The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria
Book 1: Afterword

AFTERWORD

Hello, this is Eiji Mikage.

Three years have passed since the release of my last book. If any of you out there were waiting for something new from me, I’m very sorry for the long delay. Also, thank you very much for not forgetting about me. Though there were times when the words didn’t seem to flow as they should, I can assure you I never once gave up writing. The reason I didn’t release any work for three years lies entirely in my own lack of ability.

I wrote this story with the intent of making it as entertaining as I possibly could. My stance on how I write novels also changed.

These changes made me very nervous. What if the things that made my work good disappeared? What if the readers who had supported me for so long felt betrayed? What if my work became lost amid all the other great stories out there?

Those were some of the anxieties I battled the whole time I was writingThe Empty Box and Zeroth Maria.

But somewhere along the way, those fears vanished, all because I realized this story was undeniably mine.

I think this book turned out to be one where I can say “Just give it a shot” to people, whether they’re fans of my previous work, readers who maybe didn’t care for what I did before, or new readers who have never heard of me before this.

So how was it? Did you find it an enjoyable read? If your answer is yes, then I couldn’t be any more pleased.

As it turns out, this fourth book of mine is the first to feature illustrations. I had thought adding cover art would change how readers viewed the book simply on a surface level, but I realized this was wrong once I received the rough drafts of the art in the mail. It was the sensation of finding out my characters weren’t entirely mine any longer. They had escaped my dominion. The book was already pretty much done by the time I saw how my characters looked, so I can say there wasn’t much reverse influence. I have no doubt, though, that the independence of these characters will have an impact on my work.

I look forward to seeing how it all plays out.

I received the support of a great many people in the process of writing this book. We’re talking a whole new level of gratitude here. Thanks to all their cooperation, I was finally able to keenly feel that sense of completing a book for the first time.

The list of people I want to acknowledge may be a bit long, so please bear with me.

I would like to say thank you to the editors, proofreaders, designers, and members of all the other departments at ASCII Media Works.

Thank you to 415, who was kind enough to provide the illustrations for this book. I was a bit nervous, since this was my first time using illustrations, but as soon as I saw his work, all those fears were swept away. Now when I see art by 415, I grin and start coming up with all sorts of ideas.

Thank you to all my friends and coworkers at my part-time job who helped me grow along the way.

Thank you to my family, who watched over me when I just couldn’t seem to put a book out.

Thank you to Yu Fujiwara, who cheered me on during the low points when I felt like I was at my most rotten.

To all my drinking buddies in Shinjuku: thank you for tossing ideas my way and keeping my spirits high.

Thank you to my manager, Kawamoto-san. I can safely say that without you this book would not exist. All joking aside, looking back on how I used to be, I’m surprised you stuck with me. You have helped me grow in many ways, not just related to this book here. I’m truly grateful.

And last but not least, thank you to all you readers out there holding this book in your hands now.

A book is complete only once it’s read. It may sound forward to say you’re a part of this novel, but let’s just say you’re an essential element. Nothing would please me more than to express my gratitude and return the favor by giving you at least a little entertainment.

I sincerely hope that we can keep this partnership going for some time to come.

Oh, and one last thing! Sorry the afterword was so boring!

Eiji Mikage

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