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

Flum Apricot never even wanted to leave her village. She would've been content to live out her entire life there in peace. But unfortunately, after... more>> being prophesied by the God of Creation Origin to join the Hero's party and defeat the Demon Lord, she's known nothing but misery. How is someone with stats of zero like her supposed to be of any use? Her only ability is 'Reversal', and not even she knows what that's supposed to mean. The party's sage, Jean Inteige, is also convinced that she has no right to be there, and he knows just how to get rid of her. Through the depths of despair, when the curse finally 'reverses' itself, what will be left of Flum? And what kind of life will she make for herself? <<less

It was a life without regret. My parents were in good health, and I wasn’t home enough for me to combine my studies and part-time jobs.... more>>

I like fantasy, martial arts, games, fiction movies, cartoons… I’m a normal high school student who likes these things.

That was certainly true until ten years ago.

This is not the earth.

A fantasy world dominated by powerful people. Savage utopia. It is a world where you can take anything with you if you have physical strength. <<less

Born as the Princess of War, touted as the Greatest Mage, her name was Leticiel.... more>>

She lost her family and partner to the neighboring kingdom’s invasion. In order to prevent her power from falling into enemy hands, Leticiel took her own life… or that was what was supposed to happen. Instead, she woke up to see an unfamiliar ceiling.

After gathering information, Leticiel realized she had somehow transmigrated into another person living a thousand years after.

To make things worse, she was a talentless lady who was shunned by her acquaintances, family, and even her fiancee.

There were many issues she wanted to complain about, but when she witnessed the magecraft of the world from a thousand years after… “Magecraft Maniac” Leticiel was livid at its lameness.

“The magecraft level in this world is too looooow!!!”

The tale of an eccentric Royal Highness blasting open her path in life using the strongest magecraft, begins! <<less

Youngul recklessly came down from Seoul to Halla City, believing in the ‘first-come, first-served recruitment’ ad.... more>>

When she arrived, there were strange people with animal ears and wings.

More precisely, there were beasts of different races.

“Han Young-ul, you have passed. Start working right away.”

“Can’t you just let me go? I am just a normal human being.”

“No. You’re not an ordinary human being. Seeing how you could come here.”

“Han Young-ul is a Clear.”

Young-ul, who has lived as an ordinary human until now, is confused by all of this.

But the unbelievable things didn’t end here…

————————

“Han Young-wool needs to learn to stop us from running out of control through physical contact, with actions such as holding his hand.”

“How can you stop a runaway just by holding hands? It may suffice for him, but that is not enough to satisfy me.”

Dokgo snorted and threw up.

“… … yes?”

Young-ul’s adaptation period for the Udang-tang hetero-tribal company where she was caught by a job posting and was forcibly hired by a hetero-tribe management agency.

Will Youngul be able to live with the beasts? <<less

Hyperthymesia. Those with this condition can remember every detail of their lives from something as significant as the world’s turning point to something as small and as insignificant as a minor fleeting thought. They cannot forget and their thirst for knowledge allows them to be considered genius in some senses.... more>>

Legend has it that Ji Yushi was this kind of genius.

In addition, it was said that he was gay and very beautiful.

As soon as the news that he was going to support Tianqiong’s seventh squad broke out, it sent everyone buzzing.

Everyone knew that the captain of the seventh squad, Song Qinglan, was a hoodlum and deeply homophobic.

He not only relied on his super-powerful abilities to become the dark horse on the battlefield in less than two years, but he also hates it when those at the top forced a flower vase* into his squad.

Sure enough, Song Qinglan announced in front of everyone, “Useful? Us brothers are going out there working ourselves to the bone, we don’t need a little genius who can only speedread quantum waves!”

Later.

The squad was forced into a dire situation during their mission.

That beautiful little genius calmly continued, every gunfire hitting the mark, his fighting power peaking.

Song Qinglan begged in front of everyone, “Adviser Ji, stay.”

In the end, he added, “I’ll work myself to the bone for you.”

*****

Ji Yushi had a secret.

He would often be awake at night, suffering from memory overload and recurring nightmares.

There was only one thing that could let him fall asleep peacefully.

And that was Song Qinglan.

*Flower vase: Someone who only looks pretty but can’t amount to much <<less

Suddenly a high school student Subaru Natsuki has been summoned to another world on the way back from the convenience store. With the biggest crisis of his life being summoned to another world and no sign of the one who summoned him things become worse when he is attacked.... more>>

But when he is saved by a mysterious silver-haired girl with a fairy cat, Subaru cooperates with the girl to return the favor. When they finally manage to get a clue Subaru and the girl are attacked and killed by someone.

