Afterword

My eyes often play tricks on me.

I played American football in high school, and there was a sign on the wall that said, SEIZE THE DAY! but the whole time, I thought it said, “Seize today!”

I thought it was weird sometimes, but I figured you couldn’t get to the next day without making the most of today and threw myself into sweaty practices, even in the summer.

I didn’t realize the truth until after I quit. I’m pretty sure football killed a lot of brain cells, but they were clearly dead to begin with.

So when I got a note saying, We’re making a CD drama! from my editor, well…years of work in retail had me used to reading CD as conditioner so I legitimately thought, What’s a ‘conditioner drama’? Some new product line? What about the shampoo?

I checked again, making sure the e-mail was really from my editor. When I read it again and processed what CD drama actually meant, I was so delighted that I wound up hugging my half-dry laundry.

Being a novelist, I am overwhelmed by the support I’ve had from everyone and by getting a CD drama… In high school, I would never have believed any of that possible.

That was back in the days when people actually believed that drinking water made you tired, and as a result, I once collapsed from heatstroke during practice. While I was recovering in the shade, the manager and the coach both told me that I’d been drinking too much water, so you can see why I have trust issues. I’d obviously collapsed because I hadn’t been drinking water, you fools!

I’d better move on to my thanks before I start crying and lose precious fluids.

To my illustrator, Nao Watanuki. Thank you for the wonderful drawings. I know I made some challenging demands on you, but you always come through, and I’m grateful for it. Tiger Nexamic in particular turned out amazing.

Hajime Fusemachi is doing the manga, and Chapter 18—which follows the plot at the end of the second novel—was especially impressive. There are even more weirdos in Volume 3, so hang in there.

For my editor, Maizou, I’m sorry it’s hard mode for you every time. I need to train more and become a writer who can make better progress. Before the Reiwa era ends, at least.

And a thank you to everyone involved in making Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town happen. I can only repay you with the work itself.

To the manager and the coach at my high school. I have no idea why you both wore color contacts at the summer tournament. But it helped inoculate me to all the unreasonable things that happen in this world.

The first volume of Last Dungeon Boonies has received ten printings, and the series has sold more than eight hundred thousand copies. And it’s all thanks to you, the readers.

It still doesn’t feel real. Being a writer doesn’t feel much different from when I was a hapless office drone, chipping away at my novels and entering new-writer contests. I feel like the volume number and print numbers go up, but my sensibilities haven’t changed.

How long will this series go on? What will happen to Lloyd? Where will Merthophan go? I hope I can live up to my readers’ expectations and hope you will find out if I do.

I look forward to meeting you again in Volume 8. Toshio Satou, who was in the tea ceremony club in junior high, signing off.