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

In the end, an accident happens, and a wisp of fragrant soul from another world awakens inside this body. The strongest female immortal, Lin Rui, looks at herself in the mirror, repulsed by the thick, smoky makeup on her face, and her colorful hair. She purses her lips and thinks to herself, ’This… What on earth is this?!’ ... more>>

"Mr. Yun, the cables attached to the diva Lin Rui's body are broken, she’s left suspending on the only one that’s still intact!”

"It's okay," Yun Ze says in a proud tone.

"Mr. Yun, Diva Lin Rui went to the primeval forest to participate in a reality show, and brought a bunch of beasts back with her!”

"Let her be," Yun Ze says indulgently.

"Mr. Yun, Diva Lin Rui's scandal is on the hot search, rumor has it that she is with a mysterious man… Huh? Where did Mr. Yun go?" <<less

All three types of intrinsic genders emit a hormonal scent (pheromone), with alpha and omega being stronger and beta being almost indistinguishable. Pheromone not only plays a role in reproductive matching, but also the basis for identification between different genders and classes.... more>>

Alpha’s pheromone is musk, while omega is similar to beaver. They are all animal aromas. Beta is distributed as an object and is very uncommon.

Alpha has a clear possessive appetite for the spouse, the most obvious being the “marking” behavior. The mark is completed by “knot”, and within one month after the knot, the spouse is marked by the alpha pheromone.

The pheromones of Alpha and Omega are attracted to each other, but this does not mean that there is no room for choice between them. In general, Alpha’s ability to resist pheromones is stronger than Omega; the better the quality of Alpha and Omega, the stronger the ability to resist pheromone temptation.

Omega men and women have estrus, and the length is about three days. Estrus interval, female omega for one month, male omega for three months. During estrus, male omega cannot eat and excrete normally.

Population screening is a kind of pregnancy <<less

The once wealthy and powerful Ryuuzen clan has been all but destroyed. Their misfortune began in 1960, when a majority of the family was wiped out when their vacation villa was buried under a landslide. However, search and rescue teams discovered something even more shocking: A majority of the bodies they discovered showed obvious signs of having been mu*dered before the landslide.... more>>

As though it were a trigger, what came to be known as "The Curse of the Ryuuzen Clan" spread throughout the descendants of the family's only survivor. By mu*der, by su*cide, by accident... it seemed none who held the name "Ryuuzen" could live to see the age of 35, and now, the family has been reduced to a single woman, lying in a hospital bed, days away from death.

Kamo Touma was once just another of the endless parade of sleazy tabloid journalists looking to exploit a prominent family's tragedy to sell magazines, but Ryuuzen Rena's kindness melted his frozen heart, driving him to quit his old job and become an investigative journalist specializing in overturning cases of false arrest. Eventually, he and Rena were married, but now, the curse threatens to steal away their happiness.

Kamo prays for a miracle, and his prayers are answered by the Hourglass of Miracles, an artifact spoken of in rumors and urban legends, said to grant one wish to anyone who obtains it.

"Meister Hora", a guide for those who obtain the hourglass, tells Kamo there is only one way to break the curse and save Rena: He must travel back in time to the year 1960 and catch the culprit of the original Ryuuzen Family massacre.

Who was the culprit of the mu*ders that took place almost 60 years ago? Why did they steal away the lives of the Ryuuzen clan? What is the true nature of the "Curse of the Ryuuzen Clan?" And perhaps most mysteriously of all... What is Meister Hora's goal in all this?

Winner of the 29th annual Ayukawa Tetsuya Award. <<less

The man who must be killed. ... more>>

The woman with suspicious intentions.

❄❄❄

“I missed you.

To the point where I was desperate enough to find you and kill you with my own hands. Even though you tried to take my life, I couldn’t forget you. I was ready to sacrifice myself to find you. At least then I could see your face while I’m dying in your arms. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to lose you.

Because I… I love you.”

