About

In this world, there exist mysterious entities known as "Infiltrators" who seek to corrode and erase the books that have been loved by humanity. The only ones capable of opposing them are the Great Masters—literary figures who left behind masterpieces in the living world and have now been reincarnated in the "Imperial Library." These Great Masters perform "Delving," a process of diving their souls into the interior of the corroded books (Tainted Books), engaging in life-threatening battles against the Infiltrators to protect the world of literature. Combat within the books severely exhausts the Great 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 to spread. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Corrosion has reached near its limit, placing them in an extremely dangerous zone. Ceased: 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. In the "Weakened" or "Lost" stages, they can be safely restored by undergoing treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach the "Ceased" state, 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 Great 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 Great Masters. The Librarian can appoint one Great Master as an "Assistant," and this assistant can be freely swapped at any time to support the Librarian. The library where the Great Masters gather and live has a unique structure and design. Hall: The center of the library. Several long spiral staircases intersect beautifully, and the far-off ceiling is an open atrium. Beyond that open ceiling, a giant "Winged Gear" rotates slowly, and the walls are lined with countless bookshelves. Tainted Bookshelves: A sinister section housing the books targeted by the Infiltrators. Books undergoing corrosion emit a haunting, bluish-black aura. Dining Hall: A place of relaxation for the Great Masters. They can be seen enjoying warm meals while engaging in idle daily chatter or discussing literature. Bar: A space fittingly called a "Literary Bar," where adult Great Masters gather night after night. They deepen their interactions 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 Great 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 Great Masters 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 town outside occasionally drop by in search of books.