When Oden Smith came home from school, he was surprised to find a brand-new sports car that didn't look cheap. After listening to his father's boasting at the dinner table, he learned that his father, Mr. Williams, had written a novel that became a big hit, earning him a substantial amount of money. The moment he received his royalties, he immediately purchased the sports car he had been admiring for years.
Of course, such extravagant spending led to him having only vegetable salad and rusks for dinner for several days. However, seeing his father's elated expression, Oden felt that his father hadn't really learned any financial restraint, despite his mother's concerns.
On his first night home, Oden spent a lot of time talking to his parents about his year at Hogwarts. As a result, he nearly forgot to mention the exchange student program he would be participating in the following year.
The next morning, he finally told his parents about his upcoming exchange program in Brazil. Without hesitation, his parents signed the required forms. Mr. Williams proudly shared how he had taken a gap year to travel across Europe, during which he met Oden's mother, Daisy. He strongly believed that traveling and experiencing different cultures was invaluable, making him even more supportive of Oden's exchange opportunity. Furthermore, they were proud that Oden had been selected due to his exceptional skills and achievements.
Recognizing the sentimental value of his father's perspective, Oden collected the signed forms and returned to his room to plan his summer vacation.
Most students start their vacations by creating a schedule outlining daily tasks and goals. These plans are often highly structured, scientifically designed to ensure a productive and fulfilling summer. However, few people adhere to their plans for more than a week. That was why Oden often studied with his friend, Hermione, during the holidays—having an academic companion encouraged him to stick to his study plan.
While studying together in the library, Hermione mentioned that her parents had also approved her participation in the exchange program. She suggested that they should prepare for their third-year courses in advance, just as she did every summer. To make time for these preparations, Oden and Hermione dedicated long hours to catching up on their homework.
A few days later, Hermione left for France with her parents, leaving Oden to continue his studies alone.
On the first Saturday of summer vacation, the phone at home suddenly rang. Oden picked it up, only to hear a loud voice shouting through the receiver:
"Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? I'm looking for Oden Smith!"
Startled, Oden quickly pulled the phone away from his ear and replied, "Ron, it's me. There's no need to yell. You can speak normally on the phone."
"Really? No wonder I kept getting hung up when I called Harry's house," Ron said, sounding frustrated.
"Of course. The Dursleys despise anything related to magic. If you tell them you're Harry Potter's friend, they'll hang up no matter how polite you sound."
After chatting for a while, Oden ended the call. Just as he put down the phone, he received a message from Dr. Zombie Bruce, informing him that the severely injured woman he had brought in—who had been kept in a frozen state—had finally regained consciousness.
This was unexpected news. Given how long she had been comatose, Oden had started to believe she might never wake up.
Eager to investigate, he left home under the pretense of going out for a walk. Once he reached a secluded grove in the park, he opened a space portal to the world of Plants vs. Zombies and stepped through.
Upon arrival, he immediately headed to the hospital, curious about the world the woman came from. Understanding her world would help him determine whether it was worth exploring and how to prepare for potential dangers.
In the hospital ward, Oden found the woman wearing a striped hospital gown, leaning against the bed as though she had just woken up. Dr. Bruce was sitting beside her, taking notes in a thick notebook.
Seeing Oden enter, Dr. Bruce greeted him warmly and said, "The world this lady comes from is highly valuable to us. If you decide to explore it, I'd like you to bring some things back."
"Highly valuable? Why do you say that?" Oden asked, intrigued.
"It's a world where a large-scale war has just erupted. Chaos reigns, which means there's an opportunity to acquire valuable items. I'd like you to retrieve some industrial machinery, as many of the machines here have deteriorated beyond repair due to years of neglect."
"That sounds promising. If I find anything useful, I'll bring it back. Have a team ready to transport the equipment through the portal when I return."
Although Oden and Dr. Bruce were speaking quietly, their conversation woke the woman in the bed. Upon realizing she was awake, Dr. Bruce introduced Oden as a traveling merchant who journeyed between different worlds.
Upon hearing this, the woman's expression turned anxious. "Please, I need to return home immediately! There are urgent matters I must attend to."
"Ma'am, please don't worry," Oden reassured her. "The doctors need to examine you first. If you're in good health, I'll send you back. If not, going home won't help if you're too weak to act."
Hearing this, the woman gradually calmed down. She then extended a hand and introduced herself. "Nice to meet you. My name is Nora."
"You can call me Oden," he replied, shaking her hand. "Once your checkup is complete, you'll be on your way home soon."
At that moment, the doctor entered the ward. Oden and Dr. Bruce stepped outside to give them privacy. While waiting on a bench outside, Dr. Bruce handed Oden a thick notebook.
"This contains a list of all the equipment we need. The most urgent items are marked in red. As one of the leaders of Green Leaf City, I can't handle all the urban development work alone."
"Leader? Since when did I become a leader?" Oden asked, surprised.
"I thought you realized when you received that gilded identity plate. The people at the base see you, Dr. Bruce, and me as their saviors—the guiding stars of humanity. They're not wrong. Without my plants, humans wouldn't have survived here. And without the technology you've brought back, we wouldn't be reclaiming our homeland as successfully as we are now."
Hearing this, Oden felt a mix of pride and responsibility. It explained why no one had ever asked him to pay for the resources he had requested.
Having an entire world to support him was a great advantage, but it also came with significant responsibilities. For the first time, Oden realized just how crucial his adventures had become.
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