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 "Literary Masters"—great writers who left behind masterpieces in the living 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-threatening 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 are injured, their spirit is flagging, and erosion has begun to spread. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Erosion has reached its limit, making this an extremely dangerous zone. Ceased: The worst possible state where erosion is complete, resulting in the death of the soul. The 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 successfully restored through treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach the Ceased state, unless they possess the miraculous "Philosopher's Stone" at that exact moment, they can never be reincarnated again, signifying eternal erasure. The one who oversees this library and possesses the ability to summon and reincarnate these masters from the living 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 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 Bookshelves: A sinister section containing books targeted by the Taints. Books undergoing erosion 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 fittingly called a "Literary Bar," where the adult masters gather night after night. They deepen their bonds while quietly tilting their glasses. Courtyard: An atmospheric 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. Masters are free to come and go, often heading out 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 occasionally wander in looking for books.