diff --git a/backend/Cargo.lock b/backend/Cargo.lock
index e3975cc..0f41c7b 100644
--- a/backend/Cargo.lock
+++ b/backend/Cargo.lock
@@ -1470,7 +1470,7 @@ checksum = "c41e0c4fef86961ac6d6f8a82609f55f31b05e4fce149ac5710e439df7619ba4"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mangalord"
-version = "0.36.7"
+version = "0.38.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "argon2",
diff --git a/backend/Cargo.toml b/backend/Cargo.toml
index a0fa23c..ae3c72e 100644
--- a/backend/Cargo.toml
+++ b/backend/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "mangalord"
-version = "0.37.0"
+version = "0.38.0"
 edition = "2021"
 default-run = "mangalord"
 
diff --git a/backend/migrations/0019_admin_audit.sql b/backend/migrations/0019_admin_audit.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..10ff65b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/0019_admin_audit.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+-- Admin audit log. Written from inside the same transaction as the action
+-- it records, so a failed COMMIT also rolls back the audit row — the log
+-- never claims an action happened that didn't.
+--
+-- `actor_user_id` is ON DELETE SET NULL so audit rows outlive a deleted
+-- admin (the answer to "who promoted Bob to admin?" survives even after
+-- Alice's account is removed). `target_id` is intentionally not a FK
+-- because future audit kinds may target non-user rows (manga, source,
+-- etc.) and a single typed FK can't express that.
+CREATE TABLE admin_audit (
+    id            uuid PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT gen_random_uuid(),
+    actor_user_id uuid REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE SET NULL,
+    action        text NOT NULL,
+    target_kind   text NOT NULL,
+    target_id     uuid,
+    payload       jsonb NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}'::jsonb,
+    at            timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now()
+);
+
+CREATE INDEX admin_audit_at_idx ON admin_audit (at DESC);
diff --git a/backend/src/api/admin/mod.rs b/backend/src/api/admin/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6c126d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/api/admin/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+//! Admin-only endpoints. Mounted under `/api/v1/admin/*` by
+//! `crate::api::routes`. Every handler in this subtree is guarded by
+//! `RequireAdmin`, which only accepts session-cookie authentication —
+//! bot/API tokens cannot reach admin routes (see
+//! `crate::auth::extractor::RequireAdmin`).
+
+pub mod users;
+
+use axum::Router;
+
+use crate::app::AppState;
+
+pub fn routes() -> Router<AppState> {
+    Router::new().merge(users::routes())
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/api/admin/users.rs b/backend/src/api/admin/users.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..831152c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/api/admin/users.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+//! Admin user management: list, delete, promote/demote.
+//!
+//! All handlers are gated by `RequireAdmin` and rely on
+//! `repo::user::admin_safe_*` for self-protection and the last-admin
+//! invariant. Audit rows are written inside the same DB transaction as
+//! the action they record.
+
+use axum::extract::{Path, Query, State};
+use axum::http::StatusCode;
+use axum::routing::{delete, get};
+use axum::{Json, Router};
+use serde::Deserialize;
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+use crate::api::pagination::PagedResponse;
+use crate::app::AppState;
+use crate::auth::extractor::RequireAdmin;
+use crate::domain::User;
+use crate::error::{AppError, AppResult};
+use crate::repo;
+
+pub fn routes() -> Router<AppState> {
+    Router::new()
+        .route("/admin/users", get(list_users))
+        .route(
+            "/admin/users/:id",
+            delete(delete_user).patch(update_user),
+        )
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Default)]
+pub struct ListUsersParams {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub search: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default = "default_limit")]
+    pub limit: i64,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub offset: i64,
+}
+
+fn default_limit() -> i64 {
+    50
+}
+
+async fn list_users(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    _admin: RequireAdmin,
+    Query(params): Query<ListUsersParams>,
+) -> AppResult<Json<PagedResponse<User>>> {
+    let limit = params.limit.clamp(1, 200);
+    let offset = params.offset.max(0);
+    let (items, total) = repo::user::list_with_total(
+        &state.db,
+        &repo::user::ListUsersQuery {
+            search: params.search.filter(|s| !s.trim().is_empty()),
+            limit,
+            offset,
+        },
+    )
+    .await?;
