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

The kingdom boasted a hero and formidable leader of the demon extermination force, Valen Rudwick. Amidst the chaos of battle, he tried to rescue a woman from a demon attack, only to be struck on the back of his head…... more>>

Unbeknownst to him, the woman he saved was not just any civilian but a succubus.

When Valen regained consciousness, he found himself not on the bloody battlefield but in a wedding hall within the demon realm.

“I am Argentine. And you are?”

“Do you think I’ll tell my name to a filthy demon like you?”

Weary from the prolonged wars, the demons proposed a political marriage to him. The absurd condition? It would last until Argentine, whom Valen saved, became pregnant with his child.

The idea of a child with demon blood repulsed him to the core. But pushed to his limits, Valen reluctantly agreed to their proposal.

“Let’s cease these charades and focus on what needs to be done. It’ll be better for both of us,” he growled.

“I want to give you time to accept…”

“Should I give not only my body but also my mind? Will that strengthen my ‘essence’?”

Valen was disgusted by the demons’ hypocrisy. He had intended to leave the demon realm as soon as the succubus bore a child.

“Whether you call for me or come to me, it’s up to you,” he said.

“…”

“I’ll do my da!mned best to give you my seed.”

Valen, the human warrior who despises demons, and Argentine, the demon king who sought peace through a child.

Can the demon realm truly find peace? <<less

"Good heavens, can a face even be that horrifying!" ... more>>

"Never, ever take that mask off."

Princess Ariel of Charden becomes the attendant to the Crown Prince Ludwig of the Romanov Empire due to an accident caused by her twin brother.

A failed transformation spell, meant to conceal her identity, leaves Ariel with a severe burn scar on her face.

Despite Ludwig constantly mistreating her because of her unsightly appearance, Ariel steadfastly continues her life as the attendant Rapunzel to the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, there are people around. I think I should wear the mask."

"Isn't this good enough?"

When did it start?

The moment Ludwig began to feel his heart race when seeing the bright and quirky Rapunzel.

Amidst his intense narcissism and conflicting emotions, he comes to realize his affection for the monstrous attendant.

"This is a mask I've made just for you."

His large, warm hand touched her cheek, replacing the cold mask.

The warmth that made her heart flutter endlessly also began to stir Ariel’s feelings...

Will Ariel, transformed into a monstrous attendant, be able to return to Charden? And what will become of the narcissistic Crown Prince's love? <<less

Taida Isamu, a 35-year-old freelancer, has neither close friends nor a girlfriend to share his love with. His only purpose in life is playing VRMMOs. However, modern VRMMOs have become communication tools for the socially successful, and Isamu, a loser, finds himself constantly being hunted in every game he plays. When he becomes fed up with everything, including VRMMOs, due to their similarity to reality, Isamu receives a beta test acceptance notification for a new title.... more>>

That's when he comes up with the idea of hunting beginners. To vent his daily frustrations, he plans to gain knowledge in the beta version and level up faster than others, allowing him to unilaterally hunt down novices right after the game's release. Finally, on the day of the official release, he immediately tries to lure new players outside the city to player-kill them. However, his slightly remaining conscience leads him to provide detailed advice instead.

As he repeats this process, he gradually becomes known as the "Tutorial Guy" and gains the affection of other players. Eventually, he earns the trust of the game's management, and along with that, his real life also starts to improve. <<less

"Stella, please find the cursed jar and break it!"... more>>

In the Credion Empire, where I was taken as a hostage, I encountered these small beings, and their earnest plea was so cute that I agreed to grant their request.

What came out was none other than a pickaxe.
"This is a noble pickaxe, blessed by Goddess Terra! Now, Stella, you too can become a noble farmer!"

Farming, of all things. Despite being a bastard, Stella had always been far removed from such pursuits and simply shook her head, dismissing the idea.
Yet, as time passed, she increasingly found herself drawn to the pickaxe, and it seemed as if the garden beyond was calling out to her.

Strange, why do I suddenly want to farm?

**

Kai, who had been solely focused on expanding his territory, had never found interest in anything else.
One day, he stumbled upon a mysterious field in a secluded corner of the imperial palace, and drawn by an inexplicable fragrance, he was compelled to approach.

What he found there was... none other than carrots?
"Why are there carrots here..."
"What, were you hungry? You look like a low-ranking knight, you can take that carrot and eat it."

