On the outskirts of the Pleasure City of Midas lies the Ceres special autonomous area, commonly known as the slums. Gang leader Riki, looking for an easy pocket to pick in the nightlife districts, gets caught red-handed…by none other than one of the highest-ranking, golden-haired android elites ruling from the capital Tanagura: the “Blondy” Iason Mink!
By all rights, a Blondy standing at the pinnacle of aristocracy and a slummer should have never crossed paths—their chance encounter marks the beginning of a love twisted by obsession, soon spiraling into a karmic chain of events...... more>>

⬇️ //// About the Japanese novel and anime adaptations ////
⬇️ //// About the English translation ////
⬇️ //// Current translation status ////
⬇️ //// Drama CDs, prequel and side stories ////

//// About the Japanese novel and anime adaptations ////

Originally serialized in the bimonthly magazine Shosetsu June (小説ジュネ) spanning six chapters from December 1986 to October 1987, the novel was released with minor revisions into a hardcover edition in 1990.
This first version of the story received a two-episode/OVA anime adaptation in 1992 and 1994.

Between the years 2001 and 2007, the original story was greatly expanded upon and released in six paperback volumes. After a change of Japanese publisher, two more volumes were released between 2009 and 2010, completing the series (the six aforementioned volumes were released as volumes 1-4 in the newest Japanese edition).
This second version of the story was meant to be adapted into a twelve-episode OVA anime—initially planned to release in 2010—but was postponed to 2012, only to be discontinued after the fourth episode’s release.

//// About the English translation ////

The English paperback expanded edition is made up of eight volumes: the six first volumes (Seibido/Crystal edition) + the two later volumes (#7 and #8 in English, but #5 and #6 in the newest Tokuma/Chara edition).
The change in Japanese publisher led to a change in translator for the English edition between vol1 to 6 and vol7 to 8: it is highly recommended to read the fan translations of #7 and #8 as opposed to reading the licensed edition, due to the massive loss in translation (expect a 50% word count difference between the two).

//// Current translation status of the different editions of the novel (as of April 20th, 2024) ////

. Shosetsu June edition, unlicensed: 2/6 chapters, ongoing fan translation.
. 1990 hardcover edition, unlicensed: 2/6 chapters, ongoing fan translation. An older fan translation had 4/6 chapters translated but the project was dropped.
. 2000’s expanded edition, English licensed: fully translated, complete.

//// Drama CDs, prequel and side stories ////

– The Shosetsu June story was adapted into a drama cassette and a drama CD (Dark Erogenous).
– The expanded story was adapted into three drama CDs (Destiny, Nightmare, Resonance)
– A prequel called Midnight Illusion was serialized in Shosetsu June between December 1992 and April 1993, and released as a hardcover in 1996. 3/6 chapters have been fan-translated into English.
– The 5 side stories have all been fan-translated into English (Kizu/Wound, File-0, Cal’s Sighs, Musk, Illusion Night) and are based on the expanded version of the novel.

Look up online “Ai no Kusabi Master List LiveJournal” to find the links to all the material listed above and more.

[This page was updated as per an anon’s request, all credit goes to the AnK community where credit is due.] <<less

A near future, where humans have been defeated by the viral parasites named Gastrea. They have been exiled into a small territory and live in despair, side by side with terror.... more>>

In this world trapped in darkness—

Rentaro, a boy living near Tokyo and member of the "Civil Security" – an organization specializing in fighting against the Gastrea – is used to accomplishing dangerous tasks. His partner is Enju, a precocious young girl. They fight thanks to their peculiar powers until one day, when they receive a special assignment from the government. This top secret mission is to prevent the destruction of Tokyo...

Set in a near future, this thrilling heroic-action story... starts now! <<less

“Baccano”, which Narita translates as “s*upid commotion”, is Italian for “ruckus”. Each of the stories in the series involves several unrelated plots intersecting and crossing each other as events spiral farther and farther out of control. Immortal alchemists, mafia operated speakeasies, and many other elements of pulp fiction mashed together for a world straight out of the movies.... more>>

It all started 300 years ago on a boat where the alchemists summoned the “demon” in order to obtain the method of immortality. The demon gave the alchemist the liquor of immortality, the only way to die is to pass down the way to produce the liquor.

