AI buster, the prequel to .hack//SIGN, is the story of Albireo,a debugger, who used to play ‘Fragments,’ the beta version of ‘The World.’ Albireo encounters... more>> Lycoris, whom he assumes is an event NPC (an AI character) but she’s actually a failed version of Aura. She is blind, deaf, and mute, because Albireo debugged her and broke up important files. The missing files are hidden as items in the World, and when returned to Lycoris, she gets a function back. When she gains them all, she changes into a teenage form with purple hair who looks like Aura. Because of his acquaintance with Lycoris, Albireo cannot log out of the game and exit the World. <<less

.hack//CELL is a novel series written by Ryo Suzukaze, serialized in the magazine .hack//G.U.: The World, and published in paperback format.... more>>

It follows the experiences of a female Edge Punisher, Midori, as she hires herself out to players who want to fight her without resistance <<less

“The World” is a massively multiplayer online game played by more than twelve million people across the globe. Within this virtual world Haseo, a PKK... more>> (Player Killer Killer), continues an endless fight. Everything he does is for the sake of the girl Shino, who back in the real world, is hospitalized by an unexplained coma. However, on finally meeting with his sole lead, a PK called ?Tri-Edge,? Haseo is dropped back to Level 1 by a mysterious power! Can Haseo save Shino now that he has lost all of his abilities? <<less

In a failing time-traveling experiment, a spaceship driver and the Chief Scientist both died and were transferred to a new land. The young driver found... more>> he had become Fowls, the heir of an Eral family called Mediqi, and the scientist became his housekeeper. Under the control of Fowls, the old housekeeper began his study of the rules of this different land, and he became interested in the basic strength source named Magic. Outside their house, on this different ancient land in another parallel space-time, many countries were fighting with each other. Step by step, three empires rose to become the core of all powers. The Alexander Empire, controlled by both the religious and secular forces, was a place where people were mostly a crossbreed of human beings and orcas. The Eastern Sea Union was created by wizards and witches once oppressed by the Alexander Empire until they rebelled by successfully waking up their inner strength of witchcraft. This was a rather free and fair federation. The third was the small city Earendur, founded by Fowl family, a business giant with political and military powers. <<less

I wasn’t reborn with talent or ability, but at least my knowledge from earth allowed me to stay one step ahead in this other world.... more>>

Magic exists here, and new progress was rapidly being made in science while magic stagnated in the name of tradition. Using my earthly knowledge and not bound by the traditional thinking, I was able to do things other wizards couldn’t even imagine.

Still, inadvertently becoming an undercover professor for a mysterious secret society at the renowned Sören academy was never in my to-do list! <<less

Even in the future, all the advances and innovation in the world can’t change the dynamics of the school playground. And for Haruyuki Arita, a... more>> fat kid in junior high, that means he’s destined to always be at the bottom of the food chain, prime pickings for the school bullies. But when he encounters the beautiful Kuroyukihime, an avatar in the virtual world where he relaxes, Haruyuki’s life is turned on its head as he dives into Brain Burst, a mysterious computer program, and the Accelerated World with her help. And it’s in the Accel World that Haruyuki casts off his depressing reality and takes hold of the chance to become a Burst Linker, a knight to protect his princess! <<less

In 9012, the world became a high-temperature melting furnace, animals and plants died, urban infrastructure was paralyzed, water and electricity were cut off, the world became a large-scale hunger arena.... more>>

Su Mian was reborn three months before the end of the world, and accidentally got a scarlet jade gourd, which opened the planting space.

She resolutely ended her college course, returned to her hometown to farm, and built up high walls to resist the famine era.

After the end of the world, the major hidden families had come out of the mountain.

Luo Hansheng, the first person who came out, was ruthless and unkind. No one knew that he had been having the same dream for years, in that dream, he spoiled a woman almost insanely, and then the woman stabbed him and ran away.

The man sneered. When he found this woman, he would definitely cramp her and make her feel ashamed.

Later, the man found Su Mian in the cliff hole of Xiaoshan Village and coaxed her, “Follow me, I can give you everything you want ~” <<less

As an Omega, Bai Yue is not only the dream Omega in every Alpha’s eyes but also the thorn in the eyes of other Omegas. However, one day, he received a medical examination notice and found that he had been differentiated for the second time. This time, he became an Alpha with Genetics of the grade S +, the kind with only double digits in the world. ... more>>

Bai Yue: Pupils are shaking. jpg. He is worried that because of this, he would be abandoned by his boyfriend who is also Alpha. Therefore, he was determined to conceal this new secondary gender and genetic level, and never give the other party a chance to break up! When his pheromones of the S+ grade woke up, Alphas that had originally wanted to make a move on him, all ended up lying on the floor, oppressed by his pheromones. Omegas, who originally regarded him as a thorn in their eyes, would have their legs go soft under the influence of his pheromones. Even the military, upon hearing such news, declared: Within 1 minute, I want all the information on this Alpha!

