In the winter of three years ago, the first locked room mu*der in Japanese history was committed.... more>>

All of the evidence pointed to the defendant. It was certain they were guilty. And yet, they were found innocent and released. Why? Because the crime scene was a perfect locked room no one from the police or the prosecutor's office could solve.

"Since the room was locked, it was impossible for the defendant to have committed the mu*der. It's no different than if they had a perfect alibi." That was the argument of the defense, and that was the argument the judge sided with.

The ruling sent a ripple throughout Japanese society. No matter how suspicious you were or how much evidence you left behind, as long as you managed to create a locked room that no one could solve, you were immune from prosecution. With the common anti-mystery fiction talking point "there's no reason anyone would ever actually commit a locked room mu*der" completely overturned, the rate of locked room mu*ders in Japan skyrocketed.

When the police proved unable to deal with the surge of locked room crime, the Ministry of Justice published an official categorization of all known locked room tricks as an investigative aid. When that proved insufficient, Division Zero of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, a police division dedicated solely to solving locked rooms, was created. When that still proved insufficient, locked room detectives, private investigators specializing in locked rooms, were officially licensed by the state and authorized to participate in police investigations. Calling a locked room appraiser, someone specializing in searching buildings for secret passages, is now a common first step in criminal investigations.

On the other side of the spectrum, locked room agents, assassins and crime planners specializing in locked room mu*ders, have become some of the most notorious criminals in Japanese history, and even a cult worshiping the scenes of locked rooms as a way to purify the souls of the deceased has made rapid inroads into Japan.

The protagonist, Kasumi Kuzushiro, is an introverted, somewhat cynical high school student who loves mysteries. Kasumi often finds himself dragged along on bizarre journeys by his flighty childhood friend, Yozuki Asahina. Due to their staggeringly bad luck, these trips often leave them in the wrong place at the wrong time to be caught up in locked room mysteries. Fortunately, another of Kasumi's childhood friends, Shitsuri Mitsumura, is the greatest locked room expert in the world, and can always discover the truth.

Hm? How did a high school girl become the greatest locked room expert in the world?

It's simple.

She's...

Volume 1 was the grand prize winner of the 2022 This Mystery Is Amazing! awards. <<less

When he came to his senses, Hirasawa Kazuki, a normal university student, found himself in possession of the body of a game’s character.... more>>

Moreover, it was Harold Stokes, the story’s most hated character who was even given the title 『King of Tr*sh』by the players. Myriads of landmines were just waiting for him to step on them!

Will Harold be able to clear the survival route while avoiding the countless death flags in his way?! <<less

‘Anyhow … I think I transmigrated into a romance fantasy novel.’... more>>

The problem is—I opened my eyes in a wake room. Within a coffin. At the funeral of this body’s owner. To make matters worse, I had read so many novels that I couldn’t remember which one I was in.

‘Ta-da~ you thought I was dead, right? I was not!’

On the other hand, I think I’m a villainess. My family is cold-hearted, and the servants shrink and shun me, often crying while looking at the air next to me. But it doesn’t matter! I’ll exploit my master in romance fantasy to get rid of my villainess tag!

But then, I found a strange pattern.

“What exactly is this?”

[How to summon •••]
‘Is it summoning formation to summon something like spirits or dragons? That’s good. A villainess needs at least one ability to protect herself.’

“Meow~”

‘But why was I chosen by a three-eyed leopard-patterned cheese cat, rather than spirits or dragons? Well, it doesn’t matter because it’s cute!’

A monster lives in Count Rohanson’s household. A creature lurking beneath the skin of the late Lady Evangeline.

“I’m Gabriel, commander of Paralos Knights. I’d like to know more about young lady Rohanson.”

‘Knight Commander, pitch black hair, azure eyes … Gabriel must be the male lead!’

“How foolish. You don’t even know your place. I’m not interested in you.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m just curious about you.”

‘How come? Aren’t I the villainess? Go find your partner, the female lead!’

My aim is to use my summoning circle to protect myself! I’ll also look after Pudding the cat and Jelly the werewolf.

“By the way … why does everyone keep trembling whenever they see me?”

A story about a heroine who thinks she’s in a romance fantasy novel and the unsettling events that happen to those around her. <<less

It was a hasty, arranged marriage.... more>>

And on their wedding night, he ran away.

He lived for ten years under a false name, becoming one of the 7 Great Masters of the Continent, but returned home when he heard news of his father's passing.