But the following night, one of the alchemist started to devour his companions. To escape the threat, the alchemists scattered all over the world. In America during the temperance movement, centering around the liquor of immortality, the “s*upid commotion” starts! <<less

One day after school, high school student Meguru Shina is ravished in the train station bathroom by Sasakawa, his math teacher. Usually Sasakawa deceives the world with his slightly dirty white coat and teacher’s mask, but in reality he is a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.... more>>

Starved for love but unable to reveal his weakness due to his own pride, Shina is drawn in by Sasakawa’s sweet words and pleasing techniques. Shina is trapped by s*xual desire. Sasakawa burns with jealousy. The two fall deep into the darkness of a corrupting love… <<less

In his young life, Takeyuki has never really known hardship. The youngest son of a wealthy family, he has never had any difficulty getting anything... more>> he desired. Now, though, Takeyuki is enjoying his last month of freedom before he begins working at his father’s import company in Tokyo, and he has decided to spend that time with his brother and his sister-in-law in Cassina, a small country in the Middle East. Little does Takeyuki know that his prideful manner will soon land him in hot water! In Cassina, some dangers are very real and some people are not who they seem. For example, who exactly is the charming, majestic man who won’t stop staring at Takeyuki during their flight to Cassina, and why do his blue eyes make Takeyuki feel like his chest will burst? <<less

Set after the events of Queen's Blade, this is the story of the Princess Knight Annelotte, and how she gathered comrades to stop the tiranny... more>> of the Queen.
Published originally in the Hobby Channel website. <<less

Taking place in a futuristic city called Mardock City, Rune Ballot is a young prostitute who was taken in by the notorious gambler Shell Septinous.... more>> One night, Shell abandons Rune and attempts to mu*der her in an explosion. However, she is rescued and transformed into a cyborg by Dr. Easter. An Artificial intelligence in the form of a Mouse accompanies her to adapt to her new life. Rune is trained to use the advanced technology fitted on her to defend herself against Shell's attempts to have her killed to stop her from testifying against him. <<less

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," so goes the old adage about art, and nowhere is this truer than in the relationship between Itsuki and Tokiwa. To every one else, Itsuki is nothing more than a useless wallflower, but only Tokiwa can see that the man is actually a diamond-in-the-rough.... more>>

It all began eight years ago, when amateur painter Itsuki Hashimoto and up-and-coming sculptor Masatsugu Tokiwa became friends through their love for art. But a few years later, family circumstances forced Itsuki to cut Tokiwa out of his life. Now, Itsuki is living a confined life as the "human pet" of Yamabe-sensei, Tokiwa's former teacher.

Can Tokiwa help Itsuki break free of his cage? Or has Itsuki become too much of a living "doll," without a soul or freewill of his own? <<less

Takumi, Kouki, and Jin are three boys living a normal high school life, until the day when a traumatic car accident turns their lives upside... more>> down. Caught up in a phenomenon that twists the boundaries between the realms of the supernatural and the world of man, their fates seem to be sealed…and yet they survive. What does their mysterious survival mean, and how will it change their lives? <<less

Rock (Okajima Rokuro) was just a normal Japanese businessman, but through a series of unlikely events, he found himself part of the "Lagoon Company," a group of transporters who do a little pirating on the side. Together with Dutch, Revy, and Benny, he sails the seas of Asia aboard the modified torpedo boat "Black Lagoon."... more>>

Their base, the lawless city of Roanapur, is just barely balanced on the brink of outright war, controlled and occupied by criminal organizations from across the globe. At the head of the pack are Balalaika of Russia and Chang of Hong Kong.

Our story finds Roanapur just a little while before Rock, with Revy in tow, is due to head back to his old home of Japan.

It is a tale about soldiers who once fought united under a cause in a land of sandy winds, the strictly personal reunion of a captain and her one-time subordinate... <<less

This is the story of a crazy lich who possesses an internal game system and brings catastrophe to the entire world.... more>>

“Let’s look at the daily quests today… it’s the damned choose one-of-two-options-type again. Destroy a town with a population of 30,000 people or above; reward: 10,000 evil points. Steal lollipops from 3 children; reward: 1 evil point. If neither of the quests is completed, then 2 points will be deducted.”

