Hello again and thank you for buying Volume 2 of Sword of the Stallion. When I first had the idea for this series, I never had any intention of publishing it in paperback format, so it’s a little strange to be watching the second book go through production. A heartfelt thank-you goes out to all the readers who picked it up. I hope you enjoy it.
Volume 1 of this series focused on the relationship between Ras and Fiarca, while Volume 2 revolves around the stories between each of them and Tishna. The setting has also switched from Argyll to Charlgia, and the romcom aspect of the story has taken a back seat to the brewing intrigue.
Actually, Princess Tishna’s assassination plot is only a prelude to the full tale of Sword of the Stallion. The story really gets started after this, when Tishna marries into the Argyllian imperial family. Registan invades the alliance, and the whole continent is dragged into war. There are also new developments in Fiarca and Tishna’s conflict over Ras, and we finally learn the true goals of Fon and the other Blades. The southern continent of Kidea will become more relevant, and we might get to see how things are going in other countries as well.
I’m not quite sure what to write about next, but luckily, with the web version of Sword of the Stallion, it doesn’t really matter in which order you read it. I think you’ll be able to look forward to new volumes released here and there in the future. Please pick them up if you have the chance.
Around the same time that this volume goes on sale, there is also going to be a collection of short stories of my other work, Strike the Blood, packed with totally new and unseen content. If any of you learned of my work through Sword of the Stallion, I would be delighted if you take this opportunity to give my other series a try.
There is also going to be an artbook of illustrations produced by Manyako, the illustrator of this volume, named Manyako Art Collection 2: Strike the Blood. Please pick it up if you can.
Finally, by the time this book comes out, the second volume of the manga adaption of my other work, Hollow Regalia, should be on sale. Please consider checking it out when you have the time.
To round out this afterword, I would just like to thank my illustrator Manyako, who somehow managed to find the time to contribute their illustrations to three different works while also working on their own art collection. Despite the rough schedule, the illustrations for this work are superb as always, and I would just like to extend my heartfelt gratitude.
I would also like to thank from the bottom of my heart everyone involved in this book’s production and marketing, and of course, everyone who purchased a copy.
I hope to see you all again sometime in the future.
Gakuto Mikumo