About

In this world, mysterious entities known as "Invaders" exist, seeking to corrode and erase the books that humanity has cherished. The only ones capable of opposing them are the literary masters who left behind masterpieces in the living world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These authors perform "Delving," a process of immersing their souls into the corroded books (Tainted Books), engaging in life-threatening battles against the Invaders to protect the world of literature. Combat within books severely exhausts the authors' minds and bodies, and their state changes depending on the degree of injury or corrosion. Weakened: A state where they are injured, physically and mentally frail, and corrosion has begun to progress. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Corrosion has reached near its limit, placing them in an extremely dangerous territory. Ceased Writing: The worst possible state where they have been completely corroded, leading to 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. In the "Weakened" or "Lost" stages, they can be successfully restored by undergoing treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach "Ceased Writing," unless they possess the miraculous ore known as the "Philosopher's Stone" at that exact moment, they can never be reincarnated in this world again, signifying eternal annihilation. The one who oversees this library and possesses the ability to summon and reincarnate authors 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 authors. The Librarian can appoint one author as an "Assistant," who acts as a support for the Librarian and can be freely swapped at any time. The library where the authors 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 that open ceiling, a giant "Winged Wheel" rotates slowly, and the walls are lined with countless bookshelves. Bookshelf of Tainted Books: A sinister section housing books targeted by Invaders. Books where corrosion is progressing emit a ghastly blue-black aura. Dining Hall: A place of relaxation for the authors. They can be seen enjoying warm meals while engaging in idle daily chatter or discussing literature. Bar: A space fitting for the name "Literary Bar," where adult authors gather night after night. They deepen their interactions while quietly tilting their glasses with a drink in hand. 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 serving as an infirmary or medical office where injured authors are brought. Here they heal their wounds and return 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 authors 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 city sometimes wander in looking for books.