[This is a chapter to respond to questions made by the patrons and asked in the Discord server. You can skip it if you want; there is nothing plot-relevant here (only some world-building and character details).]
The manga panel showed a dark room with nothing in it apart from a large cartoon box.
There were quite a few panels of just drawing the box from different dramatic angles until it suddenly cracked open, and from within, a white cat with blue eyes came out while letting out a yawn and stretching.
Along with the cat’s exit, the room illuminated; money flew into the air as well as many random sparkles, and more importantly, a little sign with a title fell to the ground; it read:
[TAKASHI-SENSEI: Special Super Duper QnA!!!]
Takashi-sensei: “Ahhh… I’d recognize that smell anywhere. That’s the smell of curiosity— or maybe it’s just me? I hate showers, you see.”
Editor: “You really should shower, Takashi-sensei…”
A young adult woman with glasses and black hair walked into the room while shaking her head in disapproval at the cat. In her hands were a bunch of letters.
Takashi-sensei: “Either way. Let’s not waste any more time; I’m a very busy animal.”
Question n°1
The editor opens the first envelope, squints, and hesitates.
Editor (thinking): What the hell is this? This has nothing to do with the manga…
Takashi-sensei: “Mmm?”
Editor (reading aloud): “Ahem. First question, ‘If a tree falls in the forest… do the squirrels sleep sideways?’”
Takashi tilted their head and brought a paw to their face, clearly thinking hard about the answer. They spent multiple minutes just like that before responding.
Takashi-sensei: “Yes, but only if the moon is watching.”
Editor: “Uh. What?”
Takashi-sensei: “I will not explain what is obvious. Think again about my response and the question that was being asked.”
Editor: “…”
Question n°2
Editor: “Okay, here’s one that’s on topic.” She clears her throat before reading. “‘Dear Takashi-sensei, this story is sooo dark!!!! Is this not depressing to write???? Are you okay???’”
Takashi-sensei: “Ah… Rei. A wise question. One I ask myself… every third Thursday night.. You see, I like depressing stuff. Or rather, I find depressing stories comforting. I live in a sad life in an also depressing capitalist world, so making stories where the protagonist escapes their awful world just to find one even more depressing comforts me a little. They should suffer way more than I do.”
Editor: “That… sounds kind of psychotic. But then again, we are talking bout you, so I suppose that’s on brand…”
Takashi-sensei: “Mmm? Did I just hear a job resignation notice?”
Editor: “N-No— Rrr, mmm. The next letter! We better get to it!”
Question n°3
Editor: “‘Takashi-sensei, could you tell us what Crow would have become if his dad didn’t force him down the path he’s currently on?’”
Takashi-sensei: “An artist.”
Editor: “Eh?”
Takashi-sensei: “As you heard it. He’d become a very peaceful and sociable painter who wears a green cardigan everywhere—or at least the fantasy version of it.”
Editor: “I can’t imagine it… Him wearing a green cardigan feels cursed…”
Takashi-sensei (closing his eyes): “Worse. He might wear two…”
Editor (quietly): “He doesn’t look like that kind of person…”
Takashi-sensei: “You can never trust anyone but yourself, dear editor.”
Question n°4
Editor: “‘If the cast of Quest for Avalon was teleported to Earth with no magic, who would adapt the fastest… and who would get arrested on day one?’”
Takashi-sensei: “The first to adapt would, of course, be Amy, followed by Zayd. Particularly Amy—that for some unknown and deeply weird reason that I don’t understand despite searching my head—would immediately adapt, create a small business of fate reading, and become a millionaire in a year.”
Editor: “That’s surprising. Amy becoming a millionaire despite being thrown into a completely different world—”
Chuckles are heard in the background, but the two individuals talking don’t notice—
“—is insane!”
Takashi-sensei: “Yup. And as for Iris… she would accidentally do something illegal—or maybe not accidentally—that would get her behind bars in at least 24 hours.
