♪～
(Nostalgic music plays…)
This is the opening theme song from the first season of “Babylbarz Towers,” a late-night anime that aired for an irregular two cours. It’s nostalgic… it’s the anime I was most involved with in my voice acting career. I also had the opportunity to host many events for it.
(And this space, I’m standing in a bright light.)
Then, someone approached from the back!
That person is… no way, but it’s definitely them!!
“I… it’s been a while, Mr. Go-san.”
“Ah, it has been a while… or so I’d like to say, but this is a borrowed body.”
“Huh, but that voice is undoubtedly you, Mr. Gouhara Homimi, the Sound Director, right?”
He was also one of the main party members in the anime “Babylbarz Towers.” A veteran voice actor and the anime’s Sound Director. He used to be part of a comedy trio. But why is he here? And where is this place? The Sound Director asked me, with a cynical smile.
“Please don’t use that name too much without permission from the person themselves. Well, I have permission from the Creator of Earth, but still. For now, let’s forget about that. You were involved in a lot of work for ‘Babylbarz Towers,’ weren’t you?”
“Yes, I primarily played many mob characters, and then there were the DVD & Blu-ray release events, and also…”
The jobs that were more numerous than that!
“You know that anime was for the promotion of the MMORPG ‘Babylbarz Towers’ run by a game company, right? You were like the exclusive MC for the game’s events as well.”
“Yes, whether it was live streaming or actual events, I was happy to take on those roles, especially with such a luxurious cast of voice actors.”
If I consider that as voice acting work, it was the period when my income as a voice actor was the highest, thanks to that.
“Unfortunately, it ended service after eight years. I heard it was a massive deficit.”
“It was primarily based on in-game purchases, so even though they kept pushing promotions to boost sales, it seems it wasn’t rewarded.”
“Actually, there were rumors behind the scenes that a major collaboration with a certain popular idol game was being prepared to give it a boost.”
Ah, I remember hearing something like that. They hinted at it. They said to stand by for a major collaboration with a specific content from the same game company… but I never found out what kind of game it was.
“Speaking of idol games from that company, is it that one?”
“Yes, it’s that one. They say development of the graphics and voice recording had already begun, but during that time, the decision to end service was made, and it was abandoned halfway… Taking all of that, including everything, the Creator of this world inherited it all from the Creator of Earth.”
??????
I still can’t quite grasp what you’re saying.
“Where exactly is this place?”
“It’s the afterlife. You’ve been brought here, just your soul.”
“…Ah, what about those children!?” “All three are safe. They are injured, but thanks to you, they should fully recover in about a year.”
That’s a relief. It was worth protecting them.
“And, well, my wife and child…”
“Don’t worry, they’ve received the insurance money. It was a case where the insurance company might have been reluctant, but I asked the Creator of Earth for help, you see.”
This Sound Director is saying some grand things.
“Um, so, you are…”
“I am the Creator of this world, of this side. A messenger, if you will. If this world were an anime, I would be the Sound Director in charge of casting, working under the general director. That’s why I’m explaining this to you in this form you know.”
So, this world is…!!
“Could it be… is this an isekai reincarnation?”
“You’re quick. We’ve created a new world using the data from the MMORPG ‘Babylbarz Towers.’ Everything, including unimplemented features, work in progress, and even concepts, has been carried over to this world… However, it’s just the game settings; the original town is gone, and the players are different.”
Different means… there’s someone playing already?!
“Are you gathering people who have died on Earth to play it?”
“Hmm, that’s a bit tricky. It’s hard to explain, it’s both separate and together. Originally, those who died with unfulfilled ambitions on Earth are eligible for isekai reincarnation.”
Yes, I definitely died with unfulfilled ambitions.
“And that eligibility…”
“They are sent to places that suit them, and this was judged to be the most suitable.”
“Well, I was indeed given a character and played the game, as part of my job.”
Since it was a character prepared by the management, the basic equipment was from the paid starter pack, but I also received various items that only staff and management could use.
“So, I’d like to offer a job to ‘Kouki Haitou,’ the voice actor, not to his real name, Saito.”
“Ah, yes, a job after death?”
“We want you to participate in this world we’ve created as a ‘Summon.’ In other words, a summoned beast.”
Indeed, I played the voices of monsters in the anime every episode.
“Are you summoning… Earthlings who have already gone ahead?”
