Thank you for purchasing The World’s Least Interesting Master Swordsman: Volume 9. I am slowly approaching hitting double-digit volume numbers as a serialized author. In all honesty, I am constantly surprised that it has gone this well. I’ve heard that 880,000 units have been sold, and I would like to thank every single reader for that. I keep telling myself that this industry isn’t easy, but even so, I’m plenty pleased with the success of this series.
I say this every time, but I heavily rewrote this volume. Although I have rewritten all of the main prose, the story itself remains the same. I’ve included the perspectives of individuals from other countries, as well as the thoughts of those in Arcana and the main characters, while also writing how they would see the situation once they knew the reality of it. I also introduced a new chapter where I could write about the princesses from the Magyan Kingdom and neighboring countries. After receiving the wonderful illustrations from Shiso, I had the idea to bring more life to the girls. The story hereafter may also contain those three princesses, as well as Ran’s friends, the four Temperans.
Now, about me personally. When the pandemic was starting to calm down, I headed home to my mother’s home in Miyakojima. I hadn’t been back in around two years, but even so, my grandmother and grandfather were both fiercely healthy and they warmly welcomed me back. My grandfather took me to a variety of places, and I got to experience picking lemons. Perhaps someone who bought the lemons I picked could be reading this very book... I like to imagine that. I stayed for one night and two days, but it was a lovely and fulfilling time.
Now, last but not least...to Shiso and my editor-in-charge, Kurota. Thank you so much for your diligent efforts. I look forward to working with you both on future volumes.
- Rokurou Akashi