In 218 BC, near a village in the southeast of the Qin empire, a young man named Han Xin— brilliant, ambitious, and utterly destitute— is... more>> approached by a black-robed stranger who claims to be a divine messenger. On behalf of his god, he offers the youth his sole chance to fulfill his ambitions in return for a seemingly bizarre favor. But as Han Xin sees more of the world in his path to power, he realizes that he’s part of a far larger conspiracy, rooted in ancient myth and living history, and that his bargain could have far greater repercussions than he’d ever imagined. He and his protege may still be able to save the day, but not without enormous personal sacrifice. <<less

Transmigrating to a parallel universe, Ye Xiao's spiritual and martial arts skills were awakened. He became a librarian in the martial arts library and awakened the Golden Book Divine Soul.... more>>

Upon seeing that there were skills to collect divine souls, Ye Xiao cultivated in them. When he maxes out the skill, he can even synthesize them into a higher-level skill.

Seven basic blade skills can be synthesized to the Emperor Level Skill- Blade Dominance

Nine basic sword skills can be synthesized to the Emperor Level Skill- Heaven Cleaving Sword

Ten basic fist strokes can be synthesized to the Emperor Level Skill- Fist of Destruction

Ye Xiao cultivated and grew, upholding the principle of not leaving before he became invincible.

Many years later, the Star Beasts arrived and the human race was threatened. Tens of millions of people found themselves helpless, unable to defeat the beasts.

A sword shot across the sky and he emerged from the gleaming light of the blade.

"Those who threaten humans shall be eliminated!" <<less

Minoru Utsugi, a teenager who was living a peaceful (if boring) life with his sister-in-law, finds his life changed when extraterrestrial contact grants his dearest... more>> wish, leaving him with the power of "The Solitude." But the ability to realize absolute isolation only plunges Minoru into a battle he never wanted to fight. As his old life comes to an end, he steps into a new role—as the "Isolator!" <<less

Between Heaven and Earth there are many secrets, strange and hidden life forms, a mysterious bible, why do they exist in this world? Young Ye... more>> Sheng was born in troubled times, in a world full of demons as he searched to find his own way, and exploring the secrets of the earth! <<less

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei (デジタル・デビル・ストーリー　女神転生, Dejitaru Debiru Sutōrī lit. "Digital Devil Story: Goddess Reincarnation") is the first book in a trilogy of novels written... more>> by Aya Nishitani. It was written in the late 1980s, and is the original source material that would eventually spawn the entire Megami Tensei franchise. The novel was soon adapted in anime form and billed under the same title. <<less

Cui Heng was transmigrated to another world and the system told him that the new world he was in was a high-grade Xianxia world.... more>>

It was a world where Celestial Kings soared the sky and terrifying monsters ruled the lands. The strong would destroy a planet if their mood was bad and Cui Heng trembled in fear when he learned of how scary the new world was.

Thankfully, the system had granted him the protection that last for 300 years. As long as he remained in the safety zone, he would not receive any damage.

With his safety secured, he began his cultivation training for the next 300 years.

Throughout the years as he trained, some people entered his safety zone by mistake.

There was a peasant who was once a monk and a beggar. Despite that, he still had the dream of bringing peace to the land and saving the lives of millions.

There was a noble who was once called the once-in-a-million-year genius. Yet, luck wasn’t at his side and his talent fell and was laughed at by others for years.

There was a princess whose only wish was to find her older brother. She could’ve become a celestial but decided to remain in the human realm to wait for her brother’s return.

There was a weak lady who was plagued with illness from birth but had the goal of adventuring and helping the poor and weak.

…

Cui Heng befriended these people and even gave them a few pointers before they left.

300 years later, when the protection period had ended, he had finally mastered the Golden Core. Even then, he was still reluctant to go to the outside world.

But when he did, he realized that the world was merely a world of Wuxia. <<less

One should never pick up things that are lying on the road carelessly. This is the story of wandering through another world, all triggered by... more>> picking up a single gold coin on the roadside. <<less

Foolish children are the cutest, aren’t they?... more>>

My name is Ren Saionji. I am the eldest son of the Saionji family, one of the four great noble families.

