Good evening. I’m Umikaze Minamino.
The fifth volume of Kunon the Sorcerer Can See, which is perfect for a long autumn night, has just been released. I’m afraid it’s winter now, though.
I can hardly believe we’ve reached Volume 5. I think this book would fit really nicely on a shelf next to Volume 4. It might even look nice next to Volume 6. That said, you could put it literally anywhere and it would remain exquisite. I mean, it’s Volume 5. It has a special presence.
I’m writing this afterword at the end of November 2023.
A lot has been happening recently, including Japan winning the Asia Professional Baseball Championship, a bear possibly calling a local government and saying, “Dirty humans! Come at me with your bare hands!” in response to exterminations, the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End anime airing and being a lot of fun, and Persona 5 Tactica coming out. Incidentally, I’m the type who waits for a whole season of anime to be released and then watches it all in one go.
To share some personal news, I finally bought an electric toothbrush after meaning to do so for a long time. It was on sale on Amazon! But my teeth felt weird after brushing them with it, so I stopped using it. I wonder if I’m just not accustomed to it? Or am I damaging my teeth? If I keep using it and hurting my teeth, will I eventually grind them to powder? I’m jealous of people who can use an electric toothbrush without issue. Envious, even.
Also, I’m hoping Japanese scallops get less expensive this winter. I’m not sure if I’ll end up buying any. What will future me do with my passion for smoked hotate scallops? They’re really delicious. I’d like to try making a hotate rice bowl, too.
I can’t forget to mention the Next Light Novel Award.
Kunon the Sorcerer Can See was nominated for the 2023 Next Light Novel Award.
If you’ll allow me a small digression, another of my novels—Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden—was also nominated. It has a different publisher, so I’m not sure if I should say the name of the series, but I wanted to sneak it in. It’s just one brief mention, so please forgive me. I would appreciate it if you could just close your eyes. Two seconds is long enough.
Regardless of the results, I’m pleased that people voted for me, read my works, or even just learned about them from the contest.
That alone is enough for me. I am very happy and honored.
Hmm. I wonder if, from a commercial standpoint, I should be publicizing and pushing my novels as much as I can right now.
Will the voting be finished by the time you’re all reading this afterword? I don’t think the results will be announced yet. At least not if you bought it on the release date, anyway! I don’t mind at all if you bought it after the release date, of course!
If you want, make sure to check out the list and read any light novels you think look interesting. I want to read something, too.
Thank you to Laruha for this volume’s wonderful illustrations.
As of the time I’m writing this, I’ve only seen a rough draft of the cover. I can’t wait for the finished product.
I’ll bet that scene, that scene, and that other scene were all illustrated. Wait, did that scene get illustrated, too? You’re kidding, right? Isn’t that a little daring?
…There might be illustrations that inspire such a reaction! I can’t help wondering! Please check them out, everyone!
Thank you to La-na—who is responsible for the manga version of this story, which is serialized in Monthly Comic Alive—for always making the manga so much fun.
The third compiled volume of the manga is releasing at the same time I’m writing this! I’m so happy! I’ve been looking forward to it!
I think the cover is wonderful. Gentlemen look so great smushed between two maids.
Picture two girls hugging each other. Precious, right? Now imagine some guy slipping between them.
What the hell are you doing?! You’re ruining a beautiful thing, loser! Get lost!
But if a gentleman slips between them? It’s as you can see on the cover.
I must admit my shock at discovering a boy can look so good positioned between two girls. I want to be a gentleman, too. And I also want to be smushed by girls.
To O, my editor, thank you again for all your help.
My deepest apologies for once again misunderstanding deadlines, ignoring them entirely, and for generally causing you trouble.
I’m always making mistakes, aren’t I?
I really run the full gamut from small mistakes to seriously terrible ones.
If I were a war general, my small mistakes would become a terrible gust pushing my tens of thousands of soldiers, impeding their progress, and threatening to blow them off a cliff.
It’s a good thing I’m not a general…or is it? I need to stay strong.
Finally, to my dear readers.
I couldn’t have reached Volume 5 without your support. Thank you very much.
Your thoughts and reactions continuously energize me.
I apologize for mentioning the web novel, but it is undoubtedly thanks to you all that a slacker like me is able to continue making regular updates.
From here on, you can expect predictable events as well as unpredictable ones. Fun episodes, as well as some that are surprisingly not so fun. You may see some fascinating characters and various secrets revealed, or you might not.
There is much to come, and I’d appreciate it if you stayed with the story for the long haul.
I hope to see you again in Volume 6, which will surely happen!