STAND-IN

ㅤAnd so, this journey of eight years has finally come to an end... I still can’t quite believe it, to be honest.

ㅤIt all started with a simple thought: “I want to translate this!”

ㅤEven though another team had already been working on a translation, I wasn’t satisfied with its quality — I wanted to do it better, bigger, stronger! Back in the summer of 2018, while I was still a student, I nervously sent a message on DeviantArt, asking for permission to translate my very first comic. And my squeal of “I GOT PERMISSION!!!” was probably loud enough for the neighbors to hear x)

ㅤSo much has happened since then. For the first year, I was catching up with the ongoing updates, ended up with wrist problems (no regrets!), spent summer nights translating and drinking ridiculous amounts of tea, all while working on my thesis. Together with Cat, we started our “Translation agency” and took on several other projects. But Stand-in always remained our signature work.

ㅤThen university ended. I continued translating alongside my job, sometimes even asking coworkers how best to phrase something, adapt a pun, or handle sound effects. Some of the comics we picked up got paused or abandoned — but not Stand-in. Every time a new page notification appeared, I’d drop everything and start reading. Sometimes I cried, sometimes I laughed, sometimes I was just overwhelmed with awe.

ㅤThree years ago, Cat stepped away, and I carried everything on my own. He didn’t disappear — he still helps whenever he can — but the flame of translation has been carried on my wings alone ever since.

ㅤAnd now... I’m looking at the final page. I don’t even know how to describe all these emotions. It’s joy, happiness, and a soft, gentle sadness. Sadness that such a huge part of my life has come to an end. That there will be no more “New page” notifications. No more long nights spent translating.

ㅤBut I’m happy. Truly happy. For all the characters, for their happy ending, for the fact that this story was told.

ㅤOver all this time, you can really see how the art style and quality improved. How the dialogue became richer. How the characters grew from their very first appearances. How Chara stopped hating humans. How the biggest mystery of all Stand-in was finally revealed: “How do you keep an eel fresh and alive?!” How Frisk’s story before Undertale was explored. And how much was said about love and humanity in all their different forms.

ㅤTo me, this comic is the purest proof of determination. To walk the entire path from beginning to end. From the very first lines to the final “The End.” Yes, maybe we’ll still get some small side stories… but that feeling tied to the words “The End”... guys, I still get chills from it, and that says a lot.

ㅤI want to thank @the-triangle-cat, so much for never stopping. For telling this story despite all the hardships of life. For showing that something like this is even possible. This level of dedication and perseverance is incredibly rare.

ㅤAnd I also want to thank all the readers. Especially the readers of the translation. My dear ones, your quiet support — through likes and comments — over these eight years proved that none of this was in vain. And when, under the final page, I saw comments like “You were a huge part of my childhood”, it made me realize the value of this work a hundred times over.

ㅤI should probably wrap this up. I’ve already written so much... it’s just hard to hold all these emotions in (^_^;)

ㅤDon’t forget to stay determined. Take care of yourselves and your health. I’m sure we’ll meet again on the pages of stories and translations.

ㅤAnd as always:

ㅤSincerely,

I’m so glad and grateful to have the opportunity to hear a more complete story about your life and the work behind the translation. I always admired how you took the time to hand-craft so many of the comic’s onomatopoeias, which was something few translators attempt. And yet, reading your post made me realize there was so much more to your journey than I ever knew, and only now do I truly understand just how tough it’s been for you. It breaks my heart to know about the physical pain you endured. At the same time, I understand all too well, as I had similar issues during the comic production too.

And that is exactly why your dedication to completing the translation has never ceased to amaze me. During all these years of comic serialization, many translators have left their work; while I understand they had every valid reason to do so, and I could only blame myself for taking too long to make updates, I would still feel lonely living in this reality. I could hardly expect anyone to be there with me on the day I finally finished the comic. Yet even through all of this, you stayed by my side, updating your translation to the very end.

When you said, “This comic is the purest proof of determination,” I couldn’t agree more. But for me, your endeavor and determination are just as much a testament to that same spirit.

Thank you again for sharing, and thank you to @feri-arts for the amazing work. You’ve inspired many readers of yours and me with your dedication, and I hope you feel proud of everything you’ve accomplished. No matter where your wings take you next, I’ll always be grateful for the years you spent soaring alongside Stand-in.

Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.

With love and admiration,

First of all, thank you again to the readers and partners who have helped and continue to help with correcting the comic's dialogue. 

Here, I want to especially thank @brynwyth and @hiimtryingtounderfell (Kaitogirl) for assisting with language corrections all the way to the final episode. Without their dedication, completing this work would have been unimaginably difficult. Their contribution was crucial to this work.

I also want to thank @celmif 's team for translating the comic into Russian over the past eight years. Their devotion and determination have made this story accessible to an entirely different audience, and I believe their work is the biggest reason I still have a wonderful Russian-speaking fanbase to this day.

I would also like to acknowledge the many other translators and comic dub creators who worked on this comic. While it is unfortunate that they were unable to continue for various reasons, the time and effort they put into their translations and comic dubs deserve recognition and gratitude all the same.

Thank you to @shayromi and @jjaydazo for inspiring me with how to present certain parts of the story. Special thanks to Shayromi for also helping me navigate Tumblr management in the early stages, and for the opportunity to collaborate with her Frans children, Elys and Arno.  

