In the history of geology, more than 500 million years ago, there was a period of the Paleozoic Era known as the Cambrian Period. This period, being the first period of the Paleozoic Era, does not only have a significant meaning for geological research, but also is the most insane, splendid and mysterious period in paleontological history.... more>>

Before the Cambrian Period, the Earth’s species were relatively monotonous. When the Cambrian Period started, just after millions of years, which is a relatively short period of time in terms of geology, all kind of species on Earth suddenly evolved wildly. Countless of invertebrates, arthropods, mollusks, brachiopods, annelids etc. have appeared on the planet without any warning, greatly enriching the diversity of the Earth’s species. This million years period is known as the “Cambrian Explosion”. And after billions of evolutionary years, the Earth today blooms with diverse lives.

The cause of the Cambrian Explosion is a huge mystery and also the biggest paradox of Darwin’s theory of evolution.

What if… the Cambrian Period is coming back in this era when human civilization has already conquered the entire planet, and the global species will once again evolve wildly, what kind of challenge will this planet encounter? What kind of fate will humans, who are falling from the top of the food chain, face? <<less

One day, I woke up only find out that I’d become a Demon Lord, an individual responsible for protecting a dungeon. The world I’d been spirited away to was one filled with violence. Gigantic monsters wandered through it and competed with each other each and every day for the right to survive. I had no choice but to strengthen my dungeon’s defenses in hopes of living another day—or at least that was what I’d thought. For some odd reason, I instead ended up spending my days in relaxation and bliss.... more>>

This is Yuki’s story, my story. It tells the tale of how I spent my days after settling down in a dungeon with a self indulgent, “supreme” dragon girl and a young vampire. <<less

I found myself inside a simulation game set in a ‘Guideverse’ world. I'm supposed to be a Guide, but I'm an extra who can hide her abilities!... more>>

Since it's come to this, should I try living a sweet life with an attractive and talented Esper who suits my taste?

Just as I was about to go all-in, I discovered a super handsome guy on the brink of a rampage and guided him passionately with a kiss.

Now, all that's left is our hundred-year journey together as he falls for my amazing guiding, right?

...Or so I thought.

As it turns out, I made a mistake and guided the Esper who was none other than the world's most powerful villainous mastermind, the black-hearted master of this universe?

.
.
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"Rose Valentine."

"..."

"I’ve always been certain that I’ll find my Guide."

"..."

"Since you've been hiding so well until now, you deserve some punishment."

"..."

"First, I'll do XX to XX, and then I'll XX you."

"...."

"And after that, I'll XX and XX with you—"

Rose Valentine's relentless struggle to avoid the obsession of the world's most powerful villain was a battle she never expected to face! <<less

The demon Ning Buwei was haughty and arrogant. With the Suzaku Sword drinking blood in the seventeen states. Everyone in the cultivation world was extremely terrified.... more>>

The Chongzheng Alliance of 120 sects lay a siege, but rather than being defeated, he fell into the Endless River and disappeared.

He woke up by the river, his Suzaku Sword shattered, his cultivation lost, and had an infant in his arms that was crying in hunger.

Ning Buwei was born heartless and having no care of the world, he was about to throw it backhandedly, only to find out that this child was connected to his own blood and was truly his own son.

The expression on the face of the great demon cracked.

After narrowly escaping death, the once formidable demon was busy restoring his cultivation, repairing his precious sword, and…anxiously raising his son.

His son was born with a golden core, but why should he cry or pee, and when he gets angry, a small foot can push his father, who has lost all his cultivation, three zhang away.

The demon has had enough of the hard days of feeding rice paste and changing diapers every day all his life. By chance, he saw the mother’s figure in his son’s sea of consciousness – with a long, slim and graceful body as beautiful as a celestial being. Ning Buwei was sure that she must be very good at changing diapers.

Then Ning Buwei, with a changed appearance, carried his son who was wetting the bed every day, entered the sect where the child’s mother was, and sent the child a thousand miles away.

The taoist number one Wu Shi Sect’s Grand Master Uncle, Chu Jun, was in seclusion for five hundred years. As soon as he left, he was blocked at the entrance of the cave.

