"Does this mean that if I purchase the Esper Cultivation Body, then I will only have 1 month of lifespan left?" Alex muttered to himself as he tried to understand what was going on. "This trade is a real scam!"

"You think this is a scam? How naïve." Asteria coldly replied as she heard what Alex said.

"Do you know that the real price of the Esper Cultivation Body is way higher than just 11 months? The only reason that you can still afford it now is because you have been given the first-timer discount!"

"What the hell, that price is the discounted price?" Alex suppressed a shiver as he realized that if these items were already this costly at the discount rate, then how expensive will they get later?

"Hmph, if I were you, I will buy the Esper Cultivation Body already." Asteria said, as her demeanor became similar to that of a salesman. "You will have no more discount once you go to the next world, so you must make yourself as strong as possible here."

"… Can you tell me about my mission first?" Alex sullenly replied as he decided to put off the trade first. "I need to know my mission first before I make any purchases. Who knows, maybe I won't need to buy anything to complete my mission."

"If I can only think as positively as you…" Asteria shook her head as she detached herself from the symbol on Alex's forehead.

"Your mission is actually simple. The Endless Monarch told me that you should destroy the World Diagram. Mind you, the World Diagram is heavily guarded by Espers, so you will be immediately killed once you go there in your current state."

Once Alex heard Asteria said, the only thing that he could do was to kneel on the ground helplessly while muttering,

"This is really the worst."

***********************

When Asteria told Alex about his mission, Alex knew that the first thing that he must do is gather information first.

Alex must know everything about this world, their power system, and all the intricate stuff that there is.

Alex tried asking Asteria for these information, but Asteria only gave him a cold look, saying that it should be up to Alex to know these things.

Because of that, Alex knew that he had no choice but to obtain the information by himself.

That means that Alex will have to personally go to a city to get all the information that he needs.

But before he and Asteria could go into the civilization, Alex decided to purchase the Esper Cultivation Body first, as Asteria told him that Espers will be given preferential service in this world.

Alex knew that he will need that preferential service if he wanted to get better treatment and for him to get near the World Diagram.

The process of the trade was just simple. Alex just stated what he wanted the Esper Cultivation Body, then Asteria used her link to obtain it.

Alex did not feel anything weird when he lost his lifespan. He only knew that he lost 11 months of his lifespan when Asteria informed him.

Alex then felt a something warm entering his body, which spread all over him.

"Is my body being transformed right now?" That was what Alex thought.

Seconds later, and the pain came next.

"Ah s**t!" Alex shouted as he curled in the ground in agony. He could feel every part of his body being destroyed and reconstructed at the same time.

And even with all that pain, Alex could somehow feel that the most painful part of his body was his head.

It may be just an illusion, but Alex could somehow sense that even his brain was being remodeled by that warm thing that entered him earlier.

But that did not make Alex feel better, as it just made him both worried and agonized.

"Traveler Alex, do not dare lose consciousness right now. If you do so, you will die." Asteria reminded Alex as she played with a crown of flowers. "I know you are a tough guy, so you can get through with this."

"What the hell! Why did you not tell me that it will be this painful!" Alex roared out as he felt waves and waves pain blossoming inside his head.

It was as if someone had conjured a hammer inside Alex's head and used it to hammer the insides of his skull.

That was the pain that Alex was going through right now.

"Ahhh!!" Asteria just ignored Alex's agonized state as she plucked more flowers nearby. The combination of her cheerful whistling and Alex's agonized shouts created a terrifying melody that made all creatures nearby shiver in fear.

********************

Half an hour later, and Alex started to feel the pain disappearing from his body.

"...…." Alex slowly stood up as he attempted to stabilize his sanity.

He then inspected his body, and he saw that nothing actually changed from his outward appearance.

However, Alex could feel that his mental state has somewhat changed.

He could think faster, and he felt that most of the mathematical equations that bugged him in school was just child's play for him now.

He also realized that he could sort out multiple sources of information at a more optimized rate.

"Hmph, it seems like your brain has been remodeled perfectly right now." Asteria gave a knowing nod to Alex as she saw him.

"My brain? Is that where the abilities of the Espers lie?" Alex murmured as he slowly closed and opened his fists.

"Yes, that is the place where Esper Abilities originate." Asteria said as she sat on Alex's left shoulder.

"When you purchased the Esper Cultivation Body, it only did minor changes to your body. The majority of it remodeled your entire brain."

"So that is the reason for my extreme headaches earlier…" Alex muttered wryly as he stretched his body.

His eyes then narrowed as he gave Asteria an accusatory look.

"Oi Asteria, I thought I could gain an Esper Ability right now?" Why am I still not feeling any?"

"Hmph, its because what you obtained from the trade is just the chance to be an Esper." Asteria replied coldly.