Charmed by the sight of the unfamiliar woman, who spoke kindly while holding a pickaxe, Kai involuntarily took a carrot and ate it.
That night, "What's with that carrot... Why can't I stop thinking about it?" <<less

Meet Elena Kaslana, the half-blood Veela with a danger level that's off the charts. Hogwarts' guardian, creature savior, and magic-world unifier—she's the powerhouse who turned chaos into harmony.... more>>

As Hogwarts' Big Sister, she doused ancient feuds between the houses, making the school a haven. Countless magical creatures owe their lives to her, as she brokered peace between humans and the magical realm.

But Elena's not just a peacemaker; she's a trendsetter. She's the Master Chef of magical cuisine, the Third Dark Lord with style, and the Apex Predator everyone respects.

Her journey intertwined with magical legends—Dumbledore, Grindelwald, Scamander—leaving an everlasting impact.

Get ready for a riveting story? Brace yourself for the extraordinary saga of Elena Kaslana—a cautionary tale celebrating an incredible female protagonist! <<less

I like sitting on the empty street during the night, listening to the hushed whispers of 'them,' savoring the clamor of 'their' noise.

"I won’t take in a consort. The Empress will be my only partner."... more>>

Being cautious about marriage isn’t unnatural.

Lucas, the Emperor of the Everia, rejects marriage using the pretext of seeking true love. In order to resolve the crisis of the Empire, Rosedale, the messenger of Eros, steps forward!

However, why is this man so unresponsive to the arrows of love? <<less

--I dream of a world filled with light. Family. School. Friends. Trains. Buses. Movies. Books. “I” grow up in a world of light... and, in the end, I am enveloped in darkness within a white room. Upon waking from the dream, I find myself transformed into a small demon in a world known as the Demon Realm. “--I want to go back--” What spreads in the heart of ‘me’ is the yearning for the world of light seen in the dream. And one day, I leap into the “Summoning Gate” that appears before me. When ‘I’ wake up again, I am born as a human baby. It’s the Holy Kingdom. A human world different from... more>> the one ‘I’ wished to return to. Despite being a demon, with only the power of a baby, ‘I’ am filled with fear. The fact that ‘I’ am a demon must be kept hidden—...

Now, beloved humans. Offer that despair to the “Demon [Me].” <<less

Why are you treating only me like this!... more>>

I’m not suspicious, believe me.

I’m a harmless person.

"A villain? Not at all.” <<less

You’ve transmigrated into a dating sim game where you’re doomed no matter what you choose. Now you have to win over the elusive Tower Lord whose heart you’ve failed to capture every time. But how can you do that when you’ve turned into your bias’s messenger bird?... more>>

The system says [“You have one year to accumulate 10000 affection levels or you will lose.

“You…what are you doing?”
“I’m asking for your hand in marriage.”

[Oops, Rai Sherfied’s affection for you has dropped 5849!]

I thought there was no hope for me after being rejected for every answer I chose.
It’s weird. My bias, who was so hard to meet before, keeps appearing in front of me.

“Don’t do anything dangerous and stay by my side.”
“I don’t know what will happen to you if you’re left alone.”
“You’re my student, so I’m responsible for you.”

And they let me stay by their side and take care of me?
Does that mean I won’t be annihilated?

“Hmm…… ruffles a few feathers.”

[Oops! Rai Sherfied’s affection for you just dropped by 0.0001!]

You’re being a little harsh on me just for ruffling some feathers.
……It’s probably too soon to let your guard down. <<less

This is a story in which a boy learns about duty, and a man learns about love. A s*ave boy plotted the encounter with the greatest general of the Northern Plains. He became the general’s best disciple, learning archery, combat, warfare, literature, and most of all, loyalty. He was his s*ave, his subordinate, his officer, his student, his champion, his adopted son, and his lover.... more>>

However, this is not a fairytale for the faintest of hearts. Here, absolute power is brought through sacrifice, betrayal, and bloodshed, and lingering attachment begins from conspiracy and espionage. Emotions and intent flicker between sincerity and deception, and truth lies between truth and lies.

But love is always true, for there will be no regrets.

“Anywhere you see from your steed, and everywhere the golden rays of the sun can reach, will be my home.”

“You are the legend of the steppes. For I shall also become a legend—one greater and more resounding than yours—When people remember you, they will also remember me!” <<less

One day when I was working as a low-ranking civil servant in a hopeless imperial palace department.... more>>

I realized that I had reincarnated in a novel.

