年末スペシャル その１ (Part1)
**Year-End Special: Part 1**
*Note: This entire segment proceeds through conversation only. I will try to make it clear who is speaking, but my apologies if it becomes confusing.*
"Right, so, thank you all for your hard work this past year."
" " "Thank you for your hard work." " "
"Well, it’s already chaotic at this point. Isn't it the author's policy not to intrude into the story?"
"Don't say that, 'Ya-no-ji.' There was just too much that happened this year, so I went out of my way to set this up. Under normal circumstances, I’d just be leisurely progressing the story myself."
"I suppose. Plus, it’s already been two years in just three more months."
"I first started writing this, *'Winning Dungeon Management: No Reason to Accommodate the Opponent,'* on March 29, 2014. I never thought it would come this far back then. I mean, in terms of popularity or getting a light novel adaptation. Since I started it as a hobby, I had no intention of putting down the pen until I finished it."
"You’re strangely stubborn about things like that. Also, is it okay to mention specific dates and behind-the-scenes stuff like that?"
"It’s fine. This place is like a sub-space anyway, so it won't count toward the main story. Well, I suppose those three might be an exception."
"…Is that why you called me 'Ya-no-ji'?"
"Actually, the talk is that I'll be participating as a supporting character over there. I’m basically the representative for the 'true average person'."
"It’s a story from the past for me, but getting dragged into it was a real pain."
"I bet. You’re in the position of being an 'anti' toward those three, after all. But that’s not the topic for today, so we’ll save that for later."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Well, it is the *Winning Dungeon* Year-End Special. It’s limited to *Winning Dungeon* talk. Think of this as me explaining my own position."
"Understood. So, what are we talking about?"
"Hmm. Then let’s go back to the beginning. It’s been two years since I started *Winning Dungeon*."
"But haven't you already talked about that kind of stuff in the activity reports?"
"Those were just projects to explain the world of *Winning Dungeon*, mainly through the three young girls. Since I wasn't there, there were parts that couldn't be fully explained through just those three."
"I see. So, as the author, what do you think about it? The popularity, the light novel adaptation, and so on?"
"Let’s see. If you ask me directly, my life hasn't really changed. It’s still a hobby."
"That’s true. *Shousetsuka ni Narou* was originally a gathering place for hobbies, after all."
"You know this, Ya-no-ji, but I was originally a mediocre doujinshi author. But I suddenly tried my hand at light novels and got hooked. If we’re talking about 'another world' stories, it has to be *The Familiar of Zero*."
"The censored name doesn't really hide anything, but sure. The master of the tsundere and another-world story."
"Personally, I just think, 'Forget about that pink-haired tsundere girl and just dominate with your weapons,' but that’s just me."
"You’re breaking the fundamental premise of the story there..."
"Don't be stupid. Heavy firearms and tanks have already arrived in that world, so why wouldn't you think that? It’s easy to imagine that nuclear-level weapons are flying around too. It’s been proven that the protagonist isn't the only one who flew in from Earth, and I find that world terrifying. It wouldn't be strange if the world of 20XX became engulfed in nuclear flames at any moment."
"Fair enough. So, was that the trigger?"
"It was a trigger, sure. I like that story, but I had this thought of, 'If it were me, I’d do it more like this...' and after reading *'I'm a NEET, but when I went to Hello Work...'*, I decided to try writing it myself. That’s how this was born."
"Didn't you think there were too many characters at the beginning?"
"That was intentional. Every other story out there keeps it to a small, bare-minimum number. I dared to break that mold. It’s just a hobby, anyway."
"It is a hobby, after all. And then, before you knew it, it became popular."
"Yeah. I thought I’d be leisurely hanging out at the bottom just like in my Pixiv days, but before I knew it, I was surprised to find myself taking first place in the daily rankings consecutively. Back then, I didn't even look at points or bookmark counts."
"Are you concerned about points now?"
"I am. I wonder what the point difference is between other popular works and mine."
"And? Did you figure anything out?"
"It’s simple; I lose out on bookmark registrations quite often. But, the works ranked around mine have a gap of over 100 evaluation counts. I have fewer."
"So, are you saying you want people to rate it?"
"No, not at all. On the contrary, don't you worry about people who have fewer bookmarks than me but are ranked higher just because of evaluations?"
"Ah, that way."
"That way. Well, it’s not about me, so it doesn't really matter."
"So, what about the light novel adaptation?"
"I wrote about this in the activity report, but one day, around October 2014, I got a message from Monster Bunko. I gave them an 'OK' half-jokingly, met with the editor once, and before I knew it, it was being published."
"…Is that all? Don't you have more to say?"
"No, I did write new content, but I didn't rewrite the whole thing. I was just writing as a hobby."
"So it remains a hobby, through and through."
"Yup. I’m writing at a speed where typos and omissions are expected. Honestly, I was worried about that. I’m surprised they even considered a light novel adaptation with all the typos and omissions I had."
"I can understand that."
"But if they had asked for digests or full rewrites that would increase my burden, I would have turned the offer down. Because it’s a hobby."
"I see."
"Well, that’s the general flow of how I started *Winning Dungeon* and the story of the light novel adaptation. Next, let’s talk about the content of *Winning Dungeon*, the story itself. Do you have any questions related to that, Ya-no-ji?"
"No, I have mountains of them. For me, I’d like to talk about the Rumel Kingdom and Tanaka, which still haven't been discussed..."
"Right. We’ve been leaving that alone, haven't we?"
"Whoa, Tanaka!?"
"Hey, Torino. Our positions are both delicate, and it’s a pain that we can only meet in a sub-space like this. Well, if those three were here, it would be over in an instant. I’d like to avoid that."
"True. Wait, Tanaka is..."
"Yeah, I invited him. The students are over there, having a lively time with their wives."
"Oh, he's serious."
"So, author, why are you leaving this side alone? I assume the story of this world is supposed to progress from multiple angles, right?"
"That’s right. Simply put, the structure is that Yuki progresses through the other world from the shadows, while Tanaka travels through the other world from the front. Well, if the abilities were reversed, the story would probably be reversed too."
"That’s true. Since I can't stay cooped up, I have no choice but to go out."
"Yeah. If I had Torino's ability, I’d hole up in an underground fortress, too."
"Yuki is in the position of an envoy entrusted with the world's problems. Tanaka is in the position of an Earth mercenary dealing with various countries. You could say Yuki is more on the political side, and Tanaka is more on the war side."
"Ah, certainly, if it’s a battle, it’s Tanaka."
"That’s right. That suits me better, too. So, is the reason there’s only one chapter so far because of various adjustments?"
"Hmm. It’s not so much adjustments as it is that I have the general story in my head, but no time to write it. Also, since *Winning Dungeon* became a light novel, I feel like I have to write that first. I will write the Rumel side properly through Tanaka."
"I understand that you have the intention to write it. Then, right now, I’m facing off against Hifie, but what’s happening with Tanaka and the others?"
"Well, I guess I can say this much? Keep in mind that it might change in the future. For now, Tanaka is also scheduled to go to a different continent. After that large-scale Demon King subjugation, a shipwreck will arrive in Rumel, causing a huge uproar. Because of that, Tanaka and the others will head to that continent. Moving from battlefield to battlefield is the main subject of Tanaka's story. As you can tell from this, they won't be involved in the stories of Litea, Roschur, or Gartz, which are currently glaring at each other. Tanaka is strictly there to take care of the students and handle the fighting."
"Sounds tough, Tanaka."
"I’d die if I had to do desk work like you."
"But eventually, we will face each other."
"At that time, I’ll just go on a rampage for the first time in a while."
"That’s right. This time, I’ll win."