Afterword
Hajime Kanzaka + “ L”
A:
Ugh! It’s finally out! Slayers novel volume seven, “Gaav’s Challenge”!
L:
Jeez, it sure took you long enough.
A:
It did. All that revising took a while.
L:
Yeah, it took you about five thousand years to get this Slayers novel out.
A:
Well… that’s, er, overstating it a little…
L:
What? It’s been about five thousand years since the universe was born, right? Something like that.
A:
Like hell it has! Jeez.
L:
So, it’s question time! What was the reason for late publication?
- Natural disaster
- Spiritual development
- Historical inevitability
- Something in this world that science cannot explain
- Author incompetence
A:
Er… um…
L:
You can’t wriggle your way out of this one.
A:
Well, it’s a turning point in the story, you see. I was under a lot of pressure. Back when I was writing volume three, I was still expecting the series to end with the next volume, you see.
L:
So it’s over?
A:
Er, well, there was more that I wanted to write, so I decided to keep going.
L:
You mean you want the story to go on forever, like that Dragon-something-or-other?
A:
I don’t think you should be talking like that. But anyway, the next story will definitely be a climax. I’ll be able to genuinely say, “Part One, Complete” after that.
L:
Part Two’s never gonna start at this rate.
A:
Hey! I said don’t say stuff like that!
L:
Well, whether or not Part Two ever comes out, you’d better get the next volume out at least.
A:
(Gulp?!)
L:
Up until now, even the most twisted tale got wrapped up by the end of the book. But this time, you dropped a big, fat “to be continued” on everyone.
A:
A-anyway, to make an announcement…
L:
Changing the subject, huh?
A:
I still don’t have final results ready for the reader popularity contest I wrote about in “Vezendi’s Shadow.”
L:
Meaning, the results will be out next time. Probably not in this series, but in Slayers Special instead.
A:
A-anyway, um, I’m very grateful for the people at the publisher’s who put up with my unilaterally declared popularity contest. But I think there are a fair bunch of entries that never made it to the author here…
L:
I see. So based on the date and what you said… You mean by New Year’s, right?
A:
That’s right! I’m really happy to get fan letters like this. The time I spend reading them makes me think, “Yeah! I’m so glad I became an author! I’m a true Tokyoite now, dammit!” and stuff.
L:
You’re a true Tokyoite… ?
A:
Well, no… born in Hyougo, raised in Osaka. Anyway, I’ll count every letter I can get my hands on before New Year’s, but it’s possible that some letters that don’t arrive in time won’t get counted. If, by chance, that’s the case…
L:
The readers will hate you.
A:
Now, now.
L:
But, there’s no way to deal with that now except for saying you’re sorry.
A:
Well, that’s true, so—everyone whose letters didn’t arrive by New Year’s, sorry. He he he.
L:
Quit with the heart marks; they’re dishonest… Oh yeah, by the way, no event this time.
A:
Okay!
L:
You might be tired of these by now.
A:
But anyway, see you all here next time!
L:
Better live up to that…
A:
Later everyone! Sayonara!
L:
Don’t end it.
A:
Come on, let me end it…
L:
(sigh) I guess I gotta. Anyway, that’s how it is.
A:
So, see you later! As soon as possible!