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

A story about another parallel universe located in Akihabara, Tokyo as well, where it is not that developed at fields of ACG (animation, comic and... more>> game), Maid Cafe, Music, Literary, Entertainment, etc. One day the man of this story, named “Tatsuya Hayashi”, found himself caught by a Smartphone App, which is called “Pioneer System”, and he became the ”Feudal Lord” of Akiharaba both in the App world and real life. Here comes our man and his friends, who became pioneer heros by continues efforts… <<less

Akikan (”Empty Can”) is the unlikely story of high school boy Kazuichi Souda, whose can of melon soda magically transforms into a human girl. More... more>> "akikan" girls begin appearing, each of them needing to be infused with carbon dioxide from their respective drink types to survive. The akikans were created as part of the 'Akikan Elect' to determine whether steel cans or aluminium cans are superior. The akikans must battle each other until only the strongest type is left standing. <<less

When the alien Mimics invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor called a Jacket and sent... more>> out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his 158th iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally--the female soldier known as the Full Metal b*tch. Is she the key to Keiji's escape or his final death? <<less

Satou Ryouta who died from overworking at a black company was reincarnated to another world. Although Ryouta was alive, he is now burdened with the inconvenience that his level is fixed to 1 in this new world.... more>>

Although he wasn’t able to raise his level, he had a unique skill that can create a cheat-like item that shouldn’t exist in the world from a monster.

He got to know about his status and MAX them with the help of ability-up items. He gathered a number of weapons and items that can only be used by himself, allowing him to be level 1 but yet, having the strongest equipment. <<less

Seiya Kanie is a good looking, perfectionist boy who is forced by the mysterious Isuzu Sento to visit an amus**ent park named Amagi Brilliant Park, which is in serious financial trouble and about to be closed forever.... more>>

The park is actually staffed by refugees from a magical realm called Maple Land, and the park is a facility for harvesting magical energy from visitors while they’re having fun. As such, the park is the only way the refugees can maintain their existence in the human realm.

To save the park from closing, Seiya is hired by the owner, Latifa Fleuranza, to use his skills in entertainment to become its new manager. However, to not lose the land to a real estate agency, they have only three months left to attract 250,000 visitors, a feat that seems impossible given the park’s current situation. <<less

Himuro Suzuha, the student council president who is a perfect model student, but has high pressure and a small talk personality. Vice president Tajima Aito, who has feelings for her, can one day hear the "true feelings" hidden behind her words! Suzuha's true intentions—that was how harsh and harsh her attitude and poisonous tongue were all in front of her, and she was completely in love with Aito! Aito was happy to know that they had both feelings. If you know the answer, a happy ending is an easy win! ... more>>

So I made a confession at once, but…

I was rejected!? <<less

The end of mankind and its doom was right around the corner. Narvas, a giant asteroid, was on the path to colliding with earth. To avoid mankind impending doom, Kiwoo broke through the miraculous odds and  journeyed through the ages of time.... more>>

"...Native Americans?"

However, much to his expectations, Kiwoo arrived in the native lands before the discovery of the New World! For man to survive, civilization needed to develop faster and quicker before the collision of Narvas occurs. Under his guidance, the native land was reborn as an empire of the natives and not as colonial land ruled under eurocentrism. <<less

Aldred, the leader of a kingdom’s A-ranked party,『Black Silver』, has accomplished the task of slaying a dragon. However, he who has pursued strength his whole life has lost sight of his goal from taking down a monster of the strongest species. As he worried about what to do next in his life, it was the scenery of Nordende that popped up in his mind; A rural village by the countryside, full of natural beauty, which he only visited once during a quest in the past.... more>>

After declaring the disbandment of his party, he heads towards Nordende for a comfortable, relaxing life. <<less

An unknown reporter, Se Cai receives a gaming system called, Eye for News through an accident. The system allows him to trade skills and items... more>> that furbish his reporting skills. Follow on his assignments as he exposes nationwide conspiracies, records heroic profiles, expatiates public dissent, and uncovers administrative corruption. However, his most difficult assignment of all remains the navigation between the women that occupy his life… <<less

tr*sh mocked by all? A pathetic despised by all?... more>>

He, Lu Yun, a humble soul transmigrated to the land of the Sacred Wilderness, is now a different man! This accident he endures brings him a new opportunity, a new life, and a chance to rise to be an unparalleled master of martial arts.

Lu Yun: “I am unparalleled because of my invincible power!”

Join Lu Yun in his journey to the pinnacle of martial arts, and explore all the legendary weapons and ferocious monsters as well as the power struggles among sects. <<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

Another Frontier Online is a full immersion VRMMORPG focused on swords and magic.
A system in which teams of players fight each other called "Clan Warfare" was implemented in a major update half a year ago.... more>>

Hayato, who only has production skills, was expelled from his clan for not being able to fight.
Hayato decided to create his own clan, and not being able to capture the attention of any player, he realizes that he can use NPCs (non-player characters) with high performance AI as members of his clan.

Will he be able to win the 100 million yen grand prize? <<less

In the near future when VRMMO games become commonplace, the main character is suddenly transferred to a world similar to the game he was playing.... more>>

The game was of the genre “Nation Strategy Simulation Game”, and it was based on the concept of a human king leading a demon nation.

NPC demons who had suddenly gained an ego.

They had tremendous strength and paid no heed to the grave threat a whole different world posed.

However, on the other hand, the main character they followed was the “weakest king” who had no fighting power.

