Afterword
HELLO and thank you very much for picking up volume 2. Makino Maebaru here!
I still remember the day that Charis from Cross Infinite World contacted me about the translation of this work—it was spring, ten months after I tied up the series on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, a Japanese web novel site. By then, I was completely under the impression that no publisher would ever take interest in it, and I remember being both over the moon and utterly taken by surprise.
Coming back to this work after all that time was nostalgic. I recalled how I poured my heart and soul into every word I typed. For the published editions, I have written two new chapters, and I was overjoyed that I got to meet Sai and Haruka again! Fate hasn’t treated these two well—quite the opposite, in fact—but now they can finally reach their never-ending happily-ever-after.
When the protagonist of this story, Sai, learns that her savior is a character that will walk the path of ruin, she desperately tries to change his destiny. At the same time, when Haruka learns that the girl who once gave him a goal to live for will be executed, he frantically does everything he possibly can to change her destiny.
What drives them is their determination to save the person they love from the malicious clutches of fate. This is a story of two people shedding blood, sweat, and tears to make each other happy.
When we delve into a story as readers, we sometimes think, “I want this character to experience more happiness in their life!” or “I want a spin-off work where this character can have a happy ending!” Unfortunately, readers are, in the end, readers—we’re powerless against the flow of the plot.
But a writer can lead their beloved characters to the best future possible. As one such writer, I want to continue writing stories where the characters I wish happiness for will become happy. And as you can see, that’s where Sai and Haruka ended up. Oh, what kind of characters shall I lead to an ideal future next? What kind of story should I weave? Just thinking about it makes my heart race.
If I have the opportunity, I want to write about the futures of the strong-willed priestess Sakura and the poor general Hiaki who always gets the short end of the stick. I want to write about the king of Meridiona, Kuze, as well.
Last but not least, I would like to express my profound gratitude to everyone who was involved in the publication of this book—all the readers who cheered me on during the serialization of the web novel, Charis from Cross Infinite World, the person in charge of contacting me, the artist, the designers, the translator, and everyone else.
I would also like to thank my friend Ms. Bon and a person I respect very much, Mr. T from Maebaru. And finally, I want to thank my beloved grandmother, my biggest and longtime supporter who has always encouraged my decision to be a writer. Thank you, truly. Please live a long life.
Well then, my dear reader, I will be elated if we get to see each other again someday. Thank you for reading to the very end.
Makino Maebaru – 05.26.2022