“Tsk! You think I’m s*upid? If I really destroyed a town, a crusade of Epic-ranked Holy Knights would definitely come hunting me down. Even if I earned the points, there wouldn’t be any life left in me to spend them. I better just go be a kindly lollipop bandit.”

I’ve already had enough of being a notorious lich. Who says that a lich can’t be a good person? I’m definitely going to beat this damned system and be an upright and dignified good man. <<less

Kaga Ryosuke, a helplessly romantic teenager, was walking in the rain when he sees a beautiful girl with red eyes drenched in the rain. Everyone... more>> was avoiding her, but Ryosuke was taught to treasure women so he offered his help by letting her dry off at his home. Ryosuke can't imagine that this mysterious girl would stab him in the chest and leave him to die… Or did she? Who is this pretty girl and what does she want with him? <<less

Adaptation of the RPGMaker game by Kikiyama, Yume Nikki is the story about a young girl named Madotsuki that travels and explores her dreams every night, never leaving her room. Those dreams are filled with the most estrange beings and places, giving an insight into Madotsuki. Follow her while she discovers the deepest places of her mind. ... more>>

-----

Madotsuki is a girl living in a simple room. She can’t or doesn’t want to go out of this room, even though she has barely anything to do in it besides playing an old game. That, and sleeping. And it’s precisely that what she does, sleep and explore the vast world of her dreams, although, always, completely alone.

This Light Novel is the official Light Novel version of the popular game, Yume Nikki, done by Kikiyama. It was released on the 28th of August of 2013 by FreeGameNovel.

Even if it’s official and Kikiyama is involved, it’s also specified that this is the personal interpretation of the author, Akira, and therefore, any other interpretation of the events the players may have is still as valid as it was before. <<less

In the fertile plains to the north, among the numerous rolling mountains, stands the majestic Snow Gate Pass. Nobody knows when, by whom, or for what purpose the Snow Gate Pass was constructed. To the north of the Snow Gate Pass, is a vast and mysterious kingdom of ice, that’s considered to be the birthplace of magic, with many wondrous legends about it, such as ancient ruins, the Tower of the Moon, the Tree of Life, the Flower of Immortality, ice dragons……... more>>

A group of “merchants” are currently in the capital city of the north, in search of a local guide that can take them deeper into the far north. But since winter is approaching, the mayor of the city has gone back on his word for various reasons. Just as they were hesitating on how to proceed, a northern girl suddenly appeared, calling herself a bounty hunter, and that she’ll be the group’s guide, into the most dangerous canyon in the north, the ancient dragon’s tomb – the Frozen Bone Cliffs.

The leader of the group is a mysterious young man that everyone calls “young master.” With no other choice, he was forced to sign a contract with the girl, and agreed to various conditions that she set.

However, an assassination attempt was made on the girl on the same night that she accepted the contract. The assassin was a mysterious shadow with purple eyes. From then on, the group’s troubles were unending.

The young master’s mysterious past was also slowly revealed, it turned out that he had the power of “Dream Perception,” and was a holder of the long-lost northern Moon Clan tribe’s foresight abilities. <<less

“If I don’t die… I swear I will act on all my evil thoughts..” ... more>>

Not exactly everyone’s typical thought when they’re about to die. What will a cowardly young man do when reincarnated with the evil powers to redefine his destiny? Can the natural kindness of human nature triumph over evil? Will he become the cold-blooded demon king of legend, or will he forge his own path and rain down another kind of terror? <<less

Failed on his job-hunting, shut-in Sagara Kurohiko went to the mountain on the day of a typhoon where he is struck by lightning and dies.... more>> But he is still alive, in a strange land with a great holy tree. To his surprise, his physique has rejuvenated to when he was teen. Brought to the academy near the tree, he is soon suspected as a spy from another country, and was brought to the headmaster. An accident happened on the way, which enraged the headmaster. Before Kurohiko can get blasted by magic, his eyes laid upon an old parchment. He took it and read the contents. Suddenly four holes appeared and black chains came out from each of it, binding the headmaster. It is then revealed that Kurohiko just recited an incantation of "Forbidden Art," an art which is extremely powerful from a legend. Apparently, no one has been able to decipher the contents of the scroll, which makes Kurohiko the only current Forbidden Spellcaster. Sparked by this, the headmaster offers Kurohiko to attend the academy. <<less

