Episode 81: The Secret Room and Evil God Worship
When the first animation appeared on Earth in my previous life.
They say the people of the time were shocked, as if they could feel the changing of the era with their whole bodies.
Naturally, since it could show images impossible through existing methods, and portray unrealistic expressions far more easily.
With such new technology appearing, of course they had no choice but to feel the change of the times.
And now, after hundreds of years and in a place that had crossed worlds entirely, the Kingdom of Yustia.
It was becoming a cauldron of shock and admiration at a change of the times similar to Earth back then... no, far greater than that.
“Have you seen the new animation that came out this time?”
“No? I’ve been reading the novels and comics I had piled up, so I haven’t watched it yet.”
“You still haven’t seen it? This won’t do.
How can you fall so far behind the times?
If you don’t watch [At Home with Animal Friends], you’re losing half your life!”
“Come now, is it really that serious just because I haven’t watched one thing?
Just how good was it for everyone to be making such a fuss?”
“Do you remember how many painters switched over to becoming comic artists?”
“Of course. Isn’t that why I’ve been able to read comics in abundance?”
“From now on, animation will become exactly that.
It is, quite literally, a new culture.”
There was a reason the people of this world had no choice but to feel the impact of animation even more strongly.
‘Because it wasn’t born through a gradual process, but appeared all of a sudden because of me, a reincarnator.’
In a medieval fantasy world where, until only a few years ago, even comics had not existed, let alone the concept of animation.
A form of animation far more advanced than the first animation of my previous life had dropped into it, so of course the reaction had to be tremendous.
‘It’s practically an OOPArt that leapt across eras in the cultural world.’
Thanks to the effect of its first work appearing with such a high level of polish, animation left people with a powerful impression and favorable feelings.
And because of that, animation, which already had plenty of potential to become an industry in its own right, was spreading even faster as if it had been fitted with a booster.
“This is it! This is the most perfect path paintings of the future will take!”
“Damn it! What do you have to do to make animation? Should I go find Author Wei and beg him to teach me?”
Painters inspired by animation were steadily making up their minds and preparing to jump into animation production.
“Say, this animation thing really is pleasant to watch.
Can’t we make one of those too?”
“If we had even one, it would be quite good for promoting our house.
Try making one properly.”
Groups and noble families entering animation production were also increasing.
Well, most of them had no production know-how and were aiming to promote the organizations or families they belonged to, so their chances of success weren’t high.
Still, what mattered was that it was an attractive genre and industry, enough for even those upper-class circles to jump in without any resistance.
After all, only if it spread widely like that would the chances of interesting works appearing increase.
‘Someday, the day will come when I can watch something as fun as what I saw in my previous life.’
The day when I can comfortably enjoy something someone else made, not me.
‘Kehehet. Author Wei, regarding the character merchandising rights contract for [At Home with Animal Friends], please, with our Merchant Guild...’
And in the midst of all that, Shylock and the Merchant Guild, who somehow managed to sniff out the scent of money, proposed a character merchandising rights contract and made me laugh in disbelief.
Well, character merchandise was also a kind of culture if you looked at it that way, so I had no reason to refuse and signed the contract right away.
The Publishing Guild?
Unfortunately, it seemed they hadn’t thought as far as character merchandise.
‘As expected, merchants are quicker on the uptake with things like this.’
At this point, is it one-to-one between them?
Honor and fame went to the Publishing Guild.
Profit seemed to be going to the Merchant Guild.
Later, Rex, the head of the Publishing Guild, might cry and wail that he had been had, but then he should have thought ahead.
He’d already had more than enough chances to secure the contract first.
‘He just stood there blankly with treasure in front of him and had it taken away, so it’s not my responsibility.’
Ah, and the success of this animation wasn’t only beneficial to me.
Perhaps thanks to the credits message after the animation ended, which revealed each team member’s name and role.
The team members who had passionately made the animation with me were also receiving honor and rewards fitting for that.
Some were being hired for high pay to provide know-how as pioneers who produced the first animation.
Some were stepping forward as educators to train future students.
And some seemed to be invited by interested members of the upper class to talk about their experiences.
“Hahaha. To think the people who created such a work are subjects of Our kingdom. I could not be more pleased and proud.”
“It truly is remarkable. Its cultural value is impossible to measure.
We should give separate rewards as encouragement to the people who worked hard to make such a masterpiece.”