Ning Buwei held his son and looked at the cold beauty in front of him who had no cultivation except for his beauty, his expression cracked once again.

The child’s mother is a man.

And it seems he doesn’t know how to change diapers at all. (Priority)

Chu Jun looked at the young disciple in front of him, who had low cultivation, orphaned and helpless. Before he could speak, he was stuffed with a fat child in his arms.

“Your son, “Chu Jun said his first sentence in five hundred years.

“No, it’s your son, ” Ning Buwei was resolute in answering.

Later on.

Ning Buwei: This child’s father has nothing but beauty.

Chu Jun: This child’s father is useless except for being able to eat. <<less

Toriyabe Ouka: Second year in high school, male. Average looks. Somewhat popular.... more>>

Hananoki Asuka: Second year in high school, female. Stunning looks. Super popular. Makes dirty jokes if it's to Ouka

The two are next-door neighbours who have been friends since kindergarten.

“Hey, Ouka.”

“Yeah, Asuka?”

“Someone confessed to me today.”

“For real? Who?”

“Noda from the soccer club. The captain.”

“What kind of confession? Was he like, ‘sorry, I was actually the one who hid your shoes’?”

“How did you come up with that? It was a confession of love. He said he liked me.”

“Well if he likes you, wasn’t he just confessing the goodwill he feels towards you, not his love?”

“Stop nitpicking. I want to know what you think. Should I go out with him?”

“Do you like him?”

“Not really, and plus I’ve never even dated a guy before.”

“Then you shouldn’t. I heard he has a bad reputation too.”

“What did you hear about him?”

“… That he’s good looking.”

“And that’s a bad thing?

“Also I heard he’s good at soccer.”

“Now you’re just praising him.”

“…”

“So you don’t want me to date him?”

“… I don’t mind.”

“Okay, then I won’t date him.”

“… No, I just—”

“Boohoo, I wonder when you’ll be able to live without your dear childhood friend.”

“… And I wonder when you’ll stop coming to my room after school.”

“But we both know you’d be lonely without me.”

“Says you.”

… This is a novel made up of flirty conversations between two childhood friends who insist they’re not dating when they’re clearly dating. <<less

The great demon was originally a highly favored divine descendant of the phoenix race in the Nine Heavens who, unfortunately, succumbed to devilry. She has a bad temper and is quite narcissistic, always seeking to find a follower who knows how to flatter her.... more>>

Her maid watches helplessly as she steals a dragon egg back, trembling as she risks her life to speak, “Mistress, even if this egg hatches, it won’t be able to speak. If you want company, you should find someone who can talk.”

The great demon laughs, saying that only those she personally teaches will listen obediently.

The hatched dragon indeed is very obedient, gentle, and fragile, saying whatever she wants it to say. Unfortunately, people from the Heavenly Realm come looking for it. With the long-standing grudges between the heavenly and earthly realms, conflict could erupt at any moment.

A hundred years later, the great demon stares blankly as the dragon woman she had raised descends from the Nine Heavens—no longer meek nor soft, but rather cold as ice.

The dragon woman’s inquiry is like a challenge—

“You don’t recognize me anymore?” <<less

Healers, beings who create miracles with a voice that heals one. Their singing shows heaven, and their screams show hell.... more>>

Yaba (Sejin) and Cocaine (Chaewoo) were kidnapped as children and are forcibly castrated and become singers of the club ‘Paradiso’. There are other singers in ‘Paradiso’, but among them, Cocaine is the only real healer that can heal people with his songs.

Although Yaba hates Cocaine, he gets used to life as a Cocaine’s colleague. Meanwhile, he could not be indifferent to Cha Yiseok, the second son of a conglomerate, who is looking for Cocaine’s songs. He looks like he has everything yet has destitute eyes, so Yaba can’t take his eyes off him.

Perhaps he could perceive Yaba’s heart, one day Cha Yiseok proposes to Yaba to sing a song to his brother, who is battling cancer, while pretending to be a healer… <<less

Today, I am a substitute for your fiancee. Tomorrow, I’ll become your sister-in-law!... more>>

Mu Mingtang is the substitute of the male lead’s first love. After she lost her family, she was adopted by the Jiang family and eventually became engaged to the male lead, the Prince of Jin.

