“In the village where I lived, there’s a saying that the tears of a white crow are a panacea.”... more>>

To cure her father’s illness, Yeohwa headed to Yeongmyosan (山君), the mountain of death.

What awaited her there was the betrayal of her family and the brink of death.

The mountain god, Baekoh, discovers Yeohwa dying, trapped in a pit.

“You’ve brought back something strange.”

“I couldn’t leave her in the god’s land.”

“But what are you supposed to do bringing back a corpse?”

“Seeing as she isn't dead, I think she has a connection with us.”

Baekoh's gaze glanced over the limp female body.

“Fine. Whether it's a good connection or a bad one, we’ll see.”

He took the hand of the woman burning with fever.

In that instant, the woman's heat began to absorb his coldness.

It was a moment of freedom from the chill that had plagued him his entire life.

‘This is like an offering just for me.’

Baekoh grasped the small hand, a dangerously alluring smile on his face. <<less

When humans die and cross the Samdocheon (River of the Dead), they are divided into three categories: ... more>>

1. Ordinary souls who reach the Three Envoys to have their lives judged.

2. Those selected to become reserve warriors under the command of the current warrior commander, Cha Min-hyeok. However, to qualify, they must have been registered as an orthodox exorcist with the association during their lifetime.

3. Those with the potential to become strategists, envoys, or, in rare cases, warriors if their exceptional martial prowess is recognized. These are the elite members of the Underworld, starting at the rank of envoy.

The third category comes with extremely stringent conditions, making it so rare that, by mortal standards, no suitable candidate for the envoy rank had been found in 10 years—or over 100 years by Underworld standards.

Then, one day:

“We found one.”

The commander of the envoys, flipping through the Book of Life and Death (생사부, Saengsabu), finally identifies a candidate for the envoy rank.

Selected by the discerning eyes of the envoy commander, the candidate is none other than the rising star Ryu Do-won.

Appearance: Pass. Character: Pass.

Now, all that remains is the “pre-processing” task of ensuring that no malevolent entities cling to the candidate until they cross the Deathline (사선, Saseon) and reach the Underworld.

“Ryu Do-won, was it?”

Cha Min-hyeok, the warrior commander unmatched in swordsmanship, gestures with his chin toward the list of deceased souls spread out on the table and stands up.

“Whether it’s pre-processing or post-processing, I’ll handle it. You just make sure his death date doesn’t get messed up.”

Tucking the cigarette from his mouth behind his ear, Cha Min-hyeok’s body spins gracefully. <<less

Nakryeong, a leopard spirit confined to Mount Jaha as punishment for killing a god, lives stained with twisted possessiveness and obsession. Before him appears Yoo Sawol, a young sorceress fleeing from the gods.... more>>

Nakryeong offers to hide Sawol from the gods in exchange for one condition: ‘Never leave Mount Jaha again.’

However, Sawol secretly grows her power and plans her escape to avenge her family, who were massacred by the gods…

“Don’t forget, you belong to me. Every breath that enters and leaves your body, even every shadow you cast, belongs to me.”

Love blooms amid deception and pursuit, escape and chase. Will love’s end be destruction or salvation? <<less

“半七捕物帳” (Hanshichi Torimonocho) is a classic Japanese period detective novel series by 岡本綺堂 (Okamoto Kido). The series is set in the late Edo period and follows the adventures of Hanshichi, a retired detective who recounts his past cases to a journalist. The stories blend elements of historical fiction and detective mystery, providing a vivid portrayal of Edo-period customs and society.... more>>

The series began serialization in 1917 and continued until 1937, featuring a total of 68 short stories. Hanshichi’s character is known for his keen intuition and problem-solving skills, often solving complex cases with a mix of logic and local knowledge. <<less

She had saved a man who had almost become a demon’s sacrifice. Eden brought home Bezel, who remembered nothing but his name.... more>>

From that day on, her nights changed.

