Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

And of course, Aria—while still hugging me—rubbed her cheek against mine and said, “Now you can marry into my family anytime! Yep, yep!”
“I’m not going anywhere! And I’m not going to be a bride! A-and nothing is going on between me and Lom either!!”
“No, no. Not Lom. Me. You’re marrying me. You get that, right? Nfufu~♪”
“Nyuaaah! N-not again! Nooo!”

With that, Aria hugged me even tighter and rubbed her cheek against me all the more!

Like the rest of the Brook family, Aria was big—nearly 180 centimeters tall, with powerful, athletic muscles… but not in a rough, bulky way. Her body was firm yet softened with just the right amount of fat, giving her a figure that was dramatically curved! Under her mantle, she wore daring bikini armor made from Demonic Beast leather, containing her rocket-sized bust—truly a dynamite body! Her carrot-orange hair, cut in a wild manner, short enough to show the nape of her neck, just like Lombard’s, swung as she moved and rubbed against my cheeks. And those tufts of hair that stuck up like animal ears on either side of her head—were those styled that way? Or just bedhead?? My whole body was trapped between the massive armored mounds of her chest, unable to move, just bouncing in her clutches!

Then, from behind me, a sharp, accusing voice rang out.

“Aria! What exactly are you saying to Su again?!”

Mia shouted as she yanked me out of Aria’s arms.

“Nyuah!”
“Su isn’t marrying anyone!”

And with that, I was buried in Mia’s soft embrace instead.

(Ahh, so soft…)

While I was savoring that warm, plush feeling, another voice chimed in from the side.

“What do you think you’re doing on the day of the ceremony, huh?!”
“Well… this is pretty much how Su always is, though,” another said dryly.
“Mia! Bibi, Corin—you came to see me off?”

Bibi and Corin were standing beside Mia. Still… this situation wasn’t my fault. But I was not going to say anything—because it felt way too good being buried in here!

“Milady, it’s about time.”

While I was getting my send-off from Bibi and the others, Caron—standing by the station entrance—called to me. I followed his lead into the station, inside one of the rooms, with Bibi, Mia, and Corin tagging along. He guided us into a small room that looked like a meeting chamber. Inside, one man was waiting for me. It was Alphonse Beers, head of the Beers family—one of Amukham’s Three Great Houses.

He would be presiding over today’s ceremony. Apparently, sending off the children was an important duty for the Three Houses.

“Congratulations, Miss Susie. On behalf of Amukham Village, I offer you my heartfelt joy in reaching this moment,” he said.

Sir Alphonse was a distinguished gentleman with short, slightly wavy light brown hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. He stood a bit taller than Aria, and his rich baritone voice carried easily. It was hard to believe such a youthful-sounding voice belonged to someone in his fifties.

“Thank you very much for your kind words, Sir Alphonse. I’m sorry to trouble everyone with this, but I’ll be in your care.”

I bowed lightly as I gave my thanks.

“I believe you already know this well, but I will repeat it. From here, you will venture into Amukham Forest and survive alone for one week. No one will assist you. You must handle your food, shelter, and protection from beasts entirely by yourself. Are you prepared?”
“Yes, I am fully prepared. I, Susie Cloud, swear to survive in the Amukham Forest on my strength and to return alive to this place.”
“Very good. Then, this is for you.”

As he said that, Alphonse looked at Caron, who was standing next to him, and signaled him. At his signal, Caron opened a small wooden box he was carrying, about the size of a postcard, and held it out to Sir Alphonse. Inside, wrapped in a shimmering blue cloth, was a piece of metal on a chain. Alphonse took it with both hands, held it aloft reverently, and then presented it to me.

“This will be your tag. Please keep it safe,” he whispered softly.
Then, raising his voice, “May our child be protected.”

He spread the tag’s chain open and stepped toward me. I knelt on one knee, bowing my head so Sir Alphonse could place it around my neck. I lifted the tag that was now hanging around my neck to examine the engraving—my name, Susie Cloud, freshly etched into the new metal plate.

I couldn’t help but smile. My heart was starting to race with excitement!

“Now, Miss Susie—hold the tag to your chest and recite the oath.”

Holding back my eagerness, I did as instructed, gripping the tag in both hands and speaking the words.

“The people of Amukham are children of Yerna. Until the day we return to the earth of Yerna, we must carry life forward. Without casting aside my own life, I vow to return to this land.”

I spoke every word exactly as I had been taught, almost like singing. This was some sort of prayer.

Yerna was the Earth Goddess of this region. Even the autumn harvest festival was dedicated to her. This oath was a kind of prayer, a way to declare devotion to Yerna so that she might grant her blessing in this harsh land of Amukham.

When I finished, the emblem on the wall behind Alphonse—a design of overlapping pillars like a temple—began to glow faintly. A pale column of light enveloped me.

“The pact is sealed. Child, step forward on your small feet to fulfill your vow.”

At Sir Alphonse’s words, the meeting room door swung open. I moved towards it, and Caron handed me my pack at the threshold. With his help, I slung the heavy bag onto my back, then glanced over my shoulder. As I did, I noticed Mia, Bibi, and Corin seeing me off from inside the ritual room. Mia was mouthing, “Do your best!” Bibi, “You’d better handle this properly!” and Corin, “Take care.”

I replied, “I’ll be back!” before turning forward and stepping through the door.

From this point on, I wasn’t allowed to look back.

Behind the station was an open square clearing about twenty meters across, beyond which a path stretched into the depths of the forest. At the forest’s edge, my four assigned guards were waiting—Aria’s team. Aria tilted her head toward a spot beside her as if to say, “That’s your place.”

“May the blessing of Yerna be upon this child!”

Alphonse’s baritone rang out behind me as I took my first steps toward the forest.

One by one—Aria, Ilta, Katy, and Millie—disappeared among the trees. I followed them, clutching the tag that was now mine. Into the lightless depths, eyes fixed straight ahead. The Rite of Adulthood was about to begin!

***

Susie: “Dana’s not here?”
Corin: “We did go to get her…”
Beatrice: “I even took her pillow away to wake her up!”
Mia: “…But no matter what we did, she wouldn’t wake up.”
Susie: “…Yeah, somehow, I figured as much.”