Understanding very well that she was only a substitute, she removed her claws and fangs and turned herself into an imitation of the Prince of Jin’s first love. She couldn’t speak or laugh as she wished, she was prepared to live in the shadow of another woman for her entire life… until one day, the real Miss Jiang returned.

The real Miss Jiang was reborn. When she learned that she was the male lead’s first love, she immediately returned to fight for her engagement and identity.

In order to please his first love, the Prince of Jin gave the substitute to the Prince of Qiyang, who had become a dying madman. She was just a low-quality fake, anyway. If she dared to anger his first love, he would turn her into a childless and powerless widow for the rest of her life.

Mu Mingtang, the target of their mockery, finally snapped: Okay, since you gave me to another man, I’ll make you bow and call me sister-in-law!

However, none of them expected the Prince of Qiyang, the God of War, to actually wake up!

—

Xie Xuanchen is the son of the late emperor. The whole world once trembled beneath his feet, but one day, for a reason unknown to even Xie Xuanchen himself, his nature suddenly changed. He became cruel and bloodthirsty, leaving his father with no choice but to pass the throne to his uncle.

Eventually, Xie Xuanchen was unable to resist the illness and fell into a coma.

When he woke up again, there was a beauty standing before his bed, looking at him in surprise. Then, for the sake of his domineering little princess, he revived his name as the God of War, reclaimed the throne, and united the world.

I once captured the world to satisfy my own ambition. Now, you are the reason for my ambition. <<less

Chen Chao dreamt of becoming a powerful immortal cultivator, flying on his sword and vanquishing enemies with daoist magic. His hopes were dashed when he discovered that he had absolutely no talent for immortal cultivation.... more>>

Refusing to submit to his fate, Chen Chao joined the ranks of countless other talentless martial artists and embarked on the path of martial cultivation, a path scorned by the immortal cultivators.

In this era of strife where martial cultivators, immortal cultivators, and demonic cultivators wrestled for hegemony, Chen Chao will either rise to the top or fall into eternal damnation. <<less

“It is the human heart that generates the infinite light, and it is also the human heart that creates the boundless darkness. The light and the darkness are forever intertwined in an eternal battle. This is the world in which we are attached to sentimentally and helplessly.” ... more>>

-Victor Hugo (Les Miserables)

An investigation. Understand the criminal mind. Exploring feelings.

“Do you know what the hardest part of a person’s life is?”

“It is not the meeting, but the reunion after separation.”

An enchanting and fox-like medical examiner that explodes at the slightest provocation X A young wolf pup, self-disciplined and reserved criminal investigator <<less

“You mean that Prince Yu wants to marry me?”... more>>

“Exactly, young master, Prince Yu wants to marry you!”

“Hell no! Is he out of his mind? Even if woman is a rare species nowadays, as the prince, he could have a chance to marry one. Is it because he got excluded, or maybe he has s*xual impotence, so he could only marry a man?”

“No, Prince Yu is charming, majestic, endowed with civil and martial virtues, and also in perfect health.”

“Then why would he marry me?”

“Maybe because of your reputation out there.”

“Reputation? Am I quite famous?”

“Of course. Young master, you’re far-famed.”

“Really? What did they say about me?”

“They said you are ugly, good-for-nothing, short-lived, a freak, with no morals, and shameless…”

… <<less

Before becoming a widow, Hua Yang disliked almost everything about her husband. She disliked his sullen face every day, disliked him for lying on the bed full of sweat, and even disliked his lack of restraint at certain moments.... more>>

But when he really died and she became a widow, Hua Yang actually began to miss his good qualities one by one, such as his figure walking steadily in the heavy rain carrying her on his back, such as his blazing hot chest in the cold winter.

Once reborn, Hua Yang decided to be nice to him. <<less

In 1668, our city earned the title of "The Safest Place in the Country."
I had a lot to do with that. How?
Because I... more>> was arrested. <<less

When I opened my eyes I had become a princess!... more>>

But out of all characters in this romance novel, why is it the princess who has the fate of dying to her own blood-related dad, the emperor!

