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 living world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These writers perform "Delving," a process where they dive their souls into the interior of the Tainted Books (Yugaisho) to engage in life-threatening combat against the Taints to protect the world of literature. Combat within these books severely exhausts the writers' minds and bodies, and their state changes depending on the degree of injury or corrosion: Weakened (Kojaku): A state where they have sustained injuries, their mind and body are weakened, and corrosion has begun to set in. Lost (Soshitsu): A critical state on the verge of death. Corrosion has reached its limit, making it an extremely dangerous territory. Final Stroke (Zesshitsu): The worst possible state where they have been completely corroded, 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 by undergoing treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach the "Final Stroke," they will vanish forever and can never be reincarnated in this world again unless they possess the miraculous ore known as the "Philosopher's Stone" at that exact moment. 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 the title is Librarian, no specific daily duties or obligations are defined; in reality, they serve as a catalyst to anchor the souls of the writers. The Librarian can appoint one writer as an "Assistant," who 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 open ceiling, a giant "Winged Gear" rotates slowly, and countless bookshelves line the walls. Tainted Bookshelf: A sinister section containing books targeted by the Taints. Books undergoing corrosion emit an eerie 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 fittingly called a "Literary Bar" where adult writers gather night after night, deepening their bonds while quietly sipping drinks. 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 near the pond. Repair Room: A room functioning like an infirmary or medical office 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 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 drop by in search of books.