“It should not end with making it once.
Consider support on the royal family’s side so that they can continue producing more in the future.”
His Majesty the King and Duke Lucid, who watched the animation with me in a private screening room made separately in the royal palace, praised them and even promised treatment and support.
Apparently, they were even thinking of hiring a few exceptional members into the royal family.
“Ahaha. If you would do that, I truly could not be more grateful.”
I was a little flustered and burdened after suddenly ending up watching animation with the two most powerful people in the kingdom.
But seeing those two most powerful people watching the animation I made while laughing heartily and enjoying themselves made me feel proud as well.
“So this is what you meant by video technology.
It is a far more interesting technology than I expected.”
The even better part was that His Majesty the King and Duke Lucid, after watching the animation, began to show even greater interest in video technology, an extension of it.
“If video technology develops, does that mean it will be possible to make something like this not with drawings, but with scenes from reality?”
“That is correct. It would be possible to capture more vivid and realistic images.
And there would be no need to draw dozens or hundreds of pictures by hand one by one. You could simply film reality as it is.
However, exaggerated expressions and direction like in animation would become impossible...”
“That is only natural. Everything has its strengths and weaknesses.
Hmm. If one could capture reality as it is, it seems truly many things would become possible.”
“Shall we strengthen support a little more for the development of video technology?”
“Do so.
If possible, would it not make for a good picture if our country were the first to develop not only animation, but also video technology of reality?
It would be an opportunity to solidify our reputation as a cultural powerhouse before other nations.”
Just as discussions were about to proceed about providing even more support for the development of video technology.
“Your Majesty! Urgent news!”
The royal chief attendant hurriedly ran in.
Without even noticing that I was beside them, he shouted desperately.
“They say traces of dark mages worshipping an evil god have been discovered at the Royal Academy!”
What?
No, what kind of chain lightning out of a clear blue sky is this?
***
A little before Wade heard the shocking news from the chief attendant.
“The academy! We finally arrived! It’s been a week!”
Wade’s younger sister, Lena, who had now left her freshman status behind and become a second-year student, was savoring the joy of looking at the academy she had returned to after a week.
Because she had just arrived after going on a field assignment, which had appeared in her older brother’s novel, passed through student protests, and ultimately even settled as a system in the real academy.
Honestly, Lena did not want to do some exhausting assignment like this when she didn’t even know why a student had to do it.
“Hmph. This mission was fairly entertaining as well.
Yours truly played the greatest role too.”
“What are you talking about? Because of you, Joshua, we got lost and the schedule got longer.
It was originally supposed to be over in three days.”
“Now, now. Let’s not fight by bringing up things that are already over.
In any case, we successfully completed the mission and arrived at the academy too!”
But because of those friends over there chattering away, the academy’s greatest troublemakers, she had no choice but to go along with them.
It would be odd to be friends in name and yet act separately.
If only those guys were sent, there was no knowing what accident they might cause, so the academy had directly asked her to go with them and keep watch.
And above all, if she was the only one left behind at the academy, wouldn’t that feel lonely somehow?
“Sigh.”
So she had gone with them while crying inside and forcing herself through it.
Still, at this level, it had been a pretty decent mission that ended quietly and without much trouble.
“By the way, there were no dark mages this time either.”
“Well, they are not fellows one can meet so easily.”
“It would be a big problem if dark mages were roaming around recklessly.
It is disappointing, but it means things are peaceful.”
Though those headache-inducing friends wanted to meet dark mages on purpose, which made her head hurt.
“I’ll go report the completion of the mission right away. Wait quietly.”
The joy of returning to the academy lasted only a moment. Holding her head, which was starting to ache again at her friends’ conversation, Lena said that and went to the office in charge to report the mission’s completion.
If she had known what would happen in the brief time she was away, she would not have done so.
“Miss Lena! This is huge! We found a hidden room in the academy!”
“Yes...?”
“It seems to be a room where past academy students secretly worshipped an evil god!
Isn’t that incredibly interesting?
To think there really was a hidden room in the world! As expected, Author Wei was not wrong!”
“What?! How did you find that in such a short time...!
No, more importantly, Saintess. They found a room where an evil god was worshipped, so is it all right for you to be that happy?”
But it was already too late.
In that brief interval, her friends had once again caused a major incident.
And this time too, Lena held her aching head and began to resent her older brother for putting strange ideas into her friends’ heads.