Author's Afterword
Nice to meet you.
Thank you so very much for reading "The Fun Otherworld Trading Adventure of the Online Auction Guy" until the very end. I am the author, Kon Hoshizaki.
Since the serialization began on November 7, 2011, the serialization period spanned a long term of roughly four years and six months. That I, a complete novice at novels, was able to make it this far is entirely thanks to all of you readers. So, please let me say it once more.
Thank you truly.
Originally, Net Auction was not planned to become a story in this form.
Rather, I started the serialization with zero plot, leaving it all to momentum. It was a state where no one—not even the author—knew what was going to happen or how.
That it was able to land in this shape... to me, it is almost equal to a miracle; it is truly the miracle of miracles.
There were many exciting events during the serialization.
The points exploding and reaching 1st place in the daily rankings.
The slight "flaming" (backlash) that occurred even though I had racked my brains to come up with the story for the contest with Ephtha.
Rebecca, who was supposed to be a mob character, growing into a main-class character.
Deciding that since I had a slave merchant house, I (the author) found and bought Marina while writing (Truly, until that very moment, there was no plan for Marina to appear—she had neither shadow nor form).
The request for publication arriving.
Marina shouting "I am the knight brigade!" (The character truly moved on her own here. I had no such concept for it at all!).
Ion being hidden at Shamash's place and being a princess with a destiny linked to Rebecca (Here too, there was no concept. Originally, it was just supposed to be Shamash, a member of the demon race, living in hiding).
And the "flaming" caused by the poor development around the time the mirror broke.
Even so, writing it through to the end.
Perhaps these are things anyone who writes novels experiences. But for me, it was truly fun, thrilling, and exactly what makes the real pleasure of creation.
To tell the truth, before the request for publication came, I intended to conclude it quickly.
I think it was around episode 60 or so. Right before the episode where Elepipi appears, I was going to plunge into the Convergence and end it there.
Because the publication request came, it didn't turn out that way, but depending on circumstances, it might not have reached a conclusion in this form.
Perhaps the Great Wheel of Fate was saying "not yet."
Net Auction is the first novel I ever wrote.
And it is also the work that made me a novelist.
That the first novel I ever wrote became popular, was published, became an epic exceeding one million characters, and reached a safe conclusion...
I never imagined such happiness could occur in my life.
And most of that was given to me by each and every reader reading this right now.
I won't say that impressions and ratings are everything, but how much was I encouraged by the words of praise, the evaluation points, and the cumulative ranking? I received the strong power needed to move the story forward.
So, I will say it one last time. Truly, thank you.
Net Auction concludes for now with this.
I might post a few interludes, side stories, or after-stories.
For the time being, I intend to focus on the work for the printed book version. If you read Net Auction and found it interesting, I would be happy if you could check out the book version as well.
I am currently in the middle of thinking about which of several plots to do for my next work.
If I were a fast writer, I could do a "new serialization starting simultaneously with the end of Net Auction!", but I am the type for whom that is impossible.
Well, I intend to start a serialization within this year, so if you are interested, I would appreciate it if you registered me as a favorite author!
Well then, just one last time.
From the author, with "Eternal Love."
Thank you for reading!!
- Hoshizaki Kon (2017)
Translator's Afterword
There’s a light novel version, but I’ve decided to translate the web novel instead, because it features a certain heroine who doesn’t appear in the light novel. You can probably guess who that is.
If I were to choose my favorite heroine among them, it would have to be Rebecca, followed by Hetty and Elepipi. To be honest, I’m not really fond of the elf duo (lol).
The author released two bonus after-story chapters in 2020 featuring Marina. You may proceed to the next chapter.
There could be a once-in-a-century update, so make sure to check back on this page from time to time… well, if you find this novel interesting.
Please look forward to our next translation project.
