Leave a comment

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

—88 hours since the outbreak of the Void Mist.

The heart of Imperial Crimson’s Sky Garden was dotted with hundreds of teleportation gates, their presence dominating the once-pristine landscape.

Massive metal pillars, arranged in a circular formation with diameters of roughly 30 to 40 meters, gave the area an air of solemnity, reminiscent of an ancient ritual site. Normally a place of quiet majesty, the Sky Garden’s serenity was shattered as teleportation gates flared to life continuously, ferrying waves of refugees from across the continent. —Incidentally, one of these very pillars had been repurposed to conceal the false teleportation equipment for Cres.

Guided by appointed angels, beastkin, and humanoid monsters, the newly arrived refugees moved toward their designated shelters, their faces etched with uncertainty and unease.

The teleportation gate linked to the Graviol Empire pulsed with light, ushering in yet another wave of refugees. Some staggered forward, gripping their luggage tightly, their hands trembling from exhaustion and fear. Others paused to inhale deeply, taking in their unfamiliar surroundings, while a few anxiously scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces in a land that offered none.

Christoff stood before the teleportation gate, his expression unexpectedly heavy with despondence.

“Elmer! Lucas!”

Christoff’s voice rang out as he spotted two familiar figures among the crowd—both clad in the same school uniform as him. One had dark blonde hair, the other a striking shade of ginger-red.

The two young men, each hauling a magic bag—its seemingly ordinary appearance betraying its ability to store an abundance of items without adding weight—had been curiously taking in the unfamiliar scenery. However, upon hearing Christoff’s voice, they immediately turned toward him, grins breaking across their faces.

“Christoff!”
“I was so worried, man!”

The trio exchanged shoulder pats and playful jabs, their laughter lightening the tense atmosphere. After their excitement settled, Christoff hesitantly broached the subject on his mind.

“So… what’s the situation in the empire?”

At his question, their expressions immediately grew somber.

“…It’s a disaster. Refugees are flooding the cities like a tidal wave. I’ve even heard reports of looting and uprisings.”

“Merchants are capitalizing on the chaos, hoarding supplies and reselling them at outrageous prices. White bread alone has surged to one and a half silver—fifty times its normal cost.”

“I see…” Christoff muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He had expected things to deteriorate, but hearing firsthand how desperation had driven people to such extremes still left him shaken.

“Do you think this is all because of the «Void Mist»? Has the public been informed?”
“The official statement claims that a magic experiment in Aeon went wrong, releasing a toxic mist that is now gradually spreading across the continent.”

Elmer, the blonde-haired young man with a perceptive demeanor, explained the situation with a conflicted expression.

“If only they knew it was far worse than just ‘poisonous’…”

Lucas, the ginger-haired young man, muttered with a hint of cynicism.

“Maybe it’s for the best. If the truth got out, the chaos would be ten times worse. Right now, the only thing keeping the situation from completely unraveling is the presence of the royal family, including His Majesty the Emperor, in the capital. People are clinging to the idea that ‘if they haven’t fled, then it can’t be that serious.'”

“Meanwhile, the other nobles have already fled to the far east. Cowardly, despicable scumbags.”

From a distance, I observed Christoff and his friends as their initial excitement settled, though a trace of tension still lingered in the air. Once the crowd had thinned enough, I approached them with Mikoto and two maids in tow. Both maids were humanoid pets—designed that way intentionally to prevent the newcomers from experiencing too much culture shock all at once.

“Good day to you all. You must be Christoff’s friends, correct? It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m glad to see you’ve arrived safely.” I lightly pinched the edges of my skirt and lifted it ever so slightly, offering them a graceful curtsy.

“Huh—ah, yes! Yes! It’s an honor to meet you, young lady.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, young lady. Forgive us if our manners are lacking.”

My sudden approach had clearly caught them off guard, but as noble-born young men, they quickly regained their composure and returned the curtsy with practiced elegance.

Their gazes flickered toward Christoff, whose face had turned an unmistakable shade of red. His movements were stiff and awkward, like a long-forgotten tin doll struggling to function. Then, they looked back at me.

“…Excuse us. We’d like to have a private word with Christoff, if you wouldn’t mind.” Elmer bowed politely as he spoke.

“—? Oh, of course. By the way, if your luggage is a hassle, feel free to entrust it to the attendants here.”
“Yes, please.”

They nodded at my suggestion, quickly glancing at the three maids behind me before handing over their luggage. Then, without giving Christoff a chance to process what was happening, they discreetly dragged him away—almost as if abducting some otherworldly creature—toward the shade of a nearby teleportation pillar.

“—What’s the meaning of this?!”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean her! That beautiful young lady! She called you ‘Christoff’ so casually, like an old friend! Who is she? Where does she come from? And just how are you two acquainted?!”

Though they lowered their voices into a hushed whisper, their words were crystal clear to my ears, given the distance.

“What kind of… err, well…”
“…Never mind. I get it. So, this is how things are, huh, Christoff?”
“Now that you mention it, that does ring a bell. No need to explain, your expression says it all, Christoff. But man, what perfect timing. They say every dark cloud has a silver lining—seems like that’s exactly what you’ve got here.”

“Right? If this were normal times, I can’t even begin to imagine the chaos that would break out if the girls from your fan club found out about this.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re in the clear, though. Plenty of young ladies must have made their way here too. You’re in for one hell of a ride—or should I say, a stormy one.”
“The chaos they’d cause might just make the end of the world seem like an afterthought.”

Elmer and Lucas exchanged dry smiles, their expressions clouded with somber resignation. A beat later, they let out a weary sigh.

Hmm… I must say, they were quite intriguing. Was this just how school friends interacted—so naturally close and playful?

◆◇◆◇

Despite its name, the Sky Garden was actually composed of multiple strata, each with its own unique environment. Some layers housed extreme landscapes—a scorching lava zone, an absolute-zero cold region capable of freezing breath midair, and even a vast underground salt lake that could easily be mistaken for an ocean. Each layer was inhabited by monsters that had formed colonies suited to their respective terrains.

The exact number of strata remained unknown, but estimates suggested that the Sky Garden’s total expanse could rival that of a small nation.

The first stratum—commonly referred to as the surface—was primarily designed to house the Scarlet Jade Castle, with towering world trees forming a breathtaking backdrop. The front-facing area resembled a castle town… or perhaps a bustling merchant city, given the numerous shops that lined its streets. Other key facilities, such as teleportation hubs, were also strategically positioned throughout the area.

Now, getting to the main point—the residential districts began from the second stratum underground. Though, calling it “underground” in the Sky Garden did feel somewhat ironic. If memory served me right, the total population was around 10,000. While spirits, fairies, and ghosts also roamed the area, this was only the official registered count. After establishing contact with the surface, an additional 5,000 people had settled here.

Many areas had originally been left undeveloped, creating vast stretches of unused space. These areas were now being opened up for residential expansion. As long as the newcomers didn’t cause trouble, we had no intention of interfering in their affairs.

Fortunately, several high-ranking individuals—including Emperors, Kings, Chieftain, Chairmen, and Presidents—had taken the initiative to oversee their own people, significantly reducing our workload. From here on, they would have to manage on their own.

Support Us

Unlock Early Access ------- Select Project ------- Project Gender Bender Project Necro ∴ Support your favorite series and unlock chapters before the public release.