Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: 11. Mecha God Chronicle - Ending (3)
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"Your Majesty."
The day after Mecha God Chronicle episode 50 aired, I was dragged to the imperial palace at the crack of dawn on the Emperor's summons.
Well, I had a pretty good idea why the Emperor had called for me.
It had to be because of the ending of last night's Mecha God Chronicle.
If I'd shown episode 50 to the Emperor in advance, he would've demanded reshoots for sure, so I made every excuse under the sun to avoid screening it.
So yeah, the Emperor must've been pretty shocked watching it.
I could fully understand how he felt right now.
'Because I made that ending specifically to shock people.'
Back in the day, the director of that work that turned humanity into orange juice apparently answered the question of why he chose such an ending like this.
Because he didn't like people holed up in their rooms.
Because people who got way too immersed in his work rubbed him the wrong way for some reason.
In a positive light, it was an attempt to enlighten people through his work about the real world.
In a negative light, it was peak hipster bullshit.
But here's the key point.
Even though that director ended his anime like that, surprisingly few people actually bashed him personally.
The 'experts' and 'critics' who watched it praised it as a 'direct challenge to modern capitalist society' or a 'scathing critique of fearful young people too scared to leave their homes.'
Of course, the viewers scratching their bellies in their rooms spat blood.
Honestly, I don't get those reviews at all.
From my perspective, it's like that crap about 'masterfully weaving ascent and descent into a crystalline tapestry...' or whatever.
But at the same time, I realized I could use this to my advantage.
In other words, no matter how godawful the ending is, if you sprinkle in some 'pretentious-looking' bits throughout the story, it stops being trash and becomes high art, right?
So I boldly ripped it off.
That situation where the ending gets hate but the director walks away unscathed was exactly what I'd been dreaming of.
Plus, I'd already made Mecha God Chronicle episode 50 and aired it across the entire Empire.
What's done is done—what could the Emperor even do about it now?
All he could do was tremble and yell, nothing more.
So I figured I'd graciously endure whatever tantrum he threw at me over episode 50 today.
After all, this was my last visit to the palace, and a glorious life of unemployment awaited me afterward. Showing a little mercy was nothing.
But.
"...You've come, Raguna."
Something was off about the Emperor's vibe as he looked at me.
He tilted his head and stared, then spoke.
"Episode 50 that aired last night. I watched it quite well. And congratulations on Mecha God Chronicle reaching its conclusion."
"...Ah, yes. Thank you."
"But that doesn't mean I liked the ending of episode 50. Quite the opposite, in fact."
The Emperor's eyes flashed as he addressed me.
"To put it bluntly: With Mecha God Chronicle episode 50, is that really the end of everything?"
"...Yes?"
"I'm asking if that ending—where only Kai and Eirin survive on Earth, and all other humanity perishes—is truly the best possible one."
I nodded without hesitation at the Emperor's question.
"Yes, it is. At least, that's what I believe."
"...I didn't like that ending at all."
"That's art for you. No work ever fully satisfies from start to finish."
As I spoke with utter confidence, the Emperor narrowed his eyes at me.
"So, no intention of changing the ending, then?"
"Correct."
"No matter what happens?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
How could a man go back on his word like that?
As someone who always aimed to be a real man, I couldn't tolerate such behavior.
"Sigh... I see."
The Emperor, who'd been watching me silently, suddenly let out a sigh.
"Well, no helping it then. Though it's not my preferred method, I'll have to handle this a bit more aggressively from here."
"...?"
"I'm not about to send a wretch who dared attempt to assassinate me back home unscathed."
"...Assassinate?"
Assassination?
Who? Whom?
No way... Me? The Emperor?
Why?
At that absurd accusation, I shot to my feet to bolt from the room.
But right then.
Bzzt-crackle!
Magic restraints slammed into me, and I knew I was screwed.
Turning my head in disbelief, there stood my mentor, grinning like a coward after blasting me in the back of the head with a spell.
"...Raguna, sorry. If you cooperate this time, His Majesty promised to double our Magic Tower's budget..."
"....."
