Attack on Heaven – Turbulent Times (2)

And so, after the 11th episode of “Attack on Heaven”, which made a big mark in imperial history in many ways, aired.

Among people, interest related to animation had soared more than ever before.

The shocking development of the deaths of major characters in the 8th episodes of “Lulu’s Adventure” and “Attack on Heaven”.

And the large-scale protests caused by thousands of animation viewers who couldn’t accept their deaths.

Up to the cool awakening scene of protagonist Cyan, which seemed to claim that the shocking development of the 8th episode was just a build-up for this very moment.

The series of dramatic and shocking events was live-broadcasted through newspapers across the entire continent without a single day’s break, and.

As a result, even people who usually dismissed animation as ‘childish’ or scorned it as ‘imperial culture’ came to be interested in the works called “Lulu’s Adventure” and “Attack on Heaven”.

“Hmm, I hear these animations called “Lulu’s Adventure” and “Attack on Heaven” are so popular in the Empire these days?”

“According to newspaper articles, the imperial citizens were so angry at the sudden developments in those two animations that they even caused large-scale protests?”

“I don’t understand. No matter how interesting it is, it’s just a creative work, but to cause protests because a character in a creative work died….”

“Was it that interesting? This imperial animation that I’ve always looked down on…?”

Just as “Sky of Destiny” had temporarily caused a boom by touching on the keyword of ‘patriotism’ in various countries in the past.

At this point, “Lulu’s Adventure” and “Attack on Heaven” were causing a secondary animation boom across the entire continent through unintentional viral marketing.

“Miss Kaya! The Federation is urging us to export the 12th episode of “Lulu’s Adventure” that aired last week as soon as possible, what should we do?”

“I’m sorry, but please tell the Federation that animations will inevitably be supplied to them a bit late. Because the artifact recording the 12th episode was promised to be exported to the Kingdom first!”

“The Versilia City Alliance has made an offer to officially import “Eli and Hamel’s Disappearance” and “Machine God Chronicles” that Director Ragna produced in the past!”

“The Kingdom of Ider has sent an official letter saying they want to officially import the license for “Spirit Adventure” that opened recently and the TCG based on it! And they’re begging us to include even just a few new Duel Disks if possible-“

In such a situation, of course, the production teams of “Attack on Heaven” and “Lulu’s Adventure” were also facing an incomparably busy situation compared to usual, and.

‘Shit…. This isn’t right….’

As Ragna was cursing inwardly like that while handling various tasks related to the numerous animations he had started, at that very moment.

“Oh, Ragna. Are you very busy by any chance?”

“…Master.”

For some unknown reason, Aris suddenly visited his workroom with an incredibly relaxed face.

“It’s been a while. But what brings you here…?”

“What do you mean, what brings me here? Have you already forgotten? You entrusted me with the development of TCG cards to be used in “Spirit Adventure”, didn’t you?”

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it, that’s right.

In fact, if it was just producing cards for TCG, there was no reason at all to bother borrowing the power of Aris, who was a Magic Tower Lord.

Unfortunately, the TCG Ragna was producing in this world was a game aimed at materialization in conjunction with the Duel Disk, so it necessarily required the help of a magician in the development process.

So Ragna had asked Aris for help with card production, but.

Recently, so many events had been bursting out due to “Attack on Heaven” and “Lulu’s Adventure” that he had completely forgotten about that fact.

“Hmm… The work of materializing cards in conjunction with the Duel Disk is progressing very smoothly as you said… but a small problem arose in the process, you know?”

“…A problem? What kind of problem?”

“Well… Recently in the Empire, there’s been a big increase in people playing games by giving mass to holograms popping out of Duel Disks, right?”

Of course, that wasn’t Ragna’s intention, but.

Crazy guys like the Young Marquis or Kaisel were engaging in shadow duels where it wouldn’t be strange if someone died, after illegally enhancing their Duel Disks.

‘I’d like to just outright ban it, but….’

Unfortunately, because of the shadow duels those lunatics were showing in the middle of the Empire, the number of people trying to get into TCG was said to be enormous.

In other words, those guys were essentially acting as moving billboards promoting TCG.

So well, what can you do?

From now on, we’ll just have to think of it as natural death even if those guys die while dueling.

But what on earth does that shadow dueling have to do with Aris’s card development?

“Actually, I got a bit interested in that too. So I tried making mass-granting cards a bit seriously. But….”

Saying that, Aris handed three cards to Ragna, and.

“…Huh?”

Ragna, who received the cards from Aris, unconsciously let out a dumbfounded sound.

Because from the cards he received, a truly indescribable energy was leaking out.

“…What is this? Really?”

“I told you. They’re cards I made after getting a bit interested in that dueling that materializes holograms. But… I guess I went a bit overboard.”

Aris gave Ragna a somewhat embarrassed smile.

