made it with exactly that intent, so no one can deny it.
So why the fuck are these so-called experts and professors ruining my "perfect plan" with their bullshit?
'What do I do now?'
Right then, I realized I had to react to this somehow.
If I just stayed quiet like usual, those absurd fake news stories would morph into "truth" and come strangling me before long. My gut screamed it.
In the end, there was only one way to fix this mess.
'Frontal assault.'
I had to admit out loud, with my own mouth, that Mecha God Chronicle Episode 17 was trash.
But this backward world has no internet, no SNS, no online forums, so there was nowhere to broadcast my opinion publicly.
So what now?
How could I naturally spread the word that Episode 17 was a dumpster fire?
After agonizing over it, I came up with one solution.
First, I tracked down the spot where the rebels—who dared point spears at the imperial family—first stirred up their treason. I tried contacting one of them.
"...No way, Lord Raguna?"
"Haha, it's been a while, Ricardo."
The target of my outreach was the mustache guy who flunked out of art school.
He's a dangerous dude, but I kept in touch because he had his uses.
"Aren't you swamped producing Mecha God Chronicle right now? What brings you to a place like this...?"
"Oh, it's about Episode 17 that aired yesterday. That's why I reached out."
"...Mecha God Chronicle Episode 17?"
Ricardo looked utterly baffled at my words.
"What could possibly be wrong with it? I watched it last night and thought it was perfect..."
...That's because you're a die-hard fan, buddy.
This guy would clap even if I ended Episode 18 with a ninja massacre via meteor drop. So I cut straight to the point.
"I hear you're the chairman of a Mecha God Chronicle fan group."
"Ah, yes. That's right."
"And your group gathers in the square the day after each episode to debate. It's gotten so famous that even critics get invited as guests sometimes?"
"You knew? Yeah, exactly like you said. Unlike us pure fans debating out of love, those critics join to gather material for their hit pieces and columns. You need to know the show inside out to trash it properly."
I nodded as I listened to Ricardo.
A debate packed with critics bashing Mecha God Chronicle, with a huge audience watching.
What better stage for my goal?
"Mind if I join this next debate?"
"...Pardon?"
Ricardo looked troubled at my request.
"Um, Lord Raguna... I don't know your reasons, but maybe think it over? The guests aren't exactly fans of the show."
"Doesn't matter."
In fact, better if they're hostile.
They'd churn out scathing articles on Episode 17 the next day, based on whatever "sources" they get from the debate.
"B-But why the sudden interest in our debate?"
"Nothing big. I just read some newspaper articles this morning mentioning Episode 17."
"Pardon?"
"They were so ridiculous, I figured I should set the record straight a bit. And shift public perception while I'm at it."
"...Ha."
Ricardo gave me this look like he'd just figured something out.
And I realized I'd screwed up.
Did I tip my hand too much?
But then...
"Haha, what a guy. As expected of Lord Raguna. I can't compete."
"...Huh?"
"I heard about that voice actor audition incident. You stood up to a noble lady from a prestigious house to protect a lead actress with no backing. You always put the production team and staff first."
"...?"
I had no clue what he was on about.
But my goal was achieved anyway, so I just nodded like I got it.
"Oh, right—I never asked about your group's name. What is it?"
"Nothing fancy. It's ca—"
"Ca—?"
"...'My Struggle.' It embodies my resolve to challenge the art world again after flunking the academy entrance."
"..."
Maybe I should just kill this guy now. It'd be for world peace.
I seriously considered it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few hours later, Ricardo guided me to the debate venue.
Everyone—participants and audience—was already seated.
So when Ricardo and I showed up out of nowhere, all eyes locked on me.
"Ahem, sorry. Bringing in a special guest for today's debate held us up a bit."
"...Special guest? Who's that?"
"Oh, right—I haven't introduced yet. Allow me: Raguna Tersion, director and producer overseeing Mecha God Chronicle!"
"Hello."
I bowed slightly to the crowd, who stared in disbelief.
But only for a moment.
Waaaaaaaaah—!
A deafening roar hit me next, rattling my ears.
I couldn't help but be a little shocked watching them.
I'm just a director-producer. Why the hero worship?
"Hello. I'm Raguna Tersion, director for the Mecha God Chronicle production team."
I gave a calm greeting, clearing my throat slowly.
From here on, every word mattered.
One slip, and I'd either end up the empire's anime slave or a penniless bum.
"The reason I'm here today is regarding those articles about yesterday's Mecha God Chronicle Episode 17—"
But then.
"Ra-Raguna! I mean, Director!"
Someone I knew burst in, looking frantic.
I blinked wide at the sight of her.
"...Serika?"
Why the hell is Serika here?
No, wait—I never told her I was coming. How'd she know?
— Audience Murmur …Wh-Who is that? — Another Voice N-No idea? But looking at her, she's no ordinary person. The audience gawked at Serika, dumbfounded.
I get it. When I first met her at the Magic Tower, I fantasized about our wedding and how many kids we'd have.
Meanwhile, Serika ignored the stares and bowed to the crowd.
"Hello. I'm Serika El Grinebalt, voice of 'Saya' in Mecha God Chronicle."
— Shocked Fan Wh-Who? Saya's voice actress? — Disbelieving Fan She's the one doing Saya's voice? For real? The crowd couldn't believe it, jaws dropping.
Serika gazed at them quietly and spoke.
"I'm here because I heard Director Raguna—er, the Mecha God Chronicle director—wanted to address those recent newspaper articles."
"They basically said stuff like: 'Episode 17 is perfect, but the voice acting is so amateurish. It's dragging down this masterpiece...'"
She bit her lip as she said it.
"When I heard the director was coming here, I figured it out. He's probably standing up for us voice actors, who are too immature compared to the perfect masterpiece that is Mecha God Chronicle, and getting flak from critics."
"...?"
What the hell is she talking about?
I had no such intention.
I just came to tell off the critics fawning over it as a "masterpiece."
"We know it too. My acting—and all us voice actors'—is pathetically inadequate next to the show's quality."
"...But we know that, so we're working nonstop to improve. For better episodes ahead, and voices worthy of Mecha God Chronicle. So please, blame us voice actors, not the director."
"That's all I wanted to say. Sorry for barging in."
She bowed to the audience again.
"..."
"..."
The crowd was speechless, stunned by the scene.
But only briefly.
- Wooooaaaah! Waaaaah—!
The cheers exploded, shaking the entire area—way louder than mine earlier.
The audience surged toward Serika like rabid idol stans.
⭐ Top Shout — Superfan "Saya's my top girl from today! Eirin? Chloe? Get lost! Saya Squad owns this place now!" — Fan Chant "Eirin? Chloe? Aren't they just relics of a bygone era?" — Rally Cry "Eirin Squad, Chloe Squad! Sign here! The true winner of Mecha God Chronicle is Saya!" — Diehard "Mecha God Chronicle's trash? Nah, seeing Lady Serika proves it's a calculated cosmic masterpiece!" "..."
Watching the debate turn into Serika's fan meet in seconds, I knew it deep in my bones.
Ah, fuck. This is totally fucked.