Baccano! - Volume 21 - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD

Hello, and well done finishing all that reading. This is Narita.

So this was the third volume of 1935.

In terms of the “introduction, development, twist, conclusion” structure, this was the “twist.” Everything has finally come together and started picking up speed—but since it has only just started, even yours truly isn’t sure how far it’s going to roll.

1935-D (or, if it rolls too far, E) will conclude the 1930s section of Baccano! 2003 will be a shorter, epilogue-type arc where the immortals settle their scores, so I hope you’ll stick with this crazy ruckus just a little longer.

Even though we’re getting close to the end, I’m running out of things to write about in my afterwords. Ordinarily, I’d have Baccano!-related things I wanted to tell you about, but I’ve got this weird feeling that if I start talking about them now, I’ll hit the “end” then and there.

I’ve realized that, as I reach the climax of the Baccano! series, I don’t know how I should feel about it.

Therefore, I’ll sink all those feelings into the work, then come back to them again once everything’s over… At any rate, those are the deep emotions I’ve been processing lately.

*The regular thank-yous start here.

To my supervising editor, Wada (Papio), and the rest of the Dengeki Bunko editorial department. To all the copy editors, for whom I always cause trouble by working too slowly, every single time. To the staff in all the departments at ASCII Media Works. This time, things were already insanely busy with the Great Dengeki Bunko Exhibition in Osaka and Nagoya, and then my manuscript caused chaos (again); I’m really sorry about that.

To the people who are constantly taking care of me: my family and friends, and other writers and illustrators.

To Director Omori, Ginyuu Shijin, and everyone else I’m indebted to in anime, manga, games, and other mixed-media areas. In particular, Ginyuu Shijin’s manga-original characters ended up changing Nader’s fate in a big way!

In Katsumi Enami Artworks, Enami’s second art book, I got to enjoy those super-colorful illustrations all over again—and then Enami drew splendid illustrations for this book as well. There were multiple illustrations from Baccano! in the art book, too; I couldn’t have been more thrilled!

…And to everyone who read this book.

All the people I’ve just mentioned have my deepest gratitude. Thank you very much!

September 2013, Ryohgo Narita