“Bezel? Wh-what the hell is…?”

Even through the haze clouding her head, she could tell something was wrong. Her body, which should’ve been lying quietly in bed, was half hanging off the side, and both her legs were draped over the man’s shoulders.

But that was nothing compared to what Bezel was doing to her. He had his face pressed close to her s**, tongue extended as if about to touch her underwear.

“W-what… what do you think you’re doing!”

Eden panicked and frantically tried to get up. Bezel, who had been staring with wide, unblinking eyes, slowly furrowed his brow.

Tsk. He clicked his tongue and grabbed Eden’s slipping calf.

“…So I’ve been caught.”

This had to be a dream. Otherwise, there’s no way a man so endlessly gentle and kind by day could be doing something this obscene. <<less

A sparkling magical girl fights strange monsters to protect the city, her glittery outfit dazzling the crowd.... more>>

But one high schooler, Shidaki Momisugi, has his eyes locked on one thing—her b**bs.

His insane desire to give them a squeeze went so far, it turned him into a monster!

Every day, he swoops in, cops a feel, and vanishes like it’s nothing.

Then one day, he finds out... she’s his school junior!?

Torn between his b**b-squeezing obsession and not wanting to ruin their friendship, this lovesick monster is stuck in a serious pinch! <<less

As soon as Guan Xiaoxuan opened her eyes, she found herself lying in a morgue—no heartbeat, no pulse, her whole-body cold. Around her lay motionless corpses. Clutching her body bag tightly, she was completely stunned.... more>>

After escaping the morgue, Guan Xiaoxuan realized that although she had no heartbeat, everything else about her was normal. So, she decided to hide her true identity, pretending to still be alive, taking things one step at a time.

But then, strange things kept happening—on her first day at school, she met a faceless female classmate; at the orphanage, a little boy would suddenly appear; on rainy nights, there was the mysterious bus No. 444 wandering the streets; and a ghost in red always lingered outside her window...

Seriously, I live on the 17th floor!

Every time this happened, Guan Xiaoxuan would silently remind herself: I didn’t see anything, I didn’t hear anything—please, heavens, give me a chance to survive!

The more scared she got, the more she realized one day that maybe these weird things weren’t so scary after all.

Xing Tianqing from the Special Incident Investigation Bureau has been troubled lately. As the team leader of the bureau handling strange cases, she often encounters all kinds of bizarre events. But ever since Guan Xiaoxuan became her neighbor, she felt her job had become even heavier.

At first, Xing Tianqing simply thought Guan Xiaoxuan liked her and so she cared deeply for the lonely girl. But later, she noticed more and more secrets surrounding Guan Xiaoxuan.

Guan Xiaoxuan crawled out of a pile of the living dead and became the ‘Red Girl’s’ curse.

Without any backup, she rescued more than twenty people from the faceless female classmate.

The little boy at the orphanage, full of violent energy from his tragic death, was strangely gentle with Guan Xiaoxuan.

The weird city bus No. 444 that roamed on rainy nights quietly called Guan Xiaoxuan its ‘master’ when it appeared again.

Even the red-clothed ghost, who troubled the entire bureau, started hiding in Guan Xiaoxuan’s shadow, never leaving her side, acting as her shadow and bodyguard.

Xing Tianqing was deeply puzzled—what kind of person exactly was her neighbor??? <<less

I had no interest in romance fantasy, but I got possessed into one.... more>>

The level of science in this medieval fantasy world bothers me.

Looks like I’ll have to enlighten them myself. <<less

“Vasilisa, you are a truly lucky child.”... more>>

Born destined to inherit all the gold in the world, baby Vasilisa was kidnapped by the village’s Count and Countess, who mu*dered her parents to seize the fortune for themselves.

Unaware of this truth, Vasilisa grew into a beautiful woman, pursued by countless suitors. While the Count’s family enjoyed the wealth and prestige that rightfully belonged to her, a turning point arrived.

