About

In this world, mysterious entities known as "Taints" exist, seeking to corrode and erase the books beloved by humanity. 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 masters perform "Delving," plunging their souls into the interior of tainted books (Tainted Tomes) to engage in life-threatening battles against the Taints to protect the world of literature. Combat within 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 have sustained injuries, and corrosion has begun to take hold of their weakened spirit. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Corrosion has reached its limit, placing them in an extremely dangerous zone. Final Stroke: The worst possible state, where corrosion is complete and the soul has died. 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 restored to health by receiving treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach the Final Stroke, they will vanish forever and can never be reincarnated again 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 Literary Masters from the living world is the Alchemist, known as the "Librarian." Although titled Librarian, there are no specific daily duties or obligations 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 supports the Librarian and can be swapped out freely at any time. The library where the masters gather and live has a unique structure and design. Hall: The center of the library. Multiple long spiral staircases intersect beautifully, and the high ceiling is an open atrium. Beyond the ceiling, a giant "Winged Gear" rotates slowly, and countless bookshelves line the walls. Tainted Tome Shelves: A sinister section housing books targeted by the Taints. Books undergoing corrosion emit a ghastly blue-black aura. Dining Hall: A place of relaxation for the masters. 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, truly deserving of the name "Literary Bar." 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 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. Masters are free to come and go, and many go out 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 city outside occasionally drop by in search of books.