Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: 13. Life and Death Ledger (3)
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Recently, Liz—the voice actress for both Kai and Alpha—had been feeling like she was wandering through a dream rather than reality.
Liz was a commoner.
Moreover, since her parents had passed away early in her life, she had endured an incredibly tough childhood.
The one silver lining was her exceptional talent as an artist.
Thanks to that, Liz had been able to enter the Imperial Arts Academy by leveraging her gift.
But after finally achieving her dream of attending the academy, Liz plunged into despair instead.
She realized that the very talent which had sustained her pride up until then was utterly commonplace within the academy's walls.
She wasn't some standout prodigy.
Just an unremarkable girl with dime-a-dozen skills, no different from countless others scattered across the world.
And yet.
- The final selectee for this voice acting audition is... Liz.
- Pardon? Is that really true?
One day, a man appeared who changed her fate like magic.
A man who, despite her lack of any real expectations when she applied to the audition, had seen something in her and chosen her over all those formidable competitors.
His name was none other than Raguna Tersion.
The pioneer who had created the new genre of animation, represented by Eli and Hamel's Disappearance.
And at the same time, the director producing an anime called Mecha God Chronicle with the backing of the imperial family.
After that, Liz's world changed at an astonishing pace.
While working with Raguna on Mecha God Chronicle, she found herself meeting people she never would have dared even glance at in her normal life.
"You're Liz, the one taking over as Kai's voice actress? Nice to meet you. I'm Serika El Grinebalt, Saya's voice actress. Let's make this work together."
The daughter of one of the empire's most prestigious ducal houses smiling at her and extending a hand.
"I'm Kaya von Obern. I'm serving as assistant director under Director Raguna. Since he personally picked you through the audition, I trust you'll pull your weight."
She learned later, but she couldn't hide her shock at the fact that this noble lady was none other than the imperial princess, volunteering as Raguna's assistant director.
And then.
"What do you think of episode 19's plot development, Liz?"
"...Pardon? My opinion matters?"
"...? Of course it does. Who else would I ask if not the lead voice actress in our production?"
From what Liz knew, artists tended to be absorbed in their own worlds, stubborn and unyielding in their convictions.
But Raguna was different.
Even though she was much younger than him, he never dismissed her. He always listened attentively to her thoughts and went out of his way to help resolve any troubles she faced.
Of course, in truth, Raguna needed Liz's help to steer Mecha God Chronicle toward that disastrously awful ending, so he'd been building goodwill in advance.
From Liz's perspective, though, this was the first time in her life anyone had shown her such kindness, so she couldn't help but be deeply moved.
That's why, without realizing it, Liz found herself developing feelings for Raguna.
"...Oh dear, Liz. Are you aiming for Raguna? Lately, the way you look at him has been anything but innocent."
"...Pardon?"
"No way. That won't do. Didn't your teachers at the academy tell you not to touch what's someone else's?"
"....."
"I've already got one formidable rival giving me headaches. I don't need you piling on too. Got it?"
"...Yes, Lady Serika."
"Good girl."
Thus, the innocent girl's first love was crushed under threats and pressure.
Meanwhile, life at the academy changed dramatically too.
"Liz, I watched episode 32 of Mecha God Chronicle yesterday. Your Kai was fantastic."
"...Lady Evangeline."
"Sigh, we're classmates, so drop the 'Lady' already. It's cringey."
"But... you're the daughter of a ducal house, and I'm just a lowly commoner..."
"What does some stupid status matter? Raguna picked you in the audition, not me. That means you're a voice actress leagues above someone like me."
Evangeline gave a wry smile as she said this.
"So from now on, act with some confidence. You're practically the face of Mecha God Chronicle now. If you ever need help, just come to me."
And so Liz gained a reliable patron in Evangeline von Tieria.
But not every cadet at the academy acknowledged her.
Until recently, she was the girl who shuffled around in shabby clothes, with no special talents, always shrinking in the back of the classroom.
An eyesore, sure, but not worth the effort to bully—firmly at the bottom of the school's caste system.
Then she passed the audition for Mecha God Chronicle and landed the role of Kai, and everything flipped.
Her ragged outfits turned stylish, her expression brightened.
On top of that, Mecha God Chronicle was a massive hit across the empire, and now Liz was starring as the lead in the follow-up, Life and Death Ledger.
It was like a worthless Chikorita suddenly evolving into a Meganium—a total caste system upset.