One day, when my father introduced me to my stepmother and my half-sister, Kikka, I suddenly remembered that this was the world of the hit light novel from my previous life, “The Bride of Shirayuri.”

If things continue as they are, our family will fall into ruin because of my villainous sister, Kikka Saionji. To prevent this, I decided to give her proper and healthy education to grow her into a pure, righteous, and beautiful young lady!

This is the story of me, who thought, “Isn’t this just a mob reincarnation?!” I, an ordinary guy in my previous life, even ended up summoning the strongest guardian beast, the White Tiger. With the power of Inou, I became the strongest of my time. While shouldering the expectations of those around me, I dedicated myself to educating my sister to avoid ruin. As a result, I ended up creating a noble young lady who is overly obsessed with her big brother to a slightly concerning degree. <<less

Kusumi Chiharu gets a message one day that he has been selected as a Monster Tamer, and he is prompted to select his first partner. He thinks little of the message until he receives a giant package the following day. He assumes it's the p*rn books he ordered, but the huge box ends up containing the unconscious body of a near-naked girl! She's a ghoul named Zonmi, who intends to fight beside him as his partner.... more>>

However, it turns out that other hot girls at his mostly-male high school are also magical entities, and Zonmi may not be the only one who wants to fight by his side! <<less

In the midst of an explosion of the X Psychiatric Hospital, Yun Zhonghe, the hospital director traveled back in time. 29 genius mental health patients'... more>> souls entered his brain, equipping him with 29 peculiar abilities. He joined the imperial intelligence agency and went undercover in the enemy state. Years have passed, if I don't resume my original identity, I would soon become the emperor of the enemy state! <<less

In the era of Beast Taming, Ye Xuan with his superior Beast Editor, claims that he can turn even a snake into a Divine Dragon that soars across the nine heavens. ... more>>

Hence, the little monkey he tamed became a Deific Ape.

The little birds he raised became a ginormous roc. <<less

Maria Lunalady Blackhazel is a beautiful genius with heterochromatic eyes. Oh, that and she’s also the leader of a ruthless, multinational private military company that brings forth chaos and destruction. Known as the “Princess of Pure Darkness” around the world, she’s the subject of many people’s admiration, hatred and fear. But to the main character Siyoung, he’s an irrelevant person living in a completely different world. That is, until one day she suddenly shows up and kisses him.... more>>

“I wanted to see you, Onii-sama…”

And just like that, Siyoung was given the world’s greatest little sister. <<less

Once, during middle school, Sou had confessed to his childhood friend Rio, only to be swiftly rejected. Several years later, out of the blue, Sou was informed by his mother that Rio had become pregnant. Rio's pregnancy led her to become reclusive, and Sou was unexpectedly asked by his mother to persuade her to come out of seclusion.... more>>

The next day, as Sou debated whether to meet Rio, his best friend Haruaki expressed a desire to speak with him alone. After finding themselves alone on the school rooftop, Haruaki revealed one shocking revelation after another to Sou... <<less

Lin Jiufeng transmigrates to become the Yuhua God Dynasty’s Crown Prince but is dethroned, banished to the Cold Palace, and imprisoned there because he had... more>> released the holy maiden of their rival country.
Lin Jiufeng isn't dejected. He has brought a sign-in system with him when he transmigrated and he would receive rewards when he signs in at different places.
Before the Cold Palace’s gates, he signs in and receives the Ultimate Heaven Slashing Sword Skill!
In the Great Council Hall, he signs in and receives the Heaven Patching Technique!
In the Empress Dowager’s palace, he signs in and receives the God of War Totem!
…
Liu Jiufeng imagines that he can quietly sign in like this until he becomes invincible. Yet who would have imagined that the Heavenly Concubine whom he secretly released would rise in rebellion and seize power after she returns to her country?
After she succeeds, her first priority is to attack the Yuhua God Dynasty to rescue Lin Jiufeng.
When Liu Jiufeng hears of this news, he's puzzled. “Do I need you to rescue me?” <<less

A lecherous army special task force soldier from 21st-century Hong Kong is selected to travel back in time, choosing to go to the Chinese Warring... more>> States Period. Unfortunately, the time machine runs into an error during the experiment. With no foreseeable way to return to the present, he must use his combat skills and knowledge of history to thrive in his new life in the year 251 BC. <<less

“Don’t judge me by my appearance, no matter what you say I’m still a P.E. teacher!”... more>>

The youth who came out from the deep mountains became a P.E. teacher in the period of the great collision between the eastern accel world and western special abilities. What kind of surprise will he bring to us?

