No Game No Life - Volume 12 - Chapter Aft

 AFTERWORD

A paradigm shift flips the world, and its established playbooks, on its head. This isn’t something that can be done by swinging a sword or through thoughts and beliefs, however.

The premise is what must be flipped first, through a technological breakthrough.

…I can’t quite remember who said this, but I, the author who established this series’ Ten Covenants, felt these words deep in my bones for the first time in the summer of 2022—during a “meeting” with my editor, O…

“I’m really sorry, but…I don’t think I can get the new volume in by the end of the year…”

2022 marked No Game No Life’s tenth year in publication.

It was a celebratory year, but by the time it was over…things weren’t looking good for my manuscript. I really did feel terrible about this when I had to share the truth with my editor, but to my surprise…

“It’s all right. If we think of things in terms of the fiscal year, it’s 2022 until February 2023! I know you are having a difficult time with your health while you write your series. Let’s get it finished without going overboard!”

O said this…with an alluring smile and a gentle tone.

“Th-thank you…! I’ll make sure it’s done and ready to be published by February, then!!”

“Okay. I know I can trust you, Yuu Kamiya. Let’s both do our best.”

I cried at how kind those words were. Words said with a bright expression.

 What do you think?

We stayed respectful of each other, recognized where we both had shortcomings, and joined hands in mutual forgiveness.

Was it not the most logical and magnanimously peaceful meeting you’ve ever seen…?!

Usually, these things go more like:

“So, uh, where’s the manuscript…?” (Said with irritation.)

“I told you this deadline was way too short. I’m writing as fast as I can.” (Said with irritation.)

“Then where is it? It’s way past the deadline.” (Said with irritation.)

“Writing would be easy if these things wrote themselves on a basic schedule.” (Said with irritation.)

These sorts of exchanges are usually made with irritated and sarcastic banter—however!!

That day…we were in the middle of a technological paradigm shift…one that both revolutionized our meeting and made it peaceful!

 That’s right…

 We had our meeting via VR! More specifically, we both donned cute avatars to hold a meeting in virtual reality!! Voice changer and everything!!

Thus, creating the revolutionary environment for a peaceful meeting…!

Yes, sometimes your writers may take a long time to send in their manuscripts… But if they look and sound like a cute girl with fluffy cat ears, maybe it’ll be easier to deal with them?

Sure, your publisher is bugging you to finish your manuscript that you’re working as hard as you can to finish… But what if it’s a maid with giant tits and a cute voice on the other end of your call?

It only makes it hurt more!!

 No matter how good things may look, the truth is the truth: Cuteness and beauty are justice, and humans are easy to convince!

In other words, even if those avatars are actually middle-aged men! So long as they look and sound cute or beautiful, then they will allow most injustices to slip!

Were we to personify the word “cute” with an animal—cats are the perfect example!!

That’s right… We humans can overcome any battle. They just need to be sexy women inside a VR chat room…!!

 Which brings us back to my afterword.

Hello, this is Yuu Kamiya. I come to you after an emergency meeting with my editor during their time off to tell you that I realized in a matter of milliseconds that humanity is still far from world peace, and I anxiously await the day we can all move to a virtual world.

As I stated above, this is the tenth year No Game No Life has been in publication.

I have only my many editors, the sales team and art team and everyone who works with them, my family, and most of all…

My readers, who are willing to put up with my slow, slow writing pace.

There are so many people who support me, and it is thanks to them that I’ve made it this far.

…As usual, I’m writing all this amid my health issues.

It took another year, something that brings me great pain, but it did eventually happen.

Thanks to all your support, I managed to finish this twelfth volume without any hospitalizations.

I already have the plot for Volume 13 ready, and some bare bones writing out of the way, so fingers crossed I can get it to you without too long of a wait this time.

 I’ll say it again: Thank you to everyone who’s stayed with me these ten years. I hope you’ll be willing to stick it out for the rest of the series.

With that, let’s meet again in Volume 13! See you there.