diff --git a/toml/combinator.hpp b/toml/combinator.hpp
index ac8dd14..36d367c 100644
--- a/toml/combinator.hpp
+++ b/toml/combinator.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <iterator>
 #include <limits>
+#include <array>
 #include <iomanip>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <cassert>
 #include <cctype>
 
 // they scans characters and returns region if it matches to the condition.
@@ -38,10 +41,12 @@ inline std::string show_char(const char c)
     }
     else
     {
-        std::ostringstream oss;
-        oss << "0x" << std::hex << std::setfill('0') << std::setw(2)
-            << static_cast<int>(c);
-        return oss.str();
+        std::array<char, 5> buf;
+        buf.fill('\0');
+        const auto r = std::snprintf(
+                buf.data(), buf.size(), "0x%02x", static_cast<int>(c) & 0xFF);
+        assert(r == buf.size() - 1);
+        return std::string(buf.data());
     }
 }
 
@@ -51,7 +56,8 @@ struct character
     static constexpr char target = C;
 
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         static_assert(std::is_same<char, typename Cont::value_type>::value,
                       "internal error: container::value_type should be `char`.");
@@ -62,8 +68,12 @@ struct character
         const char c = *(loc.iter());
         if(c != target)
         {
-            return err(concat_to_string("expected '", show_char(target),
-                                        "' but got '", show_char(c), "'."));
+            if(msg)
+            {
+                return err(concat_to_string("expected '", show_char(target),
+                                            "' but got '", show_char(c), "'."));
+            }
+            return err("");
         }
         loc.advance(); // update location
 
@@ -86,7 +96,8 @@ struct in_range
     static constexpr char lower = Low;
 
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         static_assert(std::is_same<char, typename Cont::value_type>::value,
                       "internal error: container::value_type should be `char`.");
@@ -97,9 +108,13 @@ struct in_range
         const char c = *(loc.iter());
         if(c < lower || upper < c)
         {
-            return err(concat_to_string("expected character in range "
-                "[", show_char(lower), ", ", show_char(upper), "] but got ",
-                "'", show_char(c), "'."));
+            if(msg)
+            {
+                return err(concat_to_string("expected character in range "
+                    "[", show_char(lower), ", ", show_char(upper), "] but got ",
+                    "'", show_char(c), "'."));
+            }
+            return err("");
         }
 
         loc.advance();
@@ -120,7 +135,8 @@ template<typename Combinator>
 struct exclude
 {
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         static_assert(std::is_same<char, typename Cont::value_type>::value,
                       "internal error: container::value_type should be `char`.");
@@ -128,13 +144,16 @@ struct exclude
         if(loc.iter() == loc.end()) {return err("not sufficient characters");}
         auto first = loc.iter();
 
-        auto rslt = Combinator::invoke(loc);
+        auto rslt = Combinator::invoke(loc, msg);
         if(rslt.is_ok())
         {
             loc.reset(first);
-            return err(concat_to_string(
-                "invalid pattern (", Combinator::pattern(), ") appeared ",
-                rslt.unwrap().str()));
+            if(msg)
+            {
+                return err(concat_to_string("invalid pattern (",
+                    Combinator::pattern(), ") appeared ", rslt.unwrap().str()));
+            }
+            return err("");
         }
         loc.reset(std::next(first)); // XXX maybe loc.advance() is okay but...
         return ok(region<Cont>(loc, first, loc.iter()));
@@ -151,12 +170,13 @@ template<typename Combinator>
 struct maybe
 {
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         static_assert(std::is_same<char, typename Cont::value_type>::value,
                       "internal error: container::value_type should be `char`.");
 
