Chapter 50

Richard Kingdom’s underground revolutionary circle, “My Struggle,” was originally founded by Ricardo to discuss topics related to the “Knight Shin Chronicle.” However, these days it had transformed into a group that discussed all kinds of anime—not just the “Knight Shin Chronicle.” Sure, technically the only anime that existed were Ragnar’s “Nymph and Goblin” and “The Mysterious Disappearance of Eli and Hammel,” but still.

Back in its heyday, this group had been powerful enough to stage protests right in the middle of the city. But now that “Knight Shin Chronicle” had concluded, their influence had waned. As such, their usual meeting spot—the beer hall—had reverted back to its original purpose: serving beer.

But today, something was different. There were far more people visiting the beer hall for reasons other than drinking beer.

“Ho ho, it’s been quite a while since I’ve visited this beer hall. Has it really been since the conclusion of ‘Knight Shin Chronicle’?”

“Professor Hermion! What brings someone as busy as you here?”

“Why, to watch Ragnar director’s new work, ‘Death Note,’ with all of you, of course! How could I possibly enjoy such a masterpiece alone in my room?”

“Ah, so the professor knows his stuff!”

Indeed, word had spread among the members of “My Struggle” about Ragnar’s latest project, “Death Note,” leading to an impromptu gathering.

As they waited eagerly for the premiere, the clock struck 9 PM, and “Death Note” began.

“Ah, finally, it’s starting!”

“This is Ragnar-sama’s new work…”

The story opened with Louis, a top student at the Imperial Academy, finding a strange notebook called the Death Note.

“…What is this? A kid’s toy? The Death Note? You can kill someone just by writing their name? Ridiculous.”

Louis initially dismissed the notebook’s supposed power, but when a notorious criminal he’d written down died in prison, he realized it was real.

“Could this… be an actual tool of the Shinigami?”

Louis, who had always lived as a model student, felt guilt over killing someone. But soon, he made a firm resolution:

“There are too many bad people in this world that the law can’t punish.”

“Human life is sacred. But… I’m not killing people. I’m merely cleaning up the trash from society.”

“I will change this world. Into one where only good people exist.”

“Uh… Louis, right? He doesn’t seem like a bad guy…”

“Yeah, honestly, everyone has probably thought something like that at least once.”

“In fact, having the self-control to only use the Death Note on bad guys is pretty impressive.”

As the audience watched Louis’s early actions in “Death Note,” they found themselves unconsciously nodding in agreement. While everyone knew murder was wrong, they also admired Louis’s altruistic intentions.

However…

“Daring to try and capture a god? Ha, how amusing.”

“Anyone trying to capture the god changing the world is evil themselves.”

Louis’s noble resolve gradually twisted. He killed an inspector sent by the Imperial Household simply for investigating Zodiac. He executed anyone who criticized Zodiac in public. Eventually, even innocent people fell victim to his paranoia.

“…Ah.”

“Is this how it ends?”

Without realizing it, the viewers sighed in disappointment. They had unknowingly rooted for Louis, only to see him become the very evil he sought to eliminate.

Additionally…

“Hmm?”

“What’s… off?”

“Louis’s face… It seems slightly different from the beginning, doesn’t it?”

Indeed. At the start, Louis had looked like a pure-hearted individual. But as time passed, his features subtly shifted.

His gentle demeanor was gone, replaced by coldness and menace. By now, he was nothing more than a killer.

Though the audience should have noticed the changes immediately, the transition had been gradual and subtle, catching them off guard.

“So… Louis’s character development is reflected directly in his appearance?”

“I never would have guessed. This kind of foreshadowing is possible…”

The viewers marveled at Ragnar’s storytelling finesse, despite no explicit explanation being given.

Thus, the audience became fully immersed in Louis’s journey, accepting his transformation into a villain.

And yet…

“But… how do we catch Louis?”

“If he keeps hiding and targeting criminals, isn’t it impossible to catch him?”

Now the viewers weren’t cheering for Louis’s justice crusade—they were rooting for his capture.

Unfortunately, that seemed nearly impossible. The Death Note was a divine artifact, beyond human means to track or stop. Even Great Mages couldn’t detect its user. In fact, one Imperial Great Mage who tried to capture Louis ended up dead.

But then…

“I don’t know how you’re killing people, whether it’s magic or some special Artifact. But I can deduce your mindset.”

A detective named Alfa appeared, analyzing Louis’s psychology instead of trying to uncover his method.

“Interestingly, this broadcast isn’t airing across the entire continent, just the eastern part of the Empire.”

“Starting here, it was meant to expand to other nations. But lucky me—I’ve already figured out where you live.”

“And since you haven’t killed me yet, there must be conditions to using the Death Note on humans.”

“…”

“Amazing…”

“Who would have thought such a method existed!”

“So, even though the Death Note transcends human logic, Alfa focused on the fact that Louis himself is still human!”

The audience gasped in awe as Alfa deduced Louis’s location and methods.

Louis, watching the broadcast, smirked coldly.

“Fascinating. I was getting bored anyway. Let’s make this interesting, Alfa. I’ll personally write your name in the Death Note.”

The screen faded to black, contrasting Louis’s murderous intent with Alfa’s contemplative expression—a clear hint of the clash between two geniuses to come.

As the first episode ended…

People collapsed to the floor, screaming like dinosaurs.

“This is insane! Completely insane!”

“We need to worship this masterpiece!”

“Next episode! Please give us the next episode! If there isn’t one tomorrow, knock me unconscious! Please!”

***

A few days after episodes one and two aired…

I was greeted by Serika and Karlreya, both excited.

“Director! Have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“Death Note is a massive hit!”

Karlreya practically shouted with joy.

“The viewers are raving about it! And according to Prince Kaizel, it’s wildly popular in the Richard Kingdom too! No one has a bad word to say about it!”

While they seemed surprised by the success, I wasn’t. Having seen the original inspiration for “Death Note” on Earth, I knew it would be a hit.

If it hadn’t been, I would have been shocked.

“Um… there is an issue regarding ‘Death Note.'”

“What issue?”

“Well… in ‘Death Note,’ Louis gets his power from a Shinigami, right?”

“Yes.”

“Lately, there’s been a surge in people claiming they summoned a Shinigami and gained powers.”

“What?! Summoned a Shinigami?!”

I was taken aback. While the Shinigami was fictional, this was a fantasy world where summoning magic existed. Thus, the possibility of someone actually summoning a Shinigami wasn’t zero.

Moreover…

“They claim they traded with the Shinigami for magical eyes that can see death—apparently, death appears as lines and dots. Some say they can wield eternal black flames. Most of these claims come from students at the Imperial Academy.”

“…”

No.

Surely not.

Meanwhile, Karlreya continued seriously.

“Considering the tragedy that could arise from ‘Death Note,’ we can’t sit idly by.”

“No, wait-”

“I’ll handle it, Director! Don’t worry!”

And so, I could only watch as Karlreya left to deal with the situation.

“…”

“…Sorry I couldn’t protect you.”

For the poor Academy students about to endure the wrath of the cool kids…

We all mourned silently.