Recently, within the Empire, “Book of Life and Death” has reached a peak level of popularity.
So, to what extent? It’s similar to when the genre of animation first came out or when “Knight Shin Chronicle” was all the rage.
However, the current popularity of “Book of Life and Death” differs somewhat from the past popularity of “Knight Shin Chronicle.”
Ragnar’s first TVA anime, “Knight Shin Chronicle,” was by nature enjoyed by men ranging from teenagers up to their forties and fifties.
Mecha, kids who have no choice but to pilot them, mysterious monsters, and battles to save the world—it’s stuff that some might mock as childish, but it instinctively gets male hearts racing.
On the other hand, the women of the Empire tended to distance themselves somewhat from “Knight Shin Chronicle.”
Of course, there were women like Evangelin who adored “Knight Shin Chronicle” and proudly called themselves fans.
But many women, while interested in the story of “Knight Shin Chronicle,” couldn’t understand why men got so excited about battles between Zero Unit and Outsiders.
“Director Ragnar should’ve focused more on the interpersonal narratives rather than Knight Shin’s battles.”
“That’s right. The bittersweet relationship between Kai and Saya, or the love-hate dynamic between Kai and Eilian… those are the real highlights!”
Honestly, this wasn’t a matter of which side was right or superior.
After all, it’s normal for people to enjoy different aspects of anime based on their preferences. Men tend to enjoy action-packed fight scenes, while women lean toward stories with lyrical realism—this is true even on Earth.
But with Ragnar’s second TVA work, “Book of Life and Death,” everything changed.
Unlike “Knight Shin Chronicle,” “Book of Life and Death” doesn’t feature epic battles involving mechas or unrealistic elements like the end of the world.
Also, unlike the complex settings of “Knight Shin Chronicle,” such as ‘Third Apocalypse’ or ‘Human Ascension Plan,’ “Book of Life and Death” boasts an incredibly simple premise.
All that exists in “Book of Life and Death” is a battle of wits between two geniuses brimming with pride.
Thus, it was only natural that “Book of Life and Death” became a massive hit among the women of the Empire.
“Excuse me, Lady Florence Baroness. Did you watch episode 6 of ‘Book of Life and Death’ that aired yesterday?”
“Yes, of course I did. For an imperial lady, not watching ‘Book of Life and Death’ would be akin to attending a ball without wearing a dress.”
It’s now commonplace to find noble ladies discussing “Book of Life and Death” at balls instead of romance novels or matters related to noble etiquette.
And today, at the Grinevalt Dukehouse ball…
Here, amidst the noble ladies, discussions about “Book of Life and Death” are underway.
“To be honest, I don’t quite understand the recent storyline of ‘Book of Life and Death.’”
“Hmm, exactly what do you mean by that?”
“Well, I can’t quite comprehend the protagonist Louis’ actions.”
The baroness of Edir House tilted her head and said as much.
“Why would Louis take the risky move of killing the Imperial Household inspector and Alfa’s subordinates? Because of that reckless act, Alfa started suspecting Louis’ identity. If Louis had done nothing, Alfa would’ve never suspected him.”
Edir’s words prompted Emilya, the baroness of Florence standing opposite, to smirk as if finding her reasoning trivial.
“My goodness, it seems Lady hasn’t watched ‘Book of Life and Death’ with much thought. You’re someone who knows one thing but ignores the rest.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Think carefully. What was the trigger in episode 1 where Louis decided to kill Alfa?”
“…Well, Alfa figured out through Louis’ psychological analysis that Zodiac lived in the eastern part of the empire.”
“That’s correct. At first glance, it may seem like the supernatural Book of Life and Death makes it impossible for anyone to uncover Zodiac’s identity. But upon closer inspection, that’s not entirely true.”
Emilya spoke with an air of superiority.
“Alfa doesn’t try to capture Zodiac using magic or advanced magical engineering technology like others. Instead, he delves into Zodiac’s psychology, chasing after the person who best fits his constructed profile.”
“…And?”
“It means Louis judged that if he left Alfa alone, he might eventually be caught by him.”
Emilya looked down on Edir as if she were pitifully clueless.
“Though slow, Alfa uses profiling techniques rooted in human psychology combined with magic, gradually closing in on Zodiac’s identity. Even if it takes a long time, Alfa will undoubtedly discover that Zodiac is Louis.”
“…”
“Louis understands this fully, which is why he confronts Alfa directly despite having to kill the Imperial inspectors and Alfa’s subordinates. Because—”
Emilya delivered the final blow with obvious disdain.