Finally, he was unable to continue hiding his identity. Bai Yue became dumb. Looking back at his childhood sweetheart, this formerly domineering Alpha unexpectedly turned red at the ears. “Idiot, I knew it a long time ago.”

Since I’ve become an Alpha, then I might as well be the most Alpha of them all <<less

Jiang Mo, the big shot of Xuanqing world, failed to pass the tribulation and was forcibly bound by the unscrupulous system. After crossing ninety nine worlds become cannon fodder in different worlds, Jiang Mo, who finally killed the system, became the master of his fate again.... more>>

Therefore, all kinds of cannon fodder that sent experience and wealth to the protagonist in the small world changed into a person who can control the life and death of the protagonist.

Jiang Mo: I’m delicate and pure, gentle and really gullible. I’m just a fated cannon fodder. I was bullied by the protagonists in all kinds of ways

Protagonists:… I’m not, I don’t have it. Don’t put this pot on my shoulder.

Love acting will make you feel white and black shou x Always spoiled shou, love at first sight gong. <<less

What was originally an ordinary day, suddenly became a historical turning point. Enormous, mysterious Cubes appeared all over the world without warning and as if Judgement Day’s spears, inserted themselves into the blue planet.... more>>

From inside the enormous Cubes, endless streams of monsters gushed out alike raging tides, utterly defeating the unguarded armies of each state in the blink of an eye.

In order for humanity to preserve its final embers, the heads of states issued orders of retreat, to no longer attack the Cubes but rather to cling to remote cities, which they turned into self-sufficient survivor bases and around which they built 100-meter-tall Walls of Life!

Many years later, while bearing the heavy weight of history, the first expeditionary force brought back a world changing piece of information. The Cubes possessed exceedingly high intelligence and they regularly transmitted mission instructions to humans nearby. The mission rewards were incredible.

Since then, humans rushed out of the confines of the walls and once more set foot on the wasteland! <<less

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

When the alien Mimics invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor called a Jacket and sent... more>> out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his 158th iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally--the female soldier known as the Full Metal b*tch. Is she the key to Keiji's escape or his final death? <<less

The end of mankind and its doom was right around the corner. Narvas, a giant asteroid, was on the path to colliding with earth. To avoid mankind impending doom, Kiwoo broke through the miraculous odds and  journeyed through the ages of time.... more>>

"...Native Americans?"

However, much to his expectations, Kiwoo arrived in the native lands before the discovery of the New World! For man to survive, civilization needed to develop faster and quicker before the collision of Narvas occurs. Under his guidance, the native land was reborn as an empire of the natives and not as colonial land ruled under eurocentrism. <<less

Hit by a car, he transmigrated to the future. But it seemed that he was about to die again. After rebirth, he became a man with a miserable childhood who had no money or superpower. What’s more, he secretly had a crush for another man! Fine. He accepted his fate. However, there was more than that.... more>>

“Yuan, let’s make a baby together.”

Excuse me? Two men? No, Wait!

“I don’t have that function!”

“Yes, you do.”

With that, the man pounced on top of him with a wicked smile.

Two months later, a doctor smiled at him and said, “Congratulations. You’re now five weeks pregnant…” <<less

A boy who kills nightmares and a girl who lives them.... more>>

In the modern age, communication technology has developed that uses dreams as a medium instead of electrons.
In the world of “shared dreams,” people are engaged in economic activities even when they are asleep.

A malignant factor that invades artificial dreams and destroys the mind, “Nightmares (Noise)” ……
There are those who make a living out of suppressing them with force.
They were called “tapirs” by the people, who likened them to dream-eating beasts.

One day, Touya Rumaki, a high school student who carries out his duties as a “tapir,” finds himself in a situation where he is unable to find a way out. He meets a “witch” in a wheelchair.

The girl, who called herself “Meia”, stretched out her body, which was not free in any way, to Touya and whispered to him like a spell.
“I’ve been betrayed by everything in this world.

And when the wishes of a boy hunting nightmares and a fragile girl intersect
The nightmare that has been called a disaster, “The Beast’s Dream,” awakens.

This is the beginning of a dark battle of science fiction and otherworldly powers that will distort the world!

With “Gahou”! <<less

Amidst a disaster, an orphan contracts a sickness.... more>>

In his waking hours, he is tormented by his ailment, but when he slumbers, there is infinite darkness.

One day, when he was five years old, a strange Fate Trickster appeared in his dreams. Ten years later, he dreams of becoming a lord. To do so, he takes a chance to trade his fate!