“No, there are already two Earthling companions there, and they are also Summons. Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I say players are NPCs and Summons are… you, an NPC?”
So, those living over there are not human?!
“Are NPCs living there?”
“Explaining this part is a hassle, but the residents of this world we’ve created are people in their own right. There are demi-humans who have lived for over a thousand years, and this is indeed a ‘world where people live.'”
I’ll try to understand this somehow. There’s probably a well-developed setting for it, but if it’s not too late to learn about it after entering that world, then that’s fine.
“So, your role as a Summon?”
“You could say it’s a live-action version of ‘Babylbarz Towers.’ I want you to play the role of the voice actor Kouki Haitou. You’ll inherit your character from the game version exactly. You drank a Level 50 upgrade potion given by management, right?”
“Yes.”
“I even received spares in case of occasional bugs.”
“Your character was a Sage. A Sage, and yet an isekai’d Otherworlder from Earth named Kouki Haitou, who becomes a Summon and aids the summoner. We want you to fulfill that role. Whether you accept this offer or not is up to you. So, what do you say?”
“It’s work, right? What about the remuneration?” “If you live out your lifespan in this world, I will show you the lives of your wife and child again in this space.”
My life… after I die?!
“Will… will we be happy?”
“If you accept the offer, I’ll have to ask the Creator of Earth about that.”
“And if you refuse?” “We’ll erase your memories and have you reincarnated on your original world, Earth, from the beginning as a baby.”
To have my memories erased…
The background music flowing in changed to the opening theme of the anime’s second season, as the conversation had gone on for a while. Personally, I prefer this one; it’s more pop-like.
“Who is the one who will be summoning?”
“We don’t know yet. They say only extremely strong Summoners can summon. You’re scheduled to become the summoner of the two who went ahead, but a Summon can’t choose their summoner.”
I’m anxious. Summoners would expect a high-level monster. What would they think of ‘just a human,’ even if it’s a game character?
“What if… what if I’m killed immediately by the summoner?”
“We would sympathize, and if you returned here too soon, our Creator would have to think about it again. However, rather than that, please consider fulfilling your duties as a Summon with all your heart. Otherwise, there will be penalties.”
Penalties… in this situation?
“What kind of penalties?”
“Perhaps being turned into a Roper in a different world.”
“Those tentacle-wiggling, seemingly dim-witted things?” “Of course, with your memories erased.”
With that intelligence, it doesn’t seem like it would be fun. If I were asked what that is, I’d just say, “Watch that anime.”
“I see. I understand the setup.”
“So, what do you say? Will you accept this offer?”
“…If my memories are going to be erased anyway, before that, I want to see my wife and child live happy lives with my own eyes!”
Besides, it’s an honor to receive work even after death, as a voice actor.
“In that case, I will guide you to the subspace chamber. Two pioneers are waiting there, and I have prepared this for you.”
Saying that, what suddenly appeared was… a giant door!
“This is from the anime!”
“That’s right. The scene connecting the first to the second season. It’s the giant door that appears on the rooftop, leading to the next tower after you conquer the current one.”
*Gigigi…* The door opened, just like that final scene of the first season of the anime!
“Now, go forth. The Creator has great expectations for your success.”
“Understood. I’m going. Well then…” “Let the show begin!”
And what awaited me on the other side was… a streetscape of Earth.
(Though it looks a bit fake. The sky and everything look like a film set.)
And waiting for me were… a security guard and a gal dressed in dance fashion.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
“Hey hey~! Nice to meet you from now on~♪”
And so, the isekai Summon life of the voice actor Kouki Haitou began.
###
“After that, well, I was guided to the subspace chamber, lived while waiting for the summoning, and that brings us to the present.”
There’s still a lot of baffling stuff, but somehow, as the third person, I feel like I’m starting to understand that world. Anju seems to be learning a lot from Iwamoto.
“I see. The circumstances are understood. Or rather, I heard them. Clarice, what do you think?”
“Yes, I think it’s safe to consider this world as something separate, based on the same foundation.”
“Deles, what do you think?” “If this world was created, then the Elder who has lived for over a thousand years… Elder?!”
I wondered what Angel Chief Elder Qualia would say, but it seems he fell asleep mid-conversation.
(Oh well, as long as this world doesn’t suddenly collapse.)
More importantly, tonight, after dinner, it’s finally time for the ‘Kukurou Troupe’!!
