More than ten minutes later, Gogyo Ruri personally took the stage, pushing the atmosphere in the venue to its peak.
Since Gogyo Ruri rarely spoke, Kamiyā Yuu used the projection screen that had already been set up to enlarge whatever she wrote in her notebook. Otherwise, with her taciturn nature, the event would likely fall into an awkward silence before long.
A large number of readers had come specifically for her. If Kamiyā Yuu drew too much attention to himself, it might also have a negative effect.
"Let's see what Miss Gogyo Ruri would like to say."
Kamiyā Yuu nodded to Gogyo Ruri and waited for her to finish writing before handing the notebook to a staff member to project the words onto the screen.
They had already discussed things backstage, so Gogyo Ruri wrote a fairly long statement.
"This new work was created from the novel setting provided by Mr. Kamiyā Yuu, while I wrote an interesting story based on that setting."
"I have confidence in my creative ability as a novelist, but when I first saw the complex background material provided by Mr. Kamiyā, I was still surprised."
"My first thought was whether I would be able to handle such a complicated setting properly."
"After discussing it with Mr. Kamiyā many times, the answer I arrived at was 'The Mysterious Gate.' Therefore, I have great confidence in this work jointly created by Mr. Kamiyā and me."
As the statement appeared on the screen, many readers below began discussing it among themselves.
Gogyo Ruri had rarely promoted her novels in the past. The fact that she had explained so much this time essentially meant she harbored no doubts about the work.
Kamiyā Yuu focused on using the introductions to the two novels to highlight the existence of the Type-Moon World.
He only gave the most basic explanation of the setting, such as the similarities between the two works and the concepts they shared.
After the novel introductions concluded, Kamiyā Yuu invited the audience to ask questions.
He selected Andō Shū and several other attendees. Gogyo Ruri bowed to the audience before leaving the stage.
"Those of you who were selected may ask any questions you like. I'll answer them as fully as possible."
Andō Shū was already somewhat acquainted with Kamiyā Yuu. When Kamiyā Yuu chose him, excitement surged through him.
Seeing everyone around him turn and wait for his question, he thought carefully before asking in a loud voice,
"Um, Mr. Kamiyā Yuu, I'd like to ask whether the scenes shown in the promotional PV just now will appear in the anime."
Kamiyā Yuu nodded.
"Some of the footage used in that promotional PV was taken directly from unreleased episodes."
"All I can say is that readers who enjoy 'Fate/Zero' absolutely shouldn't miss Episode 11 next week."
Another audience member called out,
"Mr. Kamiyā, before coming here, I heard that a major announcement would be made. Are you going to announce it now?"
Kamiyā Yuu considered it for a moment.
"There's no harm in revealing it now."
"The major announcement is connected to both 'Fate/Zero' and 'The Mysterious Gate.' Yosuganosora Animation Studio is preparing to release a new game related to both works."
"More details will be revealed shortly."
The 'Throne of Heroes' game project would include not only characters from 'Fate/Zero' and 'Fate/stay night,' but also important characters from 'The Mysterious Gate' as Heroic Spirits.
"Are 'The Mysterious Gate' and 'Fate/Zero' set in the same world?"
One audience member raised his hand and asked. It was obvious he had listened carefully to Kamiyā Yuu's explanation earlier.
"In the broad sense, yes. Both works originate from the same unified setting."
"However, it is very difficult for the two worlds to interact directly."
"Setting aside the technical details, there are still some connections between the two stories."
"For example, a very small number of characters who appear in the 'Fate/Zero' novel may also appear in the world of 'The Mysterious Gate.'"
"This isn't a derivative-work-style cameo. It is part of those characters' actual experiences."
Zelretch appeared in the plot of 'The Mysterious Gate,' though his role was little more than a brief cameo, much like the Jeweled Sword he left behind for the Tohsaka family.
There was also Crimson Moon, who was affiliated with Gaia's consciousness.