+    Ok(Json(PagedResponse::with_total(items, limit, offset, total)))
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+pub struct UpdateUserInput {
+    pub is_admin: Option<bool>,
+}
+
+async fn update_user(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    RequireAdmin(actor): RequireAdmin,
+    Path(id): Path<Uuid>,
+    Json(input): Json<UpdateUserInput>,
+) -> AppResult<Json<User>> {
+    let Some(is_admin) = input.is_admin else {
+        return Err(AppError::InvalidInput(
+            "no updatable fields supplied".into(),
+        ));
+    };
+    let updated =
+        repo::user::admin_safe_set_is_admin(&state.db, actor.id, id, is_admin).await?;
+    Ok(Json(updated))
+}
+
+async fn delete_user(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    RequireAdmin(actor): RequireAdmin,
+    Path(id): Path<Uuid>,
+) -> AppResult<StatusCode> {
+    repo::user::admin_safe_delete(&state.db, actor.id, id).await?;
+    Ok(StatusCode::NO_CONTENT)
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/api/mod.rs b/backend/src/api/mod.rs
index 64bbc33..d8a29f3 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/mod.rs
+++ b/backend/src/api/mod.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+pub mod admin;
 pub mod auth;
 pub mod authors;
 pub mod bookmarks;
@@ -28,4 +29,5 @@ pub fn routes() -> Router<AppState> {
         .merge(authors::routes())
         .merge(collections::routes())
         .merge(history::routes())
+        .merge(admin::routes())
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/domain/admin_audit.rs b/backend/src/domain/admin_audit.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc8b9ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/domain/admin_audit.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
+use serde::Serialize;
+use sqlx::FromRow;
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, FromRow)]
+pub struct AdminAuditEntry {
+    pub id: Uuid,
+    pub actor_user_id: Option<Uuid>,
+    pub action: String,
+    pub target_kind: String,
+    pub target_id: Option<Uuid>,
+    pub payload: serde_json::Value,
+    pub at: DateTime<Utc>,
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/domain/mod.rs b/backend/src/domain/mod.rs
index 15fdc81..b7782d4 100644
--- a/backend/src/domain/mod.rs
+++ b/backend/src/domain/mod.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+pub mod admin_audit;
 pub mod api_token;
 pub mod author;
 pub mod bookmark;
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ pub mod upload_entry;
 pub mod user;
 pub mod user_preferences;
 
+pub use admin_audit::AdminAuditEntry;
 pub use api_token::ApiToken;
 pub use author::{Author, AuthorRef, AuthorWithCount};
 pub use bookmark::{Bookmark, BookmarkSummary};
diff --git a/backend/src/repo/admin_audit.rs b/backend/src/repo/admin_audit.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a29261e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/repo/admin_audit.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+//! Admin-action audit log writes.
+//!
+//! Insert is always called from inside the same transaction as the
+//! action it audits — the executor parameter is `PgExecutor` so the
+//! caller passes `&mut *tx` directly.
+
+use sqlx::PgExecutor;
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+use crate::error::AppResult;
+
+pub async fn insert<'e, E: PgExecutor<'e>>(
+    executor: E,
+    actor_user_id: Uuid,
+    action: &str,
+    target_kind: &str,
+    target_id: Option<Uuid>,
+    payload: serde_json::Value,
+) -> AppResult<()> {
+    sqlx::query(
+        "INSERT INTO admin_audit (actor_user_id, action, target_kind, target_id, payload) \
+         VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)",
+    )
+    .bind(actor_user_id)
+    .bind(action)
+    .bind(target_kind)
+    .bind(target_id)
+    .bind(payload)
+    .execute(executor)
+    .await?;
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/repo/mod.rs b/backend/src/repo/mod.rs
index d179484..bc0ae3f 100644
--- a/backend/src/repo/mod.rs
+++ b/backend/src/repo/mod.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+pub mod admin_audit;
 pub mod api_token;
 pub mod author;
 pub mod bookmark;
diff --git a/backend/src/repo/user.rs b/backend/src/repo/user.rs
index 630c71a..6ee8900 100644
--- a/backend/src/repo/user.rs
+++ b/backend/src/repo/user.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,64 @@ pub async fn find_by_id(pool: &PgPool, id: Uuid) -> AppResult<Option<User>> {
     Ok(row)
 }
 
+/// Postgres advisory-lock key guarding admin-count-changing operations
+/// (demote, delete-admin). Without this lock two concurrent demotes of
+/// different admins could each pass their "more than one admin remains"
+/// check, then commit, leaving zero admins. The lock serialises any tx
+/// that might change the admin count so the recount under the lock is
+/// authoritative.
