No Game No Life - Volume SS - Practical War Game - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD

“War. War never changes.” A quote from the opening of Fallout.

 The history of humankind—specifically, human warfare—is but a long chain of mistakes. Since the dawn of time, countless nations and civilizations have risen and fallen like stars. Changing times bring new technologies. And now we’re here, in a modern time plagued with winnerless wars…

Humans will wage war until the end of time. Even if a nuclear holocaust decimates the planet, people will revert to arming themselves with sticks and stones. Just like the above quote reads: “War never changes,” even if the tools of war do…

………… 

…Anyway.

If I were a pessimistic person, I’d probably finish the afterword here, but I ain’t no pessimist. I’d like my dear readers to take a second and really think this through.

I mean, it’s not like people want to go to war with each other, right? Like, if there was some sort of war-obsessed masochist out there, I think most people would be pretty put off. ’Cos, you know…war looks pretty painful, am I right or am I right? Really though, who wants to get shot? It looks like it hurts like hell. Let’s be real here: If there were that many masochists running around, the human race would’ve gone extinct a long time ago.

 So then why do people wage war? Heh… The reason is actually very simple.

Before, it was like that—but now, it’s like this.

Last time, that happened—but what will happen this time?

 That’s the gist.

Time and time again, what we’ve learned from history is that people don’t learn anything from history—well, not necessarily! The actual problem is much simpler: History doesn’t literally repeat itself!

That’s why people always think, “Oh, this time, things are gonna be different,” or “It’ll work out next time!” Driven by a bold vision and wishful thinking, humans repeat the same mistakes we have for centuries…

And so, dear readers…I ask you not to give up on humanity. Those who carved out their place in history merely believed “This time, things are gonna be different” or “It’ll work out next time !” They struggled, they fought, they fretted—and they went to war…!

Oh, but what do you know? It was a mistake this time, too! We turn our mistakes into the foundations for our next mistake… We don’t reprimand ourselves for what happened, but commend ourselves for it.

In order to prevent the same mistakes from happening again, we don’t get rid of the bad actors—but write off our blunders as “Hey, people make mistakes!”

And that gives us the confidence to say—we won’t make the same mistakes ever again!!

 Indeed. Take me for example. My publisher wanted me to write forty pages of text. Should be easy. I mean, writing about the Great War was pretty tough the first time around, but it shouldn’t be that hard now that I’ve done it once before. You want me to write about how the War ended from Think’s perspective? Gimme three days!

 Yeah… Easier said than done. I had no idea how hard it was to write from the perspective of an Elf, much less the sheer amount of lore there was to describe. I’ve walked this same blundering path more times than I’ve walked the path to the convenience store. But don’t forsake me, dear reader. In fact, I’d like you all to commend me as such:

Why the hell are you like this ?!

Anyway… Hey, everyone, it’s been a while. Yuu Kamiya here. I recently got the results of my latest brain scan, and the doctor said everything looked normal. I was unironically shocked.

Here’s an example of what my history-repeats-itself style mistakes look like:

“Good! Let’s get straight to the part where you commend yourself for repeating the same mistakes! (grin)”

Oh! If it isn’t my editor, T! Thanks for once again pointing out my habit of shirking responsibility!!

Man, y’know, you can be real helpful someti 

“(deadpan) I noticed you submitted 180 pages for the first draft.”

 ,

…Y-yeah.

See, writing about all the intricacies involved in warfare gets pretty complex…

I know—let’s be constructive about this. The question you need to ask is not “Why did you?” but rather “Why didn’t we stop you?” An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of repeated mistakes, wouldn’t you say? Do you remember what you told me when I first showed you the plot for this draft?

“(confused) I believe I said (with a smile) ‘Sounds good! Let’s go with that.’”

YES! YOU DID!! DIDN’T YOU?!?!?!

That is where the first mistake happened. What I needed you to say was:

“There’s no way this plot will fit into forty pages!!!”

Had you said that, this would’ve never happ—

“……(grin)”

I mean, it would’ve happened anyway!!

Honestly, keeping it under forty pages is my own damn responsibility!!

I can see the smug look I’d had on my face when I said, “Oh, sure, I’ll make it less than forty pages, ha-ha-ha-ha!” Bringing up the Dwarves in this spin-off before I even talk about them in the main series wasn’t the smartest thing to do, either! I always end up digging my own grave here, don’t I?! Sorry for being a giant masochist, but I, uh…I came through in the end, didn’t I?! I managed to get it down to the right page number, and even made the deadline! N-not to mention—

I did this all while we were making the No Game No Life: Zero movie and the No Game No Life, Please! manga!!

There was a lot of work on my part that went into making those, you know! I multitasked my ass off and still hit the deadline, by the skin of my neck! …Or is it skin of my teeth?

“Teeth don’t even have skin. I’ve always thought that was a strange expression. (smile)”

I-i-i-in any case! I’ve already started the writing the tenth installment of No Game No Life!! And there you have your obligatory line of promo, so I’m thinking you guys could cut me a little slack!

Anyway, that’s enough for this afterword! See you next time!