Grimm Connect Volume 3 Reveals Print Edition Cover, Rapunzel Arc Arrives December 25, 2026

Dark fantasy novel series Grimm Connect (グリムコネクト) has officially unveiled the print edition cover for Volume 3: Rapunzel no Shō (Jō) / ラプンツェルの章 上. Revealed through the official @grimmconnect X account on November 5, 2026, the artwork is illustrated by Nyanpo (にゃんぽ) for the novel written by Toori Hare (十利ハレ).

According to Japanese publishing records, the physical edition is scheduled for release on December 25, 2026, priced at 1,650 yen, with 350 pages in a B6 format. Volume 3 follows Mahiru into the Rapunzel world, where a massive ten-level tower conceals a rigid social hierarchy, the suffering of its residents, and the mystery of a witch believed to occupy its highest floor.

> Light spoiler notice: This article references the completion of the previous two fairy-tale worlds as background for Mahiru's journey without revealing their detailed endings.

Quick Summary

• Series title: Grimm Connect
• Japanese title: グリムコネクト
• Volume: Volume 3
• Volume subtitle: ラプンツェルの章 上
• Romanized subtitle: Rapunzel no Shō (Jō)
• Format: Japanese fantasy novel
• Genres: dark fantasy, action, mystery, fairy tales
• Main themes: distorted fairy-tale worlds and death-loop storytelling
• Author: Toori Hare / 十利ハレ
• Illustrator: Nyanpo / にゃんぽ
• Series editor: Otaku Penguin (Shachō) / オタクペンギン（社長）
• Publisher: BookBase
• Imprint: Dangan Bunko / ダンガン文庫
• Cover announcement: November 5, 2026
• Newly announced edition: physical book
• Print release date: December 25, 2026
• Print price: 1,650 yen including tax
• Pre-tax price: 1,500 yen
• Page count: 350
• Physical format: B6
• ISBN-13: 978-4-911602-20-1
• Earlier digital release: November 21, 2025
• Listed digital price: 880 yen
• Digital availability: already released
• Print availability: available for preorder
• Story world: Rapunzel
• Tower name: Ciel Torre / シエルトーレ
• Number of tower levels: ten
• Social structure: upper-level residents control the lower levels
• Mysterious figure: a witch on the tenth level
• Protagonist: Mahiru / 御空マヒル
• Important object: Grimm Note / グリムノート
• Previous story worlds: Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella
• Rapunzel arc status: continues across multiple volumes

Grimm Connect Volume 3: Rapunzel Arc Cover

Grimm Connect Volume 3 Reveals Its Physical Edition Cover

On November 5, 2026, the official Grimm Connect account unveiled the cover of Volume 3: Rapunzel no Shō (Jō) ahead of its December 2026 physical release.

The illustration features a long-haired female character depicted upside down, with golden eyes and light-colored clothing. Flowing hair and fabric occupy much of the composition, while the Japanese title and volume number appear in large gold lettering.

Gold, purple, and brown tones dominate the artwork, creating a mysterious fantasy atmosphere. The upside-down arrangement of the character is also one of the cover's most striking visual elements.

The cover was illustrated by Nyanpo, who also handles character design for Grimm Connect. However, the available announcement does not identify the character shown or specify whether the physical edition will include exclusive bonuses.

The Rapunzel World Centers on a Ten-Level Tower

Grimm Connect Volume 3 introduces a world known as Ciel Torre (シエルトーレ), an enormous tower rising from a vast, desolate landscape.

According to the official synopsis, the tower consists of ten levels, separating its residents through a strict social hierarchy. Those living on the upper levels exercise authority over the people below, creating a society where power is concentrated among particular groups.

The tower's inhabitants are also regarded as sinners from birth and forced to endure lives filled with suffering. Amid these harsh circumstances, the existence of a witch provides a source of comfort and hope.

The witch is said to reside on the tenth level, the highest point of Ciel Torre. Believed to bring peace and relief, she is worshipped and loved by the tower's people, although the truth behind her existence remains part of the story's mystery.

Mahiru Faces a New Trial After Cinderella

The protagonist, Mahiru (御空マヒル), returns after completing his journeys through the worlds of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella.

In Grimm Connect, Mahiru becomes connected to a magical book called the Grimm Note, allowing him to enter fairy-tale worlds governed by threats and rules unlike those of their familiar original stories.

These worlds have been distorted by madness, forcing Mahiru to discover how to guide each story toward its proper conclusion. Failure can lead to death and another attempt, making repeated experiences and lessons from previous mistakes essential to survival.

Mahiru now faces Rapunzel, described by the publisher as one of the most difficult challenges in his journey. Its ten-level tower and mysterious witch introduce new questions involving authority, suffering, and the truth behind the inhabitants' deeply held beliefs.

Grimm Connect Reimagines Fairy Tales as Dark Fantasy

Grimm Connect is a fantasy novel series that transforms familiar fairy tales into dangerous worlds with dramatically altered events.

The story originally follows Mahiru, a teenager whose younger sister suffers from an incurable illness. While at a juvenile correctional institution, he discovers a mysterious red book in the library containing a version of Little Red Riding Hood that has become a tragedy.