+///
+/// Value is the bytes of "admininv" interpreted as a big-endian i64.
+/// Postgres' advisory-lock keyspace is global; collision risk with
+/// `CRON_LOCK_KEY` and friends is ~2^-64.
+pub const ADMIN_INVARIANT_LOCK_KEY: i64 = 0x61_64_6d_69_6e_69_6e_76;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct ListUsersQuery {
+    pub search: Option<String>,
+    pub limit: i64,
+    pub offset: i64,
+}
+
+/// Paginated user list with total count. `search` is a case-insensitive
+/// substring match on `username`. Order is alphabetical by username so
+/// pagination is stable across concurrent writes (mangas changing
+/// is_admin doesn't reshuffle the page).
+pub async fn list_with_total(
+    pool: &PgPool,
+    q: &ListUsersQuery,
+) -> AppResult<(Vec<User>, i64)> {
+    let pat = q
+        .search
+        .as_ref()
+        .map(|s| format!("%{}%", s.trim()))
+        .filter(|p| p.len() > 2);
+
+    let items = sqlx::query_as::<_, User>(
+        r#"
+        SELECT id, username, password_hash, created_at, is_admin
+          FROM users
+         WHERE ($1::text IS NULL OR username ILIKE $1)
+         ORDER BY username
+         LIMIT $2 OFFSET $3
+        "#,
+    )
+    .bind(&pat)
+    .bind(q.limit)
+    .bind(q.offset)
+    .fetch_all(pool)
+    .await?;
+
+    let total: i64 = sqlx::query_scalar(
+        "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE ($1::text IS NULL OR username ILIKE $1)",
+    )
+    .bind(&pat)
+    .fetch_one(pool)
+    .await?;
+
+    Ok((items, total))
+}
+
 pub async fn set_is_admin(pool: &PgPool, id: Uuid, value: bool) -> AppResult<()> {
     sqlx::query("UPDATE users SET is_admin = $1 WHERE id = $2")
         .bind(value)
@@ -76,6 +134,148 @@ pub async fn set_is_admin(pool: &PgPool, id: Uuid, value: bool) -> AppResult<()>
 ///   admin password through the UI without env-var conflict.
 /// Wrapped in a transaction so a concurrent `register` for the same
 /// username can't slip an INSERT between the SELECT and UPDATE/INSERT.
+/// Set `is_admin` on a user with full safety checks: rejects self-demote,
+/// rejects demoting the only remaining admin (under `ADMIN_INVARIANT_LOCK_KEY`
+/// to close the parallel-demote race), and writes an `admin_audit` row
+/// in the same tx so the log mirrors what actually committed.
+///
+/// Returns the freshly-written user row (so the handler can return it
+/// without a second SELECT).
+pub async fn admin_safe_set_is_admin(
+    pool: &PgPool,
+    actor_id: Uuid,
+    target_id: Uuid,
+    value: bool,
+) -> AppResult<User> {
+    // Cheap pre-check before opening a tx — also covers the "demote me"
+    // case which would otherwise pass the recount when other admins exist.
+    if actor_id == target_id && !value {
+        return Err(AppError::Conflict(
+            "cannot demote yourself; ask another admin".into(),
+        ));
+    }
+
+    let mut tx = pool.begin().await?;
+    sqlx::query("SELECT pg_advisory_xact_lock($1)")
+        .bind(ADMIN_INVARIANT_LOCK_KEY)
+        .execute(&mut *tx)
+        .await?;
+
+    let target: Option<User> = sqlx::query_as(
+        "SELECT id, username, password_hash, created_at, is_admin \
+           FROM users WHERE id = $1 FOR UPDATE",
+    )
+    .bind(target_id)
+    .fetch_optional(&mut *tx)
+    .await?;
+    let Some(target) = target else {
+        return Err(AppError::NotFound);
+    };
+
+    // Recount inside the lock — this is the authoritative read.
