J-Novel Club has announced the license acquisition of 13 new light novel and manga series, as well as six more print releases, during a recent industry livestream on YouTube.
The new licenses include a total of 10 light novel titles and three manga series joining the J-Novel Club digital catalog.
Here are the details on J-Novel Club’s latest series:
Light Novels
Fired? But I Maintain All the Software!
Story: Yuki Kashirome
Illustrations: icchi
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club, along with its manga adaptation.
Synopsis:
Once the sole engineer maintaining the systems at her company, Ai Sato is laid off without warning one day. (Apparently, the new CEO doesn’t approve of cosplaying at work… Rude!) Moping won’t pay the bills, so Ai sets out to find a new job—only to bump into an old friend, Kenta Suzuki, who just so happens to need a business partner. Together, they’ll run a coding school for people truly in need.
Their first student is of course…a salaryman hoping to improve his relationship with his family? Each new recruit that follows seems to be struggling under modern expectations: from a harried woman determined to prove her worth at work, to a jobless hopeful who wants to fulfill his mother’s dream, and more. If Ai wants to bring out their best, she’ll need to teach them a lesson in not just coding skills but also how to build up their confidence!
Sister Mafioso
Story: Adachi
Illustrations: Kyozip
A J-Novel Heart title with the first two parts of Volume 1 now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
Under the cover of darkness, Dina Ferletti—the young, golden-haired queen of the fiendish Ferletti family—was tossed into a nearby canal and left for dead. The next day, a redhead with “amnesia” washed up on the shore of a rural seaside town.
For the past decade, Dina’s lived the charmed life of a nun-in-training, but her blessings seemingly run out when Teodoro, a member of the family, breaks into the chapel. He’s arrived under orders to bring the don’s little sister home, but Teo’s true intentions lie with bringing the Ferlettis to justice.
As a result, Dina’s forced to give him a hand by posing as…herself?! And if she’s discovered, her death won’t be staged this time. So God, please let this lie stand!
Starting on Hard Mode: God Levels, Got Problems
Story: Hanmenkyoushi
Illustrations: ririnra
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
You have been reincarnated. From here on, a free life awaits you.
Merlin awakens in a strange new world with all memories of his past life erased. He might have a princely face and god-tier stats now, but he quickly learns his so-called “freedom” may be limited by his ridiculous powers. Especially when a casual wave of his hand can sunder the ground and tapping his finger sends people flying! The last thing this equation needs is a series of chaotic new companions, even if they are beautiful. How else will Merlin find peace among all this noise?
Return of the Corpse King: Reining in My Cringe Secret Society
Story: Sty
Illustrations: Tumeki
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
Imagine being summoned to another world to be the hero, beat the Demon King, and live an adventure…only to be forced to return to modern-day Japan. That’s what happened to Hizaki Shio. Those exploits seem like forever ago—he is in high school now—even though it’s only been three years.
But just as Hizaki has settled back into reality, he’s suddenly summoned again and this time to stop the Secret Society, Helheim! However, Shio has a slightly cringey secret… He founded Helheim himself, during an embarrassing phase when he went around calling himself the Corpse King. It’s physically painful to remember. So who could be using Helheim’s name in his place, and how did it become so powerful? It’s time to confront the marks he left behind. First stop: the Steel City of Gaghiel to rescue a noble heiress!
Unsung Epics of the Hero’s Journey
Story: Hachigatsumori
Illustrations: Nat.
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
A hero has been chosen by the divine blade!
She’s due to set out on a journey to defeat the archfi end, leaving the city abuzz. But from the shadows dawns a prophecy that the hero will be cut down before she ever reaches the archfi end’s stronghold. To avert this tragedy, the temple dispatches Rhuys Ferme to redirect the stream of events leading to the hero’s death and to keep the omen secret. Only problem is that this is a job for two. Enter Araignée: (in)famously skilled adventurer who’s willing to help—for a price. And no one said it’d just be money that Rhuys had to pay.
Miss Medic’s Diary at War
Story: Tama Masaki
Illustrations: Kureta
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
As someone “blessed” with the rare potential for recovery magic, Tory Noelle is drafted as a combat medic at the tender age of fifteen. Fighting as a teen soldier won’t shake her confidence, though—not when she can recall carefree days of playing first-person-shooter games in a previous life. But a world full of magic isn’t as fun as it once seemed. Now living the nightmare that was once her playground, Tory faces a serious question: can she build her skills fast enough to buffer against the brutality of war, or is she doomed to become another bloody stain on the battlefield?
The Reincarnated Mastermind: Sundering Fate with Magic Swords
Story: Ryou Yuuki
Illustrations: Nakamura
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
Ren thought his reward for being the first to clear the sequel to The Legend of the Seven Heroes would be personal satisfaction. So when he’s rewarded with “special content,” he quickly accepts…only to wake up as a baby in the game’s world. At first, hoping he’s been reborn as the hero, Ren instead discovers his new life is that of the story’s shadowy antagonist, the figure suspected to be the mastermind behind the entire trilogy.
