AFTERWORD

All the readers holding this book in their hands might feel a little dubious right now, wondering why this volume is rather surprisingly thin compared to previous ones. Considering the rest of the Black Bullet series always clocks in at around three hundred pages in the Japanese editions, I’m sure one can’t help but notice that Volume 7…doesn’t.

The original plan for this volume called for a story that could be contained in a single book, like Volume 2, since both the Volume 3/4 and Volume 5/6 pairs wound up being two-parters. However, thanks to some (ahem) issues with my writing speed, it was decided that we’d cut it off at the middle and publish it like this instead.

My sincere apologies go out to anyone expecting the usual length with this volume. There’s no point dwelling on the past, however, so right now my sole focus is on making the second half as exciting as it can possibly be.

Now, about the manga version.

For the edition coming out in March, Dengeki Maou magazine is launching a second manga version of the Black Bullet series. Titled Black Bullet Interlude FAQ! it’s a high-tension gag series (or so they tell me) penned by abua, an artist with a truly original sense of humor. Pick up a copy to check out the Black Bullet characters in all their screaming, shouting, bawling glory.

Finally, I’d like to hand out some thank-yous.

First, thanks to Kurosaki, my editor, who fought diligently to extend out the schedule as much as humanly possible. Thanks also to Saki Ukai, my illustrator, who performed some fairly amazing scheduling acrobatics in order to accommodate me as well. Hellos and kudos go out to Morinohon and abua, authors of the two Black Bullet manga versions, as well as everyone in the editorial and publishing teams involved in getting this out to market.

Also, one more word to my readers. By the time this reaches print, I think the anime version will be just about underway. Personally, I think it’d be great if it turns into something that really wows all of you.

Thanks, as always, for picking up this volume. May the blessings of the gods fall upon everyone who lays eyes upon this.

Shiden Kanzaki