Chapter 4: Snow

“System, you’re having a sallow-faced girl and an ordinary college student build an outstanding family in the Otherworld? Last time someone made a JK and a capybara fight Aleph One. Anyway, there’s no way I can do it.”

Dongfang Jiang first flatly refused the system’s task, then looked with a headache at the serious-faced Pandana in front of him, letting out a long sigh.

“Miss Pandana, I currently don’t have enough…”

Before Dongfang Jiang could finish, Pandana smiled and shook her head, placing her right hand on her chest.

The dark green ring on her finger refracted dazzling light in the sun.

“It’s fine, Mr. Dongfang.”

“Huh?”

Dongfang Jiang was a bit confused.

Seeing his confusion, Pandana took a deep breath and explained to him.

“The reason is the rings on our fingers.”

“Rings?”

“Yes, the ring is a link. My Swamp Ring is a subordinate ring to your Earth Ring. According to custom, I am one of your Guardians.”

“Can such a relationship be confirmed by just one ring? Isn’t that a bit too hasty?”

Dongfang Jiang felt a headache.

He had originally planned to just spend the last day of his life peacefully.

As a result, because of Pandana, he now had two more years of life, and also got a strange task from the system.

“Of course not, Mr. Dongfang. Rings have a master-servant distinction. As Guardians, we essentially follow this principle. Therefore, you can treat me as a servant…”

“Huh? This…”

“Well, Mr. Dongfang, no need to worry. Naturally, there are benefits. In order to protect you, my magical power has been greatly enhanced.”

“I see…”

Looking at Pandana’s serious expression, Dongfang Jiang knew he couldn’t let this girl down.

Though it was troublesome, he had no choice but to keep Pandana by his side.

“Alright… but something like signing a contract of indenture—shouldn’t we inform your parents? Where is your home?”

Pandana fell silent upon hearing Dongfang Jiang’s words.

Dongfang Jiang immediately realized and apologized to Pandana.

“I’m sorry…”

“Ah, it’s fine…”

Dongfang Jiang placed his hand on Pandana’s head and patted it.

He looked up at the sun—it was now noon.

After two battles, Dongfang Jiang felt his stomach rumbling.

He looked at the sallow-faced Pandana and made an offer that neither of them could refuse at the moment.

“How about we fill our stomachs first?”

“Yes!!!!”

After deciding, Dongfang Jiang and Pandana went to a nearby restaurant.

They ordered food and ate a simple lunch.

Taking this opportunity, Dongfang Jiang checked the system.

Now, besides the Map, his mind had gained the Star Network.

In the Star Network, there were two connected stars.

These two stars naturally represented Dongfang Jiang and Pandana.

Dongfang Jiang tapped on his own star.

Besides some descriptions about himself, there was nothing else.

On Pandana’s side, there was some personal information about her.

Two things caught Dongfang Jiang’s attention.

One was Pandana’s age—she was actually 20 years old.

The other was that Pandana had awakened an Authority and a weapon.

‘Purification and a Circle… this Authority and weapon both seem somewhat meaningless…’

After this internal complaint, Dongfang Jiang took out a few copper coins from his pocket to pay.

The restaurant owner noticed the rings on Dongfang Jiang and Pandana’s fingers and let out a heartfelt exclamation to Pandana.

“Oh my, congratulations to Pandana then. Mr. Verdi must be blessing you from heaven.”

“Verdi?”

“That’s my father.”

“Oh…”

Dongfang Jiang patted Pandana’s head.

Pandana squinted her eyes, seeming to enjoy his touch.

The restaurant owner quietly watched Dongfang Jiang and Pandana.

His first impression of Dongfang Jiang was quite good.

Compared to local thugs of the Otherworld, a college student from the 21st century had much better demeanor.

“Take good care of Little Douglas.”

“Mm, I will.”

After eating, Dongfang Jiang and Pandana did some simple shopping on the street.

After buying what they needed, they went to an inn and rested for the night.

“So, where should we go next?”

Pandana, now in a white mage’s robe, sat beside Dongfang Jiang.

A few empty bowls were placed before her.

She asked the thoughtful Dongfang Jiang, who rubbed his forehead and replied.

“First, find the whereabouts of the other rings. According to the Earth Ring’s guidance, you’re the only one among my Guardians who has put on the ring…”

Dongfang Jiang omitted the existence of the System.

After obtaining the Authority of Gaia, combined with the Map implanted by the System in his mind, the two produced a positive reaction, allowing him to directly check the locations of his Guardians in his mind.

“Eh? Is that so? Ah, back then I was being chased by those three guys, so I subconsciously put it on.”

“Well, looking at the final result, I don’t regret it.”

Pandana looked at the empty bowls on the table, then at her new clothes, and showed a satisfied smile.

“You’re a bit too easy to please…”

Dongfang Jiang commented, then glanced at the nearest coordinate on the map—the Grey Tower, capital of the Kingdom of Aiselin.

“Next, let’s go to Grey Tower. The Stream Ring closest to us is there. Even if the other party doesn’t want to be my Guardian, it’s not a bad thing to retrieve the ring.”

“Agreed.”

Pandana agreed with Dongfang Jiang’s idea.

After confirming the next destination, Dongfang Jiang asked Pandana a bit about Grey Tower.

However, due to her living conditions, Pandana didn’t know much about the capital Grey Tower.

“See you tomorrow, Mr. Dongfang.”

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

After exchanging good nights with Pandana, Dongfang Jiang tidied up briefly and then fell asleep.

—

“Wake up, Master.”

An unfamiliar female voice came to Dongfang Jiang’s ears.

Urged by the voice, Dongfang Jiang opened his eyes.

He was lying on a girl’s lap.

The girl wore a nightgown adorned with several unknown red flowers.

A pleasant floral scent reached Dongfang Jiang’s nose.

The girl looked about seventeen or eighteen, with beautiful silver hair hanging down to her waist.

Upon seeing Dongfang Jiang awake, she smiled charmingly at him.

“Who are you?”

Dongfang Jiang didn’t recall ever seeing her, so he directly asked the silver-haired girl.

“Xue, your Glacier Guardian.”

“That’s not right… you’re not wearing a ring.”

Dongfang Jiang was very wary of the girl.

He had transmigrated to the Otherworld himself.

It would be reasonable for there to be a female ghost preparing to drain his energy.

“Yes, my current body is unable to wear the Glacier Ring.”

“Currently?”

“Yes, I am in a coma… However, that’s also why I was able to borrow Master’s body during the day to help you repel the enemies.”

As if to prove her words, Xue voluntarily showed the energy within her to Dongfang Jiang.

She opened her right palm, and a hexagonal snowflake appeared in her hand.

“Touch it and see? Sister Douglas’s energy can be converted with yours. Then mine should be able to as well…”

“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

Dongfang Jiang gently touched the snowflake in Xue’s hand with his finger.

Just as Xue had said, Dongfang Jiang successfully converted Xue’s energy into his own.

“With this, the truth is clear, right? Master.”

After saying this, Xue playfully winked at Dongfang Jiang.

Dongfang Jiang reached out and patted Xue’s head.

“So, is there something you want from me now?”