Good thing Ren is fully intent on living a peaceful life in the countryside—without getting involved with any characters or world-ending plots. But when he crosses paths with the very saint he is meant to kill in canon, Ren realizes fate may be the ultimate final boss.
The Path of an S-Rank Adventurer: From Deadweight to Weapon Master
Story: Satou
Illustrations: Hitakiyuu
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
The adventuring party Sacred is quickly becoming famous for its incredible heroic exploits—and its supremely talented leader, Sasha. Almost no one remembers that Sacred ever had a co-leader: Hyse. Once Sasha’s childhood friend, he was booted from the party, reduced from his already tenuous position as workhorse to plain deadweight. Devastation at the betrayal and shame over his own weakness drives Hyse to pour his bitterness into learning his Ability, an unfathomable power not even he fully understands.
Now mistrustful but determined, Hyse steps up to take on the world—and the comrades who abandoned him.
Reborn to Reign: Imposing My Rules with My Mastery of Magic
Story: Byakushi
Illustrations: Falmaro
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
He cannot remember anything of his past life, not even his name. He can’t even remember the details of the novel he’s been reincarnated into. All the newly-awakened Vanitas Lindblum does remember is that he’s been cast as the villain in this world—and that by the novel’s end, he’s doomed to die.
Determined to avoid that fate, he undertakes learning the ancient skill of Grasping Magic, which not one of his foes is able to wield. Along the way, the women enslaved by the evil Vanitas—destined to become the hero’s right-hand women and overthrow him—are instead allured by this change in his personality and begin to…admire their new master? Can the antagonist cheat death and even find love?
Proud to Be the Villainess
Story: Mary=Doe
Illustrations: Kuga Huna
The first two parts of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
For years, Wellmy Ernest has made her half-sister Iora’s life a living nightmare. She forced Iora to obscure her beauty, treated her like a servant, and even stole her fi ancé. Their own father and his second wife joined in on the torment, cruelly confiscating Iora’s belongings and forcing her to live in a cold, drab detached building. Now that Iora has turned eighteen, Wellmy is ready for the final insult: marrying her off to Aides Ormirage, the handsome yet heartless mage lord.
Tonight, at last, her brilliant scheme will reach its climax at the banquet held by Aides himself. Yet as the villainess prepares for her final act, she is acutely aware that all that awaits her is her own doom.
Manga
Starting on Hard Mode: God Levels, Got Problems
Original Story: Hanmenkyoushi
Art: SOTONO
Based on the light novel series of the same name. The first chapter of Volume 1 is now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
After waking to find himself reincarnated and his past-life memories erased, Merlin is looking forward to a life of ease—but his reality is anything but easy! “Blessed” with god-tier stats and divine good looks, he quickly discovers that a normal life is next to impossible for someone who’s constantly mistaken for a deity. It doesn’t help that being OP means he can barely lift a finger without causing mass destruction! Then there’s the issue of all the girls who desperately need his help.
Too overpowered and too overrun with damsels in distress—will Merlin ever get to kick back and enjoy his new life?
The Accursed Chef and His Pair of Furry Foodies
Original Story: Yuu Tanaka
Art: Watarinica
Based on the light novel series of the same name. The first chapter of Volume 1 is now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
Things get cooking right away in this dungeon epic with cheat skills and delicious dishes! Koichi Suzuki, an incorrigible lover of beastfolk and their adorably fluffy ears, dies young after heroically saving a child. In a divine exchange, his reward is reincarnation into another world… and the ability to cook up magical beasts? Now called Thor, he must use the knowledge of his past life and newfound culinary skills to survive a world that shows mercy to no one, not even children. But just as he manages to find his footing, who should appear before him but two beastfolk on the verge of death! Thor will have to cook up a recipe for success if he wants all three of them to survive. And so begins their story of furry ears, mouthwatering cooking, and dungeon crawling!
All Eyes on Nekoyashiki-kun! Notice Me, Not My Characters
Story and Art: Kazuki Minamoto
A J-Novel Knight title. The first chapter of Volume 1 is now available on J-Novel Club.
Synopsis:
Meet up-and-coming indie manga artist, Nekoyashiki Mamoru! He might have garnered a small, dedicated fanbase devoted to his gay comics and even scored a coveted seller’s booth at the bi-annual Comic Kingdom event, but this paltry fame isn’t enough! It’s certainly not on the level of Kazama Issei, an actual idol and Mamoru’s childhood friend. When a chance encounter throws them back into each other’s orbit, things get complicated as the ever-cheerful Issei brings back messy childhood memories and inspires feelings of inferiority in Mamoru. Their paths crash together in this story about professional challenges, personal feelings, and…moobs? sense of purpose. Who knew that coding lessons could change so many lives?
Print Titles
The 100th Time’s the Charm She Was Executed 99 Times, So How Did She Unlock “Super Love” Mode! (Manga)
Original Story: Yuji Yuji
Art: Roharu Kai
A J-Novel Heart title. Volume 1 will be available in print on June 23, 2026. The series will be released as single print volumes.
