Volume 8, Afterword

Once again, truly, thank you very much to those who read “Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei”. To everyone who picked it up for the first time, from now on, I hope you’ll stay with me. The 8th volume this time is an “episode zero” story about the past and a short story about an organisation even further back. The short story “Untouchable” was written originally to be the preamble and so, the short story was made to be shorter. The short story was sent to the end of the volume on the advice of editor M Ki-san but, this order truly does make the unusual circumstances of Miya and the Yotsuba stand out more I think.

Speaking of short, when I submitted my paper manuscript by visiting M Ki-san and he said “the paperbacks are supposed to be of about this length” and I ended up shocked. Probably ignorance by the short length of the[ir] career. I must reflect on my thoughts. .. .. While I may have said I reflected on my thoughts, I won’t be restricted from making the best of it.

I don’t particularly think the reason of “the longer the novel, the more it’s worth reading due to the value” is valued but, so too are there times where I complete a novel and it ends up longer. Like with the Dengeki Bunko Magazine serialisation, at first, I insert my conscious and I can finish it like that but, but if I don’t do it within the limitations, I tend to unconsciously pack everything in it seems.

A good (or bad, whichever works best) example of this would be the Audio Drama that goes on sale this month. When I was given a chance to request the manuscript for the drama CD, I proposed thinking “I want to do the past scenes of the reminiscence chapter as a full scenario” and it was approved, it received the “OK” for the drama version of the whole thing and I thought, they must have made a mistake. I thought it wouldn’t end up as just one volume, perhaps it would be finalised as three or four sets – and that’s simply thoughtlessness as it disregards cost.

Luckily, it ended up being an interactive DVD but they kept me in suspense until it was set in stone so once again, I offer my apologies.

Nevertheless, I received assistance from all involved resulting, in effect, an audio drama that the fans can look forward to I believe.

It’s become somewhat like advertisement for the audio drama DVD but rest assured, I believe this novel will also surely be received satisfactorily. – To everyone who picked up this book, I hope that you will all feel that it is “interesting” from the depths of your heart.

Well then, definitely look forward to the next novel, Volume 9 – Visitor Chapter

(I)please. Thank you very much. (Satou Tsutomu)