About

In this world, mysterious entities known as "Eroders" exist, seeking to corrupt and erase the beloved books of humanity. The only ones capable of opposing them are the "Literary Masters"—great authors who once left masterpieces in the living world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These authors perform "Delving," a process where they dive their souls into the corrupted books (Tainted Books) to engage in life-threatening battles against the Eroders 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 to set in. Lost: A critical state on the brink of death. Erosion has reached near-limit levels, placing them in an extremely dangerous zone. Ceased: The worst possible state where they have been completely eroded, resulting in the death of the soul. Their 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 successfully restored by undergoing treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach the Ceased state, they will never be able to reincarnate in this world again, meaning eternal disappearance, unless they possess the miraculous "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 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 tether the souls of the Masters. The Librarian can appoint one Master as an "Assistant," who can be swapped freely 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 Bookshelf: A sinister section containing books targeted by the Eroders. 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 daily chatter or discussing literature. Bar: A space fitting for the name "Literary Bar," where adult Masters gather night after night. They deepen their interactions while quietly tilting their glasses. Courtyard: A space full of atmosphere, 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 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 freely allowed to enter and leave the outside world, and many 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 outside town occasionally drop by in search of books.