Subaru then awakens in the place he was summoned and notices the ability he gained “Returns by Death” a helpless boy that only has the ability to rewind time by dying. And beyond the despair can he save the girl from the fate of death! <<less

In the ignorant Middle Ages, where labor laws do not exist, a guard is hustling again today.

After transcending to a new world, Ye Xuan miraculously obtained the Swallowing System.... more>>

Not only could it swallow everything (wink wink nudge nudge), it could also extract bloodlines, martial arts, godly weapons, medicinal pills, treasures…

“This (beer) is way too strong! Don’t challenge me! Do you believe that I can’t swallow your divine swords?” <<less

Naofumi Iwatani, an uncharismatic Otaku who spends his days on games and manga, suddenly finds himself summoned to a parallel universe! He discovers he is one of four heroes equipped with legendary weapons and tasked with saving the world from its prophesied destruction.... more>>

As the Shield Hero, the weakest of the heroes, all is not as it seems. Naofumi is soon alone, penniless, and betrayed. With no one to turn to, and nowhere to run, he is left with only his shield. Now, Naofumi must rise to become the legendary Shield Hero and save the world! <<less

The blue monster is a failed living battle weapon created by an exiled mage. For his selfish needs, the mage took care of the monster without a spare of warm affection. ... more>>

He forces dozens of monster scraps to the monster each day to make the monster stronger causing the monster to be hideous and disgusting that can no longer maintain a human form. However, the monster remains weak and useless leaving the mage to abandon the monster completely.

The blue monster has to learn to survive in this dog eat dog world, until one day, a child appears in the Forest of Monster: Perrin Egloff

It’s not easy for a seven-year-old child to survive in this poisonous forest.

10 years later, the child matures to adulthood and meet the monster once again.

A monster who had come to care for the child, and the child who had come to care for the monster.

Their story began once again. <<less

The Heavenly Demon, Baek Jung-hyuk, woke up as the eldest son of the Dmitry family.... more>>

He was known as the fool of the Dmitry family. He was trampled on by the second son. What people thought of him didn't matter.

The Heavenly Demon. No, Roman Dmitry, cannot live a normal life. <<less

Yoon Chan, an infinite enchanter who failed to prevent the apocalypse. He used the stone of regression, which he had painstakingly enhanced, to return to... more>> the past, but… the regression went wrong. He returned to a year before the cataclysm began <<less

In a place unknown to the protagonists, there was a villain who helped them.... more>>

A second life that I happened to live.

He thought he could live a peaceful and peaceful life, but he became a member of a group of heinous villains.

“How can I live my life after being possessed by a villain?”

A world destined to be destroyed.

In order to continue the life I couldn’t fulfill here, I had to first raise the protagonists who would prevent the destruction of this world.

Zion wants to help the protagonists in a place unknown to them.

With his name and identity hidden, he takes on the body of a villain. <<less

High school student Mikoshiba Ryouma was summoned to a different world for the sake of helping his summoner wage wars. Sensing the malice from the... more>> one who summoned him, he reacted by killing the summoner, one of the most important people in the empire. After the escape, he rescues a pair of twin sisters from the hands of bandits. The sisters who can use magic, swear to serve him as subordinates. Thus, Ryouma begins his journey on the path of the supreme ruler. <<less

“If so, then I will prove to everyone that even someone with black hair can be strong!”... more>>

Redius, born with black hair in a world where magical power could be determined from one’s hair colour. Incompetent just because of the colour of his hair, treated and tormented like a taboo child, got betrayed by some adventurers who he had come to know and was left on the verge of death. He was then saved by an adventurer who would soon become his mentor.

Training under his mentor, participating in the war, getting strong all the while meeting different people, this is the story of a young man’s hardships to change the world’s sense of values. <<less

Fourteen-year-old Niko is treated as a ‘disease’ for being gay in his countryside town, and decides to commit su*cide. But that summer night, he is... more>> saved by the carefree attitude of Sakae, a young boy visiting from a faraway city, and starts acting as the trans character ‘Nicole’ to protect himself from bullying. A few years later, Sakae reappears before Niko as a transfer student. He treats Niko, who had reduced himself to playing the eccentric gay, with honesty and kindness, but doesn’t take Niko’s confession crammed with feelings for his fleeting first love seriously, instead making a request for romantic advice himself… <<less

It was the bond between humans and humanoids that changed the world.
The Non-fiction Novel "No Collar: Part One" won a literary award. What is... more>> the thought behind the Afterword? <<less

My younger sister who used to harass me has changed! ... more>>

“Me? Tied you up? My sister?”

