Volume 12, Afterword
The world that “Rakuin no Monshou” is set in is, ‘of course’, an imaginary planet but, as the number of volumes and of characters increased, the images that only vaguely existed in the author’s head gradually expanded and, coupled with Master ‘3’s’ illustrations, there was a sense that they started to depict ‘an image of reality’.
Well, that might be exaggerating a bit too much, but basically, the point is that the stage on which the author’s wild ideas could play their parts was gradually completed.
But, still... As it did so, the setting for the various countries and the final shape of the overall world played out a little differently from what they had been when I first started.
Once the ‘words’ were released from my fingertips, even if they went beyond what I had intended at the time, they took root in this world’s solid ‘ground’, and would not allow me to change them without a very persuasive reason. For example, since I wrote that “Mephius and Garbera had been at war for ten years”, that history could no longer be altered. By the time an episode occurred to me about the imperial prince and royal princess of those two countries playing together as young children, it was impossible to incorporate it into the story.
Once this world of ‘words’ solidified, I am forced to grope for ‘words’ that fit in with that world. I can no longer carelessly toss out ‘words’ like I did when I first started, when this world had not yet solidified. I have to constantly keep the full picture in mind, and choose my ‘words’ carefully. That really is back-breaking work.
But, you know.
It’s also true that it’s fun. Building up an imaginary world, having the people living in it fight, make up, love, part... basically, drawing their lives. For a writer of fiction, you could say that nothing else is quite as much fun.
And now, it seems that the time for having fun in that gradually built-up imaginary world is coming to an end.
With this twelfth volume, “Rakuin no Monshou” had reached its conclusion.
Although I can’t exactly say that I haven’t thought of the possibility of nonchalantly relaunching the series in a year or two’s time after simply changing its title to something like “Brand of the Demonic Emperor” or “Empire of the Branded”, or whatever, and declaring that “Part x 2 Finally begins!”... but as the author, my current feelings are that I plan to end it here.
Now that the series has reached its conclusion, let me take the chance to express my gratitude a bit.
First to my editor, who supported this work from the shadows in so many ways.
Then, to the illustrator ‘3’, whom I did not have the chance to meet in person even once during the twelve volumes that we worked together. It seems like only yesterday that we agreed in our preference for women. “Rakuin” didn’t have that many opportunities for women to appear on stage, but if I have the good fortune to work with him again, I’m determined that this time, I will avenge my honour (?).
And of course, thank you to all you readers for all of your support and encouragement up until now.
Everyone first met Orba at the Ba Roux arena.
It is already time to bid farewell to him and to the world that we looked at through his eyes.
And while the author is finding it hard to shake off this desolate feeling...
Let’s meet again somewhere.
--- Sugihara Tomonori
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