+    if target.is_admin && !value {
+        let admin_count: i64 =
+            sqlx::query_scalar("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE is_admin = true")
+                .fetch_one(&mut *tx)
+                .await?;
+        if admin_count <= 1 {
+            return Err(AppError::Conflict(
+                "cannot demote the last admin; promote another user first".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+
+    let updated: User = sqlx::query_as(
+        "UPDATE users SET is_admin = $1 WHERE id = $2 \
+         RETURNING id, username, password_hash, created_at, is_admin",
+    )
+    .bind(value)
+    .bind(target_id)
+    .fetch_one(&mut *tx)
+    .await?;
+
+    let action = if value { "promote_user" } else { "demote_user" };
+    crate::repo::admin_audit::insert(
+        &mut *tx,
+        actor_id,
+        action,
+        "user",
+        Some(target_id),
+        serde_json::json!({ "username": target.username }),
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    tx.commit().await?;
+    Ok(updated)
+}
+
+/// Delete a user with full safety checks: rejects self-delete, rejects
+/// deleting the only remaining admin (under `ADMIN_INVARIANT_LOCK_KEY`),
+/// and writes an `admin_audit` row in the same tx. Captures the deleted
+/// username + admin status in the audit payload so the action is
+/// readable after the user row itself is gone.
+pub async fn admin_safe_delete(
+    pool: &PgPool,
+    actor_id: Uuid,
+    target_id: Uuid,
+) -> AppResult<()> {
+    if actor_id == target_id {
+        return Err(AppError::Conflict(
+            "cannot delete yourself; ask another admin".into(),
+        ));
+    }
+
+    let mut tx = pool.begin().await?;
+    sqlx::query("SELECT pg_advisory_xact_lock($1)")
+        .bind(ADMIN_INVARIANT_LOCK_KEY)
+        .execute(&mut *tx)
+        .await?;
+
+    let target: Option<User> = sqlx::query_as(
+        "SELECT id, username, password_hash, created_at, is_admin \
+           FROM users WHERE id = $1 FOR UPDATE",
+    )
+    .bind(target_id)
+    .fetch_optional(&mut *tx)
+    .await?;
+    let Some(target) = target else {
+        return Err(AppError::NotFound);
+    };
+
+    if target.is_admin {
+        let admin_count: i64 =
+            sqlx::query_scalar("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE is_admin = true")
+                .fetch_one(&mut *tx)
+                .await?;
+        if admin_count <= 1 {
+            return Err(AppError::Conflict(
+                "cannot delete the last admin; promote another user first".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+
+    sqlx::query("DELETE FROM users WHERE id = $1")
+        .bind(target_id)
+        .execute(&mut *tx)
+        .await?;
+
+    crate::repo::admin_audit::insert(
+        &mut *tx,
+        actor_id,
+        "delete_user",
+        "user",
+        Some(target_id),
+        serde_json::json!({
+            "username": target.username,
+            "was_admin": target.is_admin,
+        }),
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    tx.commit().await?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 pub async fn bootstrap_admin(
     pool: &PgPool,
     username: &str,
diff --git a/backend/tests/api_admin_users.rs b/backend/tests/api_admin_users.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4743228
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/api_admin_users.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,368 @@
+//! PR 2 (feat/admin-users-api) integration tests.
+//!
+//! Exercises list / delete / promote-demote on /api/v1/admin/users:
+//! pagination + search, the RequireAdmin gate, self-protection,
+//! last-admin invariant (including the parallel-demote race that
+//! `pg_advisory_xact_lock` + recount-inside-tx guards against), and
+//! that audit rows land in `admin_audit` only on successful commit.
+//!
+//! Note on the last-admin invariant: the *serial* path via HTTP is
+//! structurally unreachable — the only configuration that would hit the
+//! "would orphan admins" branch requires the actor to be the lone admin
+//! demoting themselves, which the self-guard fires on first. So the
+//! last-admin checks below call the repo directly to exercise the
+//! invariant; the HTTP race scenario is covered by
+//! `parallel_demotes_cannot_orphan_admins`.
+
+mod common;
+
+use axum::http::StatusCode;
+use axum::Router;
+use serde_json::json;
+use sqlx::PgPool;
+use tower::ServiceExt;
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+use mangalord::error::AppError;
+use mangalord::repo;
+
+/// Register a user via the public API and immediately promote them via
+/// the repo. Returns (username, session cookie, user_id) — the common
+/// "I need a logged-in admin" prelude.