“As Alfa gets closer to Louis for investigation, Louis also gets a chance to decisively eliminate Alfa. Right now, they’re engaged in a high-level mental battle to uncover each other’s identities and names. Yet here you are, claiming you don’t understand Louis’ actions…”
“…Ugh!”
Ultimately, Edir retreated after being completely out-argued.
Emilya basked in the satisfaction of once again ‘defeating’ someone in debate.
Ah— I didn’t intend to crush a noble lady raised in such refined surroundings with logic, but…
Even after utterly dismantling one contender who dared challenge her knowledge of ‘Book of Life and Death,’ the passion burning within Emilya showed no signs of cooling.
As she scanned the crowd for another discussion partner…
“Hm?”
Emilya noticed a man entering the room.
In this ballroom, where everyone seemed paired off like animals in mating season, this man sat alone at a table.
He didn’t appear to be from a particularly high-ranking family based on his attire, but he was undeniably handsome.
Simultaneously,
“Excuse me, sir.”
Emilya approached him with a polite smile.
“Is that… a ‘Book of Life and Death’ merchandise item? It looks like something related to Shinigami, am I right?”
Indeed, the man had placed a cute, deformed version of Shinigami’s character merchandise on the table.
Even by Emilya’s discerning standards, it was an impressively crafted piece, sparking her interest.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Upon confirming the man’s response, Emilya smiled and continued.
“Hmm, flaunting ‘Book of Life and Death’ merchandise so boldly in a ballroom like this—must be quite the fan, huh?”
“…Yeah? Well, yeah, I guess.”
The man nodded hesitantly.
“I know most nobles who are ‘Book of Life and Death’ fans, so seeing a new face makes me think you’re probably a recent convert. Nice to meet you, my name’s Emilya Del Florence. As a fellow ‘Book of Life and Death’ enthusiast, you could say I’m your senior?”
“…Senior? In ‘Book of Life and Death’?”
The man, looking slightly bewildered, chuckled.
“I see. Nice to meet you, Senior.”
The man, Ragnar, bowed deeply with utmost politeness.
Truthfully, Emilya approached the man purely out of whim.
While not on par with the most beautiful princess or the daughter of the Grinevalt Duke, Emilya was still considered quite beautiful and wouldn’t typically approach just anyone.
But now, she felt she’d made a good decision approaching him.
Because,
“In episode 6 of ‘Book of Life and Death,’ when Louis spends peaceful time with his family, it isn’t showing that Louis still has humanity. Rather, it hints that all his humanity has fallen away.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“But judging Louis as evil too soon isn’t right in my opinion. Louis simply couldn’t accept the existence of evil in the world because he was pure. Thus, labeling him as evil in a binary way might be premature, don’t you think?”
“Director Ragnar probably wouldn’t agree with that, but it’s still an interesting perspective. Good job, Junior.”
The opinions currently flowing from the man thoroughly satisfied Emilya, a self-proclaimed hardcore fan of ‘Book of Life and Death.’
Of course, compared to her idol Director Ragnar, the man’s insights were somewhat lacking.
Still, as she engaged in conversation with him for quite some time, Emilya realized the ball was nearing its end, leaving her feeling regretful.
These days, it was rare to find someone with such discernment and respect for seniors.
That’s why,
“Junior?”
“Yes, Senior?”
“This is a gift for you.”
Saying so, Emilya handed the man a golden ornament.
“It’s a token allowing you access to the Florence Baron’s house anytime. Normally, we only give this to our benefactors.”
She maintained an exceptionally poised expression.
“Though you fall short compared to Director Ragnar or myself, his successor, your insight isn’t half bad. If you ever wish to learn more about ‘Book of Life and Death’ from me, you’ll always be welcome.”
“…I see. Then perhaps I should return the favor with a gift as well.”
With a wry smile, the man handed her the merchandise sitting on the table.
“This is a limited edition prototype of ‘Book of Life and Death’ merchandise set to be released across the empire soon. Unlike other items, very few will be available, so it holds considerable value.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
From the moment she saw it, Emilya had coveted the merchandise and accepted it eagerly without hesitation.
But then,
She remembered something she needed to ask after reflecting on the man’s earlier statement.
“How do you come to possess a prototype of merchandise that will soon be sold across the empire?”
“Well, because I’m the director of ‘Book of Life and Death,’ Senior.”
“Oh come on, stop joking around, Junior.”
“…”
Emilya smiled lightly at what she assumed was a joke.
But the man, Ragnar, stared silently at her with an unperturbed expression.
And slowly, Emilya’s face began to stiffen.
“…Really?”
“…”
“…You’re joking, right? Tell me you’re joking…”