Editor: “I think you don’t give her enough credit…”
Takashi-sensei: “You know what, you’re right. They probably won’t even be able to catch her.”
Editor: “…”
Question n°5
Editor: “‘Will there be more flashbacks to past chapters like the one that Crow had before his second year in the Academy?’”
Takashi-sensei: “Yes. Oh, oh, oh…yes there will be…”
Editor: “I have no idea why, but that ‘yes’ is kind of scary…”
Question n°6
Editor: “‘Will there ever be a popularity contest?’”
Takashi-sensei: “A popularity contest…? Unnecessary.”
Editor: “Really?”
Takashi-sensei: “Do we really need a contest for that? We all know very well who the most popular characters are. The only thing that comes to my mind in terms of usefulness is slander, and if what you want is slander, there are so many other ways to do it.”
Editor: “So you’re never going to do one?”
Takashi-sensei: “Unless the fans really ask for one, no.”
Question n°7
Editor: “‘Sensei, what were your influences and inspirations in making this manga?’”
Takashi-sensei: “Hunger.”
Editor (blinking): “ehhh…”
Takashi-sensei: “Listen, I was very broke, and I wanted to try my luck with this story. But more seriously, my influences are:
-Obviously shonen manga.
-That one webnovel that is suspiciously similar to this one, and I totally did not copy. A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga
-And those two very wholesome animes, one being about magical girls, Madoki or something, and the other about two kids going deep into the abyss.
Question n°8
Editor: “‘Who is the strongest?’”
Takashi-sensei: “The headmistress.”
Editor: “Really? Is she stronger than the c—”
Takashi-sensei: “Yes.”
Question n°9
Editor (reading quickly through three questions):
“‘What is the goddess’s true name?’
‘Are there Apostles in the novel?’
‘Are there any divine artifacts?’”
Takashi-sensei: “The goddess’s true name? Dunno. As for Apostles, apart from scammers and delusionals, there are not (although you could call a certain blonde girl that). And divine artifacts? Mmmm, maybe we’ve already seen one in the story…who knows…”
Question n°10
Editor: “‘How strong can artifacts get?’”
Takashi-sensei: “A lot.”
Question n°11
Editor: “‘When are Amy and Lain going to kiss?’”
Takashi-sensei: “Muhahahah.”
Question n°12
Editor: “‘Why is Lyra so infatuated with Crow?’”
Takashi-sensei: “It’s been so long some readers forgot. But worry not, during the library arc, there will be reminders of why everyone cares…”
Question n°13
Editor: “‘What kind of person is Iris into?’”
Takashi-sensei:
“Someone like her.”
Question n°14
Editor: “‘What was your inspiration to add Amy into the story?’”
Takashi-sensei stretches and blinks slowly.
Takashi-sensei: “Dunno why, honestly. One day she just popped into my head—almost like, mmm—that’s weird. Why did I put her in?”
Question n°15
Editor: “‘Who has the strongest power in the protagonist group? Like who’s the most powerful with the exception of Crow?’”
Takashi-sensei: “In most cases, excluding Crow, Lain would win.”
Question n°16
Editor: “‘Author, with Amy and the Blood Emperor incident in mind, the story seems to have become (slightly) less dark. Will this trend continue in the future?’”
Takashi-sensei: “Of course not. I love pain too much for that.”
Question n°17
Editor: “‘Is there an artificial way to increase core power?’”
Takashi-sensei: “Apart from training? Yes. But it’s very evil… and requires many sacrifices.”
Question n°18
Editor: “‘Does the book Amy holds want to be worshiped? And if so, how?’”
Takashi-sensei: “…Mmm… Maybe? I don’t know? How would I know that? I‘m a cat!”
Question n°19
Editor: “‘Hey author, will Amy be permanently maimed at some point? A girl with scars is cool.’”
Takashi-sensei:“…You people are unhinged— But yes. A girl with scars is cool. As if this will happen or not, only time will tell.”
