Afterword

Thank you for picking up the second volume of “The World’s Least Interesting Master Swordsman.”

It’s thanks to you, the reader, that I’ve been able to publish this second volume of the series. I really have nothing but words of thanks to offer.

As I doubt there are those who start reading with the afterword, I will proceed with the assumption you have read the contents of this second volume. For this volume, I have had to correct a great deal of typos and add substantial new sections of text.

This comes from a desire to make sure that both people who wait for my submissions and those who are picking up the book for the first time can enjoy it.

In the newly written section, the man who has as yet barely made an appearance in the Narou version, House Disaea’s ace, ‘the Thinker,’ Shun Ukiyo, makes his long-awaited debut.

He’s equivalent to the ‘Three of Hearts,’ the card that, while not the most powerful, can defeat the most powerful character.

How he ended up being picked up by House Disaea, the abilities of Pandora...those mysteries are something I hope to reveal in time. At least, assuming I get the opportunity.

The thing I hope to show in this work as it progresses is not the fighting of the Japanese transferees, but of the people who live in ‘this’ world.

Suiboku, who has climbed to the top of the world through talent and dedication, is the greatest example, but none of the people in this world are necessarily inferior to their Japanese counterparts.

Of course, not all of them are conveniently brilliant, but at the same time, none of them are conveniently incompetent, either.

To be more specific, those who have received a proper education are at least properly competent and as a result will end up on the winning side. And those who haven’t, are correspondingly incompetent, and will suffer the consequences of the same.

It’s probably best to be strong and smart and lucky, but the most important thing is to have the correct perspective, and I believe that next to luck, that’s the strongest thing.

I will continue my efforts, hoping that you will all enjoy it as you empathize with my characters.

Finally, as I pray that this won’t be the final volume, I would like to offer my thanks to those whose help I rely upon each and every day.

My family and relatives who have supported me, a fledgling author.

Mr. Egawa and Mr. Kuroda from the publisher, my advisor Mr. Kondo, the illustrator of the lovely illustrations Shiso, and Appe who handles the comic adaptation.

Thank you, and I look forward to working further with you in the future.

Rokurou Akashi,

An Auspicious Day in September, 2018