Synopsis:
Falsely accused of plotting to assassinate the Saint, Lady Alphina fi nds her engagement to the frigid prince called off and her head under the guillotine. Time rewinds upon her death, but despite all efforts to stave off her fate, she faces the same end 99 times over. Just when all hope seems lost, she awakens a new power during her 100th loop. She can now hear the thoughts of those around her, and it turns out her accusers were a lot more enamored of her than she thought! Can she use this newfound ability to turn her fortunes around? The 100th time’s the charm!
Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight (Manga)
Original Story: Fuyu Aoki
Art: Yuyu Kouhara
A J-Novel Heart title. Volume 1 will be available in print on June 23, 2026. The series will be released as single print volumes.
Synopsis:
Born with an unusual birthmark on her back, Chloe Ardennes was immediately branded a “cursed child” by her superstitious family and locked away in their estate for her entire life. Forced to cook and clean, Chloe’s world shatters one day when an encounter with her mother at knifepoint drives her to flee the only home she’s ever known. Desperately seeking refuge, she escapes to the only sanctuary she knows: the royal capital. But is the big city everything she hoped it would be? Just as she finds herself on the brink of despair, a mysterious, gallant knight rescues her, offering a glimmer of hope and the promise of a new beginning.
The Water Magician (Manga)
Original Story: Tadashi Kubou
Art: BOKUTENGO
Volume 1 will be available in print on July 28, 2026. The series will be released in single print volumes.
Synopsis:
Upon being reincarnated into a fantasy world, Ryo wants to live out his days in peace with his newfound water magic. He can only conjure a cupful at a time, but it’s enough to eke out a comfortable existence — or so he thought. The powers that be cast him into the wild outlands with nothing more than a humble shack, a single knife, some food…and abilities that are yet beyond his comprehension. The area is overrun by monsters and there’s nary another human in sight. Ryo must now figure out how to survive above all else, but he’s ready to take bulls, boars, and a whole host of other monsters by the horns if it means seizing the life he wants for himself.
Each new victory brings a new challenge, but what could a fateful encounter with a headless horseman, a dragon, and a castaway swordsman have in common? They’re the fi rst steps on a grand journey that will take Ryo beyond the borders of all he knows to become the greatest water magician the world has ever seen — one adventure at a time.
The Water Magician (Light Novel)
Story: Tadashi Kubou
Arc 1, Volume 1 will be available in print on August 25, 2026. The light novels will be released in single print volumes.
Synopsis:
Ryo is delighted to be reincarnated into the fantastical world of Phi, where he thinks he’ll get to live a quiet life learning to use his newfound water magic. Going with the flow here, however, means something very different. Ryo is immediately pitted against the wild lands he winds up in and the slew of deadly monsters that call the remote subcontinent home.
You’d think he’d forget about taking it easy when he’s stuck fighting for his life, but lucky for Ryo, he’s naturally optimistic, clever, and blessed with the hidden “Eternal Youth” trait. Twenty years pass in the blink of an eye, and each encounter along the way pushes him one step closer to the pinnacle of human magic. Little does he realize that’s only the opening chapter of his tale. A fateful meeting soon thrusts Ryo to the forefront of history, forever changing the course of his life…
Thus begins the adventures of the strongest water magician the world has ever seen—who also likes to do things at his own pace!
An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Omnibus Edition (Light Novel)
Story: Fuminori Teshima
Illustrations: COMTA
The light novel series will be released in print omnibus format, collecting three volumes each. The first omnibus volume will be released on October 27, 2026.
Synopsis:
Zagan is feared by the masses as an evil sorcerer. Both socially awkward and foul-mouthed, he spends his days studying sorcery while beating down any trespassers within his domain. One day he’s invited to a dark auction, and what he fi nds there is an elven slave girl of peerless beauty, Nephy. Having fallen in love at fi rst sight, Zagan uses up his entire fortune to purchase her, but being a poor conversationalist, he has no idea how to properly interact with her. Thus, the awkward cohabitation of a sorcerer who has no idea how to convey his love and his slave who yearns for her master but has no idea how to appeal to him begins.
The Young Lady Is the Substitute Harvest Goddess (Light Novel)
Story: Gabihime
Illustrations: Reine Kuwashima
The first volume of the J-Novel Club Original Light Novel Contest runner-up selection will be available in print on October 27, 2026.
Synopsis:
Demeter Serraffi eld is a young lady aristocrat and enthusiastic gamer. One night she is summoned in her sleep by a goddess and is given an unexpected job—to take over as harvest goddess for a whole other world! She’s suddenly whisked away to a world with rules that are strangely like those of the farming games she loves. In this cozy slow-life series, Demeter takes over the role of harvest goddess for a world of dryads, talking animals, lush wilderness, and quaint forest villages. With her gamifi ed goddess abilities and noble charisma (and the help of some new friends), she’ll take a world under attack from environmental danger and make it thrive!
Source: press release
