"Please pay attention. The following are revisions to the script's dialogue. Everyone, please make sure to note them down carefully."
"Page six, third column: 'This thing called a battle axe seems quite useful as well.'"
"Change it to: 'Hmm~ This strange weapon called a battle axe seems rather useful. Just how was it made? In my era, even the greatest craftsmen and magi...'"
"This line is interrupted by the following dialogue, so try to convey the feeling of wanting to finish speaking but being cut off midway."
"Page ten, fifth column: 'The Fourth Holy Grail War is finally beginning. It seems these old bones of mine can still witness a miracle.'"
"Change it to: 'The Fourth Holy Grail War has finally begun. To witness the birth of a miracle before I die of old age is truly an honor for these old bones.'"
"Pay attention to the emotional emphasis. It should contain excitement and anticipation."
"Page fourteen, twentieth column: 'Observe the current situation. Be flexible. Adapt to circumstances.'"
"Change it to: 'Observe the situation before us and adapt as needed. It's not every day that I get to visit such a unique Eastern nation. Before the battle begins, I must naturally enjoy myself first.'"
"The emotional tone should resemble a child's excitement and curiosity."
"Page nineteen, eleventh column: 'Things are becoming lively.'"
"Change it to: 'Hahahaha! It seems things are finally becoming lively! Allow me to witness the spirit of heroes from different ages!'"
"Besides excitement, this line should also convey incomparable confidence and grandeur, like a monarch looking down upon his subjects with completely justified pride."
...
Shindō Tsukasa's serious voice echoed from the speakers in the recording booth.
The voice actors of 'Fate/Zero' diligently took notes.
Some of these revised lines might be used shortly.
Whenever they didn't understand a modification, they either consulted experienced voice actors nearby or directly asked Shindō Tsukasa through the studio microphone.
There were quite a few characters in 'Fate/Zero.'
The seven Masters and seven Servants alone totaled fourteen major roles.
As a result, the recording studio—which wasn't particularly spacious to begin with—was full.
There were men and women, veterans and newcomers.
Some were famous stars of the voice acting industry, while others had yet to officially debut.
The voice actor chosen for Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, was one of the veteran performers hired at great expense by the sound department: Ōyama Enshi.
Although he was physically small and already had graying hair, he possessed a deep understanding of larger-than-life characters like Iskandar.
If Kugimiya Rie represented the archetype of "tsundere," then in this world Ōyama Enshi represented the archetype of the lovable "big guy."
Amamiya Kae used a pencil to mark the revised portions of her script.
After Shindō Tsukasa finished announcing the changes, she carefully studied the script and imagined Irisviel's character.
Quietly, she rehearsed the revised line.
"Observe the situation before us and adapt as needed. It's not every day that I get to visit such a unique Eastern nation. Before the battle begins, I must naturally enjoy myself first."
"The emotional tone should resemble a child's excitement..."
She felt something was still off.
After pausing, she adjusted her tone to include happiness and a hint of curiosity.
"Observe the situation before us... Mm... Observe the situation before us. It's not every day that I get to visit such a uni..."
The woman sitting beside her, Tōgi Yūko, couldn't help smiling at her seriousness.
"Kae, no matter how much the dialogue changes, the tone and emotions usually don't change much. If the emotions changed significantly, it would affect the story itself, and major revisions are usually announced beforehand."
She smiled reassuringly.
"Just imagine how you practiced the original line before. Then pour those same emotions into the revised version."
So relaxed... so effortless.
That's what true professionalism looks like.
Unfortunately, I'm just a talentless newcomer who hasn't received enough formal training.
Amamiya Kae put down her script and sighed.
"That's easy for a senior like you to say, Tōgi-senpai. For me, even that process is already very difficult."
"Really? Then do your best."
Tōgi Yūko smiled.
Following 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' the two voice actresses from the same agency had become good friends.
Now they were working together again on 'Fate/Zero.'
Amamiya Kae voiced Irisviel von Einzbern.
Tōgi Yūko voiced Saber, Artoria Pendragon.
Both were among the main cast members of the anime.
After a short preparation period, before recording officially began, the studio door suddenly opened.
Click.
The voice actors looked over in surprise.
They didn't understand why someone would enter the recording room right before the session started.
However, when some of them—including Tōgi Yūko and Amamiya Kae—recognized the newcomer, their eyes widened.
"Director Kamiyā!?"
The voice actors who recognized Kamiyā Yuu immediately stood up and bowed.
Holding a script in his hand, Kamiyā Yuu smiled and nodded.
"Don't mind me. Starting today, I'm one of you as well. I'll be voicing Zhao Yun. Please take care of me."
"The director is personally doing voice acting?"
Tōgi Yūko was surprised, though not entirely shocked.
At first glance, it seemed like a director amusing himself by participating in his own production.
However, she didn't believe Kamiyā Yuu was the type of person who would treat his anime carelessly.
Whether it was his own participation during the voice recording of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' or the foreign-language training that had tortured the 'Fate/Zero' cast for weeks, everything demonstrated how seriously he took animation.
"We should be the ones asking for your guidance!"
The voice actors bowed again.
Ōyama Enshi simply nodded silently.
His attitude wasn't as formal as the others'.
It wasn't because he was putting on airs as a veteran.
Rather, it was an unspoken rule of the industry.
If a respected veteran like Ōyama Enshi bowed too deeply to Kamiyā Yuu, outsiders might interpret it as Kamiyā Yuu becoming arrogant and disrespectful due to his fame.
Amamiya Kae tilted her head while observing Kamiyā Yuu.
After thinking for a moment, she walked over and pointed to the line she had been struggling with.
"Director Kamiyā, could you demonstrate this line for me?"
Her attitude toward him wasn't particularly formal either.
In fact, she treated almost everyone this way.
She seemed casual and easygoing, yet somehow never gave others a bad impression.
"Of course. If I remember correctly, that's one of Irisviel's lines."
Kamiyā Yuu glanced at the script.
After gathering himself, his tone changed.
It became excited, cheerful, and filled with the curiosity of a child eager to see the outside world.
"Observe the situation before us and adapt as needed. It's not every day that I get to visit such a unique Eastern nation. Before the battle begins, I must naturally enjoy myself first~"
He smiled.
"Something like that. How does it sound?"
Amazing.
It's a little different from what I imagined, but that's exactly the feeling.
This director... he's a professional.
Amamiya Kae was momentarily speechless.
Then she bowed.
"Thank you very much for the demonstration."
After returning to her seat, Tōgi Yūko tugged lightly on her sleeve.
"Kae, what exactly is your relationship with Director Kamiyā?"
Even she didn't believe there was anything unusual.
Back during the audition for Sakura Kyōko's voice actress, Amamiya Kae had failed to obtain the role but still received supporting work.
Even then, the interaction between her and Kamiyā Yuu had seemed rather mysterious.
Amamiya Kae folded her arms and thought for a moment before smiling.
"The relationship you're seeing right now, Senpai."
A little misunderstanding can be useful.
Vague answers provide room to maneuver.
Please forgive this tiny bit of cunning.
It's one of the ways to survive in society.
The moment Kamiyā Yuu entered the recording studio, the local food chain changed.
Kamiyā Yuu
↓
Veteran voice actors
↓
Outstanding voice actors (such as Tōgi Yūko)
↓
New voice actors
As for Amamiya Kae, she somehow existed outside the hierarchy entirely.
The other voice actors couldn't help but become curious about what kind of relationship she actually had with Kamiyā Yuu.