Afterword

To everyone who picked this book up, thank you.

This was only possible with the support of many people and some astonishing coincidences.

The editor who brought me the opportunity to be published—and Koin, who took on illustration duties.

I cannot be grateful enough.

I’m sure some people picking up this book previously read the web novel, while others are entirely new to the series. I’m grateful to both.

I remember when I first started writing novels, it was so clunky and hard to read. I still have a lot of room for improvement, but I feel like I’ve finally taken that first big step forward.

I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense is something I started writing as a change of pace. It was pure coincidence that people noticed, and I remember feeling like the spotlights had suddenly found me.

Everything changed overnight. Things like this really do happen, which proves you should always make hay while the sun shines. I managed to seize the luck that came my way, and I’m holding on to it still.

And it’s the readers who’ve allowed me to continue writing this story.

Your support and corrections. The very fact that you were reading. All of that gave me the fuel I needed to keep going.

Before I knew it, I’d been writing for a full year. That’s a long time, but it certainly didn’t feel like it.

Like I said, I can’t be grateful enough.

But if I keep saying thanks, that’s all I’ll have room to do, so I think I’d better talk briefly about Bofuri itself.

First, about the word itself! Bofuri is the first half of the word defense and the second half of a Japanese gaming term for extreme builds (translated here as max out). With a title this long, you always need a good shortcut, and this one seemed easy to remember.

I’d never picked a nickname before, so…I hope it’s working out for everyone.

For this print edition, I was asked to write a new bonus story—another first for me. I had to find ways to expand things without contradicting the original story. This was a real challenge! But the work was worth it, and I think the result shows how much fun they’re having in the game.

Finally, on a personal note, it was a long road to get this book published, so I have to reserve some extra-special thanks for the people who were there for me at the start.

Whoops, I’m back to thanking people! I think I’d better bring an end to this afterword and the first volume of I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense.

I still value the good fortune that so many people brought me that day.

And if such fortune should come my way once more…

Then perhaps we’ll meet again someday.

I’m looking forward to it!