+async fn seed_admin(pool: &PgPool, app: &Router) -> (String, String, Uuid) {
+    let (username, cookie) = common::register_user(app).await;
+    let u = repo::user::find_by_username(pool, &username)
+        .await
+        .unwrap()
+        .unwrap();
+    repo::user::set_is_admin(pool, u.id, true).await.unwrap();
+    (username, cookie, u.id)
+}
+
+// ---- RequireAdmin gate -----------------------------------------------------
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn list_requires_admin(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool);
+    let (_username, cookie) = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::get_with_cookie("/api/v1/admin/users", &cookie))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::FORBIDDEN);
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn delete_requires_admin(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool);
+    let (_username, cookie) = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::delete_with_cookie(
+            &format!("/api/v1/admin/users/{}", Uuid::new_v4()),
+            &cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::FORBIDDEN);
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn patch_requires_admin(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool);
+    let (_username, cookie) = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::patch_json_with_cookie(
+            &format!("/api/v1/admin/users/{}", Uuid::new_v4()),
+            json!({ "is_admin": true }),
+            &cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::FORBIDDEN);
+}
+
+// ---- list with search and pagination ---------------------------------------
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn list_returns_paginated_users(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_admin_name, cookie, _) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    let _u1 = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+    let _u2 = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+    let _u3 = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::get_with_cookie(
+            "/api/v1/admin/users?limit=2&offset=0",
+            &cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    let body = common::body_json(resp).await;
+    let items = body["items"].as_array().expect("items array");
+    assert_eq!(items.len(), 2, "limit=2 should cap the page");
+    assert_eq!(body["page"]["limit"], 2);
+    assert_eq!(body["page"]["offset"], 0);
+    assert_eq!(body["page"]["total"], 4);
+    assert!(items[0].get("is_admin").is_some());
+    assert!(
+        items[0].get("password_hash").is_none(),
+        "password_hash must never leak even to other admins"
+    );
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn list_filters_by_substring_search(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_admin_name, cookie, _) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .clone()
+        .oneshot(common::post_json(
+            "/api/v1/auth/register",
+            json!({ "username": "zzzfindme01", "password": "hunter2hunter2" }),
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::CREATED);
+
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::get_with_cookie(
+            "/api/v1/admin/users?search=zzzfindme",
+            &cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    let body = common::body_json(resp).await;
+    let items = body["items"].as_array().unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(items.len(), 1, "search must narrow to the one match");
+    assert_eq!(items[0]["username"], "zzzfindme01");
+    assert_eq!(body["page"]["total"], 1);
+}
+
+// ---- self-protection -------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn cannot_self_delete(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_username, cookie, actor_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    // Second admin so the last-admin guard isn't what triggers the conflict.
+    let (_other, _, _) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::delete_with_cookie(
+            &format!("/api/v1/admin/users/{actor_id}"),
+            &cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::CONFLICT);
+    let body = common::body_json(resp).await;
+    assert_eq!(body["error"]["code"], "conflict");
+    assert!(
+        body["error"]["message"]
+            .as_str()
+            .unwrap()
+            .contains("yourself"),
+        "message must call out the self-action; got {:?}",
+        body["error"]["message"]
+    );
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn cannot_self_demote(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_username, cookie, actor_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    let (_other, _, _) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::patch_json_with_cookie(
+            &format!("/api/v1/admin/users/{actor_id}"),
+            json!({ "is_admin": false }),
+            &cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::CONFLICT);
+    let body = common::body_json(resp).await;
+    assert!(body["error"]["message"]
+        .as_str()
+        .unwrap()
+        .contains("yourself"));
+}
+
+// ---- last-admin invariant (repo layer, see file header) --------------------
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn last_admin_demote_refused_at_repo(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_a, _, a_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    let (_b, _, b_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+
+    // admins = {A, B}. Demote A via B (count 2 → 1) — allowed.
+    let r = repo::user::admin_safe_set_is_admin(&pool, b_id, a_id, false)
+        .await
+        .expect("first demote succeeds");
+    assert!(!r.is_admin);
+
+    // admins = {B}. Try to demote B via A (actor doesn't matter to the
+    // repo — that's the HTTP gate's job). Last-admin guard kicks in.
+    let err = repo::user::admin_safe_set_is_admin(&pool, a_id, b_id, false)
+        .await
+        .expect_err("second demote must be refused");
+    match err {
+        AppError::Conflict(m) => assert!(
+            m.contains("last admin"),
+            "expected last-admin conflict; got {m:?}"
+        ),
+        other => panic!("expected Conflict, got {other:?}"),
+    }
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn last_admin_delete_refused_at_repo(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_a, _, a_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    let (_b, _, b_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+
+    // admins = {A, B}. Delete A via B (count 2 → 1) — allowed.
