Not long after the trailer for “Fate’s Sky” was released across the entire continent…
I gathered all the staff who had worked with me in the past on “Knight Shin Chronicle” and “Book of Life and Death.”
Well, to be honest, the word “gathered” feels a little awkward.
After all, most of the animation production team’s staff were already residing in Baronage Terison anyway.
Something about how it was way more convenient to just move to Baronage Terison rather than waste time traveling back and forth between the city and Terison.
Honestly, listening to them talk made me feel a bit guilty.
That is, until I heard the cheerful reassurances from the staff with big smiles on their faces.
“Not at all! If anything, we’re the ones who should feel bad. We don’t even do that much work, yet we’re getting paid astronomical salaries!”
“Ha-ha, did you know I’ve earned more money in one year under you than I did during my 10+ years working in some no-name theater troupe?”
“I bought a house in Baronage Terison and still have tons of money left over! Back when I lived in the city, I was always moving from one rented room to another. Thanks to you, Director, I now own my own home. Thank you so much!”
“…?”
And as I listened to their words, I couldn’t help but question if my ears were playing tricks on me.
What?
So… the current monthly salaries of the production team are THAT extravagant?
This was completely news to me.
Of course, I do treat the animation staff quite well. Before I introduced anime to this world, artists here were treated horribly.
Like on Earth before TV and movies became widespread, people in the arts were called ‘wanderers’ and looked down upon.
Similarly, in this backward fantasy world, artists weren’t treated kindly either.
Remember when I told Duke Grinevalt that I wanted to cast Serika as a voice actress for “The Mysterious Disappearance of Eli and Hammel”? He and Deneb immediately frowned, didn’t they?
Though thinking about it now, they were probably just crazy fans of Serika.
Anyway, this world was far behind 21st-century Earth, making it incredibly difficult to make a living solely through art.
And that’s something I simply couldn’t tolerate.
Back on Earth, I too struggled as a freelance worker, barely scraping by.
I jumped into the anime industry with dreams of creating something fun for everyone, only to find myself constantly wondering if I should quit and take up a convenience store part-time job because the pay was worse than minimum wage.
That’s why I wanted to ensure that those working under me wouldn’t face such hardships.
So I instructed them to give the staff generous salaries…
But seriously? Enough to buy a house AND have plenty leftover after saving for a year?
I’m not running a charity, nor am I insane enough to hand out money like that!
As I tried to figure out what happened, I eventually uncovered the truth.
“The staff’s salaries? That was your direct order, Director.”
“…Excuse me?”
Kayla casually replied,
“Back before we started producing ‘Knight Shin Chronicle,’ you told me: ‘Make sure the staff are treated well.’ You said to pay them as much as possible and handed that responsibility to me as the assistant director.”
Now that she mentions it, I vaguely remember saying something like that to her right after she became the assistant director.
At the time, I was so busy overseeing the production of “Knight Shin Chronicle” that I offloaded smaller details like staff welfare to her.
So… did I unintentionally cause Kayla to give them that much money?
“Of course! How could I, as your assistant director, go against your explicit instructions? Truly, Director, you’re amazing. You care not only for yourself but also for those beneath you, embodying true noblesse oblige.”
Kayla said this with obvious satisfaction in her tone…
But unfortunately, I wasn’t nearly as pleased.
Yeah, so it turned out this was my mistake again, huh?
Sigh Damn it!
While I desperately wanted to normalize the staff’s salaries, I couldn’t bring myself to take away money they’d already been given—it felt too dirty.
Sure, even after paying them so generously, I’m still turning a substantial profit…
But my ultimate goal has always been to quickly save enough retirement funds so I can leave this business before I grow old.
If things keep going like this, I’ll likely be stuck in this industry for another ten years, churning out anime without rest.
…This is truly terrifying.
I already wanted to retire, but now my desire to quit has doubled.
But how exactly do I retire now?
Every single scheme I concocted to retire failed miserably.
During the production of “Knight Shin Chronicle,” I tried everything to achieve an honorable death—but instead of retiring, I ended up creating “Book of Life and Death” and now “Fate’s Sky.”
Plus, with “Fate’s Sky,” the Emperor, nobles, and practically every nation on the continent are eagerly watching and expecting greatness. Quitting now would be impossible.
Wait, hold on.
Every nation is watching “Fate’s Sky” with anticipation, right?
Meaning… if I mess up even slightly, I could plummet into disgrace instantly.
And considering the premise of “Fate’s Sky”—where legendary heroes from various nations are summoned by modern mages—it’s dangerously easy to slip up.
If I depict any hero meeting a pathetic end or losing badly in battle, patriotic citizens from that nation will undoubtedly take offense.
Even in 21st-century Earth, whenever a movie or drama makes derogatory comments about a specific country or its people, YouTube gets flooded with criticism and controversies arise.
Modern people, who fully understand that movies and dramas are fiction, still react emotionally—how much more so for the super-engaged fantasy-world inhabitants watching my anime?
Of course, pushing too hard might result in more than just retiring as a director; it might mean the end of my life altogether.
But I’ve got experience from “Knight Shin Chronicle” and “Book of Life and Death.” Surely I can handle this.
My mind is brimming with endless ideas for how to manipulate knights and heroes from other nations.
So this time, it’s certain.
“Fate’s Sky” will definitely pave my path to retirement.
Or… maybe not quite yet.
Having learned from “Knight Shin Chronicle” and “Book of Life and Death,” I decided to add an extra layer of insurance.
In 21st-century Earth, who does every professional involved in a TV drama or movie absolutely despise?
It’s those professionals who can’t stand any changes made for dramatic purposes and protest endlessly about “historical inaccuracies.”
True, their complaints are justified—they don’t want false information spreading—but their protests often derail otherwise successful shows or films.
So I plan to use that.
Conveniently, “Fate’s Sky” features a group of specialists whose knowledge is incomprehensible to the average person—mages.
If I introduce some absurd “magic” theories that sound plausible but are utterly ridiculous, won’t the mages lose their minds?
And thus, I’ve forcefully inserted such concepts into the story.
Someday, these magical elements will trigger seizures among mage viewers watching “Fate’s Sky.”
Now, I need a name for this magic… what sounds best?
Hmm, since it’s a type of barrier magic, how about naming it ‘Area Deployment’ as a nod of respect?
After all, ‘Area Deployment’ is the progenitor and grandfather of all barrier techniques.
Doesn’t that make sense?