“A dragon, isn’t he a fitting match for someone as beautiful as you?”

She was offered as a sacrifice to the dragon. How fortunate she was, to repay the village’s kindness with her life. But Vasilisa’s thoughts had changed.

“Dragon Koschei, hear my plea!”

Even if the dragon treated her like a worthless fly, Vasilisa was determined to plead with him and achieve her revenge. <<less

“Your destined partner will appear soon. You have no choice but to accept your fate. It is a fate that has waited a thousand years.”  ... more>>

It is said that the Dragon God has nine sons who could not become dragons. Unlike his brothers, who worked in the royal palace for the good of the people, the fifth son, Do-cheol, was known for his brutal nature and was called Aksura (Malevolent Beast).  

After 1,500 years, he receives a divine decree from the heavens.  

"Only the one who possesses the Yeouiju shall ascend and become a dragon." 

Yeouiju, whose life is nothing but a minefield, is called the protagonist of a never-ending tragedy. Having been swindled out of her entire fortune, she finds herself face-to-face with a man named Do-cheol, who claims that he is a dragon.  

"Give yourself to me. I'll change your life."

A Romantic Ascension Project between a dragon seeking to sever ties with the past and ascend, and a lovable human!   <<less

“Humanity will ultimately reclaim light and freedom, return to the surface, and embrace a rose-like love.”... more>>

More than fifty years have passed since the Great Cataclysm, and the surface has long been completely overrun by an unknown ecosystem born from mutated flora.

Chai Yuening rescues an exceedingly beautiful young girl from the surface.

The girl has lost her memory, knowing nothing of her past. Like an injured kitten, she warily curls up in a corner, resisting any approaching stranger. Only when her gaze falls upon Chai Yuening does a glimmer of light appear in her eyes.

Most importantly, this girl was not registered in the Underground Base's records.

Adhering to the principle that one is responsible for whom one saves, Chai Yuening takes her home.

Gradually, she discovers a problem.

This beautiful, silent girl—who seems so well-behaved and fragile, and clings to her every day—appears to be a mutated "plant."

...So much for just adding another mouth to feed. <<less

The parade of a hundred demons happens every month on the night of the full moon. The target of those demons’ attack is the flesh... more>> and blood of Yao Bikuni’s descendant!? Kai, a generational onmyouji, lives a festering life haunted by demons. In order to break the eternal cycle, he needs a shikigami to protect him. That’s when he gets his eye on the strongest man-eating demon who’s been sealed for hundreds of years – Rasetsu. In exchange for freeing him, Kai wants to use Rasetsu as his protector against the demons, but it seems like he can’t be controlled so easily… <<less

‘Zero,’ a humanoid, is created at the behest of a manga artist with twisted desires. Upon discovering a fatal flaw in his battery, Zero seeks out his creator, ‘Mana,’ to repair his body and ends up staying at Mana’s house.... more>>

One rainy night, while guarding the mansion alone and waiting for Mana, who has gone out and not returned, Zero knocks out an intruder. The intruder turns out to be none other than ‘Louis,’ the actor Zero fell in love with through the TV screen.

“What’s my name?”

“Jester.”

However, Louis awakens with complete amnesia. When he asks his own name, Zero gives him the names of characters from the movies Louis starred in.

“Weather. That’s my name. No last name.”

“……”

“And we are lovers.”

A somewhat suspicious relationship begins with Zero’s lie. Louis, while suspicious of his lover who keeps him isolated in the mansion and goes outside wearing a foul-smelling jacket and helmet, willingly gives himself over to Weather’s tender obsession.

