Log Horizon 7 - Afterword (Complete)

(TL: I feel like translating from Chinese to English is even harder than Japanese to English, because Google Translator seems to be even worse with Chinese than it is Japanese. Either way, take this with a heavy dose of salt. I've also taken some liberties in translating to what I think sounds/fits better. Proofread by Esta as well, who actually understands the language.)

CH raw: http://www.lightnovel.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=762117&page=1#pid15931730

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[Afterword]

Long time no see, everyone, and for those of you who are here for the first time, nice to meet you, I am Touno Mamare.

"Hey hey hey, how can you greet us with a straight face, didn't you say you'd publish this volume in the Fall (with self-derision)?" Sorry, sorry, I've been apologizing so much recently that it has become a habit. However, I reap what I sow. When the current book hits the bookstores, it should be time to welcome Christmas (as spoken by a great prophet). Thus, Mamare shall spoil your Christmas with the foul fruit of my own reaping! (Like a great demon king)

"Say, why did you use such a kind of statement as 'Nice to meet you' in your greeting?" That's right, it's because the Log Horizon TV anime has begun airing. By the time this book has reached you all, it should be halfway done. Thanks to everyone, the anime was splendidly made and I'm very certain that we have friends new to the series watching it.

Thank you all for buying "Log Horizon 7: Gold of the Kunie". Due to the aforementioned reasons, I hope this book can also find its way to new readers as well. Correction, this book could reach your hands not because of the power of prayers, but through the publisher's publication, the printer's printings, the dealer's hard work in distributing, and the bookstores putting them up for sale that this is made possible.


Putting this aside, coming up next, let's talk about the female protagonist of season two of the Afterword. That would be Mamare's editor, Miss F-ta. Everyone knows about the meetings authors have with their editors, right? The process where we argue over the writing and try our best to see eye-to-eye is very intense (referenced work: Moeyo Pen). The same goes for Miss F-ta and Mamare; we would spend day and night engaged in heated discussions.

"..."
"..."
"It's raining."
"That will deteriorate the mood."
"Have you already eaten?"
"I can still eat."
"Can we eat?"
"Let's eat then."

Without considering about when you last ate, thinking only "Can I eat this" might be the secret of youth. <TL: Not sure what's going on in this sentence.> This is the reasoning that Mamare has learned. No, it's not this thought that makes me slack off and not do work.

Deciding based on "whether I can still eat or not," rather than how long has it been since my previous meal, perhaps this is the secret of youth. This is a fact that Mamare has learned. Nope, it's definitely not me trying to slack off.

Come to think of it, Miss F-ta's claim that "Women are carnivorous", as quoted in the previous Afterword, received quite a response. I tried asking around 20 women: "Do you like meat?" All of their responses were: "Yes, I like meat."

Really?
Seriously?

This is a culture shock for Mamare. So women love meat this much? No, I'm not denying that there are women who love eating meat, obviously such women do exist. However, I didn't expect the probability to be so high (from personal observation, 100%). Just in case, I tried asking Mamare (little sis), whose staple food is carrots, and she said, "Meat that's someone else's treat is very delicious." I always treat my little sister to meat. Once again, I've become smarter.

Talking about important events that have happened to Miss F-ta recently, she bought a new laptop. A MacBook Air, a really fine computer. She always uses this laptop, be it during meetings or her free time.

"Miss F-ta, using that laptop makes you look like a capable pink-collared worker." <TL: Woman in the service industry. In this case, he's referring to those in administrative positions, such as secretaries or other types of office ladies.>
"Ain't that right?"
"Yup."
Kachakachakachakachakacha, da! (Self-satisfied smirk) <TL: It's keyboard clacking.>
"You look cool."
Kachakachakachakachakacha, da! (Self-satisfied smirk)
"You look cool."

Her gesture as she strikes the Enter key and her smug expression looking this way after that is really like an office lady's. Incidentally, Touno has never worked with an office lady in uniform before, so the office lady in this account is a delusion.  A pink-collar worker who loves eating meat, and would sit in an amusement park teacup hollering, "Dammit!" <TL: Still need to cross-reference with the Japanese version>

Dammit.

Following this report on recent events, I present to everyone Log Horizon 7.

Making friends is very difficult, even more so after entering working society.

To make new friends or maintaining friendship is very hard, and not only that, even accepting someone as a friend is difficult as well.

As students, we believe that we can be friends so long as we can do something for each other, and feel the need to prove our relationships with action.

After entering society, one would find that the things that we can do for our friends are terribly limited. Unable to share their burdens, nor solve their problems for them, we lament our inability to help out and wonder if we can call ourselves their friends.

Shiroe isn't good at making friends, but he's not the type that does not treasure them; he is definitely a person who hold his friends dear. Including Naotsugu and the new arrival Tetora, his companions and friends are gradually increasing. For guys to befriend each other is a troublesome and yet simple matter, all it takes is for them to just go wild in a raid, that's all.

Friendship is such that, we don't need the other party to do anything for us, nor do we need to do anything for them, and we can still treat each other as friends. In the first place, as outsiders, there's really not much that we can shoulder for each other.

At the most we could go for a meal together, and be the one to treat him to it.

The expenses for meat is nothing, of course I'll be happy to foot the bill.


The equipment on the character featured at the beginning of each chapter are the results of fan submissions sent through tweets during August 2013. The ideas we used were from @Dateryu, @IGM_masamune, @RN_oinu, @SakamotoRiji, @ebiusl, @haniwatw, @hige_mg, @hpsuke, @iron007dd22, @kane_yon, @kuroyagi6, @makiwasabi, @makotoTRPG, @me_pon, @momon_call, @roqku, @sig_cat, @yamaneeeeee, thank you all! Even though a lot of the submissions did not make it into publication, I am still grateful to all those who participated. In fact, Mamare received a lot of overseas submissions, there are readers from various countries supporting Log Horizon!

For detailed and up-to-date information, please visit http://mamare.net. The website also offers information on Mamare's works outside of Log Horizon as well as information about the anime. Come to think of it, the TRPG is coming out as well.

As we move to a close, I am grateful to Mr. Masuda Shoji who oversees the publication (thank you for taking time out frequently to participate in the anime's screenwriting discussions), our illustrator Hara Kazuhiro-sensei (Tetora is so cute), the Tsubakiya Agency for the layout designs, and the petite Ms. F-ta from the the editorial department! Mr. Osako took great care of me this time too! Finally, I would also like to thank Mr. Kosuda and Mr. Nishi from the printers for accomodating to my unreasonable requests, thank you both of you! Sorry for submitting my drafts so late!

All that's left is for everyone to enjoy this volume to your heart's content, please help yourself!

Touno "My dream is to buy a new laptop and practise typing in a stylish manner" Mamare