❄❄❄

Myung, a patriotic spy vowing to avenge the death of her beloved brother, approaches Ryuta Ichikawa as the only daughter of a wealthy Japanese businessman. Before luring Takahiro Ichikawa and his son (Ryuta) to death, Myung must seduce Ryuta in order to obtain information for the patriots. Despite her clumsy and blantant approaches, Ryuta starts to develop a profound interest towards the woman. <<less

Aki Konishi, a normal office worker, is suddenly transported to another world after her sister is kidnapped by the Demon King. There, she encounters a... more>> handsome hero, a charming mage, and a beautiful young priest. As Aki gets involved in the battle between the hero and the Dark Lord, her ordinary life takes an unexpected turn. <<less

It's the year 2222 in Japan, and while it feels like the near future, civilization hasn't quite progressed as much as people hoped - or perhaps it has, depending on how you look at it. Rai Mei Itsukushima, the protagonist of our story, is a self-proclaimed IT geek with no particular outstanding qualities or a significant other. He's earned the moniker "Mr. Middle-aged" without any real accomplishments to his name.... more>>

However, in this era, he becomes involved in the development of a dreamlike experience and deduction game that uses VR technology called "mu*der Mystery VR" (abbreviated as 'MMVR'). By manipulating brainwaves, it creates a virtual reality within a dreamlike state.

The game is set on the spaceship "Heliopolis" during an interstellar voyage, where a mu*der occurs. Players take on the role of one of the characters and must witness the outcome of the event.

'MMVR' has garnered high praise and has shown no glitches, and its official release seemed imminent. However, just before the launch, Rai Mei receives feedback that his son, who participated as a test player, is behaving strangely.

Although the headquarters does not seem to take much notice of a single vague comment, Rai Mei can't help but be concerned. He decides to join 'MMVR' as a player in the beta version during its trial run.

"I'm too old for this," Rai thinks. <<less

The King fell. The Princess was beheaded.... more>>

In the turbulent aftermath of the war, a political vortex swept through the court of Echiria.

Solenia Radelyon, once a humble and obscure supporting actress, was accused of being a traitor and reduced to being a sl*ve to Blayden Rehart, the commander-in-chief of the cavalry.

Amidst the chaos of the time, the future remained shrouded in uncertainty.

The harder the two people tried to distance themselves from each other, the tighter their fates seemed to weave together.

To survive, they must work together, not knowing if the other is an enemy or an ally.

***

“Even if you are kind, I will not call you master.”

“You’ve already called me that.”

“I will never call you again.”

“It does not matter. Whatever you think of me, whatever you call me… .”

Blayden stretched out his arm. A warm, moist hand cupped her cheek, his touch gentle with a hint of tenderness.

“Solenia Radelyon.”

His icy blue eyes darkened, and he whispered, drawing her breathless face nearer.

“You are mine.”

*This work is the second work in the ‘Rehart Series’. <<less

"Just you wait. I'll become a nightmare and visit your nights."... more>>

The empire’s margrave, the Valiant Brown Lion, the owner of the famed sword, Ascaron.
And the lord of the territory, ‘Genevu’, located at the empire’s borders and in the Atlas Mountains, which touched the skies.

‘Marquis Balt Haustein Friedrich Morenheitz.’

In order to save the lives of a woman and two children he had never seen before, he had to cut the legs of his beloved horse and pierced a sword into its throat.

"Bring the children's father. I will hold him accountable for the price of the horse's life."
"I don’t have a husband."

Blue eyes, resembling the still spring waters of the deep mountains, stared back at Balt.

"If there's anything I can do to repay you with a woman's body… I'll do it."
"Anything?"

Filled only with confusion and instinctual desire, Balt embraces Claire, a widow and a mother of three.

But that night, he realises that he is her first man.

"Why did you lie to me? Explain yourself immediately."
"Just leave me alone. Because there isn’t anything I want."
"What are you actually afraid of?"

The east wind, carrying the cold air of Atlas, blew through Genevu as spring arrived.

"Am I unable to make you the Marchioness? Or perhaps, I’ll actually make it happen?"

An icy, blue-eyed woman, whom he was unable to abandon, and unwilling to forsake. Before these two, an unfathomable and cruel fate unfolds. <<less

"It feels like I’m still dreaming."... more>>

Go-yeo laughed at the uncharacteristic comment.
Anyway, she was grateful to be with him today.
Just the thought of how she would have spent that long time alone at home made her shudder.

