Thank you very much for purchasing the ninth volume of 100- Million-Year Button. I am the author, Syuichi Tsukishima.
I would like to start by touching on the content of this novel. This will contain spoilers, so please be careful if you are the type to read the afterword first.
Volume 9 consists of two parts: the final chapter of the Cherin arc, and the meeting at the palace followed by Allen’s journey home. As I promised in the previous afterword, this volume contains the fiercest battle in the series so far.
Allen was forced to endure a string of intense fights against two powerful True Attire wielders: former Imperial Knight Diehl Reinstad and traitorous Holy Blade Von Mustang! He struggled initially against the overwhelming advantage of their True Attires and had to watch Lia die…but then he connected to the “path” using the wrong method, drew on an infinite pool of darkness, and overpowered Diehl and Von. Zeon; the darkness; the Rodol Clan Seal—this fight is packed with mysteries to do with the very heart of the story, and writing it was a lot of fun.
Paula Garedzall makes an appearance at the end, as well! She was introduced at the very beginning of the series and is actually far more important than she seemed to be at first. She’s deeply connected to Allen’s mom and Goza Village, and even knows about the Time Hermit and the 100-Million-Year Button. Paula grows even larger between every appearance and is one of the strongest characters in the series! She’ll definitely show off that incredible way of fighting of hers again in the future.
Next volume, we begin the “Imperial Faction & Noble Faction” arc! An assassin who has been sent to kill Allen will make an appearance, as will a character familiar to you all! And in the middle of Allen’s already turbulent life, a deadly battle suddenly breaks out! I hope you look forward to it!
I’m running out of space, so I’d like to give some words of thanks. To the illustrator Mokyu, the lead editor, the proofreader, and everyone else involved in the production of this novel—thank you very much.
And most of all, thank you to the readers who picked up Volume 9 of 100-Million-Year Button.
Until we meet again for the next volume!
Syuichi Tsukishima