-        const auto rslt = Combinator::invoke(loc);
+        const auto rslt = Combinator::invoke(loc, msg);
         if(rslt.is_ok())
         {
             return rslt;
@@ -177,34 +197,36 @@ template<typename Head, typename ... Tail>
 struct sequence<Head, Tail...>
 {
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         static_assert(std::is_same<char, typename Cont::value_type>::value,
                       "internal error: container::value_type should be `char`.");
 
         const auto first = loc.iter();
-        const auto rslt = Head::invoke(loc);
+        const auto rslt = Head::invoke(loc, msg);
         if(rslt.is_err())
         {
             loc.reset(first);
             return err(rslt.unwrap_err());
         }
-        return sequence<Tail...>::invoke(loc, std::move(rslt.unwrap()), first);
+        return sequence<Tail...>::invoke(loc, std::move(rslt.unwrap()), first, msg);
     }
 
     // called from the above function only, recursively.
     template<typename Cont, typename Iterator>
     static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
-    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, region<Cont> reg, Iterator first)
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, region<Cont> reg, Iterator first,
+           const bool msg = false)
     {
-        const auto rslt = Head::invoke(loc);
+        const auto rslt = Head::invoke(loc, msg);
         if(rslt.is_err())
         {
             loc.reset(first);
             return err(rslt.unwrap_err());
         }
         reg += rslt.unwrap(); // concat regions
-        return sequence<Tail...>::invoke(loc, std::move(reg), first);
+        return sequence<Tail...>::invoke(loc, std::move(reg), first, msg);
     }
 
     static std::string pattern()
@@ -219,9 +241,10 @@ struct sequence<Head>
     // would be called from sequence<T ...>::invoke only.
     template<typename Cont, typename Iterator>
     static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
-    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, region<Cont> reg, Iterator first)
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, region<Cont> reg, Iterator first,
+           const bool msg = false)
     {
-        const auto rslt = Head::invoke(loc);
+        const auto rslt = Head::invoke(loc, msg);
         if(rslt.is_err())
         {
             loc.reset(first);
@@ -240,14 +263,15 @@ template<typename Head, typename ... Tail>
 struct either<Head, Tail...>
 {
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         static_assert(std::is_same<char, typename Cont::value_type>::value,
                       "internal error: container::value_type should be `char`.");
 
-        const auto rslt = Head::invoke(loc);
+        const auto rslt = Head::invoke(loc, msg);
         if(rslt.is_ok()) {return rslt;}
-        return either<Tail...>::invoke(loc);
+        return either<Tail...>::invoke(loc, msg);
     }
 
     static std::string pattern()
@@ -259,11 +283,12 @@ template<typename Head>
 struct either<Head>
 {
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         static_assert(std::is_same<char, typename Cont::value_type>::value,
                       "internal error: container::value_type should be `char`.");
-        return Head::invoke(loc);
+        return Head::invoke(loc, msg);
     }
     static std::string pattern()
     {
@@ -282,13 +307,14 @@ template<typename T, std::size_t N>
 struct repeat<T, exactly<N>>
 {
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         region<Cont> retval(loc);
         const auto first = loc.iter();
         for(std::size_t i=0; i<N; ++i)
         {
-            auto rslt = T::invoke(loc);
+            auto rslt = T::invoke(loc, msg);
             if(rslt.is_err())
             {
                 loc.reset(first);
@@ -308,14 +334,15 @@ template<typename T, std::size_t N>
 struct repeat<T, at_least<N>>
 {
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         region<Cont> retval(loc);
 
