Accel World - Volume 7 - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD

Reki Kawahara here. I’m bringing you the first book of 2011, Accel World 7: Armor of Catastrophe.

Thinking back on it, in the afterwords I wrote for the books from two years ago until last year, I have simply apologized intently and earnestly. Thus, my goal this year is to not apologize in the afterword. Or at least that’s what I thought, but…I’m sorry, please allow me to apologize out of the blue…I am already apologizing for the apology itself. (lol)

What?! I continued the story into the next volume again! I’m so sorry! Honestly, after dragging it out in book six like that, I resolved to neatly tie things up in book seven. And then, amazingly, I created this very detailed plot, and just as planned! That was how I was supposed to write it, but…Takumu worked so much harder for me than I was expecting…(lol)

B-but he almost never got the chance to come onstage in books five and six, so as the writer, I’m relieved that he’s really pulling his weight here. And I guess you could say, if the story’s continued this far, the only thing to do is let it go where it goes; I’ll just have to move forward following the demands of the characters. As of the time I’m writing this afterword, I’ve already begun work on the next book, and my heart is pounding as I type away at the keyboard, eager to see how the duel that didn’t finish this time is going to be resolved between Takumu and Haruyuki. I hope you’ll wait a little longer until I can deliver it to you in the form of a book!

Now, here, I’d like to write briefly once again about the outlook for 2011.

Since I’ve already (promptly) failed at my first goal to not apologize (lol), I’d like to at least meet my second goal of continuing to write without any big problems…Suddenly getting a bit raw here, but—no, but, I’ve been idly thinking lately that continuing to write at any rate is maybe the most important ability in this job of “writer.” To make an analogy with car racing, let’s say it’s something like rather than recklessly launching a do-or-die attack, you pick out the next hill, the next stage; you leave your assistants and continue cruising along…Although naturally, even still, there will definitely come some point where you have to fight for the finish line, sprint for the most important goal. So right now, I’d like to keep solidly turning that crank while not letting the timing for that sprint pass me by.

Volume 7 also slid into home just barely in time, and so to my long-suffering editor, Miki, and illustrator, HIMA, I am going to work hard in 2011 to be a good little boy and meet my deadlines. I hope you’ll stick with me!

To all you readers who were attacked with “to be continued” in the very first book of the new year, I humbly bow my head to you and entreat you to somehow please join me with a magnanimous spirit this year as well!!

Reki Kawahara

On a certain day in 2010 still, but it feels like 2011