Secrets of the Silent Witch - Volume 4 - Chapter Aft

Afterword

Thank you for purchasing Secrets of the Silent Witch, Volume 4. This book contains the full school festival arc. The web version of this part of the story was about 80,000 characters, and from the start, I’d planned for it to lead into the next episode.

When I was told at a meeting that I could make the school festival arc into a full volume, I was really excited to be able to write more for it! And write I did. So much, in fact, that I ran right up against the character limit.

…I guess history really does repeat itself.

With the school festival arc over, the fifth volume will be the winter break arc—but we actually decided to have another episode that takes place between the two containing a completely original story.

Its official title is Secrets of the Silent Witch IV —After— The Silent Witch’s Case File. It will be packed full of silly—or, rather, lively stories that include the people around Monica, like the black cat and maid picking up useless knowledge from books; the president being a closet fanboy; the vice president yelling; droopy eyes getting pulled every which way; the butcher’s son flying around; the villainess being a villainess… Basically, it’ll be Silent Witch as usual.

The fourth volume’s after story is scheduled to release in October 2022 in Japan.

The first volume of Tobi Tana’s manga adaptation is also on sale in Japan now. Her technique is amazing—the way panels and speech bubbles are used, the variety and pacing, and how charmingly she draws the characters. As the original author, I feel like a kid on a field trip watching a master at work. Please continue to support Secrets of the Silent Witch’s manga adaptation as well.

I love the scene where Nero drinks coffee.

Nanna Fujimi, thank you again for the gorgeous illustrations. The hairstyles are just so intricate! And adorable! Seeing them in full color in the inserts was very moving. Monica looks so wonderful that even without knowing much about fashion, she would light up upon glimpsing herself in a mirror. It’s just so awe-inspiring to see the scene come alive in a picture like that.

I especially love how Nero is a little ball of fluff on her head in the color spread at the front.

This fourth volume made it out into the world only because of so many people’s support. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all my readers.

I’d also like to thank everyone who has sent me fan letters and seasonal greeting cards. I’m so happy to hear your impressions and support firsthand. I love reading letters, and I never get tired of seeing all their different styles—whether delicate and beautiful or poppy and cute. Whenever I see a cute little character I’ve never heard of before, I can’t help but smile. And every time I open a letter sealed with wax, I straighten up in my chair. Some people even include gorgeous illustrations or cute bookmarks, and I’m constantly looking for a nice case to keep them all in. Really, thank you all so, so much.

I’ll keep devoting my efforts to writing, so I hope we can meet again in the next volume.

Matsuri Isora