Afterword
Afterword
HOW was your adventure, everyone? How do you do? This is Tsukasa Yamazaki greeting you from Japan. I Became the Secretary of a Hero! is a story I wrote sticking to the motto of “writing something how you want to write it.”
I started writing the story after thinking how much fun it would be for a normal woman suddenly summoned to another world to explore this vast new world together with a reliable party of men including a dashing hero, a manly mage, and a handsome priest.
When you think of heroes in fantasy stories, the most common theme is a heroic figure who bears the burden of saving the world. If there’s a hero, of course you have to have his archenemy, the Dark Lord, who schemes to take over the world the hero must protect. As those various character types came to mind, I crafted this story around the initial idea of, “A woman summoned to another world sets off on a journey with the hero to defeat the dark lord in order to save the world.”
Please allow me to tell you a little about the characters.
First, let’s start with the heroine Aki. I wanted to write about what would happen should a normal office worker be pulled into another world, so she became quite an ordinary young woman who works as a paralegal. She’s cheerful, honest, and a hard worker, but she struggles dearly to be of use to her friends because she has no noteworthy skills. Another part of her character setting is that she’s actually a terrible cook.
Next is the main hero, Elias. He is supposed to be the heroic figure known as the Hero, so I made him a special young man who has unbelievably good looks, the strongest physical strength in the world, and gave him a personality that is kind and gentle—the type of man any woman would fall in love with.
But behind that façade, I wrote him as a character who is actually starved for love in spite of being beloved for his role. Since he was born as the Hero, he had to live his life bearing the far too heavy weight of his duty and was always alone because he could never depend on anyone. As the weight grew heavier on him, someone who accepted him as just another man, as Elias instead of the Hero, appeared before him in the form of the heroine of this story. I believe he will continue to change under her influence.
Next, let me tell you about the subhero Leo. I wanted to bring in a Mage who could shoot off powerful spells like it was nothing. I also wanted to introduce a male character with the opposite personality of Elias, which brought about Leo’s creation.
He’s manly, cheerful, wild, and frank with his words. He appears to be the type who never gets attached to anything, but he’s actually incredibly smart and a quick learner. I believe he is the one who is the most considerate of his friends. He’s got a shy side, so it’s one of his key characteristics to try and keep from bringing attention to his true kindness.
Now it’s time for the main party member, Johann. I had a hero and a mage, so the next obvious choice would be a healer class, which brought about the Priest Johann. He is the youngest member of the main party, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders, while still having a tenderhearted side suitable of a boy his age. He’s a handsome young man with androgynous features and a beautiful face, but every time he opens his mouth only caustic comments come out.
Now that the hero party is done, it’s time for the Dark Lord Kerdes. Despite his important role, he barely has any airtime in this volume, but he is a character who will greatly influence the story from now on. While he may be the most dreaded existence in the world, he’s a lovable Dark Lord with a slightly off personality that’s more on the airheaded side of the spectrum.
Next is Aki’s younger sister, Nako. In some aspects, she’s more dependable than her older sister Aki, but she’s also a bit unstable and has the flightiness of youth. While she has the cute personality of being cheerful, innocent, and a risk-taker, the power sleeping within her will greatly influence Aki and Elias.
Last, but not least, are the subparty members Mina and Louis.
Mina came about because I wanted a thief in the party and a female friend for Aki. She’s bounce-off-the-wall level of cheerful and the type to take action. I also created her as a favorable character that is very candid with her words. For all that she cares for her friends and works twice as hard as anyone else, she easily feels responsible for things and often worries on her own.
I introduced Louis into the story to encourage Mina, and as someone who would pass down the tale of the Hero’s journey. He’s a minstrel who’s intellectual, refined, prudent, and somewhat of a narcissist. He will steadily become an important character who really starts helping the rest of the party as the story progresses.
I Became the Secretary of a Hero! is a story spun together with many other characters as well, but in the process of making this story I have received help from many people.
First of all, there is the illustrator Kiyu Kanae. She is an irreplaceable friend who has worked on many other works aside from this one with me. Thank you so much for always carefully drawing cute characters and kindly cheering me up when I am down. I hope we can continue working together forever.
Next, I want to thank the translator Charis Messier who found my story and asked if I wanted to publish it in English as well as breathed life into the English translation. I was able to bring this work about because I met you. I am grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. I look forward to reading the story given birth by the words you choose.
This novel came about with the help of many other people as well.
To everyone who took this book in their hands, I hope you were able to enjoy the adventure on the edge of your seat warmly and enthusiastically cheering the characters on.
Let’s meet again in volume two!
And off we go on an adventure to save the world!
--2017.8.17 Inside a Japanese Café
–Tsukasa Yamazaki
