Diary of Guarding Monster Girls

Burial Desert.

In the boundless desert, yellow sands roll and human footprints are scarce.

And in the heart of this place, almost devoid of the power of life, a high tower made of sandstone appeared out of nowhere a few days prior, standing silently as if it’s been there forever.

At this moment, there is a mysterious ritual taking place at the top of the tower.

Outside the tower, the dry hot wind sweeps over the sandstones, fiercely striking against the high tower, making a sound akin to the whispers of the undead.

Inside the tower, on a hexagonal stone platform at the center of the room, silver candles engraved with constellations are burning with a ghostly blue flame.

Illuminated by the candlelight, two figures stand facing each other.

In the shadowy corner of the room, a small mound of yellow sand barely sketches out the figure of a statue.

It’s not solid, but a pile of dark yellow loose sand perched atop the stone platform, with its peak occasionally merging into a vague facial outline.

Sometimes furrowing brows formed of sand grains, sometimes opening a mouth made of fine sand, even managing to squeeze out "eyes" filled with anger — two shimmering crimson crystals embedded in the sand pile, staring fixedly opposite.

"..."

On the other side of the stone platform, an average-height figure wears a dark purple magic robe embroidered with star trails, silver-white hair falls on the shoulders, aged yet amiable features, eyes shining with wisdom, fingertips hovering three rotating crystal balls.

Judging from appearance alone, the elderly man resembles a human mage long immersed in academic studies.

And if someone could switch to another kind of vision, they would see the spirituality emanating from him at this moment — a radiance far beyond what any mortal can possess.

That dazzling golden light silently attests to one fact: this elder has already stepped into the domain of the Divine Spirit.

He is no mortal earthly being, but an avatar of the divine stationed here.

He is Sodlin, the God of Forging and Mage.

He is not the true God of Mages but the Dwarven God of Mages, with a greater focus on the forging divine position.

As one of the few caster gods among his kind, he also possesses certain authority over the prophecy domain.

At this moment, Sodlin is employed by a not-so-friendly and somewhat witless employer, holding a special prophecy here.

He is here in the guise of his human form, predicting for a weak mortal.

What should have been a straightforward endeavor has unexpectedly failed repeatedly, a result so bewildering even to him.

If the hired hand merely feels surprised, then experiencing these repeated failures firsthand, the employer is already seething with rage.

"Sodlin, my patience is limited, this is the seventh time already!"

At the moment, the "brows" atop the sand heap are knitted tightly, fine sands continuously falling as if suppressing dissatisfaction.

The raspy voice of the God of Sand and Stone echoes from the sand heap, carrying the rough texture of sand grains rubbing together: "He’s just a mortal, how could he cause you to fail so many times? Are you trying to deceive me!!?"

He is furious.

Furious at the repeated failures before him, angrier at the one possibly deceiving him.

Are you trying to deceive me!!?

Faced with the employer’s aggressive attitude, Sodlin remains notably calm, responding with icy aloofness without turning his head: "I’ve said it many times, he has exceedingly strong interference on him."

"His hiding place is distorted, the lines of destiny are concealed, with quite substantial forces obstructing vision, Master of Sandstone, you’re aware, this is no mortal’s ability."

As a caster god, Sodlin’s demeanor is entirely different from the typical dwarven stereotype, showing no trace of impatience or fury, instead exceedingly calm, even frigidly indifferent.

Sodlin is justified in treating the Master of Sandstone this way.

The amount paid, the amount done.

Though they’re in a hired relationship, the other party exhausted an old favor accumulated over years to make his avatar predict, it doesn’t mean he’s truly become the other’s subordinate.

The Dwarf Pantheon is equally formidable, able to fiercely battle with the Elf Pantheon for millennia, even if the Natural Pantheon is at its peak, there’s no fear.

Moreover, the entire Natural Pantheon is already on the brink of collapse, he would not bow before a member of one of its factions.

The Master of Nature is uncertainly alive, while his Main God is lively and animated.

"You did say that, but that’s not my concern! I’ve paid the price, the contract is established, I only want results!"

The God of Sand and Stone growls angrily, causing the entire sandstone-constructed tower to tremble, dislodging abundant sand dust.

"Find him! Find them!"

Sigh.

And hearing these unreasonable roars, Sodlin slowly shakes his head, further lowering his estimation of Him.

"Utter fool."

"If the Natural Pantheon truly falls into such a fool’s hands, it might be better to disband entirely on the spot."

But recalling the price paid in advance by the Master of Sandstone, Sodlin decides for the sake of that Legendary Level "Snake Eye of Knowledge," not to voice these thoughts.

After all, someone has already paid, the demeanor can be a tad nicer.

The Snake of Knowledge has been extinct for over a thousand years in the world, resulting in the material’s high value now, even at the Legendary Level, it’s significantly valuable.

A Legendary Level snake eye’s worth may not be outrageous, yet enough to complete his Nine-Eye Magic Staff thoroughly, ascending to a true Intermediate Divine Artifact.