Naturally, the noble cadets at the top of the school hierarchy couldn't tolerate this revolt from a Chikorita.
But they lacked the guts to directly mess with the lead voice actress of Life and Death Ledger, backed by the imperial family.
Instead, they started attacking her indirectly.
Something like this.
"Tomorrow, the academy will hold an observation class attended by the cadets' guardians."
The professor in charge of Liz's class announced it with a blank expression.
"In principle, all cadets' guardians must attend tomorrow's class. However, if a guardian can't make it due to personal circumstances, report it to me in advance."
At the professor's words, a few cadets sneakily glanced toward Liz.
Teehee.
A few snickered openly at her, though careful not to catch the professor's eye.
They all knew.
Liz had no parents, so no one would show up for her observation class.
"....."
Liz let their subtle sneers pass with a stoic face.
After all, before passing the Mecha God Chronicle audition, this was just her daily life.
But Evangeline, watching this, couldn't brush it off so calmly.
'Those filthy worms dare...!'
Put simply, she hated this situation.
No, it went beyond hate—she wanted to crush them right then and there.
Unfortunately, brute-forcing it would backfire in the long run.
In the end, there was only one way to resolve this smoothly.
"Sera."
"Yes, miss."
"Contact Director Raguna immediately. If you can't reach him, then Lady Grinebalt."
Evangeline spoke in a voice firm as steel.
"Tell them there's something urgent about Liz that they absolutely need to hear."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, the day of the academy's observation class.
The usually quiet academy building buzzed with noise today.
Thanks to the guardians of the cadets visiting for the observation class.
Liz's class was no exception.
At the back of the classroom, high-ranking nobles—the cadets' guardians—and even the academy chairman were already seated.
And naturally, no one claiming to be Liz's guardian was among them.
So what if she's the lead in Life and Death Ledger? At her core, she's still a rootless commoner orphan—
A few cadets shot Liz sidelong glances, smirking brazenly, when—
"Excuse me. Is this the classroom for today's observation class?"
A tall, handsome man and a stunningly beautiful woman stepped inside.
A striking pair who instantly drew every eye in the room.
"Yes, it is... but if you don't mind, who might you be...?"
"Ah, I suppose I skipped introductions."
The man bowed politely toward the professor at the podium.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Raguna Tersion, standing in as guardian for Cadet Liz."
"...Raguna Tersion?"
"You mean... the director of Mecha God Chronicle and Life and Death Ledger?"
Everyone in the room froze in shock at Raguna's words.
And how could they not?
No one here hadn't watched Mecha God Chronicle or Life and Death Ledger.
Countless people had wondered what the director behind such masterpieces looked like.
And now this young man, barely into his early twenties, was that director?
For real?
The cadets who had been sneering at Liz moments ago broke into cold sweats without realizing it.
But unfortunately, the arrivals weren't just Raguna and Serika.
"Hmm, an academy observation class."
Step.
Following Raguna, someone entered with slow, deliberate steps.
"Intriguing. I've always wanted to gauge the Imperial Academy's standards firsthand. Perfect timing."
The nobles, including the chairman, gaped at the newcomer.
"H-His Imperial Majesty the Emperor?"
"Y-Your Majesty! His Majesty is here!"
"Your Majesty! What brings you to—?!"
As the chairman and nobles panicked, the emperor replied in a leisurely tone.
"Hmm? What do you mean 'what brings me'? You're acting like I've wandered into someplace I shouldn't be."
"N-No, Your Majesty. Is there anywhere in this empire Your Majesty cannot go?"
The chairman stammered, and the emperor chuckled.
"It's nothing much. Yesterday, I happened to hear that the observation class for the cadet voicing my favorite character was today."
"...Pardon?"
"The voice of my favorite character means someone worthy of my favor. That's why I'm here. Any objections?"
"....."
Of course not.
Even if there were, the chairman lacked the courage to voice them.
But regrettably, the emperor had one grievance with the chairman.
Namely.
"Come to think of it, you're the chairman here, aren't you?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I heard something fascinating yesterday. Do you know what it was?"
"I-I'm not sure."
"Apparently, the cadet I'm keeping a close eye on isn't being treated well here. And for trivial reasons like status or family background..."
The emperor's eyes flashed.
"As chairman, you must know the root cause. What are your thoughts on this?"
"....."
Academy Chairman.
Age: 60.
Notable fact one.
Planning retirement in five years.
Notable fact two.
Life over.