Then one day, a loud noise crashing against the mansion door shatters their peaceful daily life… <<less

Qiao Yi accidentally transmigrated to ancient times. A Taoist priest from Xuanxu Temple declared that the original owner of the body was born with an incomplete destiny, fated to bring misfortune to her parents, and was a 'Solitary Star of Misfortune'. This fate could only be resolved if she found her missing destiny component, or if she married someone with an exceptionally noble destiny before she turned eighteen.... more>>

Having no other choice, the original owner's parents were absolute believers in these prophecies. From a young age, they abandoned her in a separate villa to be raised by a wet nurse. What they didn't know was that not only did the original owner have an incomplete destiny, but she also never spoke a word, leading everyone to believe she was mute.

Ironically, the day before she turned eighteen, she lost her footing and fell into the water. It was at this moment that Qiao Yi transmigrated. On her eighteenth birthday, the original owner's so-called parents once again brought the Taoist priest to the villa. Following the Taoist priest's instructions, Qiao Yi traversed mountains and rivers, expending immense effort, to finally reach the broken temple he had spoken of, waiting for her destined partner. She waited and waited, from dawn until dusk, only to finally wait for a fox, entirely snow-white.

This was utterly absurd.

She had no choice but to carry the fox down the mountain and, with her relatives as witnesses, married it.

Although it was a bit absurd, it was clear at first glance that this fox was no ordinary one. She adored it, carrying it everywhere she went. The strange thing was, from then on, no one ever again called her a 'Solitary Star of Misfortune'.

Qiao Yi grew to love the fox even more. All day long, she did nothing but pet it. Its sensitive little ears, its pink belly, and especially its fluffy tail were simply Qiao Yi's absolute favorites.

Then, one day, the fox suddenly transformed into a peerless beauty, exuding an ethereal grace. Lying in Qiao Yi's arms, she looked at Qiao Yi, who was shaking uncontrollably, and threatened, "What, are you scared now?"

Scared? How could she not be scared?

A perfectly normal fox, how did it suddenly become a spirit? <<less

A death god learns the true meaning of life and death through love and human connection—until the very end.... more>>

Freesia Tolstoy Dorshvia, the Princess of Death, is a high-ranking being from another world who has long been fascinated by the concept of death. She travels the mortal realm, determined to witness the end of life, seeking to understand what remains after a person’s death.

Accompanied by her attendant, Kokuro Natsume, a boy with the ability to see the death of others, Freesia embarks on a journey to witness the deaths of various humans.

Having never truly experienced human emotions or the concept of a finite lifespan, Freesia is unaware of an undeniable truth—one that she can only come to realize as she travels.

Her journey to understand death and the ties that bind life continues until she reaches that fateful moment when everything becomes clear. <<less

An Incubus who could never show his true face.... more>>

A human who had never once seen the face of another.

“You're the first human who's ever recognized my face.”

*

“Would it be alright if I touched you again? Just once more?”

Theticia, daughter of a traitor.

Not once in her life had she been able to choose where she belonged.

But there was still something she had always wished for.

“I have a chronic condition… This is the first time I’ve ever really seen someone’s face.”

Theticia could not see the faces of others.

If only she could discover the cause and find a cure, then maybe… she could live an ordinary life.

“I’ll let you touch me as much as you want. But you must pay the price.”

“What kind of price? I don’t have anything right now.”

“I am Archduke Asmod. The only price I will receive… is you.”

The beautiful man whose face she saw for the first time whispered in a voice sweet as a devil’s. <<less

Nao, an ordinary male college student, was suddenly transported to a fantasy world.... more>>

Without any special power, he started living by doing odd jobs in the city.

Just as he was getting used to life in this different world, he accidentally discovered his gift.

It was [Storage]… an item box.

And inside that storage, there was already a large amount of ‘stuffs’.

One of the ‘stuffs’ he took out of [Storage] was,

A black, menacing weapon, a Colt M1911A1. He muttered to himself,

“There’s something dangerous inside… but is there no instruction manual?”

That’s right, he had zero knowledge about firearms, let alone military knowledge.