Why, why are you suddenly speaking formally? She can't even remember what she did!

“It would be good for my older sister to participate in the debutante ball this year too.”

You told me not to go even last year…

“How about a cool-looking guy with black hair who doesn’t seem to get a drop of blood even if he gets stabbed? What about a pretty and delicate young man like a puppy in the rain? There are people who are a little inferior to the two in front of them, but there is one person who is really good!”

She even recited the men’s personal information saying she should know my taste.
No, rather, do I look like I'm going to play with a guy now?

“Will you marry me? Annette of Valois.”

“Annette, Annette, I wish you were a parrot. So that I can watch and raise you in a cage.”

Let's play... It looks like we're going to play...

"Ah, but older sister! That guy can't!!!"

It's all good, but sister, can't you at least tell me why you don’t want anyone?

I wondered why she suddenly became kind, but this little sister seemed to have just come out of the boat! There’s a flower boy approaching my younger sister!

Her Majesty the Empress, who is stuck in a strange place and only favors me!

Oh, I don't know. I'd rather go back to the way it was before... <<less

The world is shrouded in radioactive dust, descendants of ancient gods hunt mankind as mutant creatures run rampant all while bizarre existences emerge from unknown depths. ... more>>

The alliance of humanity has long ago fallen apart, suffering, poverty and death nibble away like maggots at the remaining human souls.

Li Mu awakens from the distant past and discovers that he too possesses the power of the ancient gods.

Before him, there are two paths: one is to soar high above the heavens, overlooking the changes of the world among other ancient gods, and the other is to light the forge, strike the hammer of battle and completely change the world. <<less

Su Su was a young shark who had just reached adulthood and often didn't have enough to eat because of his large food intake and poor hunting skills. Hearing that mermaids could be raised by humans, Su Su found the mermaid tribe in the sea and sought a way to become a mermaid.... more>>

The most beautiful little mermaid in the mermaid tribe escaped marriage and was originally promised to the imperial admiral, but he fell in love with a killer whale in the sea.

The little shark became a stand-in for the little mermaid and was packed into a huge fishing boat.

Imperial Admiral Qi Hanyi was forced by the empire to marry a mermaid, and when he returned from the battlefield, he heard that mermaid had been washed and sent to his home.

"No, I won't raise it, send it away immediately."

Qi Hanyi angrily hung up the phone and rushed back home: "Where is the mermaid?"

In the empty dark blue huge fish pond, a two-meter-long shark swung its tail and emerged from the surface of the pool.

He opened his mouth toward Qi Hanyi, showing a row of neatly pointed teeth, waving his fins to greet him cheerfully, and pointed to his mouth.

Then Qi Hanyi heard the shark in front of him stuttering to him in a not-so-skilled human language: "Honey, hungry, hungry, food." <<less

Jaehyun thought that even third-rate movies would be better than his own life.
His father, who brought him into this world at the age of 15, and his siblings who had different mothers.
The times he struggled to escape from that man.
But now, an even more dramatic plot has been added.... more>>

"Accept it, and reflect upon it. Over what's been going on."

The lost memories of the past two years.
To Jaehyun who tries to revive the things that he missed,
The things he couldn't understand...… began to emerge.

'It would be nice if you were really pregnant.'
'It really is a shame to let all of this pass...….’
'What should I do with you?'

It was definitely a voice he knew.
From the eloquent and dignified speech, to that soft, yet deep somber tone...….
It's definitely...

"Long time no see? Has it been two years for you?"
“…….”
“Congratulations on coming back, Seo Jaehyun. Let's start again. Who will win this time?”

Seo Junghyuk, he's returned. <<less

I love you, but I can't be with you. If i can split myself in two, I will be with you.

His name is Chen Yuan.
My name is Xu Ji.... more>>

We are not destined.
There is no sequel to our story. <<less

A man who was once called the world strongest agent ended up becoming a teacher after his retirement to train the new generation of agents. After many years of training his disciples, he is killed at the age of 60 by the ploy of a secret organization and was reincarnated in another world with all his past memories.... more>>

Though he was surprised by the magic and the strange species of that world, he adapted very fast to his condition as a newborn and took advantage of it. He acquired special magic and gained a massive amount of strength thanks to his tight discipline in order to reach his goal: resume his career as a teacher which he left halfway through in his previous life.

This is the story of a man who based on the memories and the experiences of his previous life, became a teacher who travels through the world with his new students. <<less