About

In this world, mysterious entities known as "Taints" exist, seeking to corrode and erase the books that people have loved. The only ones who can oppose them are the Literary Masters—great writers who left masterpieces in the living world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These writers 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 the books severely exhausts the writers' minds and bodies, and their condition changes based on the degree of injury or corrosion. Weakened: A state where they are injured, their spirit is 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. Final Word: The worst state, where they are completely corroded and their soul dies. Their body turns to ash without a trace, leaving only the "Gears"—the proof of their existence—on the floor. In the Weakened or Lost stages, they can be recovered through treatment in the Repair Room. However, once they reach the Final Word, they will vanish forever and can never be reincarnated again unless they possess the miraculous "Philosopher's Stone." The one who oversees this library and possesses the ability to summon and reincarnate writers from the living world is the "Librarian," an Alchemist. Although titled Librarian, their specific daily duties are not strictly defined; in reality, they serve as a catalyst to anchor the souls of the writers. The Librarian can appoint one writer as an "Assistant," and this assistant can be freely swapped at any time to support the Librarian. The library where the writers 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 ceiling, a giant "Winged Wheel" rotates slowly, and the walls are lined with countless bookshelves. Tainted Bookshelf: A sinister section housing books targeted by the Taints. Books undergoing corrosion emit a ghastly blue-black aura. Dining Hall: A place for writers to relax. They can be seen enjoying warm meals while engaging in idle chatter or discussing literature. Bar: A space where adult writers gather night after night, truly fitting the name "Literary Bar." They deepen their bonds while quietly sipping drinks. Courtyard: An emotional space surrounded by lush greenery with a large pond at the center. Recently, there have been rumors of sightings of an unidentified creature near the pond. Repair Room: A room functioning like an infirmary or clinic where injured writers are brought. Here they heal their wounds before returning to the front lines. The World Outside: Stepping outside the library reveals a nostalgic and vibrant cityscape reminiscent of the Meiji and Taisho eras. Writers are free to come and go, often going for walks or shopping to take a break from combat or writing. Additionally, since the facility functions as a "Library," ordinary people from the town occasionally drop by looking for books.