This is a story about the weakest hero who can’t even beat goblins, leading the demons as the dictator of military power in another world… <<less

He shall call forth the bone dragon! Summon the lich and the grim reaper! Li Jiayu, the dark summoner, has been reborn and everything returned to the moment before the outbreak of the devastating apocalypse.... more>>

Spaces tremble violently and dimensional cracks connected to various worlds appear! In an instant, never-seen-before civilizations invade our homeland. Insects the size of humans and walking corpses sweep through Earth in legions. An imminent crisis is approaching humanity and billions of human lives are at risk!

In regards to Li Jiayu's uncorrupted soul, his summons shall no longer be limited to creatures which lurk in the darkness. They will also include the entities that bask in the light.

Under the lingering shadow of death, he vows to prevent a repeat of past tragedies!

Struggling within the exhausting apocalyptic world, he chooses to trudge on the bloody path of slaughter.

Walking hand in hand with death, he no longer lives under the cold embrace of the darkness. He shall embark on the bright path towards glory.

'This is an opportunity to make a comeback... I will put everything on the line to right the wrongs and to protect the loved ones that were once lost.’ <<less

Seventeen year old Hajime Nagumo is your average, everyday otaku. However, his simple life of pulling all-nighters and sleeping in school is suddenly turned upside... more>> down when he, along with the rest of his class, is summoned to a fantasy world! They're treated like heroes and tasked with the duty of saving the human race from utter extinction. But what should have been any otaku's wet dream quickly turns into Hajime's nightmare. While the rest of his class are blessed with godlike powers, Hajime's job, Synergist, only has a single transmutation skill. Ridiculed and bullied by his classmates for being weak, he soon finds himself in despair. Will he be able to survive in this dangerous world of monsters and demons with only a glorified blacksmith's level of strength? <<less

“I have decided not to expect anything from you anymore.”... more>>

One day, Norman is told this by his father and was kicked out of the house.

There was no way around it. Because Norman could not use magic at all.

However, Norman’s fate changes drastically when he encounters the Grimoire “Goetia”.

The Grimoire called “Goetia” was used to summon 72 demons.

The demons summoned by it, however, bring about a shocking revelation to Norman. Yes, there was a reason why Norman could not use magic.

And so, Norman becomes the strongest sorcerer in the world by subduing numerous demons. <<less

Our protagonist was an adult in his late twenties, who had crossed dimensions into a world of cultivation. However, he was sent into the body... more>> of an infant when the transcension happened. Our story begins a few years later, when both his parents died to an illness and he was the only heir to his clan, at six years old. Watch him grow as a human and a cultivator as he fends off enemies who desire his fortune and builds his influence in the new world! <<less

Ichiro Sato formerly suffered from a case of youthful delusions of fantasy and grandeur, which caused him to be bullied throughout middle school. Now in... more>> high school, he strives to be a normal student. Unfortunately, his teacher has entrusted him with the care of a girl with a similar case of delusions. <<less

One day, a button appeared in front of me.... more>>

– Auto hunting by pressing a button. <<less

Douglas is an adventurer who uses an axe as a weapon, a very serious and hard-working man who has lived an unrewarding life. One day... more>> he is betrayed by his teammates in the depths of a dungeon, and almost loses his life. In the midst of his despair, he finds an axe, a fearsome weapon with mythical power. After this great find, his life changes drastically from that day on. He becomes a man loved and adored by three beautiful girls. The forty year old adventurer begins a journey to become a hero to be envied by all. <<less

The story is set in the human realm (Tokyo's Shibuya ward) and the bakemono realm (Shibutenmachi). In these two worlds which must not intersect, there... more>> lives a lonely boy and a lonely bakemono. One day, the boy gets lost in the bakemono world, becomes the disciple of the bakemono Kumatetsu, and is renamed Kyuuta. <<less

A boy who kills nightmares and a girl who lives them.... more>>

In the modern age, communication technology has developed that uses dreams as a medium instead of electrons.
In the world of “shared dreams,” people are engaged in economic activities even when they are asleep.

A malignant factor that invades artificial dreams and destroys the mind, “Nightmares (Noise)” ……
There are those who make a living out of suppressing them with force.
They were called “tapirs” by the people, who likened them to dream-eating beasts.

One day, Touya Rumaki, a high school student who carries out his duties as a “tapir,” finds himself in a situation where he is unable to find a way out. He meets a “witch” in a wheelchair.

The girl, who called herself “Meia”, stretched out her body, which was not free in any way, to Touya and whispered to him like a spell.
“I’ve been betrayed by everything in this world.

And when the wishes of a boy hunting nightmares and a fragile girl intersect
The nightmare that has been called a disaster, “The Beast’s Dream,” awakens.

This is the beginning of a dark battle of science fiction and otherworldly powers that will distort the world!

With “Gahou”! <<less

Amidst a disaster, an orphan contracts a sickness.... more>>

In his waking hours, he is tormented by his ailment, but when he slumbers, there is infinite darkness.

One day, when he was five years old, a strange Fate Trickster appeared in his dreams. Ten years later, he dreams of becoming a lord. To do so, he takes a chance to trade his fate!

That day, Wang Zhong once again stood at the gates of the Tianjing Heroic Soul Academy. He was about to start a brand new life. <<less

Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller envisions a nightmare scenario: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part... more>> of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violet exploitation when first published in Japan—where it became a runaway best seller—Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world. <<less