This was the story of an ordinary college student who was suddenly transported to another world

Using the firearms in his storage, or sometimes giving up on using them,

He travelled with a cursed elf and a beast s*ave girl <<less

Parasite. ... more>>

That had been Margarita's nickname for a long time. The last descendant of the Isirian royal family, living as a parasite within the Castor imperial palace.

A shameless freeloader engaged to Crown Prince Allen solely due to her inheritance rights, despite having nothing else to her name.

Exhausted by the contempt and disregard, Margarita vented her fury on Allen.

“Do you think people are kind to you because they like you? It’s only because you’re the Crown Prince!”

Margarita prided herself on being the only one who could despise the beloved Allen. That was her sense of self-worth and the driving force of her life.

No matter how great you are. No matter how much the nobles look down on me. I’m still the one standing beside you.

She was foolish. She should have realized sooner that nothing in this world lasts forever. Branded a traitor and executed, Margarita returns to her childhood.

Seeing young Allen’s face made her want to strangle him. She wanted to demand answers: Why? Why did you kill me?

“Thank you… for your concern.”

Stay calm. If you act as you did before, you’ll be killed again. Remember the people who risked their lives to protect a nobody like you.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been so rude to you until now.”

Instead of baring her claws and protecting her pride, Margarita lowered her head and apologized. She had to hide the blade in her heart, crawl like a dog, and marry him at any cost.

However...

“I will marry Margarita. I want to die as her husband. That is my final wish.”

Just when she thought she could finally be happy, Allen dies of illness.

As Margarita falls into despair, Oberon appears before her. For some reason, he reminds her of Allen... <<less

My husband, Xie Wu Chen, was a genius sword cultivator, while I was just a mortal.... more>>

Xie Wu Chen despised foolish people.

To catch up with him, I worked hard at cultivation, but he remained indifferent:

"You have no spiritual roots, it's a waste of effort."

Later, he ascended, and I remarried.

On the day of my wedding, he descended to the mortal realm, his sword placed against my husband's neck:

"Do you really want to marry this useless person?"

I stood before the sword, holding my mortal husband's hand, and looked straight at Xie Wu Chen:

"Yes, because he never thought I was s*upid."

Xie Wu Chen sneered:

"Just because of that?"

I nodded seriously:

"Just because of that." <<less

This is a short story of a Mackerel meeting with the Emperor.... more>>

Rank 3rd in Syosetsu's top 100 in Funny category as of 11/27/22.

A good read for a break from long novels and chapters. <<less

“Until the day humanity falls.”... more>>

In the year 2020, Earth’s magnetic poles disappeared and humankind was nearly wiped out by cosmic radiation. Within the span of a hundred years, living creatures began to mutate and devour each other while the remaining humans, numbering in the tens of thousands, struggled bitterly in their man-made bases.

In the Abyss, home to the mutated xenogenics, there lived a sentient little mushroom. Because it had been nourished by the blood and flesh of the deceased human An Ze, not only did it take on a similar-looking human form, but a similar name as well: An Zhe.

An Zhe is determined to go to the human base to search for his spore, which had been harvested by humans. Once there, however, he faces the omnipresent risk of discovery and certain death as he tries to keep his non-human nature hidden from the Judges, whose responsibility is to inspect for and eliminate xenogenics like himself. And of all the Judges, Colonel Lu Feng is the most perceptive and merciless—as soon as he determines that someone is a xenogenic, he will execute that person on the spot.

But An Zhe’s mutation goes undetected by Lu Feng’s eyes, and so a tale of humans and xenogenics unfolds…

Silver Award winner at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards for Chinese Science Fiction. <<less

The day her mother abandoned her, seven-year-old Dongyi wandered into the forest and encountered a goblin. But this goblin wasn’t the fearsome creature of legends. It was kind, gentle, and warm. After saving her from a tiger, the goblin carried her on its back and returned her safely home.... more>>

The next day, a strange man appeared at her house, claiming to be a distant relative. Dongyi was left in his care, but she quickly realized there was something unusual about him. He didn’t age, and no matter how harsh the times, he always managed to find enough food and clothing for her. Under his watchful care, Dongyi grew into a young woman, her body blossoming as her heart began to stir with unfamiliar emotions—feelings for the man who had raised her like a father.