“Oh my god, the villain is about to start a war, right? If a war breaks out, people like me will be the first to die!”

An imminent war as per the original setting.

If I want to live, I must first save the crown prince!

Save the crown prince who dies first in the original story
I leaked the original’s information to catch the villains
Suddenly, I became the youngest minister.

I didn’t really mean to get ahead, but there’s nothing wrong with that!

Let’s just catch the villain.

* * *

It’s a lot of fun to abuse the villains, and the taste of power is also very sweet.

However…

“His Highness the Crown Prince has a great sense of responsibility, but since he has nowhere to focus, he may want to run away sometimes.”

The strange new intern is talking nonsense.

No, how did I save the prince!

“What? Run awaaaay?”

With a glint in my eyes, I said grimly.

“If His Highness runs away… I will personally chase him to the end of the continent. I will somehow drag him by the collar, stick tight next to him, and keep an eye on him.”

Hmm?

But intern, why are you shaking? Why are your ears red? <<less

On the Rune Continent, there is a god who doesn’t want to be a god.... more>>

He spends every day slacking off and never does anything productive.

He is known as the Immoral God!

Making fun of his people is his greatest joy.

When the god is sleeping, it is the most beautiful time in the world.

Until one day, he falls in love with a non-existent girl.

The love of a god is destined to be bloody and intense.

Since then, this world has been destined to be restless…

The god said: “The sun is too bright, it’s hurting my wife’s eyes.”

So, the world lost its sun.

People asked:

“Where is your wife?”

“Why can’t we see her?” <<less

The hero party has defeated the demon lord.... more>>

“Our adventure is not over yet!”

“Can’t we just cleanly break up and live our own lives…?”

The thief of the hero party wants to be expelled. <<less

Struggling until the age of thirty-eight without being able to afford a house. Facing the need to pay a dowry of three hundred thousand in order to get married. Living frugally for most of his life, working to the point of his liver breaking.... more>>

But, where was his money? Who in the world earned all the money away?

Jiang Qin, filled with countless resentments, is reborn at the age of eighteen. The only thought upon opening his eyes was to start a business and make money.

He snatched back the love letter he had given, flipped it over, and under the shocked gaze of the school belle, wrote three lines:

I shall never work a job again!

I just want financial freedom, never to be a s*ave!

As for love? Not even dogs would bother with that! <<less

The hero Arthur sets out on a journey with his four companions to defeat the Demon King.... more>>

He is unable to have s*x due to the “Blessing of Purity” bestowed by the goddess, but his companions.. <<less

Yu Xiao, a terminal stage cancer patient with an incurable condition, had reached a point where she had accepted her fate. Living each day with indifference, she had already made peace with the idea of departing from this world.... more>>

One day, her phone automatically downloaded an app called ‘Four Hospital Patients’ Discussion Forum’.

“Four Hospital? Isn’t that the local psychiatric hospital?”

Curious, she tapped into the app. The top post read: 【Guide for the Morgue】

Yu Xiao:???

Second post: 【Cataloguing the Ghosts I’ve Encountered Over the Years】

Yu Xiao: No wonder it’s a forum from a psychiatric hospital.

【Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Sealing Master!】 This one seems quite intriguing!

———— That night, terror descended, and the hospital was engulfed in a crimson hue. Unnameable horrors lurked outside the wards, murmuring by the rooms, “Let’s see who’s been naughty now?”

————

During rounds that night, the inspection ghost lifted Yu Xiao’s blanket and stumbled upon the talismans by her pillow. The ghost was amazed to find high-level symbols.

The inspection ghost cried, “Why would advanced seals appear at a beginner’s level?!” <<less

*Sigh* “Another day with 0 viewers and only 3 subscribers… Am I just not cut out for this, I wonder…”... more>>

Karlin Yamada, a high school girl who streamed dungeon exploration, was on the brink of losing hope.

Inspired by elegant explorer characters from anime, she had started her channel a year ago as a noble lady conquering dungeons in a dress. Yet, whether due to her concept or her videos lacking entertainment value, despite her potential as an explorer, her channel remained stagnant.

One day, while exploring the lower levels of a dungeon, Karlin spotted a peculiar man.

