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 authors who once left masterpieces in the living world and have now been reincarnated at the "Imperial Library." These authors perform "Delving," plunging their souls into the interior of tainted books (Tainted Books) to engage in life-or-death 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 erosion. Weakened: A state where they have sustained injuries, their mind and body are flagging, and erosion has begun. Lost: A critical state on the verge of death. Erosion has reached its limit, making this an extremely dangerous territory. Ceased Writing: 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 restored to health by undergoing treatment in the library's Repair Room. However, once they reach "Ceased Writing," 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 Literary Masters from the living world is the "Librarian," an Alchemist. 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 Literary Masters. The Librarian can appoint one Master as an "Assistant," and this assistant can be freely swapped 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 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 Bookshelf: A sinister section housing books targeted by the Taints. Books where erosion is progressing emit an eerie 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 fittingly called a "Literary Bar," where adult 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 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 as they please, and many go for walks or shopping to take a break from daily combat or writing. Furthermore, since this facility functions as a "Library," ordinary people from the town outside occasionally drop by in search of books.