Strike the Blood - Volume 10 - Chapter Aft

Afterword 

There was a bit of a gap since the publication of the last volume. Hi, it’s been a while. 

So Strike the Blood, Vol. 10 has reached the shelves. 

This time, while following classic Strike the Blood style, I aimed to change things up a little and feature characters I hadn’t had much of a chance to portray lately. It feels like Jagan, Kira, the Oceanus Grave II lady brigade, Nina, and Justina have settled into Itogami Island rather nicely, so I think that worked out well. 

Perhaps someday I’ll tell the tale of events in the Chaos Zone, not directly portrayed in this volume, from that side’s point of view. It certainly feels like the queen of that foreign land is due for a return, so I think it’s just a matter of waiting for the right opportunity. 

I suppose my main regret this time around was not writing more scenes with Kojou and Yukina all by themselves. Since most of the story is during Nagisa’s absence from the apartment, I would have liked to show off just a little more of them alone. 

Beyond that, I’ve received requests to explain how spiritual power and demonic power are used within this series. These are simply categories that mankind arbitrarily assigned to energy drawn from higher-dimensional sources. However, the natures of the two energies are treated as polar opposites, with demonic and spiritual energy mutually canceling the other. Demons and priestesses are born with magical or spiritual pathways that enable them to control these energies. There are exceptions that can control a mixture of both, but most wielders fall into these two categories. There’s no need to sweat the details, really. 

In contrast, divine essence (or negative divine essence) is higher-planar dimensional energy in and of itself, beyond the control of man or demon. Since this volume’s antagonist was a god, however degraded, it was able to employ divine essence in an incomplete form. 

So while I had to answer this question about the contents of the series in a roundabout manner to avoid spoilers, for those of you just fine with that, go ahead and send requests if you want me to explain anything else in a similar manner. Hole plugging is what an afterword is for… 

Now then, since the publication of this work is in parallel with the broadcast of the TV anime Strike the Blood, why don’t you give that a look, too? I hope you like it. Personally, I think it was blessed with marvelous staff that created a product all the readers of the original work can enjoy. Of course, if people watch the anime and then read the books, I’m all the happier. 

I’ve also written a few things to contribute to the Blu-rays and DVDs currently on sale. Pick those up if you have a chance, too. 

Also, the comic version of Strike the Blood is serialized in Monthly Dengeki Daioh. TATE-sensei, thanks as always for your work on the comic version, and please keep up the good work from here out! 

Also, Manyako, your handling of the illustrations has been a huge, huge help to me. I always like the illustration pages for this series, but this time they’re really something, like they’re pure, yet exposed and risqué. The new characters debuting this time are cute and in great outfits—I’m extremely satisfied. Truly, thank you very much. 

Last but not least, to all the staff involved in the creation and distribution of this work (to whom I caused some trouble on the scheduling front), my thanks from the bottom of my heart. 

Of course, I thank all of you readers who bought this book with all of my strength. 

Now then, I hope to see you again next volume. 

Gakuto Mikumo