Afterword
IT’S been a while. I’m Mashimesa Emoto.
I made you wait quite a long time after volume 5 was published last April in Japan. My schedule for the year was completely full when I received the offer to publish the next volume, so this continuation came out quite late.
Light novels usually only thrive with some sort of speed and freshness, but the patient staff at GC Novels told me, “Okaaay, guess we’ll just have to wait!” I’m truly grateful for them.
Furthermore, I even received the generous offer to publish volume 7 after this. That’s why Expedition Cooking with the Enoch Royal Knights will be releasing two volumes in a row this year. The first in February and the second in March (for the Japanese release).
The release of volume 7 will be the conclusion of the series.
These days, people in the light novel industry say they’re satisfied if they’re able to publish five volumes of a series. That’s why I can’t believe my series is going all the way to volume 7! It really fills me with gratitude.
Now, moving on to a different subject.
Volume 4 of the Expedition Cooking manga went on sale last November.
This latest installment is full of even more beautiful illustrations drawn by Renji Fukuhara-sensei. Though I was depressed to learn volume 4 would mark the end of this manga… I received good news!
Expedition Cooking is being made into yet another manga series.
Shinobu Take-sensei will be in charge of the illustrations, and it will be published in “Comic PASH!” It has likely already started serialization by the time this book is released.
Shinobu-sensei draws a very adorable Mell, and all the members of the Second Expeditionary Squadron practically come to life on the pages. Captain Ludtink’s bandit face is still alive and well, of course.
It’s definitely worth reading, so I hope you’ll keep up with Mell’s new adventures in the manga!
As for volume 6 here, this story contained more expeditions and a fulfilling home life for Mell. The relationship between Mell and Zara barely made any progress through the first five books, but it makes a really sudden change in this one. I know this volume ends with a big cliffhanger, but volume 7 comes out soon, so please don’t be worried.
I mentioned a trip to Hokkaido in the afterword of volume 5. Fortunately, I was able to go! It was my second time visiting Hokkaido, but my first time going during the cherry blossom season, so I got to experience a flower viewing for the second time in my life. I was very surprised by how tall the cherry blossom trees in Hokkaido were.
All the food was so delicious too! The best thing I ate was miso ramen with bacon and corn. I also saw a newborn bear cub, spotted wild foxes, and touched a pony. It was a very fun trip.
I hope I can go on another trip sometime this year.
Finally, I’d like to thank the editors at GC Novels, especially the one in charge of my series, for all of your help. I also want to say thank you to everyone else involved with the publication of Expedition Cooking with the Enoch Royal Knights.
Tera Akai-sensei, you once again provided me with adorable cover art, colored pages, and illustrations throughout the book. I give you my heartfelt gratitude for drawing everything so wonderfully, from the serious scenes to the comical ones.
I sincerely appreciate any readers who’ve followed the story this far. Thank you very much for your time.
May we meet again in volume 7 for the conclusion of the series!