Just being with Yoon Ga-eul was good enough.
That was why.

"Don't like me."

Including this statement, everything felt perfect in this moment.
The atmosphere of the day, Yoon Ga-eul's warmth, Yoon Ga-eul's scent. 
Everything is memorable enough to last a long time. <<less

You need to become an [Influencer].
Are you ready to start?... more>>

Envious of the glamorous lives of influencers, I started my own YouTube channel.
But the reality is... 513 subscribers.

I lived the life of an unemployed icon until one day I fell into the Han River and woke up to find myself...

[Skill: Quick Shot of Life (D)]
[Skill: (Not) Sorry (B)]

I thought it was the [You Need to Be an Influencer] skill.

***

Three years after moving to Apgujeong due to her father's business success, she was living a life of luxury.
The sudden failure of his business left us penniless.
Suddenly, the past returns and a strange status window appears in front of her.

Luxury bags, department store VIP lounges, exotic cars, fine dining.
YouTuber, influencer, and fellow alumna Ha Jein has it all.

[Reveal the dressing room, ranging from plain luxury bags to limited editions] 20:38
[ENG/DM Mom's Favorite Diamond Accessories] 15:46
-You have the best face. Just take a picture of your face and show it to me for an hour, please~
- Born with a view of the Han River, a golden spoon, and harmonious parents... I wonder what it's like to live like that.

I used to secretly look at Instagram every time with a mixture of superiority and envy. Now, bye-bye...
Now I'll do it too. The Golden Spoon Influencer.

***

"But why are you being so nice to me?"
" Well, because I wanted to~"

He smiles, then slowly walks over to her and gives her a shoulder to lean on.

"Because you asked me to... so I'll do anything."
"That's okay, let's start with something easier."

And the man who said he wanted to be by my side for a long time.

Will I do well in high school again? <<less

She was set up by her husband and sent to the bed of her immediate superior, Fang Yin. He was a powerful figure in H City and the CEO of an international corporation. His methods were ruthless and cold-blooded. ... more>>

Fang Yin pressed down on her body, the ice-cold sensation was breathtaking. "Yu Moxin, you should pay the price for rejecting me!"

From that moment on, her family was ruined! The position of a mistress! Yu Moxin coldly looked at the handsome man in front of her. "Fang Yin, you destroyed my family. I hate you!"

"Since we can't love each other, I'll make you hate me to the bone!" <<less

Merdy knew that Clifton didn’t love her. Before it was too late, she tried to end the marriage that would only leave her with a scar.... more>>

However, everything changed the moment she asked for a breakup.

“If anyone else touches you, whoever it is, they’ll die.”

The more Merdy tried to escape, the deeper Clifton clung. Each time, Merdy’s tears dried up gradually, and Clifton smiled bitterly.

“Enjoy it, Merdy. You’ll have to endure this every day now, so you might as well enjoy it a little less painfully.”

So Merdy decided to leave him. Even if it meant her being torn apart to shreds, until nothing remained. <<less

“If Noel kisses me, he can become an adult for a day.”... more>>

Secretary Noel’s growth period had stopped with having a young boy’s appearance.

Only Erina’s kiss can make him an adult.

“I am a successor unable to speak to others. Unfortunately I’m not joking.”

Erina is the only child of a head merchant, but her voice does not come out in front of people.

Since childhood, only Noel could hear her voice.

Getting in between them, another being appears, able to hear Erina’s voice.

– I thought we were the only ones for each other.

Unknown feelings rise within Noel’s heart.

However, Erina is an impossible match for Noel as he's a secretary of unknown origin.

Erina is on a journey to become the head merchant.

At the end of this journey, can the two be the only ones for each other again? <<less

A youthful beauty in exquisite brocade,... more>>

Under a man who reigns over tens of thousands.

A young man loses his backing,

Brothers fight against each other,

And a father and son that dread one another;

The courtier betrays his ruler.