There, he found his wife, whom he thought had already left, whom he had only seen once before.

She was still as beautiful as the first time he saw her. <<less

Aihara Runa was a person who had been living in hell of misfortune. One day she found herself in a strange stage, apparently her soul was reaped without permission and sold at an auction to gods from another world along with her 28 classmates. But there was a trouble, it seems that Aihara’s soul was extremely smelly and stinky. Instead of getting a buyer, she was thrown away and with her soul in danger of disappearing. ... more>>

However, when her soul was about disappear, she met an unnamed goddess who claimed herself as a god’s vessel. The goddess said that she can help Aihara to get reincarnated but with one condition, that is to bring her along and get reincarnated together. Aihara who was about disappeared accepted the goddess' condition and got reincarnated successfully as Emmy. But apparently, the hard life still continued even after reincarnated too….

If there’s no food, then let’s get some bugs!!! Let’s just enjoy this hard life together with the reliable partner [Omake-sama] inside my head and have fun instead.

As Emmy managed to survive while watching and getting involved in the events of another cheat reincarnations, she grew into an irregular. This is a story about Emmy, a soul who managed to survive from disposal by gods. However, she doesn’t know that her reincarnation did not list in fate's archive and unconsciously broke the gods’ scenario one after another. <<less

I, a mere con artist, was unjustly imprisoned in Tantalus, the Abyssal Prison meant for the most nefarious of criminals, where I met a regressor.... more>>

But when I used my ability to read her mind, I found out that I was fated to die in a year…

and that the world would end 10 years later. <<less

Ning Su’s hair is soft, his skin is pale, his expression is slightly sluggish, his body is thin, and he is out of place in the crowd of passers-by.... more>>

He listened to the people around him discussing how to clear the level of this dungeon, and asked: “I survived the level, does it count as clearing the level?”

The people around looked at him like a fool: What a pity.

After entering the dungeon, Ning Su really started to live a life of his own.

If there is a gloomy skull on the castle, Ning Su will pick it up and make it into a night light to sleep beautifully.

The waterfall turned into blood, and he took the stew in a small milk pot, his eyes shining brightly.

Occasionally, he will also make small clothes for ghosts crawling on the ground.

Later, he really survived, the NPCs are sticky to him, the ghost master followed him and called him ‘mother’, and he still had the bloody heart of the flower god in his chest.

“…”

For Ning Su, there is food and drink in the infinite horror world, which is much more wonderful than his previous life.

He lived in the doomsday era and used to be a supernatural being, but his supernatural power is different. He is a special dark supernatural being who can absorb all dark things.

The person in charge of the base asked him to purify the zombies and sent him to the zombie group.

He turned into a little dark zombie.

Humans did not like him, all dark beings loved him. <<less

He uses desire to ensnare others, he uses blood as temptation, he uses his appearance as a disguise. Like a wolf, he hunts for prey in the shadows. He is among the FBI’s most wanted list of serial killers. He lives by his own law, the Lex Talionis. He does things his own way, independent and reckless. He gave himself his own name: Sha Qing... more>>

————

The first time the two officially met:

“The purpose of the prison is not to destroy people’s lives; it’s meant to replace the broken chains of law and morality, to bind the beast in their hearts again, until it is completely subdued,” said Leo.

“Everyone has beasts in their hearts, agent, and so do you.” Sha Qing extended an index finger and pointed at Leo’s heart.

“Yes, but unlike you, I will use those iron chains to lock it tightly in a cage.”

“It’s not as easy as you think, Leo. Things are always changing, and often beyond your control …”

With his blood-stained lips, he suddenly kissed the stunned FBI agent.

The salty bloody taste spread in their mouth and the fiery contact was enough to burn the tips of their tongues.

Leo’s eyes suddenly felt heavy, but his face did not show any irritation from being calculated upon.

“Did you also count this?” He raised his wrist with effort, then closed his eyes.

Sha Qing looked down and saw that a pair of steel handcuffs had fastened his left wrist with the other’s right arm.

He lowered his head and kissed the sleeping man’s wet, dusty hair, and said in a soft voice:

“Goodbye, brave young lion.”

He then dislocated his own hand to remove the shackles that bound them together.

Sha Qing stood up and walked away, until his figure disappeared into the darkness… <<less

Callius von Jervain.... more>>

A character who dies no matter what he does. A character who falls into a forced choice route where he can only die, no matter his choices up to that point. However, there is a single route where the character can live and play the game.