         const auto first = loc.iter();
         for(std::size_t i=0; i<N; ++i)
         {
-            auto rslt = T::invoke(loc);
+            auto rslt = T::invoke(loc, msg);
             if(rslt.is_err())
             {
                 loc.reset(first);
@@ -325,7 +352,7 @@ struct repeat<T, at_least<N>>
         }
         while(true)
         {
-            auto rslt = T::invoke(loc);
+            auto rslt = T::invoke(loc, msg);
             if(rslt.is_err())
             {
                 return ok(std::move(retval));
@@ -343,12 +370,13 @@ template<typename T>
 struct repeat<T, unlimited>
 {
     template<typename Cont>
-    static result<region<Cont>, std::string> invoke(location<Cont>& loc)
+    static result<region<Cont>, std::string>
+    invoke(location<Cont>& loc, const bool msg = false)
     {
         region<Cont> retval(loc);
         while(true)
         {
-            auto rslt = T::invoke(loc);
+            auto rslt = T::invoke(loc, msg);
             if(rslt.is_err())
             {
                 return ok(std::move(retval));
diff --git a/toml/parser.hpp b/toml/parser.hpp
index cea6a75..dc74913 100644
--- a/toml/parser.hpp
+++ b/toml/parser.hpp
@@ -116,10 +116,28 @@ parse_integer(location<Container>& loc)
     const auto first = loc.iter();
     if(first != loc.end() && *first == '0')
     {
-        if(const auto bin = parse_binary_integer     (loc)) {return bin;}
-        if(const auto oct = parse_octal_integer      (loc)) {return oct;}
-        if(const auto hex = parse_hexadecimal_integer(loc)) {return hex;}
-        // else, maybe just zero.
+        const auto second = std::next(first);
+        if(second == loc.end()) // the token is just zero.
+        {
+            return ok(std::make_pair(0, region<Container>(loc, first, second)));
+        }
+
+        if(*second == 'b') {return parse_binary_integer     (loc);} // 0b1100
+        if(*second == 'o') {return parse_octal_integer      (loc);} // 0o775
+        if(*second == 'x') {return parse_hexadecimal_integer(loc);} // 0xC0FFEE
+
+        if(std::isdigit(*second))
+        {
+            return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_integer: "
+                "leading zero in an Integer is not allowed.",
+                {{std::addressof(loc), "leading zero"}}));
+        }
+        else if(std::isalpha(*second))
+        {
+             return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_integer: "
+                "unknown integer prefix appeared.",
+                {{std::addressof(loc), "none of 0x, 0o, 0b"}}));
+        }
     }
 
     if(const auto token = lex_dec_int::invoke(loc))
@@ -308,7 +326,7 @@ result<std::string, std::string> parse_escape_sequence(location<Container>& loc)
             {
                 return err(format_underline("[error] parse_escape_sequence: "
                            "invalid token found in UTF-8 codepoint uXXXX.",
-                           {{std::addressof(loc), token.unwrap_err()}}));
+                           {{std::addressof(loc), "here"}}));
             }
         }
         case 'U':
@@ -321,7 +339,7 @@ result<std::string, std::string> parse_escape_sequence(location<Container>& loc)
             {
                 return err(format_underline("[error] parse_escape_sequence: "
                            "invalid token found in UTF-8 codepoint Uxxxxxxxx",
-                           {{std::addressof(loc), token.unwrap_err()}}));
+                           {{std::addressof(loc), "here"}}));
             }
         }
     }
@@ -388,7 +406,9 @@ parse_ml_basic_string(location<Container>& loc)
     else
     {
         loc.reset(first);
-        return err(token.unwrap_err());
+        return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_ml_basic_string: "
+                   "the next token is not a multiline string",
+                   {{std::addressof(loc), "here"}}));
     }
 }
 
@@ -437,7 +457,9 @@ parse_basic_string(location<Container>& loc)
     else
     {
         loc.reset(first); // rollback
-        return err(token.unwrap_err());
+        return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_basic_string: "
+                   "the next token is not a string",
+                   {{std::addressof(loc), "here"}}));
     }
 }
 
@@ -476,7 +498,9 @@ parse_ml_literal_string(location<Container>& loc)
     else
     {
         loc.reset(first); // rollback
-        return err(token.unwrap_err());
+        return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_ml_literal_string: "
+                   "the next token is not a multiline literal string",
+                   {{std::addressof(loc), "here"}}));
     }
 }
 
@@ -513,7 +537,9 @@ parse_literal_string(location<Container>& loc)
     else
     {
         loc.reset(first); // rollback
-        return err(token.unwrap_err());
+        return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_literal_string: "
+                   "the next token is not a literal string",
+                   {{std::addressof(loc), "here"}}));
     }
 }
 
