Strike the Blood - Volume 17 - Chapter Aft

Afterword 

When interpreting dreams, monsters and monstrous beasts are often said to be symbols of fear and anxiety. The bigger the subconscious anxiety and fear, the bigger and stronger the monster in the dream, they say. It’s not that I really believe in dream analysis, but it did make an impression that made me go, Hmm, yeah. That’s why I thought it would be exhilarating for readers harboring such anxieties and fears to see the main character standing and facing a powerful monster. I thought, is that not the role for fiction to play? 

So there you have it, Strike the Blood, Volume 17, has finally hit store shelves. 

In last volume’s afterword, I feel like I pegged the next one as finally being the start of a new series in earnest, but this time things turned out to be a rather unorthodox episode. That said, Kojou and the others were greeted by a new school term, and Itogami Island has begun shifting little by little into a new order. I felt like Kojou and Yukina’s relationship was subtly progressing, but not too quickly. I was pleased to be able to continue watching their daily lives. 

I believe many of you have noticed, but this episode is based on the “Yukina ?Before/After” story outside the main Strike the Blood series that appeared in Dengeki Bunko 20th Anniversary Launch Commemorative Official Bootleg Book: 20 de 20!! Since this noncanonical story unexpectedly came to be taken as canon, I left everything in it, particularly the scene where Reina arrives onstage, as much like the original as possible. Being a seven-page noncanonical short story to begin with, as a practical matter, this work is an almost completely separate thing. 

Since it was, in the end, a noncanonical story, it was quite fun with a certain parallel world feel to it… 

Now, then, just before this volume goes to print, I think all eight episodes of the second season of the Strike the Blood OAV will have (probably) made it to stores safe and sound. Truly, truly, thank you very much to all the anime version staff and members of the cast over this long period of time. You should be seeing the exploits of Kiriha, Yuiri, and Shio at work in the current batch of episodes. It’s going to be fun. 

Personally, since my anime work slowed down a bit, I was, like, it’d be nice if I could bump that publication pace up a bit. I ask for your best regards going forward. 

To Manyako, the illustrator for this work, you were a huge help once again. 

And to everyone involved in the creation and distribution of this book, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Of course, all of you who have read this book have all the gratitude I can muster. 

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

Gakuto Mikumo