JNC Original Light Novel Contest Finalists (2025)

After the end of the war, Sir Eirich continues to fight an unseen battle—one that threatens to shroud his heart in darkness. As he travels with Iris, an exiled princess with secrets of her own, the two learn that hope can bloom in unlikely places.

A crush and crushing self-doubt? Pilia’s got both! But when she winds up piloting the world’s most powerful mecha with the planet’s jealous leaders watching—and with a certain someone as an unexpected coworker—she’ll have to fight more than feelings!

A century ago, a woman from Earth died and found herself in the fantasy world of Alfheim. But years after her second death, nobody can remember her. As war looms, her daughter Katja embarks on a journey to discover the truth behind the lost memories.

Mary has long held a crush on Helena, the local lord. After years of studying magic, she is brought in to help break a curse. But will Mary want to break the curse that gives her a shot at romance? Or will the scars of the Demon War ruin that chance?

The world Eri saw in her dreams was beautiful, with blue skies and flowers - nothing like her own, devastated by war. When pathways open between the worlds, Eri makes contact with the other side, but finds these portals have unexpected dangers.

Joe once dreamed of his isekai rebirth—just not one that left him a G-ranked clerk in a magical world. Between a demon army, an ancient riddle, and a hero in need of ‘rescuing’, his biggest challenge might just be filing the Guild’s taxes on time.

Lady Elaine Greymoor awakens imprisoned aboard a ship bound for deep space. When rescued by the King of Pirates, Elaine is forced to serve on the Nightwing, an experimental imperial corvette supposedly destroyed years ago…

Natsuko is paid based on how many people summon her, but power creep has left her behind. All she has now is a wine bottle that can knock things into oblivion. Permanently. Unfortunately, her stronger competitors are about to find out what she has.

So Damion's just been saved from freezing to death by a handsome stranger. Who, it turns out, is a vampire. A rich one. With ulterior motives for saving Damion, no less. But it's not blood the vampire wants. Or sex. He wants...to offer Damion a job?

Magical girls hold the line against eldritch abominations attacking Earth, while mundane mecha clear cannon-fodder. But one mecha pilot’s determined to fight beside the magical girls – even if a particular pint-sized firebrand doesn’t want him to!

Sophia has no problem tormenting the heroine as a mere extra. But when her overwhelming magical power is exposed, she finds her own desires now trump those of the villainess. Yet what she loves the most does not love her back.

The spirits of the underworld want to tear the heart out of Judy Harlowe’s chest. Facing them means facing the ghosts of her past that chased her down the land of the dead. Welcome to The Hotel Acheron. This is no one’s resting place.

In a Hong Kong where tech and magic collide, the Sentinel Corps defends the innocent from demons and deviants. Rookie Sentinel Alex Yong wants to make a difference—but his first case will bring him face to face with the city’s heart of darkness.