And I have to carve out that route somehow.

Because I’ve become Callius von Jervain in the game. <<less

By the time I realized it, I had reincarnated into another world.... more>>

I kept sleeping, and at some point I became a Demon Lord.

Even though I never wished for it.

But for me to not have to work, this world is the best. It must be true that good things happen to good people.

The flavor of Sloth is as sweet as honey. Glory, diligence, virtue, or honor. I have no interest in anything like that.

What’s there to hide? The Lazy king is… none other than me. <<less

“Player K27216, Tang Cuo, at 23:05 on April 1, 2019 of the Solar Calendar, confirmed dead.”... more>>

“Failed to clear the Trial Game of Life.”

“Survival duration: 24 years, 4 hours, 8 minutes and 6 seconds, Rating: A, Initial character score: -5.”

If death is just the beginning...

If survival is a game...

Are you ready for it? <<less

"Why is this [Summoning Card: Goblin] wearing a mask?"... more>>

"Because it's a Goblin Gangster!" <<less

When I opened my eyes, I was inside a novel.... more>>

[The Birth of a Hero].

[The Birth of a Hero] was a novel focused on the adventures of the main character, Choi Han, a high school boy who was transported to a different dimension from Earth, along with the birth of the numerous heroes of the continent.

I became a part of that novel as the tr*sh of the Count’s family, the family that oversaw the territory where the first village that Choi Han visits is located.

The problem is that Choi Han becomes twisted after that village, and everyone in it, is destroyed by assassins.

The bigger problem is the fact that this s*upid tr*sh who I’ve become doesn’t know about what happened in the village and messes with Choi Han, only to get beaten to a pulp.

“…This is going to be a headache.”

I feel like something serious has happened to me.

But it was worth trying to make this my new life. <<less

Vincent van Gogh, the painter who refused to be an accessory Of power and painted with his soul at the tip of a brush, was not understood by anyone and had to die like a madman, and he woke up in 21st century Korea.... more>>

Like a wheat field melted with gold, like a sunflower that swallowed the sun, a dazzling painter once again takes the brush. <<less

Never should be exposed, just the two of them in their youth.... more>>

「I’ll be making your meals from now on, Sensei.」

I, Reiyu Tenjō, am a high school teacher.

When I shared some food with my neighbor, it turned out to be my student, Yuunagi Nishiki. If this fact is discovered, I might be fired from the school?

That’s why we signed a 『Neighbor Agreement』 in order to keep our secret.

Since we both live alone, the plan was to help each other out when one of us was in trouble——but somehow, I got won over by his cooking.

Instead of helping him, I find myself increasingly spoiled and dependent that I can’t live without him anymore.

‘No, Reiyu Tenjō. He’s your student, someone you are not supposed to fall in love with!’

Drawing closer and then apart——their love sways ambiguously like waves.

A youth romantic comedy filled with secrets between a teacher and student begins here. <<less

I had been abroad to do medical volunteer work, when I was swept up in a civil war. I was killed by a rebel soldier, while taking a bullet for a patient. But when I finally woke up, I had become a child?!?... more>>

And in front of me stood a destroyed carriage and a group of oddly dressed people, who were unconscious!

“It’s just like a Murim world.”

As I hurry to perform first aid in an attempt to save even one person, I realize that this world is that of [The Supreme Demon King], a Wuxia novel I’ve enjoyed reading.

After meeting the rescue team of the ‘Three Great Doctors’, I found out that one of the person I saved was the protagonist of this novel, the future Demon King ‘Yeo Haryun’!

“Hey, since I’m indebted to you for saving me, call me ‘hyung’.”

For saving his life, I become sworn brothers with the future Demon King, and the White Dragon Godly Doctor, one of the most knowledgeable people around, recognized my potential and took me in as his disciple. This is the story of how I became the greatest physician in Gangho! <<less

You just want me to draw cards for you. ... more>>

A scoundrel with good gambling luck and an unlucky, silly kid. The tale of two fools in love. <<less

Rong Jing is an easy-going person. After transmigrating into a book, he tries his best to avoid the inevitable ending of a cannon fodder. Instead of provoking the book’s protagonist, he quietly stays as an Alpha though he is actually a heavenly dish within the circle.... more>>

The protagonist in the book is a heartthrob omega. He is born into a poor family but is constantly striving to improve himself. He’s talented and all, like he basically has a cheat in life. His career is very important to him.