“Well, I’m gonna set off an explosion now~”

In his hand was a dangerous substance prohibited by the country, on the verge of ignition—

“What the heck are you doing? Geeez!”

Her ladylike demeanor forgotten, she delivered a swift punch. Along with her scolding, she promptly rendered the man unconscious.

“It’s fortunate I ended the stream before this. I can’t possibly broadcast such an indecent scene,” Karlin mused, carrying the man outside and taking him home.

However, behind the scenes…

“Who’s that high-and-mighty rich girl!?”

“Why did the rising star explorer get knocked around unilaterally!?”

“Seriously, why’s she wearing a dress in the lower levels!?”

“Isn’t she completely nuts!?”

The man Karlin had dealt with was a notorious troublemaking dungeon streamer. Her action of physically stopping his dangerous behavior was globally broadcasted. The video of the young, promising explorer being lectured by a mysterious young lady started going viral. Karlin’s account was swiftly identified due to her accidental failure to end the stream. By the next morning, she unwittingly became a legend.

In this manner, Karlin’s extraordinary strength and exceptional feats gained exposure and continued to trend. Her popularity and influence transcended the boundaries of streaming, evolving into something much bigger. <<less

The story is set several centuries into the slow decline of mankind. Earth has now become the realm of "fairies" - 10-centimeter-tall (about 4-inch-tall) creatures... more>> with remarkable intelligence. The human protagonist of the story serves an important duty as the international arbitrator between the fairies and humans, and she returns to her former hometown of Kusunoki. She chose this job because she thought it was an easy job she can do, even when she is as old as her grandfather. However, she learns that her job is anything but simple when she meets the fairies. <<less

Song Nanshi arrived in a cultivation world composed of three novels, where everyone in the sect except her was a protagonist.... more>>

The Eldest Senior Brother was a reincarnated protagonist who withdrew from his marriage early on. He possessed a jade pendant and was known in the martial world as Long Aotian. He used a broken sword to build his foundation and killed the boss of the Nascent Soul realm.

The Second Senior Sister was a stand-in who was betrayed in a crematorium. After being reborn, she became enlightened and had both her cold master and her former fiancé lining up at the crematorium.

The Youngest Junior Sister was the female lead of a sweet novel. She raised a demon prince who could transform into a human in her cave. She was regularly pinched at the waist and pressed against the wall affectionately by the jealous prince.

Song Nanshi became the Third Senior Sister, who had the least presence in the sect. Not only did she lack any special plotlines, but she also, having been an atheist in her past life, became a professional fortune-teller in this life, using a turtle shell every day to tell fortunes.

Faced with the fate of being involved in the main storyline as a background character in her daily life, Song Nanshi, who considered herself the only ordinary person in the sect, chose to be indifferent.

Eldest Senior Brother: “Junior Sister, does being born lowly mean I have to accept my fate?”

Song Nanshi took out the turtle shell and comforted, “Senior Brother, your fate is in your hands.”

Eldest Senior Brother: “!”

Second Senior Sister: “Junior Sister, he has done so much for me. Should I forgive him? But I feel unwilling!”

Song Nanshi took out the tarot cards, shook her head after a series of operations, and said, “Delayed affection is inferior to grass.”

Second Senior Sister: “!”

Youngest Junior Sister hesitated, “Third Senior Sister, he said he wants to propose to me, but… he’s a demon, and I’m human.”

Song Nanshi looked up at the gloomy sky, “I have observed the celestial phenomena at night; you two are definitely a match made in heaven!”

Youngest Junior Sister: “!”

Eldest Senior Brother/Second Senior Sister/Youngest Junior Sister: She understands me so well!

In the original work, Song Nanshi, out of jealousy towards her fellow disciples, conspires with the antagonist and is eventually killed.

This time, she encountered a pitiful antagonist who had just been betrayed by his family.

After a moment of silence, Song Nanshi chose to take out her treasure, the turtle shell, and said sincerely, “Brother, do you want a reading? It’s only ten spiritual stones.” <<less

“Black-haired bastard…”... more>>

Why, oh why, do the main leads in romance fantasy novels always go with a dark-haired man? And why, oh why, do I always end up giving my heart to a brunette?

Vileon Byers, the sub-male in the novel “The Marriage Alliance”.

He is the childhood friend of the heroine, Empress Odette, and is now Chancellor of the Empire.

