Slayers - Volume 4 - Chapter Aft

Afterword

Scene: The Author and L

Au: The next volume of the reprint is out!

L: They’re coming fast and furious, aren’t they? So, we’ve talked it out, and starting with this volume, we’ll be doing the afterwords together!

Au: There was a lot more to it than talking it out... though I won’t say what!

L: You be quiet!

Au: Well, I have to say... I feel like there’s someone left out and pouting when we do it like this.

L: Oh, you mean my subordinate, S? He does have precious little to do these days, but I plan to give him a whole afterword to himself soon. He’ll deal.

Au: A whole afterword?! Well, I guess that might be okay given the rate at which these are coming out.

L: That’s right. These rapid-fire reprints mean I get more screentime in the afterwords, so I can afford to be generous. Come to think of it, we should put them out even faster!

Au: Don’t be ridiculous! I already have four books coming out in June and July each, thanks to this...

L: Four, eh? That is quite daunting. Are you sure about this, Fujimi Shobo?! If you put your trust in him, he’ll disappoint you!

Au: That’s not true! Though I am also wondering if it’s going to be okay...

L: But four volumes means three reprints apiece, plus your other series and Slayers Special respectively, right?

Au: Yes... Wait, no!

L: Huh? It’s not Special?

Au: Well, it is essentially volume 31 of Special. But we changed the design format and the title because we thought newcomers from the anime might be intimidated by buying a 31st volume. So rather than Slayers Special, it’s Slayers Smash now.

L: But it’s more of the same, right?

Au: Yeah. It’s the usual antics. I hope the readers keep enjoying it like always, despite the title change.

L: Are there any alterations or additions other than the title? No 1,200-page two-part hardcover bonus booklet about L’s secrets?

Au: A 1,200-page booklet?! That would be bigger than the novels themselves!

L: Well, as a booklet, the paper would be half-size.

Au: That doesn’t change anything! Also, if it’s 1,200 pages long at half size, wouldn’t it just look like a big paper cube?

L: Hmm... but I like the idea of a giant booklet. I think it would make the fans very happy. The first edition can come with high-class steak and crab!

Au: That would stink up the bookstores! Anyway, it’s just a different title—that’s it!

L: Hmmm... Well, as long as it doesn’t mean less of a spotlight on me, I don’t care. Like with the huge afterword you let me do last time and whatnot.

Au: I didn’t let you do that. Granted, it’s fine for you to discuss the setting and things I do or don’t want to explain. Like about Amelia, who debuts in this volume. Of course, we can’t do that every time a new Smash comes out.

L: With Amelia, you mean that story about a certain family? Or the fact that her name hails from the highly self-righteous nation of Am***ca? Or that time you wrote side stories later on and started integrating her delivery from the anime?

Au: Yeah, that kind of stuff. I feel like maybe that should be in these reprints. Most of the backstories we explain aren’t related to the short stories, but the novels.

L: What? You mean the weirdos who show up in the short stories don’t have any tearjerker backstories?

Au: Of course not! I can’t give backstories to characters that violate common sense, the setting, and even the laws of physics! Like the “good wife” Josephine... You try coming up with a backstory that explains why she’s like that!

L: Hmm (thinking)... Oh! I know! Maybe she was a normal wife once. Then one night a meteorite falls in the mountains, so she goes out to find it herself... and she’s different when she comes back!

Au: It implanted something in her?!

L: Nah, more like a parasite.

Au: Is that the default explanation behind everyone in the short stories?!

L: Yes. And?

Au: That’s absurd! Lina would have bigger things to worry about than demons in a world like that!

L: Oh, that could be the third reveal! The tagline will be, “Everything’s tedious now!”

Au: I’m not doing that! It really would make everything tedious!

L: We hope you keep enjoying the reprints, but look forward to the upcoming twist in Slayers Smash!

Au: No, stop! Don’t close this out in a weird way!

Afterword: Over