Afterword

Afterword

 

TO ALL THOSE NEW to my work, it’s a pleasure to meet you. And a pleasure to meet those who aren’t as well. The name’s MINE, an oddball amateur writer who submits his work, day after day, to a site called Let’s Be Novelists. I just so happened to have a bit of luck this time around, which led to the official novelization and publication of The Strange Adventures of a Broke Mercenary through Hobby Japan.

While I say that, Hobby Japan has already published another work of mine—New Life+: Young Again in Another World. Perhaps some of you have heard about it. If you haven’t, I couldn’t be happier if you took this opportunity to test the waters with that one too.

Back to Broke Mercenary: What did you think about it? There’s no reincarnation involved. It’s a story about a normal (?) mercenary setting foot into a typical fantasy world of adventurers, or at least that was my intention when I started writing it.

While skilled, our protagonist has little knowledge of what it means to be an adventurer. How will he handle his new role? How will he interact with the strange folks who come to surround him, and where will he ultimately end up? I ask that you see it through together with me. And if you find it at least a little bit interesting, that means it was worth it for me to write.

There are some people out there who for some reason read the afterword before reading the story. To those people, I suggest you turn around and read the story before continuing. I don’t plan to spoil anything, but the afterword is where I plan to offer my grievances and gratitude in regard to the book, so I assure you that reading beyond here will be completely meaningless to you. Though that’s really up to you.

Personally speaking, time really has flown since I apologetically took my undeserved seat at the table of published authors. In fact, by the time this book comes out, it will have been my third year of writing. I’ve come so far, in fact, it’s finally time for my second book to make its way into the wide world.

I’ll admit, a part of me wants to keep up this momentum. But I get the feeling a certain author once said, “It all comes down to luck, fate, and timing.” I pray from the bottom of my heart that proper guidance will lead us to meet again in the next volume.

I wouldn’t quite call this a side note, but if this book is published without trouble, then the latest volume of New Life+: Young Again in Another World should come out on the same day. I’m sure I’ll be offering my earnest gratitude for your patronage at the end of that book as well.

If I somehow didn’t, don’t think I meant it. Just laugh at this idiot writer for forgetting something so important. This author forgets things a lot, you know. So many times while writing, I suddenly realize there’s something I have to say, yet I somehow write on without saying it…

This is the last part, don’t worry.

To Hobby Japan’s editing department, to the proofreaders, to the designers, and to everyone in the industry. To the editor, who read my rough draft, and to peroshi, who depicted Mr. Loren so perfectly it took me by shock. To my editor K-sama, who makes time to talk over the phone with me every so often. You all have my sincerest gratitude.

And my thanks to you, dear reader, as well.

I hope for your continued patronage, and I pray that we will meet again in my next book. And with that, I’ll bring it to a close.

—MINE