16th volume of series launched in 1986 slated for winter

Hiroaki Adachi, the head of the Wright Staff company that manages the business affairs of author Yoshiki Tanaka, revealed on Twitter on Tuesday that the manuscript for the final volume of Tanaka's Arslan Senki (The Heroic Legend of Arslan) novel series is complete. Adachi said he passed the manuscript on to the editor, and the draft will soon undergo proofreading and the addition of illustrations. Adachi said he will reveal the release date when it is decided.

He added that Tanaka had told him that he was one of only two people besides himself who knew the ending of the story before its completion. However, when Adachi read the end of the final manuscript, he discovered that the ending is different from what Tanaka had told him. Adachi also thanked fans for their support.

The 16th and final volume of the series is slated for release this winter. Adachi revealed in February 2016 that the next volume of the novel series would be the last. The 15th volume of Arslan Senki (seen right) shipped in May 2016.

Tanaka's novel series, illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano, centers on the titular Arslan, heir to the Kingdom of Pars, and initially reluctant in martial affairs and leadership. When the neighboring nation of Lusitania routs the Parsian army in the field, and Arslan's father King Andragoras falls victim to a Lusitanian plot, he and his loyal guard Daryun barely escape with their lives. On the run, Arslan must assemble an army to take back his birthright from Silvermask, the Lusitanian general who himself has a claim to the Parsian throne.

Tanaka launched the series in 1986. The series was adapted into a six-episode OVA series from 1991 to 1993, and a manga adaptation by Chisato Nakamura that ran from 1991-1996. Central Park Media released the original video anime adaptation.

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Hiromu Arakawa (, Silver Spoon) is currently serializing a new manga adaptation of the novels, which she launched in Kodansha'sin July 2013. Kodansha Comics published the seventh compiled volume in May. Crunchyroll is also releasing the manga as it is published in Japan.

The first season of the television anime adaptation of Arakawa's manga premiered in April 2015 and ran for 25 episodes. The second season, titled Arslan Senki: Fūjin Ranbu (The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance), premiered in July 2016. Funimation streamed both seasons as they aired in Japan and released a broadcast dub.

Update: Final volume's release window added.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun via Nijimen