Publishers Announce Illustrator Change Amidst Controversy
Japanese light novel illustrator Gaou has been removed from his roles on two prominent series, “Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant!” (追放者食堂へようこそ！) and “I May Be a Guild Receptionist, But I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time” (ギルドの受付嬢ですが、残業は嫌なのでボスをソロ討伐しようと思います). The decision by publishers Overlap Bunko and Dengeki Bunko came after Gaou reportedly admitted to a sexual relationship with a minor during a livestream program in Japan on June 29, 2025.
Details of Gaou’s Removal
Following the reported admission, Gaou also stated that he had “no choice but to retire” from his illustration career. Publishers Dengeki Bunko and Overlap Bunko made separate announcements on July 1 and July 2, 2025, respectively, confirming Gaou’s removal as the illustrator for both light novel series.
For “Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant!”, written by Yūki Kimikawa, Overlap Bunko is actively working to replace Gaou in existing volumes. Similarly, Dengeki Bunko, which publishes Mato Kousaka’s “I May Be a Guild Receptionist, But I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time,” is in discussions regarding the handling of existing novel volumes and the selection of a new illustrator.
Impact on Related Media and Projects
The repercussions of the situation have extended beyond the light novel series. DMM GAMES’ EXNOA company, which had utilized Gaou for character designs in its “Girls Creation” role-playing game, issued a statement on June 30, 2025. While clarifying that Gaou was not currently creating content for the game, they acknowledged the possibility of changes to some in-game character designs.
Furthermore, the anime adaptation of “Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant!”, which premiered on July 3, 2025, also swiftly reacted to the news. Gaou’s name was removed from the anime’s official website and X (formerly Twitter) account on June 30, 2025. Promotional videos for the anime were also temporarily removed from the website before being re-posted.
The light novel “I May Be a Guild Receptionist, But I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time” had also previously collaborated with the Hololive-affiliated VTuber Minato Aqua, who was also illustrated by Gaou. The series had won the gold prize at the 27th Dengeki Novel Prize in 2021.
Both publishers have stated that they will announce the new illustrators for each novel series as soon as decisions have been made.