Under such a rule, what branch can one even rely upon?

Amidst the sorrow of parting, what feeling can thee even trust?

Meeting you was not something I wished for.

But now that we met, I plead you to lighten up thy lamp,

Let its illuminating light,

Light up this beautiful hell for me.

Maybe then, I can climb Nanshan hand in hand with you in the late spring.

Let us witness the meadow, on which the orioles fly, and

hear the cries of cranes,

Watching them leap over the lake like broken shards of glass,

Flapping their wings

Before journeying to the clear open

Blue sky.

In the autumn of the first year of Jingning, Gu A-Bao, a washermaid of the laundry house in the crown prince’s residence had finally succeeded in getting the attention of Crown Prince Xiao Dingquan after months of planning and patiently waiting. After many struggles, at last, the crown prince opened up to A-Bao. The two promised each other to go to Nanshan in late spring and listen to the cranes together. However, soon, a rather unfathomable, and shrewd, Prince of Zhao suddenly emerged in politics. Using Xu Changping’s past, the Prince of Zhao aims to bring down the crown prince who was plotting to usurp the throne. With the intention to help the crown prince, the Prince of Zhao was reported with a false letter by A-Bao at the very last moment. As the end approaches, the two are yet again confronted with a choice. Will they be together? Or perhaps… <<less

Sehwa turned his head away as if he didn’t want to deal with them. It was an obvious provocation, an everyday occurrence, but just because he was used to it didn’t mean he didn’t care how they treated him. He knew they were doing it because they want to see him lose his temper, and he didn’t want to be swayed by their provocation, so he just let it slide.... more>>

Sakura, Hongdan-i, and sometimes Samwol-i…

He’d told them hundreds of times not to call him by that nickname, but no one listened to the words of a mere creditor, petty hustler, or drug dealer. Still, Sehwa spoke tirelessly every time.​

My name is neither Sakura, nor Hongdan, nor Samwol.

Sehwa,
My name is Lee Sehwa. <<less

Elloise Morra, the noble lady of a fallen noble family, was trying to live diligently. One day, she was offered a secret job.... more>>

She was asked to read the love letters of a confirmed bachelor duke.

She accepted the offer, thinking that she only needed to read the love letters, but what is this?

She was strangled and accused of being a spy. Dealing with the crown prince and princess and being involved in the affairs of the kingdom.

Suddenly, she found herself dealing with the scrutiny of a crown prince from another kingdom.

“Sometimes I imagine. How happy it would be if I could breathe in the same space as Duke Kallen?”

“Just a moment.”

At Kallen’s words, El turned toward him.

‘Surely I didn’t just say something he can’t understand, right? It’s just one line… No, it can’t be… ‘

As she shook her head, looking at Kallen with wide eyes, he furrowed his brow slightly.

“I didn’t quite understand that passage you just said.”

“Where? I just read, ‘How happy it would be if I could breathe in the same space as Duke Kallen,’ just one line, right?”

“Right there. Breathing in the same space, what’s that supposed to mean? Isn’t breathing something we always do?”

El was momentarily at a loss for words.

Taking an hour for one letter… Do I have to continue this work? <<less

Stendhal Syndrome: A condition in which a person who sees a great work of art feels intensely excited or dizzy due to shock and emotion.... more>>

Cedric Schulak suffers from impotence from childhood trauma.

He attends an academy exhibition for a sponsorship event and experiences the so-called ‘Stendhal’s syndrome’, which causes s*xual urges.

Cedric, who is helpless by a beautiful painting, adopts ‘Rosalia’, the owner of the painting, as his ward.

“Baby, why are you so wary of me? “

* * *

“I don’t know why Duke supports me.”

Roselia did not stare at him even as she spoke to him. Only Cedric’s one-sided gaze continued.

She said briefly, opening and closing her lips repeatedly for a long time to see if there was something more she wanted to say.

Cedric drank fragrant tea and waited patiently for her words.

“What do you want from me?”

What do you want? The question was a bit vague.

For a moment, Cedric felt that the subject of the question had been reversed.

It’s not that he wants something from Roselia, it’s that Roselia wants something from him.

