Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru - Volume 8 - Chapter Aft

Afterword

I’m writing this afterword at just about the same time of year as it is in the story. It sure is cold, huh? This is nigozyu. I don’t meet people much, so I’ve forgotten how to greet them properly.

First, thank you very much for picking up Volume 8! As those of you who’ve read it know, this volume is Reloaded’s story. Having a Magical Girl be one of the many Tuner positions was something I decided early on, but I wasn’t sure how much of her story I’d be able to include in the actual series.

However, when Reloaded first appeared back in Volume 5, I asked Umibouzu to draw up a character design for her, and…when I saw that flawless visual, I thought, I have to write her properly, no matter what. Finally, in Volume 8, I was able to tell her story.

Light novels really are a peculiar medium; they’re novels, but text alone isn’t enough to make them workable. I could never claim that this series is mine alone. The illustrator, the designer, and lots of other people bring their skills and ideas to the table, and only then does the book come together. …To me, it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.

And of course, media franchises are formed by many creators working together. The Detective Is Already Dead has been lucky enough to have multiple manga series based on it, and it’s had a TV anime as well. They’ve decided to make a second season of the anime, and I can really feel how everyone’s efforts are expanding the story. There are many occasions where I’ve been influenced by the manga series and the anime and have imported background info or certain production effects back into the novels.

In that sense, it feels like a whole lot of people have helped this series grow, and more than anything, the fact that it’s gone on for this many volumes is thanks to the readers. …I’m completely relying on others, aren’t I? I’m sorry. As the recipient of all this support, the least I can do is work hard to write even more entertaining stories from here on out.

It’s a dark world. Both here in Japan and internationally, the news is brimming over with sad events and negative things. Some days, even breathing feels hard. As I write light novels, I spend my days wondering what role entertainment can play in the midst of all that.

Unlike food, clothing, and shelter, entertainment isn’t something people need to survive. However, since people still want it, there must be a reason it doesn’t go away. My apologies for getting so serious on you. Let’s talk about fun stuff on Twitter!

In closing: At last, the next volume will be his story.

“Thanks for waiting, Kimihiko.”

When Reloaded turned up at the meeting spot for our regular Pandemonium patrol, she was wearing a headband with cat ears.

“I had no idea you were into that, Rill.”

“Just so you know, this isn’t cosplay.” Rill gazed at me steadily. “These cat ears are an enemy-detecting radar.”

If that was true, the Inventor had been having way too much fun.

“Enough chitchat—let’s begin the patrol.”

“So even in cat ears, our usual master-servant dynamic is still in play?”

“What? Are you insinuating that Rill is the pet today?”

That wouldn’t hurt once in a while, would it? Picking up a twig, I started waggling it like a cat-fisher toy.

Rill’s eyes darted around in a feline way, and then—

“Chomp!”

“Don’t bite my arm!”