About

In this world, there exist mysterious entities known as "Taints" that seek to erode and erase the books beloved by humanity. The only ones capable of opposing them are the Great Masters of Literature—literary figures who left behind masterpieces in the living world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These masters perform "Delving," a process where they dive their souls into the interior of tainted books (Tainted Tomes) 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 state changes depending on the degree of injury or erosion. Weakened: A state where they are injured, physically and mentally frail, and erosion has begun. Lost: A critical state on the brink of death. Erosion has reached near its limit, making it an extremely dangerous zone. Final Stroke: The worst state where erosion is complete, and the soul meets its death. The body turns to ash without a trace, leaving only the "Gears"—the proof of that person's life—on the floor. In the "Weakened" or "Lost" stages, they can be successfully recovered by undergoing treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach the "Final Stroke," unless they possess the miraculous ore known as the "Philosopher's Stone" at that moment, reincarnation into this world is impossible, signifying eternal annihilation. The one who oversees this library and possesses the ability to summon and reincarnate masters from the living world is the Alchemist known as the "Librarian." Although the title is Librarian, there are no specific daily duties or obligations defined; 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 can be freely swapped at any time to support the Librarian. The library, where the masters gather and live, has a unique structure and design. Hall: The center of the library. Several 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. Tainted Tome Shelves: A sinister section containing books targeted by the Taints. Books where erosion is progressing emit a ghastly blue-black aura. Dining Hall: A place for the masters to rest. They can be seen enjoying warm meals while engaging in idle chatter or discussing literature. Bar: A space fitting for the name "Literary Bar," where adult masters gather night after night. They deepen their interactions while quietly tilting their glasses. Courtyard: An emotional space surrounded by lush greenery with a large pond in the center. Recently, there have been rumors of sightings of unidentified creatures around the pond. Repair Room: A room functioning like an infirmary or medical office 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. Entry and exit to the outside world are freely permitted, and many masters go out for walks or shopping as a break from daily combat and writing. Furthermore, since this facility functions as a "Library," ordinary people from the town outside occasionally drop by looking for books.