AFTERWORD
Hi, hellooo there, Nagatsuki speaking. Thank you so much for buying Re:ZERO Short Story Collection. Or if you’re reading this (albeit short book) in a bookstore all the way to the very end… Well, I’m not sure whether to love or hate you for that!
A jumble of love and hate is an odd place to start from, but anyway, this was the Re:ZERO Short Story Collection.
Considering these are stories within the main story, they were invariably rather cutthroat, but I just wanted to show what the characters were up to in their everyday lives. Addressing that simple question and telling “cozy” stories I couldn’t showcase in the main series would delight author and reader alike—these things are what makes this Short Story Collection good.
Some of the stories featured in this book were initially published in Monthly Comic Alive, and some are originals written just for this book. In Monthly Comic Alive, you can find monthly publications of diaries, subcharacter backstories, and the like, so I’d love it if you all checked that out, too.
Okay, I’m going to talk about the actual stories featured in this collection now, so for those of you who like to read the afterword first, beware of spoilers.
First, we have “A Heroic Epic Starting from Zero.” This story features Liliana, a character who so far has only appeared in the short story collection, and it’s also the only side story that fits right in between books in the Re:ZERO main story. In part due to Otsuka’s amazing illustrations, Liliana turned into the ultimate annoying but cute character, and this author likes her very much. She’ll make an appearance in the main story eventually, so look out for her.
Then “The Head Maid’s Restless Day of Rest” is an episode that shows how much the rest of Roswaal Manor relies on Rem. The rest of the cast divides into three teams to tackle the cooking, laundry, and dusting that she normally does every day. Through that, we learn about some of their unexpected aptitudes. And Ram, now able to envision the mansion coming to a complete standstill if Rem was to catch a cold, reflects upon how she treated her little sister.
Then the original story I wrote just for this book: “The Day I Stopped Being the Aldebaran Star.” This outlines the events of Priscilla and Al’s relationship leading up to the day before the royal selection begins in Volume 4. Priscilla’s arrogant antics in the baronry and Lyp’s nefarious reason for marrying her are highlights. Learning of the conspiracy, Al has to choose between his mistress (whom he hardly knows) or his own interests. Which will he choose—? Well, that’s obvious, since this is a prequel. In the main series, Al is shrouded in mystery, so I thought I’d write a little episode where he has to deal with some encroaching darkness.
And lastly, we have a side story in the Short Story Collection: “Emilia in Wonderland.” As I’m sure you can tell from the title, it’s a parody of Alice in Wonderland. We have a cat playing a rabbit, and from certain casting choices, we see just how few friends Emilia has…and taking a bird’s-eye view of it, it’s kind of sad. But please don’t read it that way.
Well, now that I’ve written plenty of lines, it’s time to thank everyone like I always do.
First, Editor I, thank you for helping with the short story publication in Monthly Comic Alive. My monthly deadlines terrify me, but I’m living my dream—even more so now that it’s in book form. Thanks in advance for everything you do.
And thank you to my illustrator, Otsuka, for yet another batch of gems. Liliana and Roswaal Manor in Wonderland were particularly wonderful.
And to my designer, Kusano, my sincerest thanks for drawing a cover illustration for this Short Story Collection that is of a different flavor than the main series.
Also, thank you to my proofreader, my manager, all the bookstores—I am forever in your debt. If I may be so bold, thank you in advance for your help in the future.
And lastly, to the one reading this book, thank you so much.
April 10, 2014
Tappei Nagatsuki
<<Stressing over whether to wear long sleeves or short>>
“Hey, chore boy! Chore boy! I’m not sure about the short stories, but rumor has it you don’t do much important stuff in the main story anymore and you’re only useful for previews! So here’s the preview! Now’s your time to shine, chore boy!”
“Why did you pop in here just to talk shit about the main character?! And just for your information, there wouldn’t be a main story without me, and everyone would meet a terrible demise, if we’re gonna be real.”
“The muse has spoken! I present to you my new song—‘I’m Butthurt.’”
“Shut up! I’m not butthurt, and nobody asked you anyway! Just do the damn preview!”
“Okaaaay! Then again…we’re supposed to actually give a preview for the next volume in the main story. We were gonna divulge a lot of the plans in between volumes, but by the time this short story collection gets published, the deadline for the next volume of the main series will probably already have passed… Oh! But don’t get me wrong! I’m not saying you’ve got bad timing, chore boy! It’s all a big misunderstanding.”
“I haven’t even said anything, dumbass! Don’t hurt yourself and then play victim! Ugh, just do the preview for the next volume of the main story, then.”
“Well, I would do the preview…except I’m not in the main story, so I barely know about it…”
“Then why are you even here?! Okay, fine, I’ll do it. Sooo…Volume 6 picks up where Volume 5 left off, with the start of the third loop, of course. In which Subaru uses Return by Death to devise a strategy to defeat this world’s most powerful enemy thus far… Anyway, that’s the gist of it.”
“—Our hero struggles with his self-worth and what he can do to help others. To protect the smile lingering in the recesses of his brain, Subaru Natsuki continues his resolute battle against fate. But the raging waves of fate laugh in the face of the boy’s courage, until he loses sight of the very first wish that he held dear…”
“Y-yeah, that’s right… Wh-where did all that come from?”
“The future he dreamed of mercilessly vanishes, and the boy stops dead in his tracks. However, the powerful force that takes his hand and gives his back a push is never far from him. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- reaches a tense climax in Volume 6—and it is there that the new heroic epic shall begin.”
“And that was our preview from a bard in a trance—coming to stores March 2015. Mark your calendars.”
“Phew… It is so tiring performing with a scene partner who doesn’t pull his own weight. I may not look it, but I’m kind of a mother hen! Mother hen!”
“Oh, shut the cluck up! I’m taking back my compliment!”
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