Creating Anime In A Fantasy World

In the topmost floor of the Mage Tower, also known as the Headmaster’s office, Edward was called in by Hohenheim after leaving the Grand Lecture Hall.

As Edward entered the cluttered room filled with old alchemy books and various magical formations etched onto the floor—some real, some dubious—he couldn’t help but show a subtle expression.

Looking at the elderly mage sitting in front of him, he asked, “What is it that you need from me, Headmaster?”

Hohenheim, rubbing the area between his eyes, replied slowly, “Stop pretending. I know you’re quite pleased with yourself. How does it feel to have the entire Mage Tower acknowledge your ideas?”

“Uh… not bad.” Although the current Edward was no longer as stubborn as he once was, gaining recognition for the potential of Alchemy still brought him a certain sense of satisfaction.

Seeing Edward’s reaction, Hohenheim gently patted the few, dust-covered books on Alchemy and said, “Before you proved the value of Alchemy with that tool of yours, I always believed that the path of a mage should be about seeking higher-tier magic, striving for more individual power. But after a lifetime without even finding a clue to the seventh tier, I should have realized… perhaps we were on the wrong path all along.”

“Not necessarily,” Edward responded calmly. “Things only become real when they’re proven. Until a seventh-tier mage emerges, no one can say for sure if the seventh tier even exists.”

Edward’s words, meant to comfort, brought a sigh from the old mage. Hohenheim muttered, “Perhaps. But at least for now, you’ve proven your point. So, I’ll offer my full support for your truth, just as the great sage Roland once said: ‘What is the greatest gift magic has given humanity? It is the power to believe in the truth.’ The pursuit of magic has no absolute correctness. Only by choosing to believe in the truth can the path extend endlessly.”

Edward was a bit taken aback by how much this once-stubborn man, who had expelled him from the Mage Tower, had softened.

As Hohenheim continued, he shifted topics. “By the way, how exactly does that Magic Video Recorder and imaging crystal of yours work? I’ve been studying it for days, and I can barely make out how it functions. The other old mages will probably come after you soon to get their hands on this technology.”

“Well, it’s not something you can understand just by looking at it…” Edward sighed. “It’s like trying to figure out how a movie projector works by just watching movies. Without the foundational knowledge and a proper blueprint, it’s tough.”

Realizing that the real reason Hohenheim called him was to get to the bottom of the invention’s workings, Edward resignedly said, “I do have the design blueprints for both the recording device and the imaging crystal. Any mage with a decent grasp of alchemy should be able to understand them.”

“Oh, that’s good news,” Hohenheim replied.

“Good news? Not necessarily,” Edward countered. “There’s nothing wrong with improving the world through inventions, but the inventor’s personal interests must also be safeguarded. The Mage Tower’s tradition of honoring those who create new spells is fine because not many can master them. But what happens when someone invents alchemical tools that any mage can use?”

Hohenheim looked puzzled, not quite understanding Edward’s point.

Edward explained, “Patents! We need to establish a patent system that guarantees inventors a substantial short-term profit from their creations. This will encourage mages to be more proactive in exploring new knowledge and creating. I want the Mage Tower to represent the mage community and establish a reasonable patent system.”

Edward then outlined the concept of patents, making adjustments to suit the characteristics of their magical world.

After listening to Edward’s prepared speech, Hohenheim thought for a moment and said, “It’s a great idea. It could greatly stimulate the mages’ curiosity and drive to explore new knowledge. I’ll convene a meeting to discuss the creation of this system. Do you plan to patent your invention?”

“Yes, of course. The first step is always the hardest. Once my invention is successfully patented, other mages will follow suit. Until then, even you, Headmaster, won’t get to know the details of my technology.”

“Tch, I didn’t think you’d be so stingy…” Hohenheim grumbled.

Edward grinned. “I still remember how you personally kicked me out of the Mage Tower all those years ago.”

As the conversation seemed to be heading toward an uncomfortable end, Hohenheim suddenly stroked his beard and changed the topic. “By the way, there’s something else. In a month, the current emperor is celebrating a significant birthday. As per tradition, the Mage Tower must present a gift. This time, I’m leaving the gift preparation to you. It can be anything, as long as it doesn’t embarrass the Mage Tower.”

“Huh? Why me?” Edward asked.

“Because your graduation certificate is still in my hands! If you want to officially become an Imperial Mage and head of the Alchemy Branch, you’ll do this!”

“…” Edward sighed, realizing he had no choice. “Alright, I’ll prepare something. But a month? That’s pretty tight…”

“That’s not my problem. Worst case, just give them your movie. Your film company has already made waves in the southern territories, so adding the capital won’t hurt.”

“A movie as a birthday present?” Edward murmured incredulously.

Hearing Hohenheim’s words, Edward couldn’t help but show a contemplative expression.