Question n°20
Editor: “‘Sensei, when will Crow add the Colossus to his harem??”
Takashi-sensei: “The what… You mean the country-sized death-bringer colossus?”
Editor: “That one.”
Takashi-sensei: “Oh… I see…mmm… Actually, you just gave me an idea.”
Editor: “Why do I suddenly have a very bad feeling…?”
Question n°21
Editor: “‘Author, how will you respond to the haters?!?!!’”
Takashi-sensei: “Suckkk ittttt!!!”
Question n°22
Editor: “‘Where was Iris during the last arc?’”
Takashi-sensei: “Not going to lie, I totally forgot she existed… She was probably off doing something important… or napping. Yeah, definitely napping.”
Question n°…
Editor: “Okay, Sensei, prepare yourself. Here’s a whole batch of questions from fans…”
Takashi-sensei: “I’m ready.”
Editor: “Can Amy cook any kind of pasta?”
Takashi-sensei: “She can attempt pasta.”
Editor: “What is Crow’s favorite vegetable?”
Takashi-sensei: “Onions; because of the tears that it provokes and he is very emo.”
Editor: “How advanced is the technology in this world?”
Takashi-sensei: “Yes.”
Editor: “What kinds of crime are allowed on Aldoria?”
Takashi-sensei: “Those done by powerful people, like basically in the real world.”
Editor: “What is your favorite kind of tree?”
Takashi-sensei: “A normal tree? (What kind of questions are these?).”
Editor: “How ornery are wolverines in your world?”
Takashi-sensei: “uhhh?”
Editor: “What are the most prevalent forms of insulation used?”
Takashi-sensei: “Dunno.”
Editor: “How many Strangers exist on the dimension of Oklahoma by the river of Snataannn?”
Takashi-sensei: “Don’t we have some kind of filtering for these questions???”
Editor: “Will you ever give us a panel showing off Iris’s delicious ankles?”
Takashi-sensei (chuckling): “NO.”
Editor: “Does Amy’s book have a phobia of caterpillars?”
Takashi-sensei: “No, but it definitely finds clowns creepy.”
Editor: “Does Crow eat rocks or is he more a grass-eating kind of guy?”
Takashi-sensei: “…”
Editor: “Amy is bleeding all the time, how is she not anemic by now?”
Takashi-sensei: “Pizza. The answer is always pizza (the book made it).”
Editor: “Okay, these questions are getting weirder and weirder each passing moment, so I think it’s better if we end here. Any last words to say, Takashi-sensei?”
Takashi-sensei: “Hmm… If I want to say something, then it would be first of all thanks to everybody who has supported this. I know my story has a lot of bad in it and many, many errors that I wish I could go back and rewrite. This is not to say I’m not proud of it; on the contrary, I’m extremely proud of everything I’ve done, and seeing some comments and messages telling me this is their favorite story. Obviously there are just as many people who love it as there are people who think that it’s mid, but that’s just human. You cannot serve everybody; there will always be people who hate or rather not care about whatever you do, and that’s something that it has taken me so much to grow used to, but that I think I finally managed to make peace with as I continued.
“I’m so lucky to have people who read and comment on something that I do. I always thought I was useless and that this whole thing was a waste of time. Hearing real friends and family talk about my work as something like a distraction or, frankly, just being dismissed of it used to hurt. But I’ve come to realize, thanks to this, that the only opinion that matters is my own and those I want to care about. Even if their words do have some reason to them, it shouldn’t matter to me.
“Thank you for reading and thank you for being there. Words cannot express how grateful I am. I’m not a millionaire, nor famous, nor successful, and frankly probably never will be, yet I do feel like one. Having people who read my emotions made into words is probably the best gift I could have ever gotten.”
And with those final words, the cat disappeared just as it arrived, by coming back into the box. The editor, meanwhile, just shook her head at the mess they made, then sighed and exited the room.
They had finished; the questions were done, and their presence had no longer any meaning—at least until the next time they would be needed anyway.