Afterword

Afterword

 

EVERYONE WHO’S NEW to my work, pleased to meet you! And those who already know me, long time no see. I’m Kousuke Akai.

To be honest, it was over a year ago that my editor first presented me with the job of writing a spin-off story for the Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! series. At the time, I was already caught up in other work, and I wasn’t confident that I should be messing around in the world that FUNA, the original author, had already so expertly crafted, so I arrogantly turned the job down.

However, as time passed, and I found myself between assignments, huddled alone in the corner of my dark room, staring up at the ceiling and counting all the stains, the opportunity was thankfully offered to me again. I was worried about what sort of horrid, stain-counting creature I was en route to becoming, so I accepted that job at lightning speed.

I then immersed myself in reading the series, reacquainting myself with the cheerfulness and charm of all the main characters. I fell in love with the intricate worldbuilding and once more truly felt all the joy this story could bring.

And so, I ran this spin-off by the editors and FUNA, taking meticulous care not to disrupt the already fully-fleshed setting and characters, and was even able to have the original illustrator, Itsuki Akata, provide some wonderful illustrations, all of which came together to produce the work you see before you, Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!: Lily’s Miracle.

Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time out of their busy schedules to participate in the creation of this book.

If I talk too much about the story itself here in the afterword, it’s going to get confusing for the people who read this part first, so please allow me to keep this to a short and sweet introduction.

This is a story about how no matter what challenges life throws at you, as long as you keep running straight ahead, never abandoning positive thinking, the world is sure to meet you halfway.

I hope that I can make everyone who reads this book smile, just a little bit.

 

—Kousuke Akai