Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord
The beginning of Light Magic and the Hero, an otome RPG, unfolds fairly normally: the heroine, Alicia Ehnleit, meets her three love interests one after another and then inevitably comes face-to-face with the villainess. Yumiella Dolkness may be of noble descent, but her dark hair and rare dark-type magic—both associated with the Demon Lord—spark fear in anyone who sees her. When she is five years old, Yumiella regains memories of her previous life in modern Japan, also realizing that her fate is to become the hidden boss that appears after Alicia and her suitors defeat the Demon Lord. * Yumiella refuses to live as the game dictates and, as she prefers the game's fantasy elements over its romance, she decides to cultivate her magical skills and level up in secret. However, everything falls apart on the day of the Royal Academy's entrance ceremony. Yumiella's powers are measured at level 99—something thought impossible even for the royal knights, let alone a 15-year-old girl. With the royal family requesting her help, and everyone else insisting that she prove her strength, Yumiella realizes that her dream of a quiet life is no longer an option. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
While exploring a labyrinth, Rentt Faina, an adventurer with lots of experience but little to show for it, is killed by a dragon upon discovering its lair. Shockingly, he wakes up to find himself turned into a skeleton, the lowest class of undead monsters. As Rentt fights against the other monsters of the labyrinth, he discovers that slaying them gains him experience towards higher stages of undead evolution—even ones with flesh! With this revelation in hand, Rentt obtains a new objective in his undeath: keep evolving in the hope of eventually becoming a vampire, the highest form of undead that is nearly indistinguishable from human beings. * Despite being forced to hide his past identity and monstrous nature under an unremovable mask, Rentt manages to return to a semblance of his former life. Granted shelter by Lorraine Vivier, an elite researcher and retired adventurer, Rentt assumes her surname and starts over from scratch as a rookie. Determined to pursue his childhood dream and become a mithril-class adventurer, Rentt must be cautious not to disclose his new bodily circumstances, lest the adventurers’ guild seek to exterminate the monster he has become. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies
An evil army is leading a ground invasion against Earth, and their Lieutenant Shun Miller is determined to wreak havoc upon the populace. Miller's ruthless reputation strikes fear even into the hearts of his own subordinates, making him the perfect leader of a charge against a city protected by a powerful magical girl, Byakuya Mimori. However, his attack comes to a halt on the day of their first encounter—because he unexpectedly falls in love with Byakuya at first sight! * Overcome by Byakuya's adorably delicate innocence, Miller begins to shower her with gifts and kindness. But Miller soon learns that Byakuya's Angel—the cat-like familiar who turned her into a magical girl—has been exploiting and manipulating her all along. This discovery solidifies Miller's resolve to ensure Byakuya goes on to lead a happier life, but as the war continues, they wonder if their blossoming affection can overcome the reality of their differences. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
After her parents are killed by bandits, young Sarasa Feed is sent to an orphanage where she learns about the prestigious world of alchemy. Determined to follow in her late parents' footsteps and become an independent business owner, she enrolls at the Royal Alchemist Academy to train and get certified as an official alchemist. * Five years later, Sarasa graduates from the institution and nearly achieves her dream before realizing that she lacks the funds to do so. Left with little choice, she makes do with a low-priced storefront in a town situated far away from the bustling capital. Despite the threat of treacherous terrain and dangerous monsters in the remote countryside, Sarasa begins her exciting new life as an alchemist. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
