Attack on Heaven (4)

It was now well over a month since “Attack on Heaven” and “Lulu’s Adventure” began airing simultaneously.

The perception of most people watching the animations had changed considerably from when “Attack on Heaven” and “Lulu’s Adventure” first started airing.

In the past, viewers thought that the anime “Attack on Heaven” was unilaterally superior to “Lulu’s Adventure”.

Because while “Attack on Heaven” satisfied people’s dopamine from the first episode with its incredibly intense developments and appearances of mechas overflowing with coolness.

“Lulu’s Adventure” was focused on the so-called ‘build-up’, making viewers lose interest.

But people’s perceptions had changed considerably at this point.

Because.

“…You’ve finally come, Luka.”

Extremely pale skin, golden hair.

A coldness felt throughout the body that’s hard to believe is human.

…An unimaginable killing intent that can only be felt from someone who has killed countless humans.

Ian.

The man who Luka once thought was a friend.

But now, a man who could be called the incarnation of ‘evil’, for whom even the term mortal enemy is insufficient.

That man was looking down at Luka with an incredibly arrogant gaze.

As if Luka’s existence felt like less than an insect to him.

To be honest, that wasn’t wrong.

Because Ian was no longer a being that could be called human.

He had been reborn as an ugly monster, a vampire that could gain vitality by drinking blood, not a human, through the ‘jeweled mask’ not long ago.

“The sun has set. Likewise, your life will soon fall into my hands.”

Ian declares with an extremely calm tone.

Chase, Luka’s master who had accompanied him here, looks at such an Ian with an incredibly hateful expression.

“…You, you must have had a big wound inflicted by Luka. How many lives did you suck for that wound?”

“Do you remember the number of breads you’ve eaten so far?”

“…What?”

“I have abandoned being human. And I have transcended humans! I have become the apex of the biological world! To me, human lives are nothing!”

A statement that sincerely reveals the ideology that he is a superior being to humans, and humans are merely food.

Hearing Ian’s lines, viewers ended up clicking their tongues at him.

“Huh, this guy Ian. He’s really a bastard to the point of being nauseating.”

“That’s right. Even mere beasts know people who have shown them kindness, but isn’t this guy worse than even beasts?”

It was none other than that recently, the work “Lulu’s Adventure” had been continuing developments that emitted tremendous dopamine, not at all inferior even when compared to “Attack on Heaven”.

On the other hand, “Attack on Heaven” was continuing with somewhat loose developments after the incredibly powerful first episode, and.

As a result, by excellently absorbing some viewers who had temporarily left, it had reached a level of closely chasing “Attack on Heaven”‘s heels.

However, viewers felt one thing lacking about “Lulu’s Adventure”.

That was none other than.

“Hmm… Isn’t too many people dying in “Lulu’s Adventure”?”

“This is… It seems like it could have a good match with people dying by Louis in “Book of Life and Death”?”

That’s right.

Although people in the fantasy world tend not to value human rights as much as Earth people.

Even in their eyes, the frequency of people dying in “Lulu’s Adventure” was a bit excessive.

First, the protagonist’s father, Baron Luizer, died first.

Also, countless innocent civilians were killed at the hands of Ian who had turned into a vampire, and.

Then, the warriors who came here to subjugate Ian who had turned into a vampire were also killed, and.

Above all, decisively.

“…Don’t be sad, Luka.”

“Master…!”

“Luka, you are… my hope. So, from now on, I will live on inside you….”

Finally, people’s anxiety was growing as the 7th episode of “Lulu’s Adventure” ended with the scene of the protagonist’s master dying.

At this rate, it was worrying that not only would Luka become an orphan without parents, family, or friends, but people existing in the Empire might be completely wiped out.

And among those who had such concerns was the Emperor, who could be called the master of the Empire.

Currently, the Emperor was thinking this inwardly.

An emperor is the one with the noblest status who rules and governs the subjects of the empire.

As such, the emperor is given the duty to protect and safeguard the empire’s subjects.

So shouldn’t he protect them even if they’re not real people, but the empire’s subjects existing in “Lulu’s Adventure”?

Isn’t that the duty of an emperor… no, the proper way as a human being?

So one morning, the Emperor quietly opened his mouth to Kaya during a meal together.

“Ahem, Kaya. “Lulu’s Adventure”, where you’re playing the role of director. I’m enjoying it very much.”

