Afterword

Afterword

Nice to meet you, everyone. I’m Riku Nanano.

This novel was based—with significant revisions—on my winning entry into the isekai fantasy category of the third Kakuyomu Web Novel Contest, held by the web novel site Kakuyomu. I hope that new readers (of course) and those who have been supporting me since the web version alike will find something to enjoy. This is my debut novel, which means this is my first ever afterword, and...I’m already stumped. I still have pages left to fill.

Hmm. In that case, why don’t I share a scene that took place while I was writing this volume?

This was back when the illustrations for this book were completed. I could barely contain my excitement—it was hard to believe that something I’d written was going to be published, and with illustrations, at that!

First, I looked at Tina, the female lead. Ah... She’s adorable. Yes, she’s meant to still have a childish air about her. There’s nothing for me to complain about—it’s perfect.

Satisfied, I turned my attention to Ellie. Ah... She’s precious. And you can tell that she’s older than Tina. I have no complaints about her either. More perfection. Now, time to get back to work writing that—

There’s still another file. Whoops. I almost forgot about the main character.

Oh...

Without a word, I stood up, boiled some water, brewed myself some coffee, and then took a sip to calm myself. I gathered all my courage and took another look. It appeared that I hadn’t been dreaming.

A-Allen! W-Were you always that handsome?! Huh? Really? I had my suspicions—just look at how Tina and Ellie react to you—but I can’t help feeling a strange pang of defeat now that... Ahem.

The illustrations were perfect; I would never presume to request revisions. Allen is handsome, has a great personality, and is a first-rate sorcerer—what is there to be afraid of?

What’s that? He’s even more handsome than he was in the web novel? “You’re just imagining things,” I say, grinning from ear to ear.

That’s that taken care of. What a relief! Of course, Lydia was amazing too!

Finally, I’d like to thank all the people who helped me:

The members of the Kakuyomu Web Novel Contest selection committee. I never even dreamed that you would award my work first prize. Thank you so much. I’ll put everything I have into my writing.

My editor. You really have always been an invaluable help to me. Somehow or other, we managed to get this book into shape, and I look forward to working with you again.

The illustrator, cura. Thank you for such wonderful pictures. I hope I can write a story that will live up to them.

Everyone who read the web novel. The work I began so casually has become a published book!

And all of you who have read this far. I can’t thank you enough, and I look forward to the day we get to meet again.

Riku Nanano