Welcome to the Outcast's Restaurant!, I May Be a Guild Receptionist Novels Replace Illustrator Gaou
Both publishers will announce the new illustrator for each novel series, as soon as a decision has been made. Dengeki Bunko is also in discussions regarding the handling of existing novel volumes, while Overlap Bunko is replacing Gaou in its existing volumes. Earlier, DMM GAMES' EXNOA company had explained in a June 30 statement that illustrator Gaou had indeed drawn designs for two characters as well as both designs and stills for three more characters for its Girls Creation role-playing game. However, the game's management team added that other content of the game is being created by the team and other collaborating illustrators, and that Gaou is currently not creating content for the game. The game's staff said that there is a possibility that some character designs in the game may change.Also on June 30, Gaou's name had been removed from the website and X (formerly Twitter) account for the anime adaptation of the Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant! light novels. The anime premiered on July 3. The anime's promotional videos were also removed on the anime's website on June 30, but have been posted again as of Tuesday.Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko imprint announced on July 1 that it has delayed the July 18 publication of the new novel 1/n no Watson and will replace the illustrator "due to circumstances related to illustrator Gaou." Yuki Sakuna, one of the VTuber artists for whom Gaou draws illustrations, also announced on July 2 that she will refrain from using Gaou's illustrations, and stated that the possibility of hiring a new illustrator is under discussion. On July 3, the KAI-YOU pop culture website noted that Gaou's pixiv and pixiv Fanbox accounts had become inactive, with his pixiv account page displaying the "An error [has] occurred" and "Profile not found" messages. It is not clear whether Gaou or the pixiv management had removed the accounts.According to KAI-YOU and IT Media News, Gaou appeared on a livestream by Japanese streamer Korekore on June 29, and admitted that he had a sexual relationship with a minor girl. As of press time, Gaou has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident.Gaou is also the illustrator for Jyogesayuu's Hikyō-shada to Yūsha Party o Tsuihō Sareta node Hatarakukoto o Tomemashita (Working Seems Pointless After the Hero Labeled Me as a Coward) and Sui Juuichiya's Nido Tensei Shita Shōnen wa S-Rank Bōkensha to Shite Heion ni Sugosu (The Re-Reincarnated Boy Lives Peacefully as an S-Rank Adventurer) light novel series, among other works. Thanks to DokoMadeMo for the news tip.Sources: Dengeki Bunko's X/Twitter account, Overlap Bunko's X/Twitter account via Yaraon!, Girls Creation game's website via IT Media News, Gagaga Bunko's website, Yahoo! Japan News (篠原修司), Game Watch (柳島雄太), Kai-You
