Afterword

Thank you for reading Altina the Sword Princess X. This is the author, Yukiya Murasaki.

Now that we’ve reached the tenth volume, the numeral notation should feel somewhat familiar. Is it a little easier to understand now?

The war between Belgaria and High Britannia is finally over. Both Varden and Langobarti were involved as well, which dragged things out quite a bit. In-universe, it took around three months, but with the third volume having been published in July 2013, it’s been over two years for me.

This volume has been a turning point for the series, and the episodes to come should become even denser. There are some things in particular that part of me wants to wrap up. I’ve always valued scenes that bridge the gaps between events, but they also slow down the story progression. For this volume, I tried skipping a few to focus on the highlights. I can only hope you enjoyed it.

Since the main story zoomed forward, however, I barely had a chance to include any side stories. I’m hoping I can find another opportunity to write them.

I usually write a preview for the next volume, but...Regis is in quite the situation here, and writing about it is easier said than done. What I can say for certain is that the Belgarian Empire has been thrown into turbulence. Regis would describe this war as a perfectly normal act in the course of history. In which case, the next one is going to be quite the historic event, I think. I’ll do my best not to leave you hanging.

Now for a little self-promotion—

We’ve now released Altina, a gorgeous hardcover book based on the first two volumes of Altina the Sword Princess, with a few edits and revisions. I’ve written close to thirty books over the past three years, and I’ve decided to use those experiences to tidy up the settings and episodes for the readers. Regis’s age has been altered slightly, and perhaps he takes another approach to catch the bandits. A character might even appear before they’re supposed to... Only a limited number are being made, so it might be hard to find, but if you do spot one, why not try flipping through?

The first volume of the manga adaptation, with illustrations by Aomine Tsubasa-sensei and Kagimushi-sensei, is also on sale. Its developments also differ slightly from the novel, and I would be incredibly grateful if you gave it a try.

I’m working on these other series as well:

How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord (Kodansha)

Isekai Cheat War (Overlap Novels)

After-School Gamefriend: A Season with You (MF Bunko)

Kantai Collection KanColle: Zuihou of the Skies and Seas (Kadokawa Sneaker)

My thanks—

To my illustrator, himesuz-sensei. Your cover this time was even more detailed and wonderful than usual. Thank you!

To Yamazaki-sama and Nishino-sama from Afterglow. You’re always looking after me, and you have my thanks for that.

To my editor, Wada-sama. It’s thanks to you that this book is finally out. You have my sincere gratitude for all your assistance.

To everyone in the Famitsu Bunko editorial department, everyone involved, and to my family and friends who continue to support me.

And of course, my greatest thanks to you, dear reader, for reading this far! Thank you!

Yukiya Murasaki