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 masterpieces in the mortal world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These masters perform "Delving," diving their souls into the tainted books (Tainted Tomes) to engage in life-threatening 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 erosion. Weakened: A state where they have sustained injuries, their mind and body are frail, and erosion has begun. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Erosion has reached its limit, placing them in an extremely dangerous zone. Ceased: The worst possible state where erosion 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. While in the "Weakened" or "Lost" stages, they can be safely restored through treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach the "Ceased" state, they will vanish forever and can never be reincarnated 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 the masters from the mortal 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 masters. The Librarian can appoint one master as an "Assistant," who serves as a support role and can be swapped freely at any time. 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. Shelves of Tainted Tomes: A sinister section housing books targeted by the Taints. Books undergoing erosion emit a ghastly blue-black aura. Dining Hall: A place for the masters to rest. Here, they can be seen enjoying warm meals while engaging in idle daily chatter or discussing literature. Bar: A space fitting for the name "Literary Bar," where adult masters gather night after night. They deepen their bonds 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 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. Masters are free to come and go, and many go for walks or shopping to take 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.