Thank you very much! Volume 12 is out and we’ve finally made it to the end of the Viaysia arc. I’m incredibly happy and filled with gratitude right now.
This cover features Ide. While it’s rare for light novels to have two male leads on the cover, it feels distinctly different from previous covers. It’s a wonderful illustration fitting for their resolution, and I can only express my gratitude to Ukai-sensei. Also, on a personal note, ever since seeing Titee’s cover on volume 10, I’ve been yearning deep down to see a cover with Ide. They belonged together as siblings, so I wanted to see them side by side on a cover!
Now that wish has been granted and I feel incredibly refreshed. To see Ide and Titee on a cover before I die... I have no regrets left. All that’s left is to quietly close my eyes...
Even as I think this, my greedy self is already dreadfully looking forward to the next volumes. If things go as planned, volume 13 will be the biggest turning point in Dungeon Dive: Aim for the Deepest Level. It centers on Lastiara and touches the core of the story. It’s the beginning of everything—and the conclusion. In any case, volume 13 is special. Please look forward to Kanami’s exploits in the next volume.
And with that clumsy preview and promotion out of the way, I have a major announcement!
Would you believe it? Dungeon Dive: Aim for the Deepest Level is getting a manga adaptation! It’s incredibly moving. I absolutely love manga, and honestly, I think I’ve read more volumes of manga than novels (though that might not be particularly unusual. I don’t have many friends, so I can’t say for sure!) As a child, I loved drawing and deeply admired manga artists. That’s precisely why this news is so deeply moving, humbling, and incredibly joyful.
The serialization should start on Comic Gardo (a web comic site) around the release date of this volume. I’d be thrilled if, after finishing this volume, you could also check out the serialized manga.
By the way, the artist handling this comic adaptation is Keisuke Sato. He’s the one who adapted that particularly hugely popular anime into a manga, you know. So, I feel completely at ease. Every day, I get to see the storyboards for the adaptation and just grin to myself.
So, this afterword wraps up with good news instead of apologies. It’s a great start, isn’t it? Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone involved in this book before I sign off. Truly, truly, thank you all so much. Well, then!