Afterword

New readers, may the fluff be with you! (This is a greeting used by the followers of Fluffism.)

Returning readers, may the fluff be with you! (This is a greeting used by the followers of Fluffism.)

I’m so pleased to talk to you in yet another afterword! It’s been five whole months!

This book was originally posted on the website Shosetsuka ni Naro (“Let’s be Novelists”), with some revisions and additions. I worked extra hard on the bonus story this time. Maybe a bit too hard! It’s a bit long for a short story!

Once again, we have a tale of Kanata’s various deeds on her unending quest for fluff. What did you think? I hope you enjoyed reading about Kanata and her cute fluff balls traveling the land and vanquishing evil.

Now, I’m writing this afterword around the end of June. The deadline this time is in the middle of the worst time of year—the rainy season—when the humble author of this piece suffers terrible atmospheric migraines. I’ve been spending my time writhing in hellish torment as I play the hit new game The Last of Us Part II and my dog pleads for me not to die. I just finished a no-hit run, taking down every enemy on the map with a single shot from my bow. It was crazy fun. I only barely turned in the manuscript on time.

In retrospect, maybe the migraines aren’t exactly at fault here. Perhaps I had better move on before my manager gets any angrier.

I’m sorry! I promise to finish Volume 3 with time to spare! Really! Really really really! I already know what I’m going to write!

Oh, that’s right. The next fluff will be a vampire. And a girl this time. I hope that piqued your interest! (Blatant self-promotion.) She isn’t like those two useless balls of fluff who hang around Kanata. She is a huntress! And what does she hunt? Oh, sparrows and swallows and pigeons, perhaps with a side of rat. Proud of her handiwork, she’ll show them off to you. It is a bit hard to watch her dive into her meal right in front of you. But she’s fluffy and cute so we love her anyway.

Unfortunately, you will need to clean up after her. Wings and beaks and feet and such. But she’s fluffy and cute so we love her anyway.

And it is a bit creepy watching her lick up the blood when she’s done, but she’s fluffy and cute so we love her anyway.

Hold on—I was supposed to be telling you about how cute and fluffy she was! This is turning out kinda grotesque...

Anyway, with that (with that?), I’d like to end by thanking everyone who helped with this book.

First is my managing editor S. I’m so terribly sorry for the trouble I caused you! I’ll do better! I may be a no-good writer who only barely squeaks their work in on an extended deadline, but I hope you will continue to work with me!

Next is Falmaro, for the illustrations. The cuteness quotient this time was perfect! All of the characters—Kanata, Zaggy, Fen-fen, and the rest—have never been more charming! I would be more than honored to work with you on the next one!

Finally, I would like to thank the editors, designers, proofreaders, salespeople, booksellers, and everyone else who made Volume 2 a reality.

And, of course, a huge thanks to you, the one reading this!

We will meet again, in Volume 3! Until then, you must have faith!

Farewell!

-Inumajin, June 2020