Min-Maxing My TRPG Build in Another World - Volume 2 - Chapter Aft

Afterword

First and foremost, I’d like to dedicate this novel to my beloved grandmother, who has supported me in everything I’ve done. Now free from most of your responsibilities, I’d love for you to make the most of your free time. Perhaps you might consider traveling the world.

Next, the utmost thanks to the companies that produce TRPGs for me to play. Corona aside, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to sit down at a tabletop as of late, but I always look through new rulebooks and supplements and think to myself, “I may live in a world like ours, but maybe it’s worth seeing tomorrow.” Your contributions are the reason I can enjoy drawing breath.

Of course, I applaud Lansane for the beautiful masterpieces that elevate my meager ramblings into something beautiful. The blend of fairy-like charm and inherent terror that I attempted to convey is given life through your renditions. Ursula and Lottie have the perfect touch of dubious endearment. And I struggle to find the words to express how immaculately Helga is portrayed.

Once again, I must apologize to my wonderful editor, who patiently worked with me through my delays. I would never think that your presence prevents me from mumbling to myself. And I certainly didn’t break out into a cold sweat when you overheard me and said, “I don’t need your finger. I need your manuscript.”

Finally, let me offer a heartfelt thank you to all the dedicated readers who picked up this second volume. The reason I’m able to write this afterword addressing you all is because you continued to water me.

Now, setting the curiously Western style of gratitude aside, I have thankfully been able to publish a second volume in this series. Thank you very much to all those that have braved the pandemic to get your hands on the first volume to begin reading this story.

Since I have so graciously been allotted five whole pages of afterword space this time, I would like to touch on this work and the process of converting my previous writings into a proper novel. It goes without saying that this book is a touched-up version of the web novel I uploaded to Narou. However, the contents are drastically different—not in terms of overarching story, of course, but I added several events while making sure not to cause any contradictions in the plot.

Essentially, readers of the web novel may find that story beats occur in different ways or see skills acquired in a new order; these are the sorts of tweaks that I’ve made. Thus, anyone interested in following the online version should have no problem jumping right in from here.

Still, the variance in how characters are introduced or deliver lines may cause you to have distinct impressions of them between the two works. That may be a minor point of interest. From the cast introduced so far, I would say Agrippina is remarkably different. After all, neither Elisa’s kidnapping nor Helga’s arc were present in the original version.

What this means is that after all my joking around about Old Man Henderson, maybe this is the version that’s bumped up on his scale. Or maybe this book is a supplement?

Ah, and if I may clear my name on one point: I know that I added several tens of thousands of Japanese characters’ worth of content only for the first two volumes to each be around the length of a normal book, but I didn’t do this on purpose.

Every now and again, someone will ask me if I purposefully left a gap in the story for me to fill with a paperback book. This is not the case—I merely twisted and turned the extra events until I could wedge them in. Being based on TRPGs, Erich’s campaign is conveniently compartmentalized into sessions, making it easier for me to manipulate the story in ways to fit new ideas. Here we see yet another reason why tabletop games are beautiful.

This follows the same principle as tossing in a one-shot session in the middle of a long campaign with the goal of giving your players a little extra experience. I’m sure you know how some tabletop games come with ready-made scenarios that you and your friends can hop into at a moment’s notice, right? The Gospel of Mr. Henderson is following in the footsteps of this time-honored tradition of having free experience lying around for the taking.

Although, in truth, I’m already sweating trying to think of a spot where I could add content to volume three—if there is a volume three. With all that I’ve done to the first two volumes, the idea of not doing so for the third would be, well... I’m sure you understand.

I suppose I should put my undirected persuasion check to rest. Moving along, this series is based on TRPGs and is a mishmash of all of the things this humble author enjoys. Among the many story elements I incorporated, the primary setting was influenced by the historical period that most caught my attention in my years at school: the early to High Middle Ages of both western and eastern Europe.

With how little remains from that time, the period following the end of Pax Romana saw some empires crumble, while others remained firm. From there, new powerhouses rose to the world stage with revolutionary ideas on the systems of power and servitude. It is a fascinating era to study.

Frankly, I’m not a fan of the term “Dark Ages.” The lack of surviving documentation may mean we know little about what happened, but the moniker paints an image of an evil tyrant bringing humanity to its knees.

Regardless, I took elements from the novels and films I enjoyed in my childhood, mixed them with the form of recreation that took the better part of my youth—at the expense of nearly everything else—and tossed it all into the backdrop of my favorite period in history. That is the essence of what this story is.

Adventure, monsters, and inhuman people with cultures all their own—their fantastical nature is exactly what sets my heart ablaze. Imagining these sorts of worlds was so much fun that I had to write down my own. I owe everything I’ve made to those who built up universes that enticed me, begging me to jump in as a PC.

I suppose there isn’t much else I can touch on without spoiling this work in its entirety. I am wearily writing this in the dead of night, so my thoughts are a bit jumbled, but let me make it clear that this is the result of overwork.

There is one thing that I must not forget to touch on. The Light Novel News Online Awards released their April total rankings, rankings for new titles, and the Everyone’s Favorite LN of 2020 list, where an inordinate amount of support placed the first volume at seventh. Thank you so very much. Seeing this much passion for my work fills me with a warm, happy, yet itchy feeling inside that I struggle to put to words.

Whether it be Lansane or my editor, the people I’m indebted to only seem to increase. At this rate, I’ll have to take out a mortgage.

With that said, I will do all that I can to live up to your expectations and put out a third volume. Should we meet again, it will be in the imperial capital; our first look into urban life will come with the secrets hidden in the depths of magic and the college which studies it.

Those we meet along the way all have rather notable quirks, and I already can’t wait to see how they’ll look in Lansane’s wonderful illustrations. I know that character is painted to be a terribly sorry person, but I happen to be quite a fan of the figure in question.

I sincerely hope that I will be blessed with the good fortune to introduce you all to him or her—whoever it may be—as I move to conclude this afterword.

You, my beloved reader who has read not only the novel but the afterword that follows, have earned yourself experience for completing the second session. Please pull out your character sheet. Thinking on how one might change in preparation for the next round of play is another element of tabletop gaming.

I forever bear my love for that filthy room of yesteryear; so too do I love the clean studio that I have long abandoned due to the virus. However, my heart is always there, and will be there as I pray to meet you again in volume three. If we do, let us scribble away with pen and paper, rolling away without a care in the world.