Lots of big shots are attracted to him and want to bow down to him because of his bewitching pheromones. The more they like him… the crazier and more pe*verted they become.

Rong Jing didn’t finish reading the book so he wasn’t aware that this book is a wicked revenge story and that the protagonist suffered because of his beauty.

Then one day, he got drunk on those very same fascinating pheromones all night.

The next day, as he watched the crying, red-eyed protagonist, he proposed to work hard to learn how to be a good financial backer for him for one year.

A year later, when he decided to break up with him for good, the protagonist slapped him with their agreement. Even his fans scolded him fiercely saying that he should take responsibility.

Hold on!

So was he only acting innocent?! <<less

“I ask with all my heart. Please marry me.”... more>>

After his tragic death, the sidekick Prince Renato regressed to the past. He approached the Khan Kingdom’s diplomatic ambassador, grand prince Khalid, who helped him in his life before regression, to change the future.

Renato offered a contractual marriage with good conditions, and Khalid finally agreed to the marriage after much deliberation, but……

“I hate complicated things like a contract or a deal. So please let me ask you just one question.”

Renato’s answer at this moment would change everything. Khalid fixed his gaze on Renato and opened his mouth with a more serious expression than usual.

“Do you need my help?” <<less

The protagonist, a famous YouTuber known for playing the game trilogy “Tril Trilo Trilogy,” finds himself possessing the final boss of the game world.... more>>

Before the release of the new instalment in the series, he receives an offer from the game’s developer to play a prequel, “Part 0,” which explores events that occurred before the first instalment. Since he is a fan of “Tril Trilo Trilogy,” he eagerly accepts the offer.

However, through some twist of fate, he wake ups in the world of “Tril Trilo” in the dreadful body of the final boss of the trilogy, a character named Frank Wonderstein. <<less

Duke of Yongning’s heir, Jun Huailang was reborn and found that he was a cannon fodder N in a xiaoma literature*.... more>>

The male protagonist, Xue Yan, who was originally an unfavored prince, was ostracized and persecuted since he was a child. After the blackening, he formed a private party to support his younger brother to the throne and became a sovereign regent.

He also slaughtered the young Empress Dowager’s whole family, forcing the Empress Dowager to stay with him. The Empress Dowager fell in love with him and was willing to be his plaything.

The whole book was full of an indescribable scene between the two of them. It made Jun Huailang tremble in anger.

Because this Empress Dowager was not someone else, but his own biological younger sister. It was not someone else’s family that was slaughtered, but his family.

After rebirth, facing a younger sister who was only six years old, Jun Huailang, the gentleman of Qianqian, made up his mind for the first time.

He’s going to kill that beast for his sister.

Note:
Xiaoma literature: A novel in which the male protagonist ’s father married a young and beautiful young mother (stepmother). <<less

[Tower Defense & Dungeon Attack RPG]
I saw the ending to the game no one was able to clear.... more>>

But, when I came to my senses, I was inside of the game.
In fact, I was in the tutorial stage, a place where strategy was impossible.

"I'll clear this bullsh*t game no matter what...!" <<less

Xiao Lan was a pauper who couldn’t do anything that required money.... more>>

On the road after work, he was engulfed by darkness and opened his eyes to a frightening and dangerous survival game.

The app that can’t be deleted; the people it locked on to were unable to escape except through death.

Ordinary players: Save me, I don’t want to die!!!

Xiao Lan: Sorry, the phone is too broken and it froze. Can you wait a little longer?

A hand reached out from inside an old-fashioned television; the people caught would enter its world.

Ordinary players: Ahhhhhhh! What to do?!

Xiao Lan: According to my many years of experience repairing old household appliances, it seems that this model can be opened like this…

Finally, the bosses gathered around Xiao Lan one day, prepared to deal with this (game) bug.

But they saw him roll up his sleeves and stride forward on long legs, and he beat up the bosses until they doubted their ghostly births.

Xiao Lan: Do you think an overtime worker’s night travels are for nothing?

Luo: Sir is always this cute.

Passer-by (shivering): Isn’t your definition of cute a little strange… <<less

When I opened my eyes, I was in a den of monsters.

I, Kang Woojin, was quitting my design work and became a jobless person. The next day, my friend took me to auditions and I was forced to perform.... more>>

As i was given a script, the void space appeared in my mind and forced me to relive the character.

I got stabbed. Became a serial killer. Became an Exorcist.

As I become an actor, the misunderstandings keeps growing day by day. <<less