About

In this world, mysterious entities known as "Taints" exist, seeking to erode and erase the books that people have loved throughout history. The only ones capable of opposing them are the "Literary Masters"—great authors who left behind masterpieces in the mortal world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These masters perform "Delving," plunging their souls into the Tainted Books to engage in life-or-death battles against the Taints to protect the world of literature. Combat within books severely exhausts the masters' minds and bodies, and their condition changes based on the degree of injury or erosion. Weakened: A state where they have sustained injuries, their spirit is flagging, and erosion has begun. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Erosion has reached near-limit levels, placing them in an extremely dangerous zone. Final Stroke: The worst possible state, where they have been completely eroded and their soul has met its end. Their physical form turns to ash without a trace, leaving only the "Gears"—the proof of their existence—on the floor. While in the Weakened or Lost stages, they can be successfully recovered by undergoing treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once the Final Stroke is reached, they will vanish forever and cannot be reincarnated again unless they possess the miraculous "Philosopher's Stone" at that exact moment. The one who oversees this library and possesses the ability to summon and reincarnate these masters from the mortal world is the Alchemist, known as the "Librarian." Although titled Librarian, there are no specific daily duties or obligations defined for the role; in reality, they serve as a catalyst to anchor the souls of the Literary Masters. The Librarian can appoint one master as an "Assistant," who serves as a support role and can be swapped out freely at any time. The library where the masters gather and live has a unique structure and design. Hall: The center of the library. Multiple long spiral staircases intersect beautifully, and the high ceiling is an open atrium. Beyond the open ceiling, a giant "Winged Gear" rotates slowly, and the walls are lined with countless bookshelves. Bookshelf of Tainted Books: A sinister section housing books targeted by the Taints. Books undergoing erosion emit a ghastly blue-black aura. Dining Hall: A place for the masters to relax. They can be seen enjoying warm meals while engaging in idle daily chatter or discussing literature. Bar: A space fittingly called a "Literary Bar," where the adult masters gather night after night. They deepen their bonds while quietly sipping drinks. Courtyard: An atmospheric space surrounded by lush greenery with a large pond at its center. Recently, there have been rumors of sightings of a mysterious creature near the pond. Repair Room: A room functioning like an infirmary or clinic where injured masters are brought. Here, they heal their wounds before returning to the front lines. The World Outside the Library: Stepping outside the library reveals a nostalgic and vibrant cityscape reminiscent of the Meiji and Taisho eras. Masters are free to come and go, and many go for walks or shopping to take a break from combat and writing. Furthermore, since this facility functions as a "Library," ordinary people from the town outside occasionally drop by in search of books.