“…Is that so. I’m honored, Your Majesty.”

“But you know. I didn’t want to say anything about the animation you’re producing… Kaya, do you really have no human heart?”

“Pardon?”

“No… Even so, isn’t it a bit too much that at least one character dies in every episode? At this rate, I feel like there will be no one left alive in the Empire by the time “Lulu’s Adventure” ends.”

According to the information the Emperor obtained, “Lulu’s Adventure” is an animation scheduled for at least 25 episodes.

But only 7 episodes have aired so far, and already countless people have been killed.

So by the time 25 episodes air, how many people are planned to be killed?

At the Emperor’s such complaint, Kaya smiled brightly.

“I’m sorry, but that doesn’t seem to be something I can control at will. Because recently, the developments of “Lulu’s Adventure” are entirely handled by the Director.”

“…Ragna, that guy was the mastermind and war criminal behind all this?”

At those words from Kaya, the Emperor frowned.

No, as far as the Emperor knew, wasn’t Ragna currently in charge of directing “Attack on Heaven” while also working on the production of “Lulu’s Adventure” on the side?

“And don’t worry too much. The Director and I have agreed to refrain from developments where someone is sacrificed for a while after the next episode.”

“…Ahem.”

At those words from Kaya, the Emperor inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

Should we say it’s a blessing in disguise?

It seems that Ragna is also aware that he’s engaging in too much mass slaughter to attract viewers’ attention.

Of course, it’s heartbreaking that someone else is scheduled to be sacrificed next week, but since that’s the last one, well….

So the Emperor waited for a week with mixed feelings of expectation and anxiety, and.

Finally, the day of the much-anticipated 8th episode of “Lulu’s Adventure” arrived.

And.

“…Be, be happy…. Lena….”

“Luka! Luka…? Don’t tell me you… you really died….”

“…..”

The Emperor looked at the screen flowing from the television with an expression of utter disbelief.

How could this be.

Clearly, it wasn’t this kind of atmosphere until the beginning of the 8th episode.

It was a bright and hopeful development where he defeated Ian, the incarnation of evil that even the Emperor had to click his tongue at.

And was going on a honeymoon with Lena, the destined heroine.

But how on earth did the development turn out like this?

No, more than that, it’s only the 8th episode but if the protagonist dies, what about the remaining developments…?

“…Lu-Luka. This can’t be. This, this isn’t reality. I, I must be having a bad dream….”

Tremble.

The Emperor tried to calm his trembling hands and grasped the magic tool for operating the television.

He couldn’t bear it.

The Emperor simply couldn’t endure the fact that the protagonist he had been deeply emotionally invested in was suddenly killed.

Therefore, the Emperor was trying to escape now.

From the world of “Lulu’s Adventure” which had become unbearably gloomy with the protagonist finally meeting his death.

To the world of “Attack on Heaven” which is full of only hot-bloodedness and grandeur.

That animation would surely comfort the Emperor’s heart which had received a great wound now.

Especially if he sees the appearance of Credo, the eldest brother who could be called the Emperor’s favorite character in “Attack on Heaven”, he would surely be able to overcome the internal injury he just received-

“Farewell…. my friend….”

“…Brother?”

“…”

“…Brother.”

“…”

“…..”

They say the place you escape to is never paradise.

That was true.

Although he had escaped from the hell called “Lulu’s Adventure”, it seems that “Attack on Heaven” was also hell all the same.

Because the scene that entered the Emperor’s eyes the moment he changed the channel was.

The scene where Credo, who played the role of a reliable eldest brother in the work “Attack on Heaven”, sacrifices himself to open the way for Cyan to move forward.

“…Th-This can’t be. Cr-Credo too.”

Thud.

And so, on the same day, the incident of two large stars falling from the sky occurred.

The names of those stars were none other than Luka and Credo.

The characters who were in charge of being the Emperor’s favorites in the animations “Lulu’s Adventure” and “Attack on Heaven”.

The Emperor simply couldn’t accept such a cruel reality.

“Aaaaargh! Luka! Credo!”

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

The day after the Emperor collapsed holding the back of his neck.

That day, which would have normally been a weekday, was designated as a temporary public holiday by the Emperor’s special order.

The reason was none other than ‘mourning’ for someone.

‘…Luka, Credo. Can you hear me?’

This was the requiem that the Emperor dedicated to them.