So, next volume will be last volume of FT. I finished last chapter two weeks before writing this sentence, but I didn't change the lifestyle I lived for this 11 years of fighting.
It was longer than my previous work, so I expected a flood of sentimentalism, but I'm so busy this days, I don't have time for sentimentalism. Actually, I still have work with the volume and few others occasions to draw Natsu or Lucy, so I don't feel like I bid farewell to my characters.
This time I was really troubled what to do with Makarov. It is because I didn't plan to bring him back to live. I left such possibility by making scene with Makarov casting "Fairy Law" somewhat short, but inside me he was dead for good.
But when I was drawing last moments of Zeref and Mavis, I thought, that their death must have some meaning for this world, so in the end, I decided for Makarov's come back.
For Zeref and Mavis death was the only relief. Something like this is rather unusual in the real world, but not for these two.
If these two, who were center of war that involved whole continent, were relieved, I wanted the same for Natsu and others. It could be anything, but I choosed something, what I thought will please many of my readers.
I'm worried about this "many of", there surely are people, who say "Rather than Makarov, it should be...". There are many people, that couldn't be saved in this world. Actually, by saying that Zeref and Mavis were relieved, I mean, that they died after hundreds years of suffering without having happiness. Thinking this way and for many readers, I brought back to life person all FT members wished for the most in exchange for lifes of two immortals.
In the past in my mangas there was always a rule "When I decide someone to die, they never come back", but this time it was "In fact they were alive" all the time (laugh), which might not be accepted. Next volume will be last volume of FT. Maybe it's bit too early, but I'm thankful to all my readers, who were reading until now. I hope you will enjoy until the end.
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Short commentary from me, if I may:
1. I know, that Mashima was apologizing on his Tweeter for spoiler in the afterwords, but I expected some detail, not that he will mistake the volumes.
2. Yes, Hiro, it could be anyone than Makarov, but it'd be even better, if was no one.
3. I still don't see, where did Hiro admit his mistakes.