@@ -521,10 +547,30 @@ template<typename Container>
 result<std::pair<toml::string, region<Container>>, std::string>
 parse_string(location<Container>& loc)
 {
-    if(const auto rslt = parse_ml_basic_string(loc))   {return rslt;}
-    if(const auto rslt = parse_ml_literal_string(loc)) {return rslt;}
-    if(const auto rslt = parse_basic_string(loc))      {return rslt;}
-    if(const auto rslt = parse_literal_string(loc))    {return rslt;}
+    if(loc.iter() != loc.end() && *(loc.iter()) == '"')
+    {
+        if(loc.iter() + 1 != loc.end() && *(loc.iter() + 1) == '"' &&
+           loc.iter() + 2 != loc.end() && *(loc.iter() + 2) == '"')
+        {
+            return parse_ml_basic_string(loc);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            return parse_basic_string(loc);
+        }
+    }
+    else if(loc.iter() != loc.end() && *(loc.iter()) == '\'')
+    {
+        if(loc.iter() + 1 != loc.end() && *(loc.iter() + 1) == '\'' &&
+           loc.iter() + 2 != loc.end() && *(loc.iter() + 2) == '\'')
+        {
+            return parse_ml_literal_string(loc);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            return parse_literal_string(loc);
+        }
+    }
     return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_string: ",
                 {{std::addressof(loc), "the next token is not a string"}}));
 }
@@ -1374,6 +1420,46 @@ parse_inline_table(location<Container>& loc)
             {{std::addressof(loc), "should be closed"}}));
 }
 
+template<typename Container>
+value_t guess_number_type(const location<Container>& l)
+{
+    location<Container> loc = l;
+
+    if(lex_offset_date_time::invoke(loc)) {return value_t::OffsetDatetime;}
+    loc.reset(l.iter());
+
+    if(lex_local_date_time::invoke(loc)) {return value_t::LocalDatetime;}
+    loc.reset(l.iter());
+
+    if(lex_local_date::invoke(loc)) {return value_t::LocalDate;}
+    loc.reset(l.iter());
+
+    if(lex_local_time::invoke(loc)) {return value_t::LocalTime;}
+    loc.reset(l.iter());
+
+    if(lex_float::invoke(loc)) {return value_t::Float;}
+    loc.reset(l.iter());
+
+    return value_t::Integer;
+}
+
+template<typename Container>
+value_t guess_value_type(const location<Container>& loc)
+{
+    switch(*loc.iter())
+    {
+        case '"' : {return value_t::String; }
+        case '\'': {return value_t::String; }
+        case 't' : {return value_t::Boolean;}
+        case 'f' : {return value_t::Boolean;}
+        case '[' : {return value_t::Array;  }
+        case '{' : {return value_t::Table;  }
+        case 'i' : {return value_t::Float;  } // inf.
+        case 'n' : {return value_t::Float;  } // nan.
+        default  : {return guess_number_type(loc);}
+    }
+}
+
 template<typename Container>
 result<value, std::string> parse_value(location<Container>& loc)
 {
@@ -1383,31 +1469,27 @@ result<value, std::string> parse_value(location<Container>& loc)
         return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_value: input is empty",
                    {{std::addressof(loc), ""}}));
     }
-    if(auto r = parse_string         (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_array          (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_inline_table   (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_boolean        (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_offset_datetime(loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_local_datetime (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_local_date     (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_local_time     (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_floating       (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
-    if(auto r = parse_integer        (loc))
-    {return ok(value(std::move(r.unwrap().first), std::move(r.unwrap().second)));}
 
