From the Warlord's Empire (27 page)

BOOK: From the Warlord's Empire

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“…I told you to reflect, did I not, senpai?”

Hearing Yukina’s voice, which seemed like an icy blade, this time he coughed violently.

Yukina’s big eyes were unexpectedly close, her upturned gaze glaring at Kojou.

Kojou, completely at a loss, desperately shook his head.

“Wait, you said to reflect, but this isn’t the same problem here…”

For some reason, Yukina’s voice was small, like that of a pouting child.

“You really are hopeless, senpai.”

Afterword

I felt like at least one girl had a whole lotta death flags set on her—she made it out alive, but are we really out of the woods…?

Anyway, I was able to crank out
Strike the Blood
, Volume 2.

Actually, the last volume had an extra printing on a scale completely beyond my past experiences. Thanks to that, I was able to get the next one out without incident. To all the readers who reached out to me, I am once again grateful from the bottom of my heart. Really, thank you.

In the last volume, events unfolded on a comparatively small stage centered on Kojou and Yukina, but this episode bumps the scale up quite a bit. Put in concrete terms, it wasn’t a big-shot artist, but rather a terrorist who came from overseas, making the scale feel considerably larger. Meaning now that our imperfect main character bears the (rather infamous) title of the World’s Mightiest Vampire, he won’t be treated to only small-time incidents inside the city. In this way, I thought I’d convey, a little at a time, the breadth of the world and the distribution of forces, so to speak.

New characters took the stage as well, but the recurring cast gets a real workout, too.

In particular, yes, Astarte. I’d planned from the start for her to appear again, but to be honest, I doubt readers expected her to play this much of a role. But there’s no Armed Apostle old man this time. To any fans of his, sorry… If there are any fans, that is.

To our assigned illustrator, Manyako, who provided us with such splendid illustrations this time around also, thank you very much. You’re always responding to my request to make things “less nerdy, more like a someone with a life.” I can’t thank you enough for producing splendid pieces of work that surpass my expectations time and time again.

I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank the many other people who have helped me.

The first printing of this volume was delayed by a month, and we only just barely managed to hit that schedule. To all the readers who have been inconvenienced, I’m very sorry.

And last but not least, indeed above all others, I offer my greatest thanks to all of you readers who bought this book. As I want to produce more interesting works in the future that match your high expectations, please stick with me for a while longer.

I hope to see you again next volume.

Gakuto Mikumo

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Copyright

STRIKE THE BLOOD, Volume 2

GAKUTO MIKUMO

Cover art by Manyako

Translation by Jeremiah Bourque

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

STRIKE THE BLOOD, Volume 2 © GAKUTO MIKUMO 2011

Edited by ASCII MEDIA WORKS

First published in Japan in 2011 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.

English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo, through TUTTLE-MORI AGENCY, INC., Tokyo.