After finishing Zhao Yun's voice recording, Kamiyā Yuu discussed the background music for the work with Shindō Tsukasa.
In his previous world, the BGM of 'Fate/zero' had been one of its major highlights and was especially important to the anime's overall quality. Kamiyā Yuu still remembered that one point of overlap between 'Fate/zero' and 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' was their BGM. Even if the OPs or EDs of the two works were swapped, there would be no sense of mismatch. Their music was highly compatible with each other.
Although the overall structure of most of the BGM in the two works differed, 'Fate/zero' often used orchestral arrangements to suit its grand setting. Scenes such as Heroic Spirit summoning used a hymn-like style to emphasize majesty, similar to how many works used "aaaaah" chanting to convey large-scale spectacle.
'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' was the same. For example, Mami's Italian vocals, or the use of singing styles like 'Ode to Joy' to heighten tragic scenes.
Most of the BGM for both works had been composed by Yuki Kajiura, one of the four great female talents of Japan's anime music industry. Incidentally, the other three were Yoko Kanno, Akino Arai, and Ritsuko Okazaki.
Kamiyā Yuu believed Shindō Tsukasa's ability in music was no less than theirs, and that he was fully qualified to serve as the sound director for 'Fate/zero.'
That night, Kamiyā Yuu was busy drawing key animation storyboards in the study of his apartment when a line of text suddenly appeared on the webpage open on his computer screen.
The website was an internal communication tool used by Yosuganosora Animation Studio. Since Kirigami Ruri and Kamiyā Yuu had to communicate frequently regarding the novel, she had also been given an account for convenience.
"Mr. Kamiyā."
After interacting with her for some time, Kamiyā Yuu knew that Kirigami Ruri was the type who would not contact someone unless she had a reason. Either she didn't look for him at all, or she came to discuss the novel.
Kamiyā Yuu set down his storyboard pen and quickly typed a reply.
"I'm here. What's the matter?"
"The first draft of the novel is complete. Please review it."
Kamiyā Yuu was surprised.
"You've already decided what to write?"
It was only the twentieth. Less than a week had passed since their last meeting. In such a short time, she had fully understood the 'Type-Moon World' and decided what to write.
That speed was enough to make many web novel authors feel ashamed.
Ding: User Kirigami Ruri has sent you a file. Would you like to accept it?
"Confirm."
Kamiyā Yuu clicked confirm with the mouse, and in less than a second, he received a small file from Kirigami Ruri.
...
'Gate of Mystery'...
Kamiyā Yuu solemnly looked at the document opened on his computer screen.
It was a first draft titled 'Gate of Mystery.' Scrolling down, he could see a clearly organized novel structure and outline.
This was the novel Kirigami Ruri was about to write, based on the 'Type-Moon World'—a fantasy world created from nothing through the creative freedom Kamiyā Yuu had given her.
The larger background was the 'Type-Moon World.'
However, most of the background settings Kamiyā Yuu had spent days painstakingly compiling had been ruthlessly discarded.
Or rather, Kirigami Ruri's novel depicted the story of a parallel world.
"Magi usurped royal authority. Knowledge became the most precious form of wealth. The more advanced the knowledge, the more it could only be held by powerful magi. They despised fools and regarded all who profaned their domain of knowledge as heretics."
"By preserving the mystery of knowledge, even the simplest magecraft became no different from true magic. Magecraft grew powerful through ignorance."
Kamiyā Yuu softly read aloud the introduction to 'Gate of Mystery.'
Even though he had comprehensively studied the 'Type-Moon World' from every angle in his previous world, he couldn't help praising this concept.
In 'Gate of Mystery,' magi had seized royal authority and established the Empire of Truth.
Ironically, within the Empire of Truth, the circulation of knowledge had become the greatest taboo.
A small number of magi monopolized the right to understand knowledge. Passed down generation after generation, they grew ever stronger as magi. The privileges enjoyed by imperial magi were no different from those of gods.
At the same time, the commoner class could only struggle at the edge of survival.
Knowledge was humanity's most precious wealth and weapon.
Once deprived of it, they were nothing more than beasts without even sharp fangs.
The difference between them and magi was like the difference between primitive humans and modern people.
One of the protagonists believed that the empire's current social system was deformed. The magi had lost their original thirst for knowledge and were satisfied with clinging to a pitifully narrow treasury of knowledge.
The imperial family, which represented knowledge and authority, was in truth made up of foolish genius magi.
The other protagonist was an ordinary youth born at the bottom of society, desperately searching for "Fool's Alley."
Among the commoner class circulated the legend of Fool's Alley.
They were felons wanted by the empire's search squads, forced to live in the darkest gutters and pray that the search squads would not find them.
Perhaps they were even lower than dead rats in the sewer.
And yet, they possessed knowledge that only magi were supposed to hold.
The story used two protagonists of different social statuses to understand this world, exploring class divisions, knowledge, and ignorance, and the conflict between the individual and the collective.
From there, the story extended to the fifth consciousness, Amala, stealing the authority of the fourth consciousness, Alaya.
The Empire of Truth had been established by twenty-four magi who had already become Dead Apostles.
The so-called Empire of Truth was, in fact, a massive magic circle created with the help of the third consciousness, Gaia, and its subordinate consciousness, Crimson Moon, to steal the authority of Alaya.
The residents of the Empire of Truth were both the source and the wager of the magic circle.
The twenty-four magi sought the Root of the world by any means necessary, and for that purpose, they joined hands with Gaia's will, which desired the destruction of the human species.
This was the world of magi presented by 'Gate of Mystery.'
Even though the first draft only displayed a plain structural explanation, it still made Kamiyā Yuu fall into deep thought.
"As expected of Kirigami Ruri. In my previous world, there were fan novels with similar worldbuilding, but none of them managed to capture the flavor of magi. The grand background of 'Gate of Mystery' is completely the 'Type-Moon World,' while its smaller setting contains her own ideas."
Kamiyā Yuu was sincerely amazed.
If this premise were written well, it would absolutely have the potential to become the light novel equivalent of 'A Song of Ice and Fire.'
Its narrative depth and boundless imagination might even surpass it.
...
"'Gate of Mystery' will require more detailed consideration. The novel's progress may be delayed, which might leave Mr. Irie without enough time to finish the manga."
Kamiyā Yuu smiled and typed,
"Don't worry. The novel concept is far better than I imagined. Miss Kirigami, feel free to write as you like. As for the manga, I'll send someone to explain things to Mr. Irie and relax the deadline for the manga adaptation."
A new line of text appeared on the webpage.
"The novel does not match most of the background settings Mr. Kamiyā provided."
"The story's larger background and stage are of the same nature. That is my only requirement for Miss Kirigami's novel, and 'Gate of Mystery' undoubtedly satisfies it. It also fulfills another hidden requirement I have for any work—being interesting. As the creator of the 'Type-Moon World,' I look forward to seeing Miss Kirigami's novel completed."
Kamiyā Yuu was generous with his praise.
After a while, another line of text appeared.
"Thank you very much. I will not disturb Mr. Kamiyā further."
Imagining Kirigami Ruri expressionlessly saying "thank you very much," Kamiyā Yuu found it rather amusing and typed,
"You're welcome. If there are any questions, feel free to discuss them with me anytime."
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T/N: This novel is slowly driving me crazy. 😂 Still, no dropping projects here—I'll finish translating it! 💯✍️