-    const auto msg = format_underline("[error] toml::parse_value: "
-            "unknown token appeared", {{std::addressof(loc), "unknown"}});
-    loc.reset(first);
-    return err(msg);
+    switch(guess_value_type(loc))
+    {
+        case value_t::Boolean        : {return parse_boolean(loc);        }
+        case value_t::Integer        : {return parse_integer(loc);        }
+        case value_t::Float          : {return parse_floating(loc);       }
+        case value_t::String         : {return parse_string(loc);         }
+        case value_t::OffsetDatetime : {return parse_offset_datetime(loc);}
+        case value_t::LocalDatetime  : {return parse_local_datetime(loc); }
+        case value_t::LocalDate      : {return parse_local_date(loc);     }
+        case value_t::LocalTime      : {return parse_local_time(loc);     }
+        case value_t::Array          : {return parse_array(loc);          }
+        case value_t::Table          : {return parse_inline_table(loc);   }
+        default:
+        {
+            const auto msg = format_underline("[error] toml::parse_value: "
+                    "unknown token appeared", {{std::addressof(loc), "unknown"}});
+            loc.reset(first);
+            return err(msg);
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 template<typename Container>
@@ -1463,7 +1545,8 @@ parse_table_key(location<Container>& loc)
     }
     else
     {
-        return err(token.unwrap_err());
+        return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_table_key: "
+            "not a valid table key", {{std::addressof(loc), "here"}}));
     }
 }
 
@@ -1471,7 +1554,7 @@ template<typename Container>
 result<std::pair<std::vector<key>, region<Container>>, std::string>
 parse_array_table_key(location<Container>& loc)
 {
-    if(auto token = lex_array_table::invoke(loc))
+    if(auto token = lex_array_table::invoke(loc, true))
     {
         location<std::string> inner_loc(loc.name(), token.unwrap().str());
 
@@ -1516,7 +1599,8 @@ parse_array_table_key(location<Container>& loc)
     }
     else
     {
-        return err(token.unwrap_err());
+        return err(format_underline("[error] toml::parse_array_table_key: "
+            "not a valid table key", {{std::addressof(loc), "here"}}));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/toml/region.hpp b/toml/region.hpp
index 57c1ab3..1720a7f 100644
--- a/toml/region.hpp
+++ b/toml/region.hpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ struct location final : public region_base
         "container should be randomly accessible");
 
     location(std::string name, Container cont)
-      : source_(std::make_shared<Container>(std::move(cont))), line_number_(0),
+      : source_(std::make_shared<Container>(std::move(cont))), line_number_(1),
         source_name_(std::move(name)), iter_(source_->cbegin())
     {}
     location(const location&) = default;
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ struct location final : public region_base
     const_iterator begin() const noexcept {return source_->cbegin();}
     const_iterator end()   const noexcept {return source_->cend();}
 
-    // XXX At first, `location::line_num()` is implemented using `std::count` to
+    // XXX `location::line_num()` used to be implemented using `std::count` to
     // count a number of '\n'. But with a long toml file (typically, 10k lines),
     // it becomes intolerably slow because each time it generates error messages,
     // it counts '\n' from thousands of characters. To workaround it, I decided
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ struct location final : public region_base
     }
     void reset(const_iterator rollback) noexcept
     {
-        // since c++11, std::distance works in both ways and returns a negative
-        // value if `first` is ahead from `last`.
+        // since c++11, std::distance works in both ways for random-access
+        // iterators and returns a negative value if `first > last`.
         if(0 <= std::distance(rollback, this->iter_)) // rollback < iter
         {
             this->line_number_ -= std::count(rollback, this->iter_, '\n');
diff --git a/toml/value.hpp b/toml/value.hpp
index 74b2265..ef4bd15 100644
--- a/toml/value.hpp
+++ b/toml/value.hpp
@@ -572,6 +572,14 @@ class value
         return *this;
     }
 
+    // for internal use ------------------------------------------------------
+
+    template<typename T, typename Container, typename std::enable_if<
+        detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+    value(std::pair<T, detail::region<Container>> parse_result)
+        : value(std::move(parse_result.first), std::move(parse_result.second))
+    {}
+
     // type checking and casting ============================================
 
     template<typename T>