In the fictional city the opportunity lies with the ghost: The Nine Accels of Guigu, changing the world!

Vampire, werewolf, red-haired banshee: “Why are your accel skills so strange?”

Students: “Our P.E. teacher taught us!!!” <<less

In the post-apocalyptic age, men were damned.... more>>

On a fateful day, one ordinary man found a black mystical crystal in a mine.
The crystal gave him the opportunity to change his life forever.

Could he escape from his predetermined fate and create a destiny for himself? <<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

Alice mare is a book by △○□× (Miwashiba), a novelization of their Wolf RPG Editor game of the same title. For the uninitiated, Alice mare... more>> is about a group of children who are taken into the care of a kind teacher, but one night end up in a strange World. <<less

In the spring of 1998, Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to Yomiyama North Middle School. In class, he develops a sense of unease as he notices that... more>> the people around him act like they’re walking on eggshells, and students and teachers alike seem frightened. As a chain of horrific deaths begin to unfold around him, he comes to discover that he has been placed in the cursed Class 3 in which the student body head count is always one more than expected. Class 3 is haunted by a vengeful spirit responsible for gruesome deaths in an effort to satisfy its spite. To stop the vicious cycle gripping his new school, Kouichi decides to get to the bottom of the curse, but is he prepared for the horror that lies ahead…? <<less

A semi-serious school action story revolving around the main protagonist, Tomoharu Natsume. He is haunted by his childhood friend, Misao Minakami, who became a ghost... more>> ever since he barely survived an airplane accident three years earlier. Tomoharu Natsume takes the opportunity to live on his own when he enters high school in his new place of residence, Meiou-tei, and starts enjoying a carefree high school life. His life changed when a beautiful girl named Kurosaki Shuri appears with a trunk which she claimed Tomoharu's brother, Naotaka Natsume, asked her to deliver to him. The presence of the trunk causes the appearance of Takatsuki Kanade, a girl dressed like a shrine maiden who is after the trunk. Tomoharu is in possession of the trunk, which reveals secrets about the world they live in. <<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

Hasegawa Kodaka has transferred schools, and he’s having a hard time making friends. It doesn’t help that his blond hair tends to make people think he’s a delinquent. One day, he runs into his bad-tempered solitary classmate Yozora while she’s talking animatedly to her imaginary friend Tomo. Realizing that neither of them have any actual friends, they decide that the best way to alter this situation is to form a club and start recruiting.... more>>

That is how “Rinjinbu” was formed, a club specifically designed for people who don’t have very many friends. As other lonely classmates slowly join their little club, they’ll try to learn how to build friendships through cooking together, playing games, and other group activities. But will this group of relationship-challenged misfits really be able to get along? <<less

Liola—the best assassin in his world—has vowed to kill no more. He was being chased by an assassination organization when he accidentally dropped into a parallel universe: through a dimensional gate and into poor teenager Kaiser's apartment. Instead of going to the government shelter for lost dimensional travelers, Liola and Kaiser wind up going to school together.... more>>

Liola has been trying his best to live the life of an ordinary person, but after certain things happen one after the other, he begins to realize that being an ordinary person could be harder than being an assassin. <<less

Empires rise and fall on the Yulan Continent. Saints, immortal beings of unimaginable power, battle using spells and swords, leaving swathes of destruction in their wake. Magical beasts rule the mountains, where the brave – or the foolish – go to test their strength. Even the mighty can fall, feasted on by those stronger. The strong live like royalty; the weak strive to survive another day.... more>>

This is the world which Linley is born into. Raised in the small town of Wushan, Linley is a scion of the Baruch clan, the clan of the once-legendary Dragonblood Warriors. Their fame once shook the world, but the clan is now so decrepit that even the heirlooms of the clan have been sold off. Tasked with reclaiming the lost glory of his clan, Linley will go through countless trials and tribulations, making powerful friends but also deadly enemies.

Come witness a new legend in the making. The legend of Linley Baruch! <<less