Chapter 57 The Queen and the Weird Censorhip (1/2)
”Ok, so should I go looking for food first, or should we buy our new cultivation bodies first?” Alex inquired as he avoided Asteria's crafty gaze.
”Huh?” Asteria gave Alex a wilting gaze as she said,
”Of course you have to buy from the Endless Monarch first! If you don't, then you will just die if you go out hunting!”
”You make it sound like there are monsters living in this forest.” Alex said, clearly remembering the ghastly howl that he heard yesterday. ”That will be something that I would not like to see.”
”Well, you are right.” Asteria replied as she nodded her head sagely. ”There are literally monsters in this forest, as we are right now in the territory of Monsters. Capital M for Monsters.”
”Oh. Oh. Oh.” Alex went silent for a few seconds as she processed what Asteria said. ”So I presume that this World is full of monsters then?”
”Well not really.” Asteria replied as she swung her legs in the air cheerfully. ”In this World, there are two factions that hold power. The Human Faction, and the Monster Faction. The place that we are in right now is the Raju Forest, one of the areas were the Monsters reside.”
Asteria made it sound like what she said made sense, although there is one thing that is confusing the hell out of Alex right now.
”Hold on for a minute.” Alex raised his hand as he processed what Asteria said. ”Why did you drop us here in the Monster Territory? Couldn't you just like drop us near the Humans? I think that it will be a better place than this.”
”Why are you worried about that Alex?” Asteria replied as she pointed her fingers around her.
Alex's eyes follower Asteria's fingers, and he saw countless statues gathered in a circle around him and Alina.
Each of the statues depicted shapes of unrecognizable beings that even Alex with his knowledge of fictional beings could not identify them that easily.
”These statues prevent Monsters from getting near us.” Asteria said as she pointed at the statues proudly. ”So, you two should not fear any assault for now.”
”You are still not answering my question.” Alex said as he continued glaring at Asteria. ”Why drop us here instead of dropping us in a Human Territory? Answer that please.”
”Well…” Asteria continued averting her gaze away from Alex, as she started to twiddle her fingers. ”You see…”
”No, don't tell me that it will be like that!” Alex sputtered out as he seemed to have reached to the answer already.
With his vibrant imaginatio, and the countless fantasy books that he read, Alex somewhat had a guess on the real reason that he and Alina appeared in this place.
”ASTERIA.” Alex tried to keep his voice calm as he gave Asteria a steady gaze.
”Hehehe…” Asteria kept her mouth shut as she gave Alex a shaky grin.
”???” Alina could only tilt her head as she tried to understand what was going on.
”....”
”....”
”....”
”Alina and I will be turned to Monsters, am I right?” Alex slowly said as he felt his heart turning heavy. ”That is the most likely reason for us to appear in this place. After all, the best creature that can mingle with a Monster is another Monster, right?”
”Tsk, you got me again.” Asteria replied grumpily as she glared at Alex sulkily. ”You really a smarta**…”
”...”
All of them stayed quite for a few seconds, as Alex and Alina tried to accept what Asteria just said.
Asteria then continued talking, and what she said next just made Alex's heart feel heavier.
”If you are wondering on how you two will become Monsters, the answer to that is just simple. The cultivation body