Reader 1 has unique tastes, and she’s always drawn to the sub-male lead who never gets the girl.

How can the Chancellor defeat the iron-blooded, black-haired Northern Archduke!!

Crying out in the night, Reader 1 suddenly possessed Marienne Didi, the third assistant to the Chancellor in the book

Yes, I will fulfill my greatest love and make Vileon the leading man of “The Marriage Alliance”!

“Don’t you want to dye your hair? What do you think about black hair?”

“Why do you suddenly think I should dye my hair black?”

“Because it’s the only way to end your long-standing unrequited love, Lord Byers.”

If your hair colour is a problem, dye it!

If it’s the power, you practice!

Let’s call it Operation

B.U.T.

“Leaving the place without looking back, speaking coldly while staying close… What’s all this?”

“It’s the way to communicate with the Fourth Princess.”

“Does Her Highness really like this kind of behavior?”

“Without a doubt.”

“But it seems like the behavior of a very violent person.”

Vileon halfheartedly complies with Didi’s wishes. However, Odette remains unmoved, Vileon smirks, and the Northern Archduke appears.

Despite her appearance as a fluffy, cotton candy-like rabbit, she pushes her favorite character from the original work like a fierce beast.

Will she succeed? <<less

Chen Daoxuan stumbled upon an extraordinary system after crossing into a new realm. Whenever he took an apprentice under his wing, unimaginable rewards awaited him, and the critical hits from his apprentices would return ten thousandfold.... more>>

Puzzled, Chen Daoxuan wondered, "Why don't my disciples seem to regard me the same way?"

The eldest disciple, the Demon Empress, declared with unwavering loyalty, As long as the master gives an order, the disciple is willing to sacrifice everything in the world for the master."

Second Disciple, Saintess: "What is the highest state of Master?"

Third Disciple, Sword Immortal: "Damn it, the world says I am the number one swordsman genius in the world, but why am I not even ten thousandth as good as my master?"

As word of Chen Daoxuan's abilities spreads, the reverence towards him grows.

Many Holy Places: "If we are a holy place, then his power is like a heavenly existence!"

All Immortals in the Immortal World: "His strength is not comparable to that of our fairyland, and he is probably already the supreme saint!"

Saint Supreme: "Don't get involved with me, I don't want to face that existence either!"

Embark on a thrilling journey as Chen Daoxuan grapples with the consequences of his newfound powers and the complexities of his relationships with his devoted disciples. Unravel the mysteries of the system that granted him his strength, and discover the true extent of his abilities in a world where unimaginable forces collide.

Prepare to be enthralled by this captivating tale of power, loyalty, and otherworldly encounters. Witness the rise of an enigmatic master whose might echoes through the realms. Brace yourself for an epic adventure that will leave you yearning for more! <<less

A world turned into a game by a transcendent intervention. While others are fighting for their lives in an apocalyptic situation, I’ll be sucking honey.... more>>

Real honey, the kind that smells sweet and tastes like honey, with the bees showing off their fluffy, attractive bottoms. <<less

Cheng Liu successfully found a boyfriend half a year ago, but unfortunately she was too busy and work kept her running around. Apart from giving him some red envelopes, she had no time to accompany her boyfriend, which caused her boyfriend to complain on the phone that their relationship has faded.... more>>

Cheng Liu: It seems that the feelings are not so strong, right?

However, in order to cultivate this relationship (and maintain the status of not being a single dog), Cheng Liu still decided to come back early from a business trip and hinted in WeChat when she would come back, thinking that her boyfriend would understand.

On the day the plane landed, Cheng Liu scanned around the arrivals area, and sure enough, she saw a tall, handsome man in the crowd.

That’s right, that must be her boyfriend! It’s just that she hasn’t seen him for such a long time, and now he seems to somehow look better? Standing in the crowd, he looks so good-looking that he seems to shine!

Cheng Liu stepped forward and took the bouquet of lily-of-the-valley from his hand: “I’m back.”

…

A few days later, Cheng Liu took her boyfriend to go shopping, and they ran into a loving couple. The guy panicked when he saw her, and immediately let go of the woman’s hand.

But then the guy started accusing her: “It turns out that you haven’t shown up for half a year because you’re cheating on me!

Cheng Liu: “???”

……

The title is an idiom which means once you discover you’ve made a mistake, you might as well keep the mistake (´ ᴗ｀✿) <<less