No Game No Life - Volume 9 - Chapter Aft

 AFTERWORD 
It was about eight months ago… 
The year 2015 was drawing to a close. The man had finished his manuscript and had only the illustrations left. He sat with his drawing tablet, furiously scribbling away with his stylus. 
He was desperate. Doomed. Perhaps even moribund. He had a cold and was operating on no sleep or rest. His already sorry state of mind had become even sorrier. Specifically, he would go to get a drink of water, stylus in hand, and then, for some reason, leave the stylus in the sink. There he was in his room, trying to draw with a cup. This is what it means to be terminally not right in the head. The man was encouraged to go to the hospital, even have brain surgery, but still he scribbled on. 
The man’s family was growing. His child’s due date agitated him more than his deadline. He knew that when his child was born, things would not be the way they had been. His time for writing would be limited, as he could not press the care of a newborn babe solely into the hands of his wife. And so the man spoke to his editor. 
“I promise to make the December release happen even if it kills me. Please give me paternity leave afterward.” 
The man was prepared for any unforeseen events— No. Under these circumstances, could any events be foreseen? He was ready to join arms with his wife, taking it one step at a time with their new child, searching for that new rhythm of life!! 
…And the man made it through. He still had a mountain of work, some of which had to do with a separate anime project for another company. But for now, his most pressing task had ended… Now he had some space to face the unforeseen and rear his child while proceeding with further jobs. As the man reflected on this, full of emotion, there it was: a phone call from the anime producer. 
“Heyyy, long time no see! I’ll get right to the point, Mr. Kamiya— What do you think of an anime movie ?!” 
Heh. Heh-heh-heh, eh-heh-heh… 
Was that a question? Did this person think the man would refuse? —No! They knew the answer perfectly well! In which case, the man could only give them what they wanted!! 
“You don’t even have to ask! Let’s do it! I’ll do anything you need!!” 
The man answered immediately, and only after did he come to his senses. 
“So…I have your word, yes? Now then…let’s die together!” 
Hearing the producer’s voice echoing from the depths of hell itself, the man checked his scheduler and at last realized: Well now, what to do about…this schedule……? 
…So!! I am that man: Yuu Kamiya!! 
Having braved numbers of unforeseen events, and barely taking any time off during my paternity leave, I give you Volume 9! Things have been pretty heavy for a while since Volume 6, but I believe that now—yes, now!—this series is light once again! I hope you enjoy it!! 
“But seriously, though! You sure had a weird way of writing this volume! (lol)” 
…… 
…Uhhh, yeah… I’m not really sure it’s a matter of this volume . But I guess you wouldn’t know about the earlier volumes, being my new editor , “T”… 
“I mean, you write the book and then you go back and shake the text up to make it ‘light’? That’s pretty weird to me! (lol)” 
I—I guess you could…say that, too… Uh, well…mind if I add something, then? About the second unforeseen event…the change in editor . 
Maybe my memories are getting mixed up… So let me check… There was previously a change in editor just before I gave you Volume 7, right? 
“( earnestly ) That’s right! Don’t worry, Mr. Kamiya! You’re absolutely correct!!” 
…Okay. So that was Editor I, who worked so hard so we could be on the same page through Volumes 7 and 8. Now this time, just after I turned in the first draft of Volume 9, it switched again to you, Editor T… 
“( firmly ) That’s right. Relax, Mr. Kamiya. Your memory is fine.” 
…I…see. It’s fine, is it…? 

Then, this is a question I did my best not to think about until I got the manuscript in. But I guess it’s time—so I’m going to ask, okay…? 
I’m…just asking, all right, but… 
—Could it be that no one wants to work with me? 
“ Ah-ha-ha-ha! …Oh no. It’s really just internal circumstances… ( apologetically ) Sorry to put you through all the trouble.” 
Oh, I seeee! What a relieeef. ? 
—Also, could you tell me why you laughed? 
“( questioningly ) But, Mr. Kamiya, it seems to me that you handle switchovers like these just fine?” 
You just blatantly changed the subject!! So people really don’t want to work with me, do they?! 
…Okay, look, let’s see here. 
I really depend on you guys a lot, getting your opinions and commercial perspective and all. So when the editor changes, it makes it really hard to build up that trust again, you know? 
“…Right you are. I’ll have to give my all to earn your trust, then. ( gulps )” 
Uh, yeah… I mean, no, that’s not what I’m saying. See, it works both ways: You have to trust me— 
“Oh, no problem there. My trust for you is maxed out at all times. ( smiles )” 
O-oh… Is that so? It’s kind of freaky when you say that with your eyes wide open like that. Just what is the meaning of all…? 
“( histrionically ) Oh, Mr. Kamiya!! I never wanted to hear these words from you!!!” 
Yikes! I don’t know what I did, but sor— 
“Do we need a reason to believe?! Mr. Kamiya, please don’t say something so sad! I believe in you—( firmly ) why should I need to justify it?!” 
… 
…… 
……Uh, yeah. Sorry about that. I guess you’re right; we need to believe in each other if we want to get anywhere… 
“( straight-faced ) Yes, and now my trust is always past the maximum! My trust that you’ll deliver the next manuscript immediately !” 
… Sigh . Well then…now that I’ve resigned myself. 
The next volume will be No Game No Life: Practical War Game —a spin-off, to be released in December…I guess? It’s a short story/side story book. I’m writing it in tandem with Volume 10, so I’ll try to get that out before too long, too! All the while, the No Game No Life anime film is coming along behind the scenes! I’ll do my very best to make sure you enjoy it all, so please stay tuned!! All right, see you— 
“( serious ) Oh, one last thing, if I may?” 
Wha—? Uh, yes…? What is it? I was just about to wrap things up all nicely… 
“Well, it’s just, I respect your taste and all, but as a former porno manga magazine editor, I have to say, that scene with the elementary school kids, you really should have made them the same age as the other characters. After all, at the end of the day, it’s boobs that sell books. Oh, but I do have to give you props for the micro bikini—” 
All right, see you later!!