Interlude Story (1)

Thus, the animation “Attack on Heaven” that had stirred up the entire empire… no, the whole continent for the past few months, came to an end.

Naturally, as it had been until now, the world was once again greatly stirred up because of it.

[“Attack on Heaven” final episode… Ends with a truly ‘lingering’ ending…]

[From the first episode to the final episode, what was the true intention that Director Ragna wanted to tell viewers through “Attack on Heaven”?]

[“Attack on Heaven – Spiral Edition” to be released soon following the final episode…. What additional scenes will be inserted this time?]

[Magicians’ Association… Plans to formally consult Count Ragna about ‘galaxies’ newly recognized through “Attack on Heaven”…]

[A total of 7 countries, including the Kingdom of Rihart, show movements to buy up copyrights related to “Attack on Heaven”… Possibility that Director Ragna’s next work may be ‘simultaneously broadcast worldwide’…]

[Critics praise the ‘human hymn’ ideology shown by “Attack on Heaven” and “Lulu’s Adventure”…. Claim they are monumental works that clearly showed the direction modern people should take.]

First, various newspapers were busy praising the work “Attack on Heaven” as they had been doing so far.

No matter which newspaper you picked up at the newsstand, nine out of ten times the front page had an article related to “Attack on Heaven”, and.

The content of those articles was also nine out of ten times full of praise related to “Attack on Heaven”.

Of course, as with all things in the world, there were articles criticizing the work “Attack on Heaven”.

[“Attack on Heaven” is a work that completely ignores the laws of physics and magic…]

[Plausibility and verisimilitude missing in the work… Is this really okay?]

[Mechs the size of galaxies beyond the universe… An animation that exists in the realm of delusion beyond the realm of imagination…]

Well, there couldn’t exist a work that could perfectly match the tastes of all people in the world.

If there are people who use time valuably, there must necessarily be time wasters on the opposite side, and.

Likewise, if there are people who enjoy Dungeon Fighter Online somewhere, there must also be people who enjoy MapleStory on the opposite side for the universe to be balanced.

But unfortunately, such truths of the universe became completely useless in front of the logic that ‘capitalism is cold’.

“What? An article was published saying “Attack on Heaven” isn’t interesting? In which cheeky newspaper?”

“I don’t know who or where they are, but they’re journalists who don’t know their place. How dare they, when they couldn’t even write proper articles if it weren’t for the animation produced by the director?”

“Quickly contact the Führer. It seems we need to boycott this newspaper at an organizational level.”

Originally, in a democratic society, it’s a basic principle that criticism and critique of other people’s works are freely carried out.

But sadly, this was a fantasy world where the caste system was alive and well.

Also, most of the powerful people in this world were otakus who mindlessly supported the work “Attack on Heaven”, and.

In simple terms, such a scene was reminiscent of a newbie going against an admin.

In other words, it meant it was a fight where the outcome was already decided from the beginning.

“Erase it.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said erase it from the world. Negotiations with terrorists are never allowed. I’ve been displeased with heretics who haven’t watched “Attack on Heaven” from the beginning anyway.”

And by the order of the Emperor, who was a big fan of “Attack on Heaven”, ruthless purges and censorship were carried out against the minority of newspapers that criticized “Attack on Heaven”.

Thus, a bloody purge that even Stalin and Big Brother would repeatedly admire was quickly carried out, and.

As a result, only newspapers with articles praising “Attack on Heaven” came to exist in this world.

In fact, this was unavoidable.

Isn’t it the way of the world that it’s not the strong who win, but those who survive end up ‘winning’?

Thus, the members of ‘My Struggle’ made very satisfied expressions after confirming that the public opinion of people in this world was the same as theirs.

“As expected… It’s clear that everyone in the world loves “Attack on Heaven” very much!”

“Originally, if you persuade others with ‘sincerity’, there’s no reason it shouldn’t work, right?”

Thus, many members of ‘My Struggle’ nodded their heads looking at the ‘correct result’.

Seen like this, it seemed that among the fans of “Attack on Heaven”, the gathering of severe otakus called ‘My Struggle’ led by Hikardo was the most insane.

Well, objectively speaking, that was true, but.

Very unfortunately, recently a threatening force appeared that threatened their stronghold.

It was none other than.

“…This is driving me crazy. Was it Director Ragna? Why doesn’t he become a composer with this talent?”

“To think he could sublimate this into such an excellent piece of music just by spitting out lyrics without melody to the beat…. He has created a new genre of music that didn’t exist in the world until now. Is this really possible?”

In the past, the hybrid of rap and aria inserted in episode 26 of “Attack on Heaven”… that is, “Salvation from Hell” had not only become popular in the world but had struck the empire’s music industry.

Just as most people initially felt aversion to that song but soon became addicted to it.

Music industry experts also received a cultural shock that transcended dimensions itself.

If Ragna had only made “Salvation from Hell” a hit, they could have laughed it off as a musical layman who happened to make one masterpiece by luck, but.

Unfortunately, the songs Ragna created weren’t just that one.

‘Last Starlight’ from “Sky of Destiny”.

‘Butterfly’ from “Spirit Adventure”

Up to ‘Seeds of Sorrow, Fruits of Happiness’ from this “Attack on Heaven”.

Every single anime OST Ragna presented was a masterpiece, and there wasn’t a single song that didn’t make people’s hearts tremble.

And in the process of composing these anime OSTs, Ragna didn’t seek any advice or request any help from so-called experts.

It was the opposite treatment of when he received help from the magic tower while producing “Sky of Destiny”, and sought advice from spirit users while producing “Spirit Adventure”.

Decisively, the news that made the empire’s composers most angry was.

“Have you heard that news by any chance?”

“That news? What is it?”

“Director Ragna’s anime OSTs… specifically the songs ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Seeds of Sorrow, Fruits of Happiness’ were composed by a composer from the kingdom, not our empire.”

“…W-What?”

It was none other than the fact that the anime OSTs that the empire’s composers had secretly admired were actually music created by a composer from the kingdom.

The empire’s composers who heard this news were overwhelmed with a sense of despair as if the world was collapsing.

That’s because until now, they had taken pride in leading the empire’s music industry.

But in reality, Director Ragna, who created this ‘culture’ called animation that didn’t exist in this world until now, didn’t even glance at them.

…It was humiliating.

What was humiliating was that everything was humiliating.

The fact that they couldn’t provide any help in Ragna producing animations that stirred up not just the empire but the entire continent.

The fact that in Ragna’s judgment, their existence must have seemed far inferior compared to the kingdom’s composers.

And the fact that songs born from the fingertips of the kingdom’s composers, whom they usually looked down on and ignored endlessly, were something that moved their hearts.

All of these things were humiliation itself that cruelly trampled on the pride of the empire’s composers.

As the empire’s composers were despairing in the inexplicable sense of defeat like that.

“…..”

Evangeline, who was working as a voice actress under Ragna, had this thought.

‘I want to be of help. To the director.’

Evangeline originally received numerous educations as the young lady of the Thieria ducal family, and.

Among them, she had shown considerable talent in the field of ‘composition’.

Although recently she had been so busy with voice acting work that she hadn’t had any opportunity to use her talent related to composition.

Through a series of events, she came to realize that well-composed music could also have a tremendous impact on animation.

Evangeline also wanted to be of help to Ragna.

Just as an unknown composer from the kingdom had helped with the success of the animation through the songs ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Seeds of Sorrow, Fruits of Happiness’.

She also wanted to help Ragna’s animation in some way.

Therefore, Evangeline composed a song for Ragna, and.

“…Is this really a song you composed?”

Ragna looked at Evangeline with eyes that couldn’t believe it.

And Evangeline spoke with an expression as if she found Ragna’s gaze embarrassing.

“Strictly speaking, it’s not a perfect original composition of mine. Because this song was greatly inspired by watching “Attack on Heaven”.”

“…From “Attack on Heaven”? What do you mean?”

“Well, in the last episode of “Attack on Heaven”, there’s a scene where the protagonist Cyan looks at Ren’s grave with a bitter smile, right?”

And Evangeline seemed to have received strong inspiration from that scene.

A wife who left the world before her husband.

And a man who had to send off his wife.

Therefore, the man also wants to meet death following his dead wife.

But he couldn’t meet death because he still had things he had to do, and.

At the last moment when the man finishes his mission.

He approaches his wife’s grave, kneels down, and meets death.

“…I composed the song while vaguely imagining this kind of story in my head. It’s much more helpful to compose while thinking of some kind of story rather than just composing a song recklessly.”

“So, the title?”

“…Pardon?”

“The title of the song. What were you thinking of calling it?”

“Um… Actually, I was thinking of calling it “Rain”. As I was composing while imagining such a story in my head, I somehow felt that should be the title of the song.”

“…Hmm.”

After quietly listening to Evangeline’s words like that, Ragna suddenly opened his mouth towards her.

“Evangeline.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Do you want to make an animation together with me?”

“…Pardon?”

A story about an immortal man who wishes to meet death like his wife who left before him.

And a song named “Rain” that flows as the ending song at the moment he meets death.

Couldn’t we make a completely awesome anime with this?