The Crimson Moon in the world of 'The Mysterious Gate' was positioned similarly to a Heroic Spirit summoned by the Holy Grail. It wasn't the true body residing upon the Throne of Heroes, but one of the real Crimson Moon's parallel-world incarnations.
...
At the end of the launch event, Kamiyā Yuu formally announced the major news.
The giant screen behind him displayed seven chess pieces representing the seven classes from 'Fate/Zero,' along with the title 'Throne of Heroes.'
For now, they were only announcing the project's existence to the public. It was essentially an initial greeting, so there was no need for anything overly complicated.
The game itself would be formally promoted by Mirror Flower Water Moon Game Studio once it was ready for release.
Kamiyā Yuu moved a few steps to the left so the audience could clearly see the projection behind him.
"Many readers seem very interested in the major project I mentioned earlier."
"Now, Yosuganosora Animation Studio will formally unveil the 'Throne of Heroes' project."
"This project originated from an idea I had a long time ago."
"'Fate/Zero' is only one part of that concept."
"Miss Gogyo Ruri's novel, 'The Mysterious Gate,' was likewise commissioned to fill in another missing portion of it."
"The prototype for this concept is the Type-Moon World I mentioned earlier."
"Works related to this concept are still being created. Besides novels and anime, there are also manga by Mr. Yoshitomi Akihito, Mr. Matsumoto Kura, and Mr. Irie Naoki."
"At present, the concept is still immature."
"However, its existing popularity is already enough to support its formal launch."
"In January next year, Yosuganosora Animation Studio will release a game based on this concept."
"The game will be available on both mobile devices and computers."
"More detailed information will be announced in October, so please look forward to it."
"Some readers may wonder why an animation studio would create a game."
"Was it jointly developed with another game company?"
"I can answer that clearly right now: no."
"This game was designed personally by me and is being developed by Mirror Flower Water Moon Game Studio, a subsidiary of Yosuganosora Animation Studio."
"How many readers here know the game 'Warship Girls Collection'?"
"The original reason I created that game was simply a momentary personal interest."
"The 'Throne of Heroes' game project builds upon the development experience gained from 'Warship Girls Collection.' Both its gameplay and the game itself have improved considerably."
"That doesn't mean we have abandoned 'Warship Girls Collection.' The two games are not of the same genre."
Before this, Yosuganosora Animation Studio had never publicly acknowledged its involvement with 'Warship Girls Collection.'
Ever since Mirror Flower Water Moon Game Studio took over its operation and ownership, many players had become curious about the "Yosuganosora team" that had created it.
Was it merely a game development team sharing the same name as Yosuganosora Animation Studio, or had the game actually been planned by Yosuganosora Animation Studio itself?
Most players favored the latter explanation.
They believed an ordinary game studio couldn't possibly create a work that even companies with years of development experience had failed to produce.
Another popular theory was that an independent game team had sold the project to Yosuganosora Animation Studio.
That would also explain why the original ship-girl illustrations had been drawn by Kamiyā Yuu.
Now Kamiyā Yuu had directly admitted that 'Warship Girls Collection' was a game he had personally planned.
The revelation was enough to make the jaws of countless players drop.
The venue alone erupted into an even greater commotion than after the promotional PV.
"Really?"
"Major news! Hurry and post it on 2ch!"
"So the game really was made by Yosuganosora Animation Studio..."
"Isn't that like a baseball prospect winning the NBA championship?"
"Wait, what is 'Warship Girls Collection'?"
Some readers who didn't play games looked completely lost.
"I found it. 'Warship Girls Collection' is one of the few Japanese games to achieve both fame and profit."
"It's only a browser game, yet it ranked first in Japan's game spending charts for three consecutive months."
"The reviews are pretty good too. No wonder it's so famous."
"As expected of the all-round director..."
"If the gameplay is even better than 'Warship Girls Collection,' then this game really is worth looking forward to."