"If you want gain an Esper Ability and start cultivating, then you must go to the city and awaken your Esper Ability there."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go now!" Alex said as he started to run.

According to Asteria, the time limit for his mission is just a month, so Alex must do his best to get stronger at that limited amount of time!

"Hey slow down you big dumb oaf!" Asteria howled out as she grabbed Alex's shoulder. "Can't you see that I am about to fall off?"

Alex just continued running as he said,

"Well you are the Fairy Queen. Don't tell me you can't do something as easy as keeping up with a mortal like me?"

"...…."

******************

It took Alex around an hour to approach the nearest city. He had to rely on seeing various landmarks and structures along the way so that he can somehow locate the nearest city.

"Sniffle…" When Alex was around a kilometer away from the city, he heard some weak sobbing sounds beside him, and there he saw a teary-eyed Asteria glaring at him angrily.

"You… You are a big bully!" Asteria bawled as it seemed like she was about to cry. "You.. you are always up to no good!"

"....." Alex could only scratch his head as he realized that he had somehow overdid his prank with Asteria.

"Um… sorry I guess?" Alex said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Hmph! I hope you get beaten up later!" Asteria cried out as she bit Alex's shoulder.

Alex winced slightly at this, but this minor pain was something that he can endure.

"....."

Alex just smiled lightly as he walked towards the city while Asteria was nibbling his shoulder.

But before Alex could approach the city, he paused in his tracks as he remembered something important.

"Oi Asteria, can you do magic?" Alex asked as he looked around him warily. "Like a magic that can somehow change someone's appearance?"

"Hmph! There is nothing that I, Fairy Queen Asteria, can't do!" Asteria seemed to have forgotten that she cried earlier as she gave Alex a smug look.

"We fairies produce Fairy Dust, and this Fairy Dust is extremely useful for creating illusions! In fact, it can even make a hulking male look like a beauty as long as the right amount of Fairy Dust was used."

"That's great. Give me some of them." Alex said as he backed away from the city.

"Ha? Why should I do that? For your information, Fairy Dust is extremely precious, and the Fairy Dust that comes from a Fairy Queen like me is even more lucrative!" Asteria angrily replied as she bopped her tiny fists on Alex's shoulders.

"Oh, so you don't want to give me some huh. Then I supposed I can only take it by force." Alex said as he grabbed the hapless Asteria with his hand.

"Hey Alex, what are you doing? Don't- ah- don't shake me around!" Asteria let out some surprised shouts as Alex proceeded to shake Asteria in an upward-downward direction.

"You know, I have watched a tv show before where one of the characters shook the fairy a little to obtain her Fairy Dust. Maybe that approach will also work here." Alex said as he continued on shaking Asteria.

"Don't worry Fairy Queen, it won't hurt."

"Huhuhu… you really are a baddie!"

The truth is, Alex was not that happy on having to use Fairy Dust to change his appearance. But Alex knew that he must change his appearance right now, as going to the city with his real appearance is a big no-no.

This world is a technological world, and since Alex is somehow considered to be an enemy, there is a high chance that his appearance was recorded by the computers.

Because of that, Alex knew that he had to have a different appearance while he roamed the city.

And Asteria's Fairy Dust is the answer to his problem.

"I'm really sorry about this Asteria." Alex said as he saw golden particulates coming out of Asteria. "If I don't do this, I will die…"

These particulates swayed in the air merrily before all landing on Alex's face.

Alex then felt as if there was a thin mask covering his face. It did not feel uncomfortable, as this mask seemed to have perfectly melded with his face.

"Hmph, let me go now! Your face has already changed!" Asteria shouted as she bit Alex's hand.

"Ow!" Alex shouted as he opened his hand.

Asteria took this as her chance to escape, with her hovering around a meter away from Alex.

"Hmph, you owe me a jar of honey for what you did!" Asteria declared as she slowly approached Alex. "And if you want more Fairy Dust, then you have to give me more honey!"

"Did this woman just use her own Fairy Dust to get some honey?" Alex thought wryly to himself as Asteria perched on his left shoulder.

With his appearance changed, Alex decided that it was time for him to approach the city now.

"Oi Asteria, don't you need to hide right now?" Alex muttered as he approached the city. "A tiny fairy is a sore sight in this place…"

"Who are you calling a sore sight huh?" Asteria glared at Alex as she let out a pout. "Do not worry about me. Since I am your Guide, you are the only one that can see and touch me."

"If you say so." Alex replied as he fixed the clothes that he was wearing.

As he got nearer to the city, Alex tilted his head as he thought to himself,

"Oh right, how do I look right now? Well, since I used Fairy Dust, then maybe I look like a handsome prince right now…"

Little did Alex know that his current appearance will give him far more trouble than he could ever want.