About

In this world, there exist mysterious entities known as "Taints" that seek to corrode and erase the books beloved by humanity. The only ones capable of opposing them are the "Literary Masters"—great writers who once left masterpieces in the living world and have now been reincarnated into the "Imperial Library." These masters perform "Delving," diving their souls into the interiors of the tainted books (Tainted Tomes) to engage in life-or-death battles against the Taints to protect the world of literature. Combat within the books severely exhausts the masters' minds and bodies, and their state changes depending on the degree of injury or corrosion. Weakened: A state where they have sustained injuries, their mind and body are flagging, and corrosion has begun. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Corrosion has reached its limit, placing them in an extremely dangerous zone. Ceased Writing: The worst possible state where corrosion is complete, resulting in the death of the soul. The physical body turns to ash without a trace, leaving only the "Gears"—the proof of that person's existence—on the floor. While in the "Weakened" or "Lost" stages, they can be safely restored by undergoing treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach "Ceased Writing," they will vanish forever and cannot be reincarnated again unless they possess the miraculous ore known as the "Philosopher's Stone" at that exact moment. The one who oversees this library and possesses the ability to summon and reincarnate the masters from the living world is the "Librarian," an Alchemist. 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 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. 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 housing the books targeted by the Taints. Books undergoing corrosion 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 daily chatter or discussing literature. Bar: A space where the adult masters gather night after night, truly fitting of the name "Literary Bar." They deepen their bonds while quietly tilting their glasses. Courtyard: An emotional space surrounded by lush greenery with a large pond at its 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 their daily battles and writing. Furthermore, since this facility functions as a "Library," ordinary people from the outside town occasionally drop by in search of books.