LeeSoo Han fought for justice. The price he had to pay was being mu*dered along with his girlfriend. But LeeSoo was revived as a “Shadow... more>> Warrior”. <<less

Seventeen year old Hajime Nagumo is your average, everyday otaku. However, his simple life of pulling all-nighters and sleeping in school is suddenly turned upside... more>> down when he, along with the rest of his class, is summoned to a fantasy world! They're treated like heroes and tasked with the duty of saving the human race from utter extinction. But what should have been any otaku's wet dream quickly turns into Hajime's nightmare. While the rest of his class are blessed with godlike powers, Hajime's job, Synergist, only has a single transmutation skill. Ridiculed and bullied by his classmates for being weak, he soon finds himself in despair. Will he be able to survive in this dangerous world of monsters and demons with only a glorified blacksmith's level of strength? <<less

In a world where magic is long but a thing of the distant past, where humans have the potential of harnessing a dormant power within them, called Battle Force…... more>>

A man from modern-day Earth finds himself suddenly waking up in the body of Norton Lorist, a youth of noble descent that had been exiled from his homeland in the North by his family to Morante City, the capital of the Forde Trade Union on the pretext of pursuing his studies.

Little did he know what would await him when he receives a summons from his family years later to return to the Northlands and inherit the position of the family head…

This is the tale of his life before the summons…

This is the tale of his journey northward and the allies he gathers along the way…

This is the tale of his rebuilding his family’s dominion and keeping it safe from other power-hungry nobles…

This is the tales of the Reincarnated Lord. <<less

Yuri one-shot by 煢獨.

I traverse along the pathway of darkness and imagination…... more>>

Entering the realm born by human imaginations…

Challenging Harry Potter’s magic, commanding the great Pirates of the Caribbean.

Terminating the Terminator’s strength, tearing apart the Matrix’s Hallucination.

Virus is my s*ave.

Endurance my inheritance.

Growing and hunting in the boundless universe.

Breaking through boundaries in a mysterious space.

Desiring evil, conspiracy and betrayer. Who can redeem what was already lost?

In a battle of demons, who can leave an immortal legacy?

A declining Trump card, Final evolution!

I’m… on a journey!

We are one! <<less

Because Tang Yue accidentally mol*sted his step mother and sister, he was forced to leave home to avoid the furious pursuit of his father. ... more>>

Who knows that during the run, he would be accidentally dragged into a martial art fight and even encounter the one-eyed demon that everyone was pursuing… Black Bear Beast? Cow Spirit? The legendary blade? What is that? He, Wei Xiao Niu only wants to be a respected and popular hero!

Stepsister Xiao Xiu, seventh mistress of the Mei residency and the two beautiful sister disciples of Mount Lao are all his targets! Even if it is the legendary fierce Western Fairy, he will also subdue her to become his woman! <<less

At Karner Girls Academy, Rock was the only male; believed to be a dragon man, he is given special treatment.... more>>

A female student trying to seduce Rock for his dragon seed; a female doctor devoting herself to Rock in order to determine his identity…

A crafty and unruly Lolita princess, a sexy and beautiful female doctor, a bold and unrestrained female student, a gun wielding Lolita nun, a dubious female teacher…

Sloppy Rock just wants to embrace beautiful women, but he himself doesn’t know what his true identity is… <<less

The formless ancient world was infested with despicable demons. They hunted and feasted on mankind, keeping the human civilization constantly in a weak and suppressed state.... more>>

During the first known year, a magical mountain descended into the world from the realm of the Gods. Carved on this enormous mountain was a message: ‘Heaven Prevails’…

After the Grand Descent, a name that was given to the descending of the mountain, the Three Great Sages made their ways to Mystic Mountain where they learned to harvest what we now call magic, establishing the Mystic Cults and eighty-one sacred shrines to help aid mankind with the cult’s mystic powers against the eternal fight to the death with demons. <<less