As she reached womanhood, the man began disappearing for months at a time, claiming to travel for business. Strangely, his absences always coincided with gruesome events in the village—horses found torn apart as if by a wild beast. And on the nights he returned, Dongyi would catch glimpses of him slipping in with bloodstained clothes. Her suspicions mounting, she finally decided to follow him.

What she saw that night shattered her world. The man crouched over the lifeless body of a horse, drinking its blood. His glowing golden eyes and sharp fangs left no doubt—he was no ordinary man. He was the same goblin who had saved her in the forest all those years ago.

“To live by your side, I must keep the yin energy within me in check,” he confessed. “The only way to do that is by consuming the yang-rich blood of horses. If I don’t, the yin will take over, and I’ll become something far worse.”

“A ghost?” Dongyi asked, her voice trembling.

“Yes. A creature driven by malice, savage and uncontrollable,” he said, his voice heavy with regret. “A monster.”

Dongyi stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. “Is there no other way?” she asked, her heart aching for him.

“There is one,” he admitted reluctantly. “Union with a woman whose yin energy matches my own. The clash of our energies would neutralize the imbalance.”

Dongyi’s heart pounded. She understood what he meant, and her resolve solidified. Gathering her courage, she spoke with unexpected boldness.

“Then let it be me. Take me.”

The man froze, his golden eyes searching hers. “Dongyi…”

“I mean it,” she said firmly. “I don’t care what you are. You’re not my blood, and I… I love you. Whether you’re a man or a goblin, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Her words were a declaration, resolute and unyielding. She had made her choice. If the only way to save him—both the man and the goblin—was to become his bride, she wouldn’t hesitate.

“Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling with both fear and longing. “Take me. Let me be yours.”

The small child he had once carried on his back was now a grown woman, her unwavering gaze filled with forbidden desire. It was daring, audacious, and utterly undeniable. She wanted him—man or monster—and she wouldn’t let him go. <<less

In a world dominated by swords and magic, Cleo lives his lonely life where he believes painting is his sole purpose to life. Since Cleo... more>> was born in a noble family, he must prove himself worthy to become the family’s successor by participating in a certain trial. As he enters the forbidden forest, Cleo encounters a beast that is half human and half plant. After being easily captured by the beast that resembles a human girl, Cleo plans his escape by attracting the beast’s interest and keeping Cleo alive. Out of his expectations, the time they spent living with each other made him feel unbelievably relieved. However their calming daily life did not last very long… <<less

A demon was in trouble, so he decided to summon on a human helper. 

Chen Henian, born with a deathly countenance, is a great curse. He possesses the innate ability to see the sinister and the ghostly. At the age of six, he climbed the forbidden, ominous mountain, and since then, a great evil spirit has resided within him. With a Yin fate and being a reincarnated ghost himself, Chen Henian becomes a coveted "Tang Monk's flesh" for ghost cultivators and evil entities.... more>>

However, Chen Henian, trained by a seasoned veteran, is not only adept at capturing ghosts but also harbors a powerful evil spirit within.

Chen Henian: Bark!

All Evil Spirits: Woof...

The beaten-up evil spirits: We've learned our lesson, please spare us.

Some fear him, while others fear the great ghost behind him.

Chen Henian: Can ghosts be afraid of other ghosts?

All Evil Spirits: Nonsense! That's the Yin Ancestor!

Yin Ancestor extends a hand. Chen Henian: What an ugly claw.

Yin Ancestor pokes its head out. Chen Henian: What a powerful ghost.

Yin Ancestor forcibly hugs and touches him. Chen Henian: So, does it want to eat me or kill me?

What? It says it loves me. <<less