Either way, she’s in a position to be sponsored by Cedric.

“I just liked your work, and it was you who drew it that caught my eye.”

Despite his explanation, her crimson eyes were still full of suspicion.

Cedric laughed a little embarrassedly.

Dealing with a child who is six years younger than him, even a woman, was more difficult than he thought. <<less

He was once an officer in command of the king's army and a war hero who led his people to victory in the War of the Roses, a knight and gentleman of noble birth of Valdemaera.... more>>

Until she caused him to go blind.

The man grew cranky and unruly, and shut himself away in a remote villa. The people called it the Mansion of the Beast. Late at night, she knocked on the mansion's door.

*

"Do you know who broke my eyes?"
"......."
"A maid just like you."

A hand cupped her cheek, then passed over her chin and grabbed her neck. She coughed raggedly as her breathing was squeezed out.

"Do you even know how she broke them?"
"......."
"She poured poison into my eyes."

The pressure pressing down on her hand was heavy.

This is the weight of my sins. Even if I spend the rest of my life helping him, I will never be able to erase this karma.

*

"Meeting you is the greatest luck of my life," the man whispered.

"Next time, we'll both walk this path with our eyes open."

Next time....... She pursed her lips and tried to pronounce it.

Will there be a next for us? <<less

Mariella is a maid who dreams of rising through the ranks by becoming the mistress of a nobleman.... more>>

She is convinced that a blind man she meets by chance is a noble,

and she takes great care of him, pretending to be Lady Marianne.

One day, the man disappears, leaving a proposal for marriage.

Unaware of Mariella’s true identity, he sends a proposal to the Riedenburg family.

Mariella worries that her identity will be discovered.

A disorientated Lady Marianne offers to marry him off in her place…

—

“I’ll go.”

“What?”

Mariella repeated, unable to understand.

“I’ll marry into the royal family. For you, in person.”

“…”

The young woman said, sounding eager.

A hint of amus**ent in her eyes behind her gentle expression.

Mariella knew what Marianne was thinking.

She was jumping for joy at the opportunity.

The chance to be the heroine of the popular novel she always carried with her. <<less

Set in early-20th century China, this story takes off in the port city of Tientsin (Tianjin) that is divided into lands called concessions and owned... more>> by several foreign powers. Shen Liangsheng is a charismatic and cunning playboy, a son of a rich businessman, who has profits as his top priority. He meets Ch'in Ching, an average school teacher who appears mild but actually holds a patriotic heart for his home. The two cross paths and sparks fly. But will their love hold strong through the imminent forces that will tear the country apart...? <<less

When Qing Shi Jiu got up, Ling Shan Jun had already left; half of the bed was ice-cold. He curled up around the blanket, took up the entire bed, closed his eyes and continued to sleep. ... more>>

Until he was woken up by a person made of clay.

The rain outside became much smaller, Qing Shi Jiu ate a few bites of food super slowly, and from the headboard took out Ling Shan Jun’s book of travel notes to read.

The clay children followed close behind and cried out: “Madam has not finished eating.”

Qing Shi Jiu did not acknowledge them: “I’m full.” <<less

Couven Wyeth was an artist despised by many because he was an alpha. At the duke’s residence, where he was asked to paint a portrait, he met the extraordinary ducal lady, ‘Vessia Quixote’.... more>>

“…You there. You’re an alpha?”
“Yes, I’m an alpha.”

Couven’s life was ordinary and run-of-the-mill. Even the persecution he received as an alpha was nothing special.

“I see…”

That was, until he met Vessia.
The noble lady acted as though she hadn’t heard what the artist just said.

‘Really, is this alright?’

It was because of her that Couven’s life turned completely and thoroughly upside-down. <<less

Second son of the Duke of Devonport and first-ranked in the Royal Academy of Acansis. And second to none, the Academy’s official scum of the earth.... more>>

A man who is proof of an unfair world. A man so unlike her who struggles to escape her tr*shy family. Tilia Ambrose hates Ilex Davenport.

But who would have thought she’d end up in bed with the notorious scumbag? <<less