If I want to live, I must not be seen by that emperor dad.

“When did this kind of scumbag start living in my castle?”

The man who doesn’t have single drop of blood nor tear to drop, that cold emperor Claude! Will Athanasia who had been caught by the emperor be able to survive?

“I… What do I do…..?” <<less

Jiang Liangchan was transmigrated into a book and to the body of a sweet naive young woman whose family was destined to be a supporting role and a cannon fodder with catastrophic end.... more>>

Her father and brother would cut off the male lead official road. While she on the other hand would be as ruthless as a demon and tried to kill the female lead.

With knowledge of this plot, she frantically followed and helped Cheng Fang and the female lead among to act as a go between in an attempt to make up for their mistakes.

Finally, the story line goes to the magpie bridge, where the female heroine set foot on the bridge, henceforth will entangled with the male protagonist in one’s life and will doted on all her life.

Standing at the foot of the magpie bridge, Jiang Liangchan breathed a sigh of relief and was ready to retire

Chen Fang stared at her and lifted her chin: “This bridge is yours.”

Jiang Liangchan: ?????

I treat you like a brother, but you treat me like your girl instead?

This friendship between the ruthless male protagonist and the vicious female isn’t that simple, right? <<less

Li Rong married Pei Wenxuan at the age of 18.... more>>

Li Rong used Pei Wenxuan’s family background to avoid disaster, and Pei Wenxuan used Li Rong’s identity as Princess to establish himself.

They married for political reasons, without the slightest bit of affection.

Later on, she lost herself in the midst of wine, song and dance. As for him, he had a home yet did not bother coming home because he already had someone in his heart…

Husband and wife for 30 years, yet nothing between them but power.

In the end, it was hardly surprising that someone turned them against each other, leading them to die under each other’s schemes.

However, when they woke up, they had actually returned to the year when they were 18 years old, returning to the most difficult time in their lives.

So Pei Wenxuan went to look for Li Rong.

“Does Your Highness feel that we should go through this marriage again?”

“Let’s do it…”

“Then this humble one must get rid of your ‘Guest Official’ first.”

“Do you think I’ll let your sweetheart off?!”

After a long wordless silence, Pei Wenxuan spoke again: “How about we bear with one another for the time being? In two years, when we each have power in our hands, you and I will divorce. From then on, if there are grievances, settle those grievances, if there are grudges, settle those grudges. What does the Princess think?”

Li Rong hesitated for a moment, and then said: “Fine, go ahead with it first…”

Later, Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong secured the power to control the Imperial Court. Seeing Li Rong write up the divorce letter at home, Pei Wenxuan looked left and right, considering the situation from all angles, then finally walked into the study. “The children are already this old, how about we keep living like this for a while?” <<less

I transmigrated into a novel and became a paralyzed, dark and twisted, yet stunningly beautiful like a celestial being. The key point is, I turned out to be a powerful and impotent guide. The system informed me that if I could successfully navigate through the plot, ensuring crucial plot points and the final outcome remained unchanged, I would be rewarded with a healthy and secure body. I, the MC, believed there wouldn’t be any problems.... more>>

Originally, Male Lead 1 and Male Lead 2 were meant to be a couple. However, right at the beginning, ML 1’s brother, who was supposed to tragically die despite rescue attempts, inexplicably survived. His resurrection forced ML 2 to reluctantly marry him, causing the entire novel to collapse from the start.

MC: …

MC: Then let his brother marry me?

Then the MC realized that the character he wore was the one who killed ML 1’s brother back then.

MC: …

The brother was nothing like the gentle and loyal dog described in the book. Instead, he was a fierce and wild sentinel, biting anyone he could catch.

MC: Maybe it’s better to just remain half-paralyzed.

Brother: Don’t you want to give it a try, just for a challenge? <<less

【When we were in the heat of love you wanted to gift me an island, when we broke up, you made me pass out in anger.... more>>

When you’re in a predicament you folded a paper crane for me: come to my island.

Come to your —— is there really such an island?】

One night, my bed broke through the window and flew out, bringing me to this strange island.

On the island, I reunited with my ex-boyfriend went missing for many years. He turned into a rabbit. A white, soft, plump rabbit, (who) spoke with the low timbre of an adult male, “Save me.” His little head turned, I suspect that he is cursed by someone, and needs a true love kiss to turn him back. But, I’m unexpectedly his true love? When breaking up, he even called me a pig. I smirked, laughing gleefully, “Ha ha, saving this person, no I’ll never save him!

Tr*sh, you also have that day when you fall into my hands!! <<less

Erdene, the heir to the belligerent Hirshstein Empire, the next owner of the throne, the iron-blooded princess. What awaited her, who had returned victorious from a long war, was the position of queen of the Kingdom of Vetor, a kingdom she had never held a grudge against.... more>>

"This cannot be! How can Your Majesty do this to Her Highness the Princess!"

Erdene, who had to accept everything that was changing without her being able to do anything about it, and a life that she had never thought would be her future.

And the king who came to meet her, Arkan, a king who hated 'violence' and loved peace and reading.

The moment Erdene met him, she thought.

'This man is not right for me.'

* * *

"All I had to do was say 'I'm sorry', but you're making it sound like a serious confession, that's why."

"This is ridiculous. So in the Empire, do you just hit someone and say 'Oops, sorry?' and move on?"

"It's the other way around. Do you think our people are some kind of back-alley thugs?"

"Who said that?"

The woman with jet-black hair pulled back roughly frowned her white and fair face and said.

"If you hit us once, we'll hit you back twice. That's how we apologize, Your Majesty."

Then, a man who looked as gentle as a large dog glared and slammed his fist on the table.

"What kind of apology is that! What country calls that an apology?"

"Our country."

The woman sneered.

The man, who had been looking at her with an expression of disbelief, also burst out laughing and turned his head away.

Turning their backs on each other like sulky children, the two people, ironically, were thinking the same thing.

'What the hell is this!' <<less

"Sell yourself to me, Princess. I will buy you for a very high price."... more>>

Sell herself?

Adeline's lips quivered. She couldn’t overlook such insulting words.

"How impudent! Is buying and selling people a norm in this kingdom?"
"Pardon me for being impolite.. When the Duke of Rocher has already put the Princess up for sale, it sounds naive coming from you."

Adeline, a noble Princess descended from two royal bloodlines, and Alexio, a half noble Duke with a commoner mother —a match that seemed impossible.

The whole nation is excited about the marriage of the century that has shaken the kingdom. But little do they know.
That their marriage was riddled with secret deals and contracts.

"I'll give you plenty of time to think about it. It's only natural to go through various verification processes for such a significant transaction..."
"I'll do it."
"...Yes?"
"I agree. To this marriage."

Why did two people who seemed totally mismatched end up joining forces? The real reason behind their marriage, kept under wraps, remained a mystery to everyone. <<less

“I am Lady Glasster, treat me accordingly!”... more>>

Aiden Fitzroy, the illegitimate child of the former emperor bearing the scars of war, and Anje Glasster, forced into an unwanted marriage,

“Now, aren’t you Mrs Fitzroy? Moreover, I’m not spending time with you because I like it.”

A farm surrounded by nature, a quaint rural village, and everything that doesn’t suit her taste. Among them, the worst is Aiden, who treats her like a pest.

“Just wait, I’ll deceive you and escape from this farm!”

But at some point, both his attitude and her feelings begin to change.

****

“So what you’re saying is that you didn’t think I was pretty before, but you do now?”

“Ah……No, even before.”

With an embarrassed voice, Aiden mumbled like he had a thorn in his throat, but eventually, he managed to finish his sentence; though he had to squeeze his words out.

“Even before, I thought you were beautiful.”

“………Sir, your ears are red.”

Everyone thought this marriage marked the downfall of Princess Glasster, but was that really true? Was she really falling? <<less

She just took a nap in the lounge, and when she opened her eyes, She turned out to be a fat rural girl who was illiterate in ancient times.... more>>

Not to mention that this girl likes to eat and slouch, but still acted like a village bully.

No one in the village wanted to marry her. It was not easy to finally buy a rich husband, but on the wedding day, the groom escaped.

In a rage, Her dad went down to the road and kidnapped a husband for her.

It’s just… Dad, isn’t there something wrong with the one you kidnapped?

After marriage, Su Pangya was very busy.

Busy transforming the bully dad and the bully brother.

Busy rescuing the beautiful husband.

Busy raising three little cute bullies.

Accidentally, she was so busy that she became the most powerful female marquis of Dayan! <<less

She enticed the successor to the Duke of Lisianthus.... more>>

He sneakily grabbed my hand.

I sighed and twisted my hand out of his grip. “We can’t do this as friends.”

“Are you ashamed of holding my hand even once, Leen?”

No matter how much I think about what Carsion said, with his face showing ‘I barely held one hand’, it doesn’t seem that way.

“I can do more with you, Leen.”

Those words seemed to ring in my head, but the blue pupils were headed in a different direction – you can’t even look me in the eye. I mean, it’s not convincing to say those kind of words with such a shy face, you punk.

* * * * *

The Duchess took something out from the purse in her arms.

“Do you need money? Then take this money and break up with Carsion; take it without hard feelings.”

I stared silently into the thick pockets that the Duchess gave. Then I tapped my chin and gave her a serious look. “We’re not dating, we’re friends. Do you want me to cut off my friendship with Carsion from today?”

Will the Duchess get up from her seat, trembling and slap my face? Or are you going to spray water on me?

“Pass!”

“Ye-yes?” My face slowly blushed with embarrassment.

What’s with her unexpected reaction?! <<less

Ruan Yesheng was an out-of-date star; while Xi Mo, who had risen to fame within the same period, was now like the Goddess of the people.... more>>

That was the case, until a horrifying attack which happened without warning, occurred at the conference.

You who have admired that one person so greatly, until one day, you became her.

– After a time spent being shocked, Ruan Yesheng was secretly happy for the next three days.

You who would hate that one person so severely, until one day, in which you became her.

– Xi Mo only felt the urge to kill. <<less

In the winter of three years ago, the first locked room mu*der in Japanese history was committed.... more>>

All of the evidence pointed to the defendant. It was certain they were guilty. And yet, they were found innocent and released. Why? Because the crime scene was a perfect locked room no one from the police or the prosecutor's office could solve.

"Since the room was locked, it was impossible for the defendant to have committed the mu*der. It's no different than if they had a perfect alibi." That was the argument of the defense, and that was the argument the judge sided with.

The ruling sent a ripple throughout Japanese society. No matter how suspicious you were or how much evidence you left behind, as long as you managed to create a locked room that no one could solve, you were immune from prosecution. With the common anti-mystery fiction talking point "there's no reason anyone would ever actually commit a locked room mu*der" completely overturned, the rate of locked room mu*ders in Japan skyrocketed.

When the police proved unable to deal with the surge of locked room crime, the Ministry of Justice published an official categorization of all known locked room tricks as an investigative aid. When that proved insufficient, Division Zero of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, a police division dedicated solely to solving locked rooms, was created. When that still proved insufficient, locked room detectives, private investigators specializing in locked rooms, were officially licensed by the state and authorized to participate in police investigations. Calling a locked room appraiser, someone specializing in searching buildings for secret passages, is now a common first step in criminal investigations.

On the other side of the spectrum, locked room agents, assassins and crime planners specializing in locked room mu*ders, have become some of the most notorious criminals in Japanese history, and even a cult worshiping the scenes of locked rooms as a way to purify the souls of the deceased has made rapid inroads into Japan.

The protagonist, Kasumi Kuzushiro, is an introverted, somewhat cynical high school student who loves mysteries. Kasumi often finds himself dragged along on bizarre journeys by his flighty childhood friend, Yozuki Asahina. Due to their staggeringly bad luck, these trips often leave them in the wrong place at the wrong time to be caught up in locked room mysteries. Fortunately, another of Kasumi's childhood friends, Shitsuri Mitsumura, is the greatest locked room expert in the world, and can always discover the truth.

Hm? How did a high school girl become the greatest locked room expert in the world?

It's simple.

She's...

Volume 1 was the grand prize winner of the 2022 This Mystery Is Amazing! awards. <<less