Campione! - Volume 17 - Chapter Aft

Afterword 

Everyone, it's been a while. This is Takedzuki Jou.  

This Volume 17 is where the extremely terrifying "strongest foe" officially enters the fray.  

I never thought I'd really manage to write this far (wry laugh). I recall vaguely that at one point in the past, I thought to myself: the story might get wrapped up in a half-baked manner before he makes an appearance.  

Future events are truly hard to predict. Inexplicably, I've been confronted with this thought lately.  

In fact, back in my student days when I started writing for a small game company called Yuuentai(游演体), I never expected I would enter this field of work in the future.  

My two seniors originating from that same company, Shinjou Kazuma-san and Gatoh Shoji-san, were already active as writers in the business, but back then, I was still small potatoes like a low-ranking soldier. After that, through a convoluted series of experiences over several years, I finally started writing novels.  

It's all thanks to everyone's care and support that I can still continue to work in this field.  

Let me take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to all readers.  

So, to be honest, back when this series' theme of "defeating gods and taking their powers" flashed in my mind, the first enemy character I thought of was him.  

But I didn't use the idea immediately.  

Although he definitely offers plenty of substance as an antagonist, there were too many elements to him that can't be helped.  

This is the "hero from the most epic myth in the orient," the "prototypical protagonist of wandering aristocrat stories," "sharing commonalities with a certain Japanese legend's protagonist," "similarities with the western hero Odysseus as well"... etc.  

If all of these mysteries had to be unraveled within the first volume, it would have been too much work... Rather (laugh), it would have been too much of a shame.  

Also, the recognition of his name is extremely low in Japan. Despite the fact that he is extremely well-known in Asia.  

(Back in the past when I was searching about ancient Muay Thai boxing techniques on the internet, I was quite taken by surprise when I noticed his name as the founder of the art.)  

Since there was no compelling need to put him as the first enemy, I used Athena, whom everyone knows, as the first antagonist. Then volumes kept increasing one after another smoothly, an anime adaptation was even produced, finally reaching the current point.  

(I think this is reaching the point of spoilers. To readers who cling to the habit of reading the afterword before the actual story, yet still obsessed with the true name of the "King of the End," please retreat from the afterword as quickly as possible and head to the main story.)  

The mystery pervading the entire series is the question: "What is the name of the 'King of the End'?"  

I wonder if any of the readers reached the correct answer?  

The biggest hint was provided in Volume 12—5 volumes before this one. Although the answer to the riddle was revealed in Volume 17 already, compared to the many red herrings planted in Volume 13, the vague description in Volume 12 with the mysterious verses was actually the most direct hint to his true identity.  

Even I find myself... rather malicious (wry smile).  

Also, there was the hint of "once upon a time at a certain place" showing up in Volume 16.  

I was thinking since so many hints have been gathered, there should be sufficient chance of guessing.  

To everyone who rose to the challenge, did any of you succeed?  

Moreover, about this riddle, if readers actually read Kaneseki Takeo-sensei's analyses on Yuriwaka Daijin as well as the venerable Minakata Kumagusu's The Story of King Rama in Ancient Chinese and Japanese Texts, their only reaction would be:  

"Speaking from common sense, the answer can only be Prince Rama no matter how you look at it!"  

An low-level riddle that might be answered immediately on the spot, possibly.  

As a side note, the Campione! series has also been translated and published in Taiwan and Korea.  

As to how widespread "Prince Rama and Hanuman" is recognized in these two regions, I'm sorry but I really don't have a good idea due to my lack of familiarity...  

To readers of the Taiwanese and Korean versions, I wonder how hard the question was?  

If a chance arises in the future, I hope to investigate and find out.  

Speaking of Taiwan...  

Not only was I invited to a manga exhibition held in Taipei City two years ago, but in the summer of 2014, I was invited again. I am truly grateful for that.  

...However, last time was an autograph event related to Campione! while this time is an autograph event related to a certain publisher's Leviathan series (wry smile). Whether the first or the second time, I was quite astounded by the number of people attending. I am truly grateful for everyone's support.  

Also, after the autograph events ended, I was able to meet many readers while taking leisurely walks inside the venues.  

I can't believe they recognized me. What a surprise (laugh).  

Also during last time's autograph event, there was the gentleman who had gotten injured on his way to the venue. I never thought I would meet you again. Please take care and I thank you for your continued support.  

Well then. Before the ultimate showdown against the strongest hero, let alone cooperating with unity, an air of internal strife is brewing between the various Devil Kings instead.  

But before the story with the tentative title of Civil War Among Devil Kings...  

A volume gathering stories already released in various places with new content is planned to be published first.  

The new content is currently under review but "The Incident Involving the Young Marquis, Onee-sama and the Eternal Beauty Gathered Together" is also one of the candidates.  

Also, Chronicle Legion, my latest project at the new label, Dash X Bunko, which has been announced already, is set to be published.  

You might get vibes of a mecha series from the special promotional website, but the content is actually totally different (wry laugh).  

"Write some kind of novel with fantasy military fiction as the genre!" In response to this order, I used "Fantasy military novels are a dime a dozen nowadays. It'll become outdated by the time the book is published" as an argument of twisted logic, thus allowing me to go my own way as usual.  

In terms of genre, it's probably more like fantasy-ish military fiction.  

The setting is late twentieth century. The various ideas including "reviving in modern times due to unknown reasons, the ancient Roman hero Caesar has established a new empire," "legions of giants powered by artificial ectoplasmic fluid," "a battle of nation acquisition between commanders who summon and direct legions," "an imperial princess," "warriors awakened from the ancient world," "a planet Earth where fantasy creatures and spirits exist for some reason," I put my own spin on them as usual based on my own hobbies and interests.  

If interested, dear readers, please try reading my next story.  

So long for now.  

Translator's Notes and References 

1.    ↑ 1 Corinthians 15:40  

2.    ↑ 1 Corinthians 15:41-42  

3.    ↑ 1 Corinthians 15:43-44  

4.    ↑ 1 Corinthians 15:45,52  

5.    ↑ Revelation 1:8  

6.    ↑ Tianshan Tonglao(天山童姥): literally the Youthful Old Lady of the Celestial Mountains, a character from the Chinese martial arts novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils(天龍八部) by renowned author Jin Yong.[1]  

7.    ↑ Ministers and Generals to the Afterlife(相將歸去來), by the Chinese Poet Wang Fanzhi(王梵志) from the Tang dynasty.  

8.    ↑ Joshua 6:16,21  

9.    ↑ Numbers 31:7