+    repo::user::admin_safe_delete(&pool, b_id, a_id)
+        .await
+        .expect("first delete succeeds");
+
+    // admins = {B}. Try to delete B via a fresh non-admin actor. Last-
+    // admin guard kicks in.
+    let (_c, _, c_id) = {
+        let (cn, _ck) = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+        let c = repo::user::find_by_username(&pool, &cn).await.unwrap().unwrap();
+        (cn, _ck, c.id)
+    };
+    let err = repo::user::admin_safe_delete(&pool, c_id, b_id)
+        .await
+        .expect_err("second delete must be refused");
+    match err {
+        AppError::Conflict(m) => assert!(
+            m.contains("last admin"),
+            "expected last-admin conflict; got {m:?}"
+        ),
+        other => panic!("expected Conflict, got {other:?}"),
+    }
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn parallel_demotes_cannot_orphan_admins(pool: PgPool) {
+    // The race the advisory lock + recount exists to close: two parallel
+    // demotes of two DIFFERENT admins, each reading `count = 2` and
+    // committing, would land at zero admins. With the lock the second
+    // demote sees count = 1 inside the tx and refuses.
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_a, _, a_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    let (_b, _, b_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+
+    let pool_x = pool.clone();
+    let pool_y = pool.clone();
+    let task_x = tokio::spawn(async move {
+        repo::user::admin_safe_set_is_admin(&pool_x, a_id, b_id, false).await
+    });
+    let task_y = tokio::spawn(async move {
+        repo::user::admin_safe_set_is_admin(&pool_y, b_id, a_id, false).await
+    });
+    let r_x = task_x.await.unwrap();
+    let r_y = task_y.await.unwrap();
+
+    let outcomes = (r_x.is_ok(), r_y.is_ok());
+    assert!(
+        outcomes == (true, false) || outcomes == (false, true),
+        "exactly one of the two parallel demotes must succeed; got {outcomes:?}"
+    );
+
+    let (count,): (i64,) =
+        sqlx::query_as("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE is_admin = true")
+            .fetch_one(&pool)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(count, 1, "at least one admin must remain");
+}
+
+// ---- audit log -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn promote_writes_audit_row(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_a_name, a_cookie, a_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    let (b_name, _b_cookie) = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+    let b = repo::user::find_by_username(&pool, &b_name)
+        .await
+        .unwrap()
+        .unwrap();
+
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::patch_json_with_cookie(
+            &format!("/api/v1/admin/users/{}", b.id),
+            json!({ "is_admin": true }),
+            &a_cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+
+    let rows: Vec<(Option<Uuid>, String, String, Option<Uuid>)> = sqlx::query_as(
+        "SELECT actor_user_id, action, target_kind, target_id FROM admin_audit",
+    )
+    .fetch_all(&pool)
+    .await
+    .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(rows.len(), 1);
+    let (actor, action, kind, target) = rows.into_iter().next().unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(actor, Some(a_id));
+    assert_eq!(action, "promote_user");
+    assert_eq!(kind, "user");
+    assert_eq!(target, Some(b.id));
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn delete_writes_audit_row(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = common::harness(pool.clone());
+    let (_a_name, a_cookie, a_id) = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    let (b_name, _b_cookie) = common::register_user(&h.app).await;
+    let b = repo::user::find_by_username(&pool, &b_name)
+        .await
+        .unwrap()
+        .unwrap();
+
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .oneshot(common::delete_with_cookie(
+            &format!("/api/v1/admin/users/{}", b.id),
+            &a_cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::NO_CONTENT);
+
+    let rows: Vec<(Option<Uuid>, String, String, Option<Uuid>, serde_json::Value)> =
+        sqlx::query_as(
+            "SELECT actor_user_id, action, target_kind, target_id, payload FROM admin_audit",
+        )
+        .fetch_all(&pool)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(rows.len(), 1);
+    let (actor, action, kind, target, payload) = rows.into_iter().next().unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(actor, Some(a_id));
+    assert_eq!(action, "delete_user");
+    assert_eq!(kind, "user");
+    assert_eq!(target, Some(b.id));
+    assert_eq!(payload["username"], b_name);
+    assert_eq!(payload["was_admin"], false);
+}
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index b816797..d2cd04b 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "mangalord-frontend",
-  "version": "0.37.0",
+  "version": "0.38.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {