Chapter 3

“Nymph and Goblin.”

It was a 40-minute short anime I created to captivate the brats’ attention.

The plot was simple.

A goblin spots a nymph alone in an empty house and tries to break in to eat her. But the nymph uses various tools around the house to set traps or employs her unique abilities to outwit the goblin, eventually driving him out.

If it sounds familiar, that’s because it is.

Because this anime was actually a chimera hybrid of countless masterpieces humanity has created over millennia.

“Home Alone, Tom and Jerry, The Simpsons… and something else, what was it?”

Anyway, I mixed together plots and clichés from various works whose names I can’t even remember to create the anime.

If I had made this kind of anime in 21st century Korea, it would’ve been trashed as a horrible cliché-fest.

But this is a fantasy world where Japanese and American animation has not only become obsolete but has completely disappeared.

So to these people, a cliché-filled anime could only be seen as something fresh and new.

In fact, even noble children who have never met before were writing glowing reviews saying they’ve never seen anything this fun.

Even children from previously unseen noble families were gathering to watch the anime. What more needs to be said?

Thanks to this, Ishigekijou Everland ended up going out of business due to lack of popularity, but I couldn’t be happier about it.

“Isekaiberulando? This way please.”

I thought my perfectly laid plans were proceeding smoothly…

Until a very special guest visited our shabby barony, one who didn’t belong here at all.

“…Serica?”

“It’s been a while, Ragnar. So… about three years?”

Serica, the young lady of the Grinevalt Dukehouse and childhood friend, had come to visit the barony and watched the anime with her younger sister.

To be honest, I’ve always found Serica, a proper duchess, rather uncomfortable to be around.

Unfortunately for me, pretending not to know her wasn’t an option.

“…Yeah, it’s been a while, Serica.”

My voice came out all glitchy.

This wasn’t because I was a virgin shut-in from my previous life.

“Damn it… what is she doing in a backwater place like the Terison barony?”

While we appeared to be equals exchanging casual conversation, that was far from the truth.

After all, the Grinevalt Dukehouse was considered the most prestigious family in the empire, second only to the imperial household.

For the Terison barony, which can’t even bark at a single baron, having someone like her visit was overwhelming.

It’s only natural I’d feel intimidated.

“I just watched the anime you made earlier. It was really good. Very entertaining. My younger sister seemed pleased too.”

Of course it was.

Though it was made primarily for children, I ensured adults would find it enjoyable as well.

It’s like how most of the viewers of magical girl anime made for kids on Earth are actually adults.

Anyway, Serica started talking to me about the anime.

At first, I thought it was just superficial chit-chat typical of socialites.

But as time passed, the atmosphere grew strange.

“From what I see, the nymph symbolizes nature and the goblin represents humans destroying it. Perhaps it’s a work that directly confronts the ugliness of human civilization?”

“Doesn’t the goblin’s harassment of the nymph symbolize people who lack consideration for others?”

“The nymph subduing but not killing the goblin – isn’t that a direct critique of how desensitized modern people are to killing? Right?”

“…”

I initially thought she was just sharing her thoughts after watching the whole thing.

But as time went on, she started spouting interpretations that even I, the creator, couldn’t understand.

“What the hell are you talking about, you damn weeb?”

I made the anime purely as a time-killer for kids, not to critique modern society’s injustices.

After chatting with me for quite some time, Serica clicked her tongue regretfully and spoke.

“Your anime was really fun… but there were a few things I found lacking. Like how the characters don’t have voices, for example.”

“There’s nothing I can do about that. Making the anime by myself had its limitations.”

Truthfully, I wanted to add voices to the characters too.

However, even magic couldn’t make it possible.

Actually, when I tried using magic to give the characters voices, it resulted in stiff, mechanical AI-like tones.

Worried it might lower the quality of the anime, I reluctantly removed the voices.

“Hmm, is that so? Then Ragnar, do you have any plans to make a sequel?”

“Sequel? Hmm… I do have plans for one.”

This wasn’t just idle talk – it was true.

No matter how much I like living off the land, keeping noble children entertained with just one 40-minute anime forever would be impossible.

Upon hearing my words, Serica took on a thoughtful expression before speaking.

“Ragnar, there’s something I want to ask of you…”

“Request? What is it?”

As I looked at Serica, I felt an ominous premonition.

Sure enough, what came out of her mouth surpassed my imagination.

“If you do make a sequel… would you consider giving the main character, the nymph, a voice? Everything else is great, but without a voice, it feels incomplete…”

“What?”

So she wants to start using professional voice actors for the anime?

***

Serica El Grinevalt loved art immensely.

She adored poems, songs, and paintings created by humanity, and was born with tremendous talent in these areas.

Had she not been the daughter of a duke, it was said the empire’s art history would have taken a completely different turn.

Thus, Serica had considerable interest in “animation” – a new art form created by her childhood friend.

“Animation, moving picture fairy tales…”

Honestly, moving pictures weren’t particularly novel.

Magic-based storybooks with illustrations that moved on their own already existed.

In fact, the duke’s residence had a few such books.

So when Isabelle mentioned it, Serica had a rough idea of what “animation” Ragnar had created was.

“Only children would find moving picture fairy tales interesting. But since it’s an artistic work by Ragnar, I should go and cheer it on by saying it’s fun.”

That’s how Serica visited the Terison barony and watched “Nymph and Goblin.”

“…Is this real? Such greatness exists in this world?”

That day, she discovered a new world.

“At first glance, it seems like a moving picture fairy tale, but its essence is completely different. This so-called ‘animation’… it’s clearly made to entertain children!”

Indeed.

The empire had countless fairy tale books for children, but their purpose was not to entertain children but to impart lessons.

Live kindly. Don’t tell lies. Be loyal to the empire and His Imperial Majesty…

Because of this, fairy tale books tended to have overly dull stories unsuitable for children.

But it couldn’t be helped.

No matter how hard authors tried, capturing both entertainment value and moral lessons was no easy feat.

But this “animation” created by Ragnar Terison was different.

It was made first and foremost to entertain children.

In fact, Serica was so engrossed in the story during the screening that she lost track of time completely.

Moreover, this animation transcended the level of mere “moving picture fairy tales,” making Serica feel as if the characters were truly alive and moving.

It was astonishing. And miraculous.

She had thought novels, plays, and operas were the entirety of art, but that wasn’t the case.

However, because of this, Serica felt a sense of regret.

“If only voices could be added to this animation… it would become an even more perfect work!”

Ragnar’s animation, “Nymph and Goblin,” was an impeccable piece of art.

But the absence of character voices despite properly inserted background music and sound effects was truly regrettable.

Had Serica been an ordinary person, she would have simply returned home with such thoughts.

But Serica wasn’t an ordinary person. She was not only an accomplished artist herself but also the young lady of the Grinevalt Dukehouse, which generously sponsored artists every year.

Additionally, Ragnar was her one and only precious childhood friend.

She knew his family’s financial situation wasn’t good, so she naturally wanted to help in any way she could.

Money was something she had in abundance, so that wasn’t important.

That’s why…

“If you do make a sequel… would you consider giving the main character, the nymph, a voice? Everything else is great, but without a voice, it feels incomplete…”

“What?”

“So, if it’s okay with you, can I look for someone suitable to voice the nymph? I know a few people with incredible voices from theater and opera circles.”

Just thinking about who should voice the nymph made Serica’s heart race endlessly.

And thus, Serica completed her secondary evolution from a regular weeb to a voice actor weeb.