It’s already been six years since the first installment of this series, and we’re all the way to volume 12 now. Good heavens, time sure flies! Incidentally, I’m always curious about the etymology of words and phrases like that one. There are plenty of strange phrases in Japanese, especially in classical rakugo. One famous example is Jugemu, but it’d take up too much space if I typed out the entire thing, so feel free to look it up yourself.
Now then: Relatively early in this volume, the Jade Wings party meets up with Nao’s party. I guess that much was obvious from the volume’s cover. I’ve really been wanting to see the three Jade Wings girls on the cover, and I finally got my wish granted. As a sidenote, this is actually the first time that Nao’s party has properly met up with classmates who are also adventurers. Their previous encounters have usually ended on a sour note, but this time, perhaps they’ll be able to form a positive relationship.
This volume also reveals the origin of the name “Jade Wings”! In the side story at the end of the volume, Sai makes his return. Read it and see how his relationship with Estelle is progressing!
But I imagine most readers finished the volume before reading this afterword. In the past, I think a decent number of people may have bought books after reading the afterword, but that’s less likely with ebooks, although they offer other conveniences, like the ability to read a sample of the opening. In any case, Jade Wings doesn’t meet up with Meikyo Shisui in the web version, so I’ll probably end up having to make a lot of adjustments and add new scenes. But that also means I can look forward to seeing more wonderful art of the Jade Wings girls by Nekobyou Neko-san, and I’m definitely looking forward to that!
I should add that I have two new works to announce. 「図書迷宮と心の魔導書」* and 「けもみみ巫女の異世界神社再興記 神様がくれた奇跡の力のせいで祀られすぎて困ってます」** are currently available for purchase from Dragon Novels and Fujimi Fantasia Bunko, respectively! I would really appreciate it if you would check these series out. As a sidenote, the latter new series has a very long title compared to most of my other works. It was actually my editor who came up with it. The placeholder title I’d come up with right before release was 「けもみみ巫女」***, so my priorities in writing this series should be pretty obvious! Feel free to dive in if you’re a fellow animal ears enthusiast!
Last but not least, I would like to thank all of the readers who purchased this volume as well as Nekobyou Neko-san and everyone else who contributed to bringing it to publication. I hope you’ll all continue to provide your support in the future.
Itsuki Mizuho
*Literal translation: “Library and Grimoire of the Heart.” Title is not yet licensed in English; this title is not official.
**Literal translation: “The Story of a Shrine Maiden with Animal Ears Reviving a Shrine in Another World.” Title is not yet licensed in English; this title is not official.
***Literal translation: “A Shrine Maiden with Animal Ears.” Title is not yet licensed in English; this title is not official.