THANK you all for patiently waiting for this volume! It’s a pleasure to meet new readers and readers returning from Volume 1! I’m the author, Tsukasa Yamazaki.
I’m delighted to bring you I Became the Secretary of a Hero! Volume 2. I believe it’s been a little over two years since we last met on these pages! I’m terribly sorry to have made you wait so long for the next step in Aki and Elias’s journey! Thank you so much for continuing it with me!
Did you enjoy this second volume where the Hero and Dark Lord plot has thickened? Volume 1 was essentially the prologue to the overarching story, with Volume 2’s main focus being on sweet romance and intense battles. It’s my sincere hope that you were on the edge of your seat rooting for the Hero Party!
Almost the entire story took place in a cave this time, didn’t it? We’re all longing for the light of day, haha! Don’t worry, Volume 3 mostly takes place outside!
Now then, I would love to take this opportunity to talk to you about the characters that appear in Volume 2.
First, there’s Elias—he’s more of an enemy than an ally this time. I have always wanted to write about what happens when the Hero, the greatest champion of good, becomes the villain, and so Elias gets to fill that role this volume.
Although he becomes an official couple with Aki after discovering their feelings are mutual, his love for her backfires in such a way that he hurts the woman he loves and all his friends. No one really thinks about what would happen if the Hero became their enemy. It’s my greatest hope that I was able to get across the fact that the Hero is both the strongest and most fearsome being in the world through his scenes.
In the next volume he will have to do a lot of thinking and growing in order to get over losing confidence in himself as a Hero. And his relationship with Aki will also go through some turbulent changes in the process. How will they grow together as a couple? Stick around to find out!
Next up is the heroine, Aki. She has grown mentally and physically stronger since Volume 1, and is now able to fight heroically alongside her party members! I wrote her to be both an emotional pillar of support and an ally on the battlefield for her predominately male party.
Then there’s Leo—I believe I gave him the best spot in the limelight this time around. He’s so valiant battling with his life on the line to save his best friend and to protect the woman he loves! Leo is the unsung hero of the Hero Party.
Meanwhile, Johann had to fight as hard as he could against the Moon Goddess possessed Nako before showing up just in time to gallantly save the Hero Party from the brink of death with his healing magic. He really has the coolest, most critically timed scenes! He knows the most about the secrets surrounding everyone, so he also plays a critical role as the explainer, haha!
We can’t forget Mina and Louis, either! They formed a three-person party with Leo and have a huge role to play in saving their friends in the next volume. This pair will continue to be a huge support to the rest of the Hero Party going forward.
As for the Dark Lord and Nako, it’s finally revealed that Dark Lord Kerdes suppressed the powers of the Moon Goddess hidden within Nako. You might find it interesting to go back and reread the chapter in Volume 1 called “The Promise on that Day” to see how it connects their story.
Last but not least, is the brand new character Sutcliff. He comes on stage as an enemy who does some terrible things to Elias and Aki before eventually trying to make amends. I made him into the type of character you just can’t hate in the end. He tends to get easily carried away, but he means well! I hope you come to like him as much as I do!
It is all thanks to you, my many amazing readers, that I was able to publish I Became the Secretary of a Hero! Volume 2 with its many colorful characters!
First, I want to thank the very talented Kiyu Kanae who drew the beautiful illustrations for Volume 1 and 2. Thank you so much for always breathing life into my characters. The characters you draw are always so expressive, full of life, and look like they will move right off the page! I absolutely love them! I hope you will continue to give life to them in the next volumes.
And a special thanks to Charis Messier for continuing to give me so much support and encouragement towards making Volume 1 and Volume 2 a possibility through your translations!
Finally, thank you so much to every single one of you who have been supporting me since Volume 1 and have now taken Volume 2 into your lives! Volume 2 only became possible because you enjoy this series so much. I humbly hope you will continue to support me from now on. I’m always looking forward to your fan letters, fan art, and fan fiction!
Thank you for reading this far. Let us meet again in Volume 3.
Now, let’s go on an adventurous journey to save the world!
11.19
From my home in wintry Japan
Tsukasa Yamazaki