Most people in the world may not know this, but the truth is that the Emperor truly deserves a lot of credit for the creation of “Fate’s Sky.”
Of course, the reason Ragnar ended up producing “Fate’s Sky” was entirely because of his master, Aries’ request. But all Aries had asked for was simply, “Make me an anime about mages,” without adding any specific conditions.
Meanwhile, around that time, the Emperor had approached Ragnar with a request to make an anime based on the “Knight King Legend.” So, what Ragnar ended up doing was blending both requests into one chimera-like masterpiece called “Fate’s Sky.”
In a way, you could say the Emperor’s request got kinda side-stepped like it was nothing, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.
Why? Because it was funny! Not only did “Fate’s Sky” rival or even surpass his all-time favorite anime, “Knight Shin Chronicle,” but the Emperor, who had a deep interest in the history of the Empire and the continent, found it twice as entertaining as other viewers.
That’s why…
“KRAAAAAH!”
When the hero king lost his left arm and got stabbed through the chest in episode 36 of “Fate’s Sky,” the Emperor literally started foaming at the mouth.
“Ragnar, Ragnar, RAGNAR!!”
Though the Emperor ranted like a lunatic, there was no way the TV screen was going to turn back on just because he wanted it to. He wanted to summon Ragnar right then and there, just like he did when the ending of “Knight Shin Chronicle” went down, but… the Emperor had already promised Karlreya that he wouldn’t interfere with Ragnar’s creative process.
As the Emperor of the Empire, he couldn’t break his word.
But still…
“How can this be?! The Hero King, the ancestor of the Empire, MY OTP CHARACTER, meeting such a ridiculous end…!”
It wasn’t because he had rigged the last popularity vote by mobilizing all his courtiers or because he secretly commissioned detailed 1/7 scale collectibles of the Hero King. No, it was purely out of concern for the dignity of the Empire!
And it wasn’t just the Emperor who felt this way.
“Lord Lijete, did you watch episode 36 of ‘Fate’s Sky’ yesterday?”
“Of course! It was incredibly satisfying! Who would’ve thought Yuri would grow so much since the first episode that she’d be able to defeat the Hero King one-on-one? That’s textbook storytelling right there!”
“What? Is that all you felt from yesterday’s episode?”
“Well… what else should I have felt?”
“The Hero King lost! THE HERO KING LOST! And not just to anyone, but to Yuri!”
“But isn’t it obvious that if the Hero King appears as the final boss, the protagonist defeating him is standard story progression?”
“Are you serious? If the Knight King had defeated the Hero King, I might have accepted it, but some random nobody taking him down?! This is horrifying! Are you secretly working for the Kingdom or something?”
“Tch… You’re so annoying. Your inability to accept defeat gracefully is exactly why fans of the Hero King are always so whiny.”
“I’ll have you know I’m doing this out of pure love for the Empire! How can you not support the Hero King if you’re an Imperial citizen?!”
So yeah, scenes like these between die-hard Hero King fans and those praising episode 36 were breaking out all over the palace.
And if noble folks were acting this way, imagine the chaos among commoners outside the palace walls. All because the Hero King lost.
If only the Hero King hadn’t lost… If only he’d fallen honorably to the Knight King instead of some Academy kid, the Emperor wouldn’t be tearing his hair out like this!
Right as he was debating whether or not to call Ragnar to the palace, someone spoke up.
“Hmm, calling the director to the palace is your prerogative, Your Majesty, but I advise against it.”
“What?!”
Until now, Karlreya had been quietly observing the Emperor’s meltdown before finally speaking up.
“Because if you do, you’ll regret it in a week.”
“Regret it? Me?”
Even the Emperor couldn’t ignore that bold statement.
“I don’t want to spoil the plot, but trust me: after watching episode 37 next week, you’ll regret your rash actions.”
The Emperor groaned.
“Ugh… Is it really that bad?”
“Yes. So please, trust me now. Not me as in ‘me,’ but YOU trusting ME.”
“Hmm…”
The Emperor looked at her with newfound respect.
“You surprise me. I didn’t think you’d say something so passionate. Did Ragnar put you up to this?”
“Aha, you noticed.”
Karlreya chuckled nervously.
“In fact, I peeked at the storyboard for Ragnar’s next project—a mecha anime like ‘Knight Shin Chronicle.’ There’s a line where the protagonist’s older brother gives him advice, and it stuck with me.”
Ah, so that’s where it came from.
“That line… It made my heart race. ‘I believe in you believing in yourself.’ Sounds like something that’d resonate with any man.”
“It’s fascinating, isn’t it? During ‘Knight Shin Chronicle,’ it felt like the mood was hitting rock bottom, but apparently Ragnar has this kind of flair too. Just hearing that one line makes me excited for what the older brother will accomplish.”
Karlreya silently recalled the tragic fate awaiting that character in the storyboard notes and decided not to comment further.
“Well, whatever happens… surely the Emperor won’t go as far as killing Ragnar, right?”
Right?
*
“Have you finally arrived, Knight King? You’re late.”
“…Hero King.”
After battling an unknown swordsman blocking his path, the Knight King arrived at the scene only to find the Hero King standing silently, a sword piercing his chest.
The wind whispers softly.
Neither king speaks. They stand silently, ready to part ways.
“Truly stubborn till the end, aren’t you, woman? To oppose me until the very last moment.”
With those words, the Hero King gently raises his hand to caress the Knight King’s cheek.
“For the last time, Knight King, would you consider becoming mine? Would you rule this world together with me?”
“…No, I would not.”
The Knight King replies softly yet respectfully.
“We heroes are merely shadows of the past. Those living in the present are treasures to us. Because we ran toward their future.”
“…Is that your answer? Truly foolish, Knight King.”
His fingers slip.
The arm caressing the Knight King’s cheek falls silently.
“But I forgive you. Some things remain beautiful precisely because they cannot be possessed.”
With that, the Hero King smiles faintly at the Knight King.
“Farewell. You’ve worked hard, Knight King.”
And then… he vanishes from this world.
Yuri watches silently, unable to utter a word.
For a while, the Knight King stands motionless, then finally speaks.
“So, it’s over…”
“Yeah, it’s all over.”
“This concludes our contract. When we first met, I promised to protect you no matter what. I’m glad I kept that promise till the end.”
“…Yeah, you saved my life countless times. Thanks.”
More than anything, Yuri wants to stop her.
Don’t go. Stay here a little longer.
But he mustn’t. The Knight King rejected the Hero King’s offer, choosing instead to uphold the belief that the dead shouldn’t interfere with the living. She decided the conclusion of this battle long ago.
He can’t ruin her final choice.
That’s Yuri’s answer—to respect the Knight King’s decision.
She begins to fade away.
Just like the Hero King, the Knight King starts disappearing from existence.
“Oh, and by the way, there’s something I never told you.”
“Huh? What is it?”
Turning to face Yuri with a faint smile, the Knight King says softly—
“Yuri, I love you.”
With that, she vanishes completely from the world.
“…Gahh… Why am I crying…?”
Watching this unfold live, the Emperor burst into tears, muttering under his breath.
“Must be the summer heat making my eyes water…”
Despite it still being spring outside, the Emperor paid no attention to such trivial details.
One day in spring… Or maybe it was summer.
