The Boy in the City of the Dead

by Kanata Yanagino

  I’m no stranger to this myself; once, some considerable time ago, I got the idea in my head to try writing a little bit of a novel, and hammered away at the keyboard for a while. I ran out of ideas almost immediately, and I abandoned the whole thing in only a few days. So if I may honestly confess, I thought at the time that my friend was just the same.

  “Ah,” the mean-spirited part of myself muttered, “everyone in this world contracts chickenpox once. Looks like it’s his turn.” Either he wouldn’t be able to finish it, or even if he did, it wouldn’t be particularly interesting. More or less, that would be how it’d end up. I would humor him by giving it a read through, and give his story some moderate praise with a put-on smile. Many years of experience had poisoned me into thinking that way.

  But I couldn’t have been more wrong. After deciding to try to win a Rookie of the Year Award for light novels, he wrote and wrote an incredible amount each day. He’d have enough text to fill an A6 paperback written out in no time at all. Then he’d submit it, and immediately move on to the next story.

  His sentences were clear. The content was a little unusual, but there was a coherent theme, and it was interesting. Even I, a complete amateur, could clearly see that what I was reading was special. He wasn’t just dreaming. He also had the skill to make his dreams a reality.

  My judgment had been completely mistaken, and my eyes had been as good as blind. Curiously, I remember feeling very happy about that.

  My friend progressed through the stages of the Rookie of the Year Award, being selected again and again. When the results came in and my friend had almost reached the final selection, I remember how happily he talked about it. He was a blindingly bright and precious light to me in a time when I was feeling empty and shriveled. It was powerful enough to make me think that I’d like to work toward a dream like him.

  And so I, too, decided to write a novel. The story I’d depict would be one I thought up after getting inspiration from the many web novels listed under a genre called “Reincarnation.” The story of a boy, raised by undead in a ruined city. I thought it wasn’t a bad story, considering it had come out of the head of a total amateur.

  However, there was an obvious problem. After all, the only characters it featured were monsters, gods, and the protagonist, a young boy. I knew that light novels nowadays probably needed a charming heroine or two.

  So I decided my first attempt would be practice. My goal was simply to write 100,000 Japanese characters without abandoning the whole thing. I decided to post it on “Shousetsuka ni Narou” (Let’s Become Novelists), a site that hosted a number of stories I liked. It was just supposed to be an exercise, a first step.

  And now... this story is a book. I was surprised to find that the users of “Shousetsuka ni Narou” took to The Faraway Paladin. This story, a mixture of old fantasy with no attractive girls, leaped up the rankings at an astonishing pace, and then I was approached about getting it published.

  My aforementioned talented writer friend was making his debut at about this time, and before I knew it, I was following right behind. I’d jumped into the world I’d had my sights on in a way I’d never expected. You never know what’s going to happen in life, I remember thinking.

  A while after being approached about the publication of my book, I received a phone call from the same person.

  “We’re doing a shared-universe type of project,” I was told.

  “Hm? Well, that sounds interesting,” I replied.

  “We’d like you to write for us, if you’re willing.”

  Maybe they have some unimportant spots they set aside for newbies? “All right, I’d love to take the opportunity. Can you give me an idea of the role my work would play in this shared universe?”

  “It would be the centerpiece.”

  “What?”

  “It would be the centerpiece.”

  “(speechless)”

  ...You never do know what’s going to happen in life, I remember thinking.

  And so the shared-universe work Arcadia Garden was published day and date with The Faraway Paladin. It’s an epic project with ten authors collaborating to make a single world. Please do pick it up along with Paladin if you have the chance.

  In any case, I reached this point with the help of a great number of people. I’ve never written an acknowledgment before, but here goes.

  To all my web readers: Your warm support and encouragement was what got me here.

  To my many tabletop roleplaying buddies and their lovable characters: All of the memories we’ve created together gave me strength and helped me overcome my difficulties.

  To my fellow creative minds, including K-sensei, who I have talked about in this afterword: Thank you so much for always taking the time to read and give me your impressions, and even ideas.

  To my local library and all the books and videos on the shelves: Thank you for teaching me so many things. It looks like I’ll finally be able to give back.

  Kususaga-sensei, who added such gorgeous illustrations: I have no words to express my gratitude. I have very fond memories of the tabletop RPG Sword World 2.0, which you drew the cover for.

  To my editor, the editors at Overlap, and everyone involved with this book’s printing, advertising, sales, and everything else related to it; and to you, the person who took this book into your hands: I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Kanata Yanagino, February 2016

  A few further words for English readers.

  I love A Wizard of Earthsea. I think that Sparrowhawk is one of the greatest wizards in fantasy. I love the movie Conan the Barbarian as well. The moment where Conan prays to Crom before the last battle is very memorable. I had a lot of impressive sci-fi recommended to me by my friends, too. A Princess of Mars, Citizen of the Galaxy, The Martian... Ah, and Civilization—I’m sure anyone who's played those games will understand when I say that they consumed a “little” of my time. I had “Baba Yetu” on repeat more than once. Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Superheroes like Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man. Annie (the musical), the movies Singin' in the Rain, Stand by Me, The Professional, etc. I love the Rocky series too. I've seen them countless times. (Except V. I repeat: except V!)

  Some I picked out myself; others were recommended to me by my friends. There are countless works and characters from America and other English-speaking countries that I have very fond memories of. I have received so much from your words, and from the works the English language has produced. So The Faraway Paladin getting an English translation is a truly happy thing for me. I have received excitement, emotion, and memories from creators on distant continents oceans apart. If I have been able to give even a little back, nothing would make me happier.

  Did you enjoy The Faraway Paladin? I hope from my heart that you did, and that you enjoy the next volume even more. My great respects to J-Novel Club for the marvellous job done on translating this work. And to my darling readers of the English version: my heartfelt thanks to you all.

  Kanata Yanagino, January 2017

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  Copyright

  The Faraway Paladin: The Boy in the City of the Dead

  by Kanata Yanagino

  Translated by James Rushton

  Edited by Alicia Ashby

  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.

  Copyright © 2016 Kanata Yanagino

  Illustrations Copyright © 2016 Kususaga Rin

  Cover illustration by Kususaga Rin

  All rights reserved.

  Original Japanese edition published in 2016 by OVERLAP


  This English edition is published by arrangement with OVERLAP Inc., Tokyo

  English translation © 2017 J-Novel Club LLC

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property.

  J-Novel Club LLC

  j-novel.club

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  Ebook edition 1.0: February 2017