“It seems the magic power imbued in the cards is so strong that if the holograms of these cards materialize, it would reach a level where people’s minds would be directly impacted. Sorry.”

“…..”

So, to summarize what Master is saying.

If you duel using these cards, you’ll actually take damage if attacked by those cards?

Even in a normal duel, not a shadow duel?

“…Let’s seal those cards.”

“Huh? Why?”

“No… Are you really asking that because you don’t know?”

Roughly like that, Ragna sighed and ended up sealing the three cards Aris made, and.

He thought that was the end of everything, but.

Apparently, that was Ragna’s misunderstanding.

A few days later.

In the conference room of the imperial palace.

For some reason, even Ragna, who was a high-ranking nobleman in name only, was summoned to this meeting, where the Emperor made a somewhat shocking statement.

“From now on, I intend to designate animation as a national project of the Empire.”

“…A national project?”

“What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?”

At the words of his subjects, the Emperor opened his mouth with an incredibly resolute expression.

“Until now, the imperial family has been supporting all the costs for Count Tersion to produce animations. So that Count Tersion could focus solely on producing animations without worrying about cumbersome external affairs. And in the process, making it so that no one could interfere with animation production was a sort of bonus.”

Certainly, that wasn’t entirely wrong.

Of course, except for the small and trivial incident where the Emperor threw a fit at Ragna once for being dissatisfied with the ending of “Machine God Chronicles” and got scolded terribly by Kaya.

“In the past, I thought like this. The animations produced by Count Tersion might become an opportunity to revitalize the Empire’s weak cultural industry, where only theater and opera were active.”

“…But recently, I realized that my past thoughts were wrong.”

Thud.

Saying that, the Emperor placed newspapers on the conference table with a thud.

Those were newspapers that described the fact that large-scale protests had occurred in the Empire due to “Lulu’s Adventure” and “Attack on Heaven” recently.

“It seems the animations produced by Count Tersion were not something to be dismissed as mere cultural industry.”

“…If not culture, then what do you mean?”

“I think of the animations produced by the Count as a kind of revolution.”

For a moment, Ragna felt his heart sink at the Emperor’s words, but.

Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t use the word ‘revolution’ in a communist sense.

“Currently, animation has reached a level beyond simply existing in the realm of ‘culture’, strongly capturing people’s hearts and as a result, even influencing people’s ways of thinking.”

“Without going far, didn’t the Count’s animations play a huge role in improving relations with the Kingdom of Rihart, which had been mortal enemies with the Empire for the past hundreds of years?”

Saying that, the Emperor slightly raised the corners of his mouth and looked at Ragna.

“Even though we’ve only simply supported production costs so far, the Count’s animations are exerting enormous influence across the entire continent. Then if we officially provide support at the imperial level, aren’t you excited about what might happen?”

“Hmm….”

“Indeed….”

Hearing the Emperor’s remarks, the nobles present unconsciously nodded their heads.

Because it was something they also wished for, that Ragna’s animations would prosper and higher quality animations would be produced.

“Therefore, I plan to hold an event to dramatically promote the animations produced by the Count at the imperial level this time. Not just an event for imperial citizens, but an event that people across the entire continent can’t help but pay attention to. Does anyone have any good ideas related to this?”

“…Pardon?”

At the Emperor’s sudden question, as the nobles were showing blank expressions.

“How about creating an issue?”

Young Marquis Grünewald… Deneb opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

“…An issue?”

“Yes. This time, an issue that people across the entire continent can’t help but be interested in, like the protest incident related to “Attack on Heaven”. How about artificially creating such an issue?”

“…For example, holding a tournament related to the “Spirit Adventure” TCG.”

“Oh, a duel tournament….”

The Emperor made an interested expression at Deneb’s remarks.

The Emperor also knew.

The fact that the TCG related to “Spirit Adventure” through Duel Disks has been gaining enormous popularity in the Empire recently.

If we hold a tournament related to that at the imperial level with determination and make it a spectacle, it wouldn’t be impossible to draw the attention of the entire continent.

However.

“But how do you plan to make people participate in that duel tournament? To put it bluntly, don’t people have no reason to participate in that tournament?”

“If it’s a reason, we can create one. So… offering a reward that they can’t help but participate for….”

Flash.

Saying that, Deneb looked at Ragna with a chilling gaze.

“…From what I’ve heard, Count Tersion recently secretly produced three cards with incredibly powerful abilities, and then sealed them himself out of caution for their power.”

At that moment, some nobles present made surprised expressions.

“Wh-What?”

“Cards that even Count Tersion feared their power and sealed away?”

“This can’t be. Just how overpowered effects must they have… for the Count to fear them and seal them away with his own hands….”

Seeing the nobles’ reactions, Deneb looked at Ragna with an incredibly greedy expression.

“So I’ll propose straightforwardly here.”

“…Count. Do you have any thoughts of putting up those three cards said to have divine power as the prize for winning this tournament?”