In the studio of the morning childrens' show "Together with Mama," a crew of miserable adults prepares their facades of amicable smiles and cheerful exteriors to educate a group of innocent preschoolers. In the middle of it stands Uramichi Omota, a former gymnast who can't help but bring the kids down to earth by revealing the harsh and depressing reality of adulthood, even in front of the rolling cameras. * Behind the scenes, Uramichi's much-desired peace is disturbed by his two bothersome juniors who work as the show's rabbit and bear mascots and singers: Utano Tadano, a woman who only wishes to get married; and Iketeru Daga, a handsome man with a crass sense of humor. From smoking and exercising to nihilistic outbursts, everyone's big brother Uramichi always brings up the not-so-moral side to his life lessons. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Ever since childhood, Scarlet El Vandimion has preferred to deal with wrongdoers by using her fists. However, to preserve her family's image, she suppresses her instincts and tolerates the abuse inflicted by her childish fiancé, Second Prince Kyle Von Pallistan. Only Kyle's brother, First Prince Julius, is aware that there is more to Scarlet than meets the eye, but she cares little about his growing interest. * In the middle of a ball, Kyle accuses Scarlet of harassing Terenezza Hopkins, a commoner that has taken his heart. Scarlet's engagement to Kyle is nullified, leaving her outraged that all of her efforts to endure thus far have amounted to nothing. Scarlet dons her studded leather gloves, once again becoming the "Mad Dog Princess." Joined by Julius and werebeast Nanaka, Scarlet is ready to give filthy nobles a taste of their own medicine—one punch at a time. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
To prepare for reincarnation in another world, Kelvin gives up select memories from his previous life in exchange for powerful abilities, additional skill points, and an S-class summoner title. As a bonus, the goddess facilitating his rebirth, Melfina, offers him a choice of any companion to give him a head start in his summoner role. Kelvin—who has fallen head over heels for Melfina at first sight—promptly chooses the deity, confident that his passionate feelings for her will resurface even without all of his memories. * Kelvin embarks on his exciting new journey with Melfina as his guide. However, in order to summon his beloved goddess' physical form, he needs to acquire significant amounts of mana points—and the best way to accomplish this is to level up by fighting strong enemies and making contracts with even stronger companions. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Setsu Sawamura runs away from his small home village following the death of his grandfather, the legendary shamisen master Matsugorou Sawamura. On his deathbed, Matsugorou told Setsu to give up the shamisen if he was only going to imitate others instead of playing in his own way. Grieving, Setsu heads for Tokyo, hoping that the big city can inspire him to discover his own unique playing style. But Tokyo defies his expectations by drowning out all other sounds with the deafening noise of its city life. * Concerned about her son, Setsu's rich and successful mother, Umeko, waltzes back into his life and forces him to enroll in Umezono Academy. At the school, he meets Shuri Maeda, a girl who is fascinated by the Tsugaru shamisen and wishes to perform a song her grandmother once heard a long time ago. Shuri starts up a shamisen appreciation club and convinces Setsu to teach the members how to play the instrument. As he becomes more involved with the club, will Setsu be able to recover his love for the shamisen and discover the unique sound he lacks? * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Kivotos is a federal megalopolis comprising thousands of schools and is led by the General Student Council (GSC), which acts as its governing body. Ironically, despite being an academy city, Kivotos is rife with gun violence, and all students wield firearms as part of their everyday lives. * As if the crisis in Kivotos was not enough, the GSC president is nowhere to be found. Fortunately, before her sudden disappearance, the GSC president enlisted the help of Sensei—a teacher who is most likely the only one in Kivotos—to support students in their time of need. Sensei's first course of action is to assist Abydos High School, a once prestigious academy now with merely five students in attendance. These remaining students are doing everything they can to pay their academy's crippling debt of almost one billion yen. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Everyone yearns to find their true purpose in life. This is also true for Nina Iseri, a 17-year-old girl looking to enroll in a good university, but the world always seems to work against her. On her very first day in Tokyo, she gets lost, ignored, and locked out of her new apartment. However, an unexpected opportunity arises when Nina meets Momoka Kawaragi, one of her favorite guitarists. * After Nina joins Momoka for a street performance, Momoka decides they should start a band together. While Nina initially hesitates, her determination grows as they start acquiring more bandmates—the beautiful drummer Subaru Awa, the aloof keyboardist Tomo Ebizuka, and the intelligent bassist Rupa. The five girls face challenges both in the music industry and within themselves, but their shared passion for music never lets them give up on their dreams. * [Written by MAL Rewrite]
