AFTERWORD
Good day! Good evening! Good morning!
Thank you for buying Volume 5! This is Tappei Nagatsuki aka Gray-Colored Mouse!
Greetings are more important than anything. Incidentally, at my workplace, we greet people with “Good morning,” no matter if it’s morning, noon, or night. Beyond that, “I’m heading to the john for a bit” carries the hidden meaning of “I’m going to number Five.” No particular relation to Volume 5, mind you.
And so, we quickly plunge into Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- ’s fifth volume.
As the fifth in the series, the story is finally plunging into its heart. You can expect many more twists and turns, with shocking details concerning the tantalizing romance between our main character and our heroine.
But! I’m sorry about the storyline! Here we are, just charging into the center of the tale as the wrapping paper is starting to come off, and the main character and heroine clash and go their separate ways just before they can fall in love, with no calm in the fifth volume to be had.
In the first place, even though the author lives a busy personal life with no time for calm whatsoever, I have nothing in my psyche for granting heartwarming lives to the characters in my story.
I write these afterwords at the end of each volume, but the writing conditions for the work on Volume 5 were particularly severe.
First, it’s summer. Midsummer, to be exact.
Just looking at the word makes most grown men go limp. That’s true for me as well. It’s not as if my efficiency goes up when my computer cries out in the heat. Who was it who got my hopes up for a cool summer this year? Nostradamus? Granny, perchance?
There were factors beyond summer that provided a severe jolt to my system. Very severe.
As is long-established practice in Japan, I set out to involve myself in various events before I meet my honored ancestors, such as my first signing event, my first TRPG, and my first online purchase, all involving a different mix of pleasures and troubles that threatened to make me into an honored ancestor.
The signing event was really fun! It’s probably an author’s greatest joy. If I do another one, I pledge to bring some kind of spoiler to bring me and everyone at the event together.
Please don’t ask about the online purchase. It is the result of a life of love. I regret nothing.
Now then, after expending all those lines on things that have nothing to do with the work’s contents, let me engage in the usual words of thanks.
To Mr. Ikemoto the editor, this goes for every time, but sorry for all the trouble. I will never forget the completely unproductive e-mailing we did past each other at four thirty AM . It never occurred to me to say, “Hey, just call me on the phone,” and I’m sorry for not answering your last e-mail for a whole half a day! I got to taste pork cutlet and taco rice! It was delicious!
To the illustrator, Otsuka-sensei, I have no words sufficient to thank you for responding to your absurd, off-the-wall author with such speed. I’m very satisfied with the two new characters, and I’m deeply moved by how Lady Crusch looks on the cover. I look forward to your work going forward.
To the designer, Kusano-sensei, this volume’s cover is really incredible, too, completely blowing away my meager authorly concerns about where we’ll put the logo… As expected of you.
Once again, there is Matsuse Daichi-sensei, who has begun serializing the first arc of the comic version of Re:ZERO in Monthly Comic Alive . Makoto Fuugetsu-sensei is serializing the second arc in Big Gangan . I am a very lucky author to have you drawing this girl and that girl with such rich facial expressions. Thank you very much!
As with every volume, I am truly grateful to everyone who participated in publishing this work. To the MF Bunko editorial staff, executives, proofreaders, and everyone at each and every bookstore, you have truly done much for me.
And even more, it’s the support of all the readers sending in those warm messages of support and fan letters that give authors the strength to write. Truly, thank you very much.
Well then, I hope to see you again next time for Volume 6—the most important volume to date.
August 2014
Tappei Nagatsuki
(As he listens to elementary schoolers’ voices wail over summer break coming to an end)
“Now then, I’ve finally arrived in the free space known as the Review Pages…! So many things happened in the main story that this is the only place I can actually do something!”
“On top of that, the worst thing is that I haven’t had a proper role in the story yet. Is it too much to say everyone’s going, ‘So who is that guy?’?!”
“Well, so much information came out this time around that a commercially minded guy like you with a minor role in the story didn’t stand out! Let’s show everyone what a great pair we are, Otto!”
“You say that, but… Er, no, enthusiasm is very important! And I have an announcement! Err, first, Volume 1 of the very popular serialized comic version of Re:ZERO in Monthly Comic Alive is going on sale. Limited first-edition copies contain a bonus short story, with wickedly designed, all-new illustrations!”
“Now that you mention comic editions, Re:ZERO Arc 2 will be serialized in Monthly Big Gangan starting in October! So Matsuse Daichi-sensei and Makoto Fuugetsu-sensei are putting two really nice versions of Re:ZERO out there.”
“In Alive , you’re getting a short story every month, and that episode is scheduled to go on sale in December, short story included. Barely a chance to breathe here, huh?”
“I’d like a break from announcements about now, but there are still more. Yes, a new development for the Re:ZERO project—a joint project with Ministop!”
“Wh-what in the…?!”
“Thank you for the expected reaction! Original Re:ZERO goods are going on sale at two national convenience store chains, Ministop and Lawson! There’ll be fan goods you can’t get anywhere else! I’ll get embarrassed if I talk about this in a loud voice, so go check the details on the next page!”
“That sounds too incredible to just set it aside, but, well, I’m wondering when I can break this stalemate. When’s the next volume?”
“Book number six is expected to go on sale March 2015. Sorry for the wait, but the sixth volume is also set to be released with a reverse trap included. It’s not only a book but also a comic, and an issue of Monthly Comic Alive is included. That combination, with all the various illustrations included, will be marvelous, even invincible!”
“This is all announcements to the very end, but please be advised, the preorder cutoff will come rather soon. As Mr. Natsuki indicated, please refer to the next page for details.”
“Man, those words come extra convincing out of the mouth of a merchant on the verge of bankruptcy. I’ll take them to heart!”
“Can you please stop putting other people down until the bitter end?!”
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