My name is Touko Amekawa, and thank you so much for reading volume 5 of The Legendary Witch!
Following directly from the events of volume 4, this fifth volume is packed with developments that lead us toward the story’s climax! While writing this volume, I often looked back at everything that has happened since volume one. In this installment, Noah is nineteen and Claudia is sixteen, meaning ten years have passed since the two first met. Their real ages have finally caught up with the adult appearances they often took on through magic when they were children!
This series began in volume 1 as a tale about a witch, then took on various motifs from there: Sleeping Beauty in volume 2, The Little Mermaid in volume 3, and One Thousand and One Nights in volume 4. (The wonderful idea of using a series of central motifs in each volume came from my editor. Thank you!)
For volume 5, the motif is Snow White. Please take a look at the breathtaking cover illustration by Kuroyuki-sensei! From the moment I first saw the rough sketch, I was completely captivated by its striking composition and beautiful setting. The image of a sleeping Claudia and Noah carrying flowers with his back turned to the reader left a deep impression on me!
At the same time, I loved one of the other illustration proposals so much that we were able to include it as the title page color illustration. Thank you so much to Kuroyuki-sensei for making that possible! From the cover to the color illustrations to the monochrome illustrations of the interior, even down to the character designs, every illustration is filled with such charm. I treasure each one!
I also want to thank Nae Serizawa-sensei, whose manga adaptation continues to be an inspiration to me. And to my editor, who once again provided such thoughtful guidance, and to the proofreading team—thank you all very much!
The story will reach its conclusion in the next and final volume: volume 6. I would be honored if you would follow this journey, which began with a witch and her servant, to its end. I hope we’ll meet again!