Thank you to @sharkowskii for allowing me to participate in her Underlab AU by creating the (Uncle) Chara character. It was a lot of fun and a great honor to be a part of this fantastic AU and work with one of the best artists I have ever known.

Thank you to all the friends I've made in the fandom from the early days of serialization until now. Your companionship gave me the most amazing experience during the golden era of the Frans community, and became the strength that kept me going.

Thank you to my Ko‑fi members for their financial support:

1797329, Angel, Astilla, Catalyst, ChitaMoMo, Cutegemster, Goosygander, Herewego, Ko‑fi Supporter, Leifeil, MeriahLatyar, Nancya, Olivia, Princess, Pun, Rdoel72, SofiMofi, Tamara H, Tiny Raven/Chel Maxfield, $WOOD$

Special thanks to TheMsource, @tangyactually, and @bloody-writing for subscribing to the higher tier. Tangy has always been extraordinarily kind and enjoyable to be around, and it is my privilege to have a supporter and friend like her. TheMsource has always supported me in exploring my creativity for Stand-in, and her positivity has made our time together memorable. Bloody-Writing's energetic vibes have been a constant source of encouragement. Their friendship and encouragement have meant more to me than words can express. 

I'm also grateful to everyone who has supported me with one-time donations on Ko-fi. Every contribution has been deeply appreciated.

Actually, I never intended for the Stand-in comic to be about profit. But I have to admit that continuing to update this comic completely free of charge would put much heavier pressure on me, especially during the mid-to-late production stages. To those willing to support me financially, all I can do is continue doing my best to fulfill my promises to my members and offer my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported me.

Thank you to everyone who has created fan art and fan fiction for Stand-in. Each time new fan work appears, it lifts my spirits immensely. Your creative contributions to this comic are my most precious treasures.

Thank you to Toby Fox, Temmie Chang, J.N. Wiedle, Magnolia Porter, Gigi D.G., Bob Sparker, Sarah, Michelle Fus, Kenju, Merrigo, Chess, Clairevoire, Easynam, Guzusuru, Everdraed, Flashygoodness, Leon Arnott, Mike Reid, and everyone involved in developing this game for bringing us such a uniquely special story, interactions, and gaming experience. This game has deeply inspired our lives, and I believe it will have a profound influence on both our past and future.

(Reference source: https://undertale.fandom.com/wiki/Undertale_Developers)

When the Stand-in comic was first created, it was just a comic I drew in my spare time as doodles. At that time, I had an idea that had been brewing in my mind for quite a while, and I simply wanted to see it actually drawn on paper. Back then, I had no idea this comic would grow to such a scale and take so much time.

Although my goal has always been the same: to complete this comic properly (at least not end it too hastily), and I never thought about giving it up, I won't say the process was without obstacles. During these years, watching the production progress repeatedly delayed by various necessary matters in real life, my doubts about "whether I could really finish it" never stopped until I actually completed it. Only then could this doubt and burden in my heart finally be released.

I want to thank God for His care and guidance. The truth is, this comic has been like a dream to me, a dream I've had for nearly ten years. Whether my circumstances were good or bad, I've felt His love through creating this story rooted in Undertale's themes of choice and mercy. It was my mental oasis that helped me barely hold on when I was on the edge of severe depression. In a sense, I'm still walking in the dark tunnel of my own life. The light is far away, but fortunately, it hasn't disappeared yet. This dream has reached its final stop. And I will, and must, find a way to keep moving forward.

I also thank my family for their help and support in my daily life. They may not know much about this comic, but because of the living conditions they created, I had the space and capacity to complete this work.

Finally, thank you to every reader who has followed this comic and made it to this point. Being able to share this joy with you is my greatest honor.

To all of you who have walked this journey with me: I hope that wherever you are in life, you'll find your own light in the darkness. 

May you have the courage to keep moving forward, even when the path is unclear. May the stories and connections we share continue to bring warmth to your days ahead.

On December 19, 2017, I began translating Stand-in for the first time.

Back then, I was still in high school, and I had no idea this comic would stay with me for so long. I was simply overwhelmed by how much I loved it and threw myself into translating it with all the passion I had.

From high school to university, from working and leaving my job to going back to school and changing careers, my life kept changing. Throughout all those years, Stand-in stayed with me as I grew from a teenager into an adult.

I stopped updating for a long time, and there were moments when I wondered whether I would ever come back. But I’m very glad that, after the story finally reached its ending, I returned as well and completed the entire translation.

After nearly nine years, this comic has finally come to an end, and I have reached a completely different stage of life from where I was when I first started.

Looking back now, I can clearly see how both my translation and your art and storytelling gradually grew from something still quite inexperienced into something much more mature over the years.

You also went through so much during this time, including illness and the loss of loved ones. I sincerely respect you for that. There are many talented artists and storytellers in the world, but far fewer people who can continue through years of real-life difficulties and still bring their own story all the way to its ending.

As for whether I will translate other comics in the future, I probably won’t. Of course, if you make any short Stand-in side comics or little bonus scenes, I would still be happy to translate those.

It is hard to imagine another comic that could make me devote this much passion, time, and energy to it. I suppose I really have gone from being an idealistic, hot-blooded teenager to an exhausted working adult. xD

Still, I will continue to be active in the fandom as a fan creator.

I’m sure we will meet again, just in a different form.

Perhaps one day, you may even get to read a comic created by me. x)

Now, I can finally say this sincerely to the story that has stayed with me for so many years:

Thank you for growing up with me.

And thank you to everyone who read, waited for, and supported this translation.