That day, Wang Zhong once again stood at the gates of the Tianjing Heroic Soul Academy. He was about to start a brand new life. <<less

Kawamura Hideo, a typical ordinary guy with no job, came to Tokyo searching for jobs. He sent a total of 34 job applications only to fail at the first hurdle (the companies didn’t even ask him for an interview). Feeling rejected he became a hardcore hikikomori and shut the world around him, his parents also won’t send him money since then. When he was starving to death without any money, losing hope and deciding to die, he found a computer on the street (containing Will.CO21 virus) and took it home.... more>>

He found a way to participate in a martial arts tournament “Holy Devil Cup” from that computer. Where the winner could get the power to rule the world, martial artists, soldiers, vampires, Majin – all 3024 participants gather there. Now what Hideo would do to win this mad tournament. . . <<less

The world has advanced to a stage where most of society has been left to human-shaped robots known as hIEs. A 17 years-old youth, Endou... more>> Arato, met with the android Lacia one day and became her owner. Although looking no different from a normal human at one glance, she was actually one of the five Red Box android created by a Super Intelligent AI which boasted of abilities beyond what the world has seen—. The five each have their own will and begin fighting each other to exert them. Between the adults who can do nothing but watch as the fight unfolds, and the youths who have begun to form a new relationship with them. What is it that connects these far too advanced androids and the human world? Just what is important and vital in this age where everything has become convenient and what is the relationship between humans and object, the choice that Arato makes for the future having met Lacia who far surpasses human is—. <<less

One day, Ryota Oshitari found an unfamiliar app installed on his phone.... more>>

On a whim, he played with the status of his classmates.

Then, through a lot of trial and error, he witnessed how the app affected reality.

I began to believe in the power of apps and was willing to try many things.

This is the story of a very ordinary high school student who secretly cultivates a variety of women using apps.

If the strategy is successful, the main character can have s*x with the women as a reward.

Even if you don’t succeed, you can still have s*x with her. <<less

One day, Itou Yuki finds an unfamiliar app installed on his smartphone. Intrigued, he played around with the status of his friend, a woman, in the app.... more>>

Then, after a lot of trial and error, he saw how the app affected reality. He started to believe in the power of the app and decided to try a few things.

- He used it to train the women in his life and make them grow.
- He uses the power of apps in his work to succeed in many ways.

This is the story of a middle-aged man who makes a living by selling p*rn videos and earns money by shooting p*rn videos with women he has developed using apps. <<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

Despite becoming a Hunter, Han Yoo-sung was transmigrated into a strange world with neither magic nor martial arts. But everything changes when a message from... more>> the Gods appears before his despaired eyes… <<less

At a unspecified point in the future, the Earth dies. Then, a genius engineer only known as “Y” manages to revive the Earth using only... more>> gears and clockwork. Thus the world is renamed “Clockwork Planet”, with cities being build inside the planet’s gears. A thousand years later Naoto Miura, a student and lover of machines living in the Kyoto gear, finds a crate has crashed through the roof of his apartment. Inside the crate is a coffin containing the broken body of an automaton. Using his superior sense of hearing, Naoto fixes the automaton, who is named RyuZU Yours*ave, who reveals she has been broken for over 200 years. RyuZU promises complete loyalty to Naoto and the two become close. Later they meet two people trying to find RyuZU: Dr. Marie Bell Breguet, the youngest person to become a “meister”, a group of master engineers; and her bodyguard Vainney Halter. A month after their encounter, all four appear in Akihabara, Tokyo, having now become the world’s most infamous terrorists <<less

One day, poor college computer science undergraduate Lee Yong-Ho goes to Mt.Jiri to have a fresh start for his last semester in college. But he... more>> gets struck by lightning on his way down. He then wakes up in a hospital but realizes that something’s different. He could see words floating in front of his phone. He realizes later that it is program bugs. Follow Yong Ho as he uses his debug window to solve his problems. <<less

In the year 2220, a radiation source in the Pacific Ocean, tens of thousands of times stronger than a nuclear bomb has begun mutating exposed... more>> creatures into horrific monsters thousands of meters long. Mankind’s only hope was nuclear weapons, which only made matters worse. The combination of the natural radiation and nuclear radiation released an incurable and highly infectious virus, turning the 90% of the world’s population into violent zombies in mere weeks.
40 years later, the survivors of this tragedy invented RoboArmor, finally allowing the remnants of humanity to fight back against the mutants who have taken over the world.
When Kong Yuan, a mere garbage collector, stumbles upon a mysterious blue liquid, he becomes a superhuman, with the ability to absorb and generate metal, including weapons! Will his new skills help mankind survive? <<less