Opening the book draws him into a distorted fairy-tale world where his survival depends on understanding its rules. A cycle of death and repetition forms a major part of the narrative as he repeatedly confronts failure while searching for a way forward.

Volume 1 explores Little Red Riding Hood, while Volume 2 centers on Cinderella. Volume 3 introduces Rapunzel, but the arc is not intended to conclude within a single book. BookBase previously confirmed that the Rapunzel story would continue across several volumes.

The Digital Edition Was Released in November 2025

The latest announcement for Grimm Connect Volume 3 should be distinguished from the novel's earlier digital publication.

BookBase originally released Rapunzel no Shō (Jō) digitally on November 21, 2025, through its Dangan Bunko imprint. The electronic edition was distributed through services including Kindle and BOOK☆WALKER.

According to BookLive's catalog, the digital third volume is listed at 880 yen. By comparison, the upcoming physical edition is priced at 1,650 yen and contains 350 pages.

Japanese bibliographic records list the print edition for December 25, 2026, with ISBN 978-4-911602-20-1 and a B6 format. The November announcement therefore concerns the cover reveal and physical distribution of a volume whose story was already available digitally.

Grimm Connect Expands Through Novels and Manga

Grimm Connect began digital publication through Dangan Bunko in April 2024, later expanding into printed editions.

BookBase introduced the series' nationwide physical distribution with Volume 1: Little Red Riding Hood on March 25, 2026. The second volume, based on Cinderella, followed on July 24, 2026.

The series has also received a manga adaptation illustrated by Kazu Keshi (芥子カズ), based on Toori Hare's original story and Nyanpo's character designs. Published under Dangan Comics, its opening volume adapts the Little Red Riding Hood arc.

In an April 2026 announcement, BookBase also reported that a promotional Grimm Connect post had surpassed two million impressions on X. This figure represents the company's reported reach for a promotional post rather than the number of books sold.

Why This Matters

1) Rapunzel introduces a more complex social structure

Unlike the familiar Rapunzel fairy tale, which primarily revolves around a captive character and a tower, Grimm Connect presents Ciel Torre as a ten-level society. This adds a political and social dimension to the story's conflict.

2) The print edition offers a new option for collectors

Volume 3 has been available digitally since November 2025. Its upcoming physical edition, featuring Nyanpo's artwork, a B6 format, and 350 pages, gives readers another way to collect the series.

3) The Rapunzel storyline spans multiple volumes

BookBase previously confirmed that the Rapunzel world would not be resolved in a single volume. Volume 3 therefore serves as the opening part of a longer narrative built around the tower and its mysterious witch.

Grimm Connect Volume 3 Novel Information

For now, the additional important information currently known includes:

• the official series title is Grimm Connect
• the Japanese title is グリムコネクト
• the third volume is subtitled ラプンツェルの章 上
• this volume forms the first part of the Rapunzel storyline
• the series is written by Toori Hare
• illustrations and character designs are created by Nyanpo
• the credited series editor is Otaku Penguin (Shachō)
• the novel is published by BookBase under Dangan Bunko
• the physical edition cover was announced November 5, 2026
• the announcement came from the official @grimmconnect account
• the physical edition is scheduled for December 2026
• the bibliographic release date is December 25, 2026
• the physical edition costs 1,650 yen including tax
• the pre-tax price is 1,500 yen
• the physical edition contains 350 pages
• the book uses a B6 format
• the ISBN-13 is 978-4-911602-20-1
• the digital edition was previously released on November 21, 2025
• BookLive lists the digital edition at 880 yen
• Japanese bookstores are accepting preorders for the physical volume
• the third volume takes place in the Rapunzel world
• Ciel Torre is a massive tower divided into ten levels
• upper-level residents control those living below
• the tower's residents are treated as sinners from birth
• a witch is believed to inhabit the highest level
• the witch is worshipped for supposedly providing comfort
• Mahiru remains the story's protagonist
• the Grimm Note is a magical book associated with his journey
• Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella formed the previous story worlds
• the Rapunzel arc is planned to continue across multiple volumes
• a manga adaptation illustrated by Kazu Keshi has also been published
• physical-edition exclusive bonuses have not been confirmed
• official English and Indonesian editions have not been announced
• no official anime adaptation announcement has been found

• the cover announcement is available through Official Grimm Connect X Announcement
• product information is available through BookBase Official Volume 3 Page
• digital publication details are available through BookBase Official Volume 3 Release Announcement
• physical bibliographic information is available through National Diet Library Official Record
• preorders are available through Kinokuniya Official Volume 3 Listing
• the electronic edition is available through BookLive Official Digital Volume 3
• the series' development is documented in BookBase Official Series Announcement

Closing

Grimm Connect Volume 3: Rapunzel no Shō (Jō) has revealed its physical edition cover ahead of a scheduled Japanese release on December 25, 2026. Written by Toori Hare and illustrated by Nyanpo, the novel sends Mahiru into Ciel Torre, where an oppressive hierarchy and a mysterious witch define his newest challenge.

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Although the digital edition has been available since November 2025, the upcoming print edition provides another format for readers of Grimm Connect. Its price, page count, and ISBN are already listed, while possible special bonuses and translated editions remain unannounced.