Do You Miss 86: Eighty Six? Its Author Finally Returns with The Yaebuki Agency

After establishing herself as one of the most influential voices in contemporary narrative with her war drama, the mind behind one of the biggest hits of recent years is ready to start a new chapter. Asato Asato, the acclaimed author of 86: Eighty Six, officially announced the launch of her next light novel series titled The Yaebuki Agency: Records of Traversing the Senmanjou Tower.

This new science fiction and spiritual action venture will be published under the prestigious Dengeki Bunko label starting June 10, 2026. The work will feature art by the talented necomi for the main illustrations, while Ozaki Imari will be in charge of the detailed world designs that will bring this brand-new universe to life.

Production and art behind The Yaebuki Agency

The project marks a significant milestone in the anime industry and print publishing, being Asato's first long-form original work undertaken outside the ecosystem of the Republic of San Magnolia. The new serialization will maintain the mature and detailed approach that characterizes the author, while exploring supernatural and technological elements in a vertical setting.

Creative team

To ensure visual quality on par with Asato Asato's narrative, a team of artists with extensive experience in Japanese animation and video games has been recruited:

• necomi as Lead Illustrator.Recognized for her designs in the game Fate/Grand Order and the illustrations for the light novel Spy Classroom.
• Ozaki Imari as World Designer.A specialist in complex environments, providing a unique aesthetic for the central tower's infrastructure.

The dangerous journey through the Senmanjou Tower

The story takes us to a world threatened by an imminent disaster that can only be stopped by conquering a gigantic and mysterious tower. An elite agency linked to the imperial palace is tasked with the mission of climbing this structure, facing an extremist cult that guards the ascent. The protagonists of this spiritual fantasy are twin sorcerer siblings and an experienced guard, who decide to join forces despite each hiding personal motives and secrets for risking their lives on the mission.

This announcement comes shortly after the original work of 86: Eighty Six reached the final arc of its main plot in September 2025 with its 14th volume. It is worth remembering that Asato's career took off in 2016 upon winning the Grand Prize at the Dengeki Novel Prize, leading to a successful anime adaptation that aired between 2021 and 2022, where the mangaka and writer actively participated in supervising the scripts.

Do you think Asato Asato's new story will manage to surpass the emotional impact that 86 left on us?