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Kiichi is an oni-throwback, a boy born to a human mother, yet endowed with extra-human strength and speed along with a horn and pointy ears. While his mother is alive, she protects him, but after her death, his horn is uncovered and he is pushed to the edge of village life. One day he spies a traveling librarian conjuring oni from a book to entertain his ward. Kiichi pesters Mototaro to let him travel with the pair so he can learn more about oni. Mototaro reluctantly allows him to accompany them to the depository. Along the way they met an Amamori, a member of a clan who protects librarians, and Mori also invites himself along.

In this so far loosely defined fantasy world, books are precious and magical. Ordinary people are not allowed to possess them; instead, traveling librarians carry books from town to town. Those who know how can summon creatures from the pages of the books. The unwary can end up with rampaging elephants and rogue tigers.

Mototaro is grumpy and reluctant to take on the responsibility of caring for Kiichi. Hana, the young girl traveling with him, is an escapee from a book. She is devoted to Mototaro, but he's not terribly enthusiastic about having to take care of her either. Although by inclination a loner, Mototaro is protective of both children. Mori intervenes at an opportune moment during a bandit attack, but his motives may not be pure.

The style is standard shonen, but the characters are all distinctive. Kiichi has his horn, Hana is doll-like with an oversized bow, Mototaro wears a hat and a black overcoat, Mori is exceptionally tall. Taka doesn't do quite as well with older men's faces, and there's something a little off about the tiger, but it's not enough to impede enjoyment of the story.