Ghost Hunt:Volume 6 Author's Note

Author's Note

Thank you for your continued patronage. This is Ono... My goodness, it’s been quite a while. I am sorry to have kept you waiting. This is the sixth work in the series (...I haven’t written an “Afterword” in a long time, so I’m out of form… boo-hoo-hoo).

Thank you for your many previous letters of thoughts, encouragements, support, petitions, demands, entreaties, threats, etc. Wow, I was surprised by the excessively large quantity.

...Well, what should I say? Put simply, the great majority of the letters said, “Don’t stop the series.” The contents of the letters varied from, “I will cry if you stop,” to, “I will set your house on fire if you stop,” (haha). I appreciate it. I roused my fighting spirit and read, yes.

In response to everyone’s demands, I decided to extend the series by another hundred books… just kidding (Oh, did you get angry?). It was a joke! Because isn’t it sad that even though I put out content, it has to have an interesting conclusion? That’s why it will heartlessly end with the next book… for the time being.

“What does for the time being mean?” you ask?

Generally speaking, once the conclusion is revealed, then in the future... well, I shall think about it in the future. That is what it means. But even once it ends, there are efforts for a continuation series. Evil Spirits 2, Evil Spirits Z, Evil Spirits ZZ, Evil Spirits in the Pocket, Evil Spirits Concluding Volume, Evil Spirits Farewell, Evil Spirits Everlasting...

...All joking aside, having received so many shouts of, “Don’t stop,” Ono’s heart isn’t strong enough to ignore you (I don’t want my house set on fire, nor do I want nails hammered in a straw effigy). You who are shocked ask, “Will it really end?” I can only say for the time being, be at ease. *giggle*

That’s why this is a full-blown “Afterword.”

The book will be published late this time, too… (tears). I can’t apologize enough to everyone who went to the bookstore on August 5th with the confidence that, “It will certainly come out this month since it’s been a pace of every six months.” I’m also sorry to those who went to the bookstore on September 5th with the confidence that, “Oh, it wasn’t August? Then that means it must be September,” (really painful for those people). It’s completely my fault for being a slowpoke…*sob*

...While sobbing, I will go through the customary popularity poll.

As usual, it’s a landslide victory for Naru. After that, Bou-san, Mai, Lin-san, and Yasuhara-shounen are grouped together and giving chase (although, the gap with Naru has narrowed considerably). Next, John, Ayako, and Masako are further grouped together. I’m relieved Masako has finally received points. Madoka’s points were also high. She was competing with John and co. ...With that being said, Yasuhara-shounen has already become a regular (to tell the truth, it’s really fun writing comic dialogue between Yasuhara-kun and Bou-san). Thus, the characters are steadily increasing…

Now, many of your letters had a question something like, “How can I become a writer?” There are many ways to become a writer, but there are more important things than memorizing those. First and foremost is to write a lot of novels. Try to write a lot of novels and think carefully as to whether or not you’re suited for writing novels. I think it’s heartbreaking when people set out to become writers against their better judgement and get impatient with writing a novel after an hour. Also, think carefully as to whether you like writing novels. It’s also heartbreaking if you have a job you don’t like. I think it’s best to first try your best at what you like to do before deciding on such goals as, “I want to become a writer,” or “I want to become a manga artist.” All of you are still young.

There were many questions asking, “Do I need to go to college to become a writer?” There’s nothing that says if you don’t go to college, you can’t be a writer. However, it’s better to go than to not go. At least, what I studied in college is very useful (...Well, no, it isn’t particularly useful since my college major was Buddhist studies. Actually, the subject I studied in college has nothing to do with my current occupation at all).

Another frequent question was, “I want to become a ghost hunter or psychic, but how?” I’m very sorry, but there’s no one around me who is a ghost hunter or psychic, so I don’t really know how to get into that type of occupation. I’m sorry.

I also received a lot of questions asking, “How do I find out about spirits and supernatural powers?” Eighty percent of my knowledge was gained through books. I search for books by utilizing such things as libraries, book catalogs, bookstore databases, etc. I intend to release details about my reference materials if I get the chance someday, but books relating to parapsychology and psychic phenomena are very expensive (I have books among my collection worth 25, 000 yen). Those searching for books should be careful.

Also, there were many letters saying, “I’d like to make Dōjinshi, but is it okay?” I will express it clearly. Make as much as you would like. There is no need to ask for my permission. The world in the books everyone buys from the bookstore and all of its characters belong to everyone. In other words, I’ve given Naru up for adoption to everyone for n-hundred yen, so all of you may do with your Naru as you please. Do whatever you would like. However, be careful about doing things like copying the illustrations or large quantities of the book’s text unaltered without permission or you may violate the law. I will be happy if you also show me the completed work.

And as usual comes the question, “How about these people for each character’s voice?” Therefore, Naru is Shiozawa Kaneto-san! *sob* If I add another, Matsumoto Yasunori-san is prefered as Yasuhara-shounen (I got this opinion quite often).

Oh, right, I also received a lot of questions asking, “Why don’t you make things like image albums, cassette books, or anime?” However, you should ask people from companies that make things like that. The author doesn’t really make those.

Well now, this time I also received a number of things such as anime suggestions, anime goods, etc. Thank you very much. I am truly delighted. However, I’m very sorry that I cannot return the favor. *uncontrolled weeping*

I still like Troopers, Granzort, Wataru, and Exkaiser, but now I like Fighbird and Raijin-Oh best of all. I also like Cyber Formula and The Hakkenden.

Anyway, that’s enough for now.

Last but not least, thank you very much to everyone who lent me your names.

Well, in the time remaining, there is one more thing for now. Please continue to support me.

Ono Fuyumi