Ah, fuck.
This is too much, seriously.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Council of State.
The meeting where the Empire's most noble figures gather to discuss imperial affairs.
And right now, in that very chamber, the Emperor and nobles were conversing in gravely serious tones.
"Last night, an attempt was made to assassinate me right here in the palace."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"To attempt assassinating His Majesty at the pinnacle of the Empire. That assassin must be quite the bold one."
"And he was terribly cunning about it, too—not striking me down directly, but indirectly. For instance, by meticulously stoking my rage to spike my blood pressure..."
With that, the Emperor glanced at me, propped in the center of the room like a mannequin.
"....."
"....."
The nobles stared at me with utterly icy expressions.
And among them, for reasons unknown, was my father— a sight that truly pierced my heart.
"To summarize Your Majesty's words, the ending of Mecha God Chronicle was a horrific weapon that could've taken Your Majesty's life."
"Heh, I felt much the same watching it last night. In that light, shouldn't we apply not just attempted regicide, but attempted mass murder as well?"
"Ho, what a brilliantly wise notion."
"Since Mecha God Chronicle's ending wiped out all humanity, it's not just 'attempted' mass murder—straight-up mass murder!"
"Add holocaust charges too! And every other crime we can think of!"
"Frankly, dropping that ending is an anti-humanitarian crime, isn't it? Rinoa died, and now my heart won't beat anymore..."
"....."
It was a cauldron of pure madness.
I'd swear on my life not a single sane person was in that room.
Debating in earnest how to punish a director over an anime's ending.
A fitting spectacle for a fantasy world where human rights didn't exist... not Wa no Kuni, but close enough.
In 21st-century democratic South Korea, this would've been unthinkable.
'No, these lunatics for real.'
My instincts, honed from scraping by on subcontract gigs before reincarnation, screamed warnings at me like mad.
Run away right now!
Fuck, how do I escape from here?'
My mentor—who sold me out for a few coins—was watching me; getting out was impossible.
Who was to blame, though?
It was my fault for not realizing sooner that the mentor I trusted was a total traitor.
"With that in mind, a question for the criminal, Raguna Tersion."
"Do you admit to the charges of attempted imperial assassination via Mecha God Chronicle episode 50, abetting mass murder in the anime, inciting murder, and other anti-humanitarian crimes like human extinction?"
"....."
Me? The guy quietly making anime in his room? When did I commit such horrific atrocities?
And crimes inside an anime? What the hell?
In that moment, I realized I had to play my prepared hidden card.
"...Your Majesty."
"What? Finally ready to change the ending?"
"Did you know? I'm planning to sell a special director's cut artifact compiling episodes 1 through 50 of Mecha God Chronicle soon... not the broadcast version."
The Emperor furrowed his brow at my words.
"And? Don't bring up anything unrelated to episode 50's ending—"
"And in that director's cut."
I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
"There'll be a new ending, different from the original episode 50. Call it the true ending."
"...What did you say?"
"T-True ending?"
The Emperor and nobles gawked in disbelief.
"Your Majesty. Think about it logically—I wouldn't end it like that in my right mind. To build momentum, you first have to hit rock bottom. I crafted episode 50 that way on purpose to lead into a true ending where everyone gets their happy resolution!"
Thud.
To sell the sincerity, I even dropped to my knees dramatically.
"As the anime's creator, my greed for a better ending must've troubled Your Majesty. It's all my failing, so please execute this fool!"
"Haha, come now. Get up. Don't embarrass me."
The Emperor himself helped me to my feet.
"Why not say that from the start? I nearly thought you'd made episode 50 that way just to assassinate me. Ha ha ha!"
"Ha ha ha! Your Majesty, your sense of humor is impeccable!"
The Emperor, laughing at me, suddenly cut it off and spoke.
"You're not pulling that ending stunt because you don't want the next project I assign you, right?"
"...Absolutely not."
"Good. Let's do well going forward."
Pat pat.
The Emperor clapped my shoulder with a smiling face.
'Fuck.'
And so.
Second job change: Emperor's Anime Slave.
Complete.