Afterword
Yuuto: “The Master of Ragnarok and the Blesser of Einherjar, volume 5, move out!”
Skáviðr: “Excuse me, Master. It seems that a ‘drama CD’ will also be taking place in the sortie.”
Felicia: “The limited edition first run will come with a special bonus CD that will let you go to sleep with me.”
Sigrún: “And the standard version will have a bonus CD that will let you go to sleep with me, it seems.”
Ingrid: “What, just the two of you? That’s some discrimination right there! I’m a proud Einherjar of the Wolf Clan too, and just as much a — a v-valuable r-right hand to Yuuto as anyone else!”
Mitsuki: “Ah... if you’re going to say that, then what about me?”
Kristina: “Now, now. The two of you still have it much better than the two of us, don’t you think? We’re still on the enemy side for this story, after all.”
Albertina: “Yeah, ’cause it’s from when the Wolf and Claw Clans were still at war, right?”
Yuuto: “Mm, well, with all that said...”
Everyone: “The new drama CD is on sale alongside volume 5! Please give it a look!”
Hello, it’s been a while. This is Seiichi Takayama.
As my characters explained above, the first Master of Ragnarok drama CD is on sale alongside the release of volume 5 of the light novel.
It deals with a part of the backstory not touched on in the main novels: the conflict with the Claw Clan after the Siege of Iárnviðr that occurred in volume 3, with a script written by yours truly. I would be so grateful if you choose to purchase it.
And with that said... it was a good opportunity, so I went to sit in on some of the recording.
I know it’s sort of a cliche thing to say, but hearing the voice actors breathe life into the characters I created was incredible; it was enough to give me goosebumps.
I had the chance to talk for a bit with Nobunaga Shimazaki, who’s doing the voice for Yuuto, and it’s not just his voice that’s pretty; everything about him, from his face to his personality, was attractive and cool! He’s a fine young man without any faults, just like one of those ikemen (“hot guy”) characters out of a manga or anime.
So anyway, I got asked about that experience by my lovely daughter. (Yes, I really do have one. And yes, it really is the best. She’s the kind of cute daughter who’s willing to say, “I love you, Papa!”)
Beloved Daughter: “You met the person who does the voice for the main character? What was he like?”
Takayama: “He was an ikemen, a total ikemen! Everything about him was totally ikemen!”
Beloved Daughter: “I wish someone like that could have been my Papa...”
In other words...
I love you, Papa. (?Good-looking guys only)
That stupid rule is here too!! AAARRGHHHHH!! Dammit, dammit! I’m an ikumen (“guy involved in parenting”), so that should be good enough!
But I digress. I’m almost out of afterword pages, so let’s talk for a bit about the contents of this volume.
Personally, I’m really glad I got to write a lot of scenes with Mitsuki and Ingrid this time. The two of them couldn’t really catch a break until now.
As for the youngest kids in the cast, a lot of that was informed by what I’m keenly familiar with in my day-to-day now: Once they get to be that age, you can’t underestimate them just because they’re children.
Regarding Miss Ruri Takao from Act 3, she’s actually shown up before, her name appearing briefly during one of Mitsuki’s conversations in volume 1.
Actually, she also shows up as a character in the second volume of my previous series, Ore to Kanojo no Zettai Ryouiki.
Back then, she was just a sub-character, but she still got featured in one of the illustrations, which is pretty special treatment. This time around, she got a color illustration, as well. In my next series, perhaps she’ll have graduated to main heroine status. Well, not like I’m planning on that or anything.
As for a certain red-haired idiot, it’s like he alone is living in a completely different type of story, isn’t it? (laughs)
Who else... Well, there’s one person who always seems to get the short end of the stick, both in this volume and in the drama CD, but maybe that’s just my imagination. Sure, I’ll go with that.
Now then, as always, I’ll finish with thanks and acknowledgments.
To my editor, M. I am so sorry for always bringing things right up to the deadline, time and time again. B-but your author Takayama is doing his absolute best.
For instance, on the day before the drama CD recording session, I had plans to go out to a drinking party, but I canceled them in order to write!
I remember when I reported that to you in person. The way you quietly muttered, “You think I’d let you get away with going out right now?” while tightly clenching your fists is a sight I won’t soon forget.
To the great Yukisan-sensei! Thank you for once again providing such cool and cute illustrations! I was so glad to finally get to meet you in person, too!
My sincere thanks goes out to all of the many people involved in the production of this volume, who worked hard to make it happen.
My deep thanks as well to the producer Saitoh_P and everyone else who helped make the release of the drama CD a reality.
And most of all, my greatest thanks goes to you readers who are holding this book in your hands!
The flow of the story this volume was a little bit different than usual, but I hope you enjoyed it.
And with that, I hope that I can see you all again within the year, in volume 6!
Seiichi Takayama
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