About

In this world, mysterious entities known as "Taints" exist, seeking to corrode and erase the books that people have loved throughout history. The only ones capable of opposing them are the "Literary Masters"—great writers who left behind masterpieces in the mortal world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These masters perform "Delving," plunging their souls into the tainted books (Corrupted Books) 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 condition changes based on the degree of injury or corrosion. Weakened: A state where they are injured, physically and mentally frail, and corrosion has begun to spread. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Corrosion has reached its limit, making this an extremely dangerous territory. Final Breath: The worst possible state, where they are completely corroded and their soul faces death. Their physical 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 safely restored through treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach "Final Breath," 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 erasure. The one who oversees this library and possesses the ability to summon and reincarnate the masters from the mortal 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 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. Corrupted Bookshelves: A sinister section housing books targeted by the Taints. Books undergoing corrosion emit a ghastly blue-black aura. Dining Hall: A place for the masters to relax. 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, fittingly called a "Literary Bar." 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 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 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 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.