However, when he thought about the two movies he had already shot, KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World—which included a Headless Horseman, a character currently wanted by the church—and Goblin Slayer—which was filled with indescribable scenes—neither seemed appropriate as birthday gifts. And producing a new film within a month seemed nearly impossible.

Sighing helplessly, Edward murmured, “I’ll think about this carefully when I get back.”

…

After leaving the office at the top of the Mage Tower, Edward, who had originally planned to use the teleportation array to leave, noticed a faint glow from the array.

Soon after, his old acquaintance, Ska, the head of the Alchemy Tower, emerged.

“Oh, Ska, is that you? What brings you to the headmaster?”

As usual, Edward greeted him, but Ska, who had always been taciturn, was momentarily taken aback.

Then, without a word, he handed over an old notebook to Edward.

“What is this?”

“A research notebook.”

“?!!”

Sensing Edward’s confusion, Ska explained quietly, “This is a research notebook passed down from one head of the Alchemy Tower to the next. It mostly contains theoretical frameworks from some destitute magical alchemists, which is why only a successor with sufficient discernment can inherit it. I wanted to give it to you years ago, but after what happened…”

Ska’s tone revealed that he still felt guilty about what had occurred years earlier. Edward, however, did not dwell on it. Instead, he silently accepted the notebook, flipping quickly through the last few pages.

“Alchemy arrays? Magic formulas? These…”

Although Edward had already speculated, seeing the contents of the notebook still shocked him. After all, as a mage, Edward had only been studying Alchemy for a few years. Despite his innate talent in elemental magic, Alchemy didn’t require elemental sensitivity but relied heavily on accumulation, experimentation, and calculation.

Thus, even with his high aptitude, Alchemy would not experience a revolutionary breakthrough without prior knowledge. It was similar to how, in another world, Kepler’s laws of planetary motion laid the groundwork for Newton’s discovery of gravity.

Now, looking at the precious experimental records, technical concepts, and a few Alchemy techniques marked in red—those that seemed feasible—Edward realized he had found exactly what he needed.

“No one else has seen this?” Edward asked.

Ska responded quietly, “Normally, no one outside the Alchemy Tower is allowed to see it. But my brother, before his death, broke the rules by showing it to Headmaster Hohenheim in an attempt to prove the value of Alchemy. Unfortunately, he failed. ‘Theories alone hold no value. Only results can make a difference,’ were Hohenheim’s exact words at the time.”

After hearing this, Edward carefully closed the notebook, as if afraid to tear it with a slight tug. He then placed it gently in his pocket and said, “I understand. Actually, I have something I need to discuss with you. Let’s talk in your lab.”

“??”

Ska, slightly puzzled that Edward also had business with him, hesitated for a moment but eventually turned and led Edward toward the Alchemy Tower. The last time they had walked this path together, discussing their work, had been several years ago…

…

At the top of the Alchemy Tower, the glow of the teleportation array faded as Edward and Ska arrived at the cluttered, long-neglected lab.

“Looks like things have been rough for you lately.”

Ska, laughing bitterly, cleared a space for Edward to sit. “Yeah, ever since you were kicked out of the Mage Tower, most mages have blamed me for what happened, so the Alchemy Tower’s funding has been drying up. If you had been any later, you wouldn’t have found me here.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d be sold as a sword slave to pay my debts.”

“…”

Realizing that both of them had endured difficult times, Edward sighed and said, “How much debt are we talking about? Now that I’m the head of the Alchemy branch, I should take care of this.”

Ska, surprised by Edward’s newfound wealth, didn’t hesitate to list the debt, knowing he couldn’t handle it alone.

“Got it. I’ll find someone to help clear it up later. But first, let’s talk about my issue.”

Edward recounted his conversation with Hohenheim earlier at the Mage Tower.

After listening, Ska quickly responded, “So, you need to present a birthday gift on behalf of the Mage Tower to the king, but you’re unsure what to offer, and you need my help?”

Edward nodded, impressed by Ska’s clarity. “Exactly. The headmaster suggested I offer my earlier invention—the movie—as a gift. But I can’t possibly film something new in just a month that can be safely shown at the royal palace. So I thought we should come up with something fresh, especially considering the recipient is the king, whose standards will be high.”

“Well, I have a few ideas, but it’ll take some time… Wait, you said you can’t finish a new movie in a month? Does that mean you’ve already planned the next one?”

Having seen Edward’s previous movies at a conference, Ska couldn’t help but be curious about his new project.

Edward smiled and replied, “I’ve got the concept. Once I finish the script, I’ll show it to you.”

“Uh, no need, really…”

Edward, still smiling, said, “Come on, no need to be shy. This new film is meant to lure fresh students into the Alchemy field. As the head of the Alchemy Tower, you have to help me out!”

“What’s the story?”

Curiosity finally got the better of Ska, who instinctively asked.

Edward grinned. “The short version: Seven mages summon heroic spirits from history to fight over a cup that can grant any wish.”