I am Hanako Arashi, author of this book. I sincerely thank you for choosing this book from among so many captivating works.
This is the third volume in the series. It’s been a while since the last one, but I hope you’ve been well. While I wondered if I could truly publish up to volume 3, after struggling through a tough battle, I managed to scrape this together. I’m very emotional about it.
In this third volume I introduced a chimera that might make readers think, “Wait, isn’t this women’s fiction? This looks like men’s fiction!” I’m secretly nervous that I might have startled readers who aren’t fond of gore or cruel depictions. I really did try to tone it down.
*For those thinking, “Yeah, right.” If you’re curious, please take a peek at the web version. I’m a horror fan at heart, and when I was writing the web version it was Halloween season. I was having horror dreams every other day and loving it, and I watched videos of Halloween zombies almost daily. There’s clear evidence I charged full steam ahead toward the gory zombie direction.
Now then, about this third volume, it also focuses on Luciana, the mother with a temper and a wicked streak. Honestly, I debated whether I should make Luciana a completely unsympathetic, selfish mother right though to the end. But this is a world where sacred beasts who adore Laviange exist. A mother like that would probably have been eliminated long ago. So, as the author, I’d be delighted if you could feel even a tiny bit of pity for Luciana, just a hint of her humanity. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s okay to do anything to your own daughter.
Still, ending it there would be too heavy! So I’ve kept things light with Laviange’s artistic flair and the conclusion of the pope’s story. This time, I’ve introduced what’s probably a minor, botanical-type magical beast. While I’ve added some tweaks, it does appear properly in real world lore, so please search for “Scythian Lamb” or “Vegetable Lamb of Tartary.” The lamb is apparently so delicious it would make Team Peckish very happy.
And now, about the manga adaptation. As mentioned in the afterword of volume 2, it’s currently being worked on by Kazusa Subaru. I got hooked on Subaru’s art skills before everyone else discovered him, and I’ve become one of those creepy people who grins like an idiot while staring at the drawings he sends over.
Serialization is scheduled to begin around autumn 2024! It will be serialized on Gangan ONLINE, and once detailed information is released, I plan to announce it on platforms like Kakuyomu, where I’m currently posting the web version of this work. Please check it out if you can! Thank you for your continued support.
To Wan Hachipisu, who continued handling the illustrations for volume 3: Thank you for accommodating my requests, like making Mihail on the cover illustration a bit more chuunibyou-esque and the detailed specifications I gave you for Mirandalinda, who gets hyped up over yaoi! The cover illustration’s style changed and Mihail turned out just as cool as ordered, and Miranda was cuter than I’d imagined yet still had that fangirl vibe. I was thrilled and excited even at the rough sketch stage! Facing the finished god-tier illustration, I was once again overcome with excitement! Thank you!
To the editor who made me agonize over the web version of the zombie chimera from the first draft, which was at the time brushed off with “Well, it’s women’s fiction”—at first I told myself I was actually suppressing my horror-loving instincts back then. But seeing your response, I nodded along inside, thinking, “Yeah, you’re right.” My apologies. Instead, thank you for letting me write with high energy about the clione. It was a long-cherished ingredient I’d dreamed of eating—dried clione soaked in ochazuke until it plumps back to its original form. Between that and your patience through all the inconsistencies in the third volume’s text, I’m filled with both apologies and gratitude.
As a sidenote, keeping your advice close to heart, I overcame my childhood accident and continued the battle against the evil fat-storing organization—and managed to dip below the big mark!
*If you’re wondering what this refers to, please check the author introduction section.
Finally, to everyone involved in this work, and to all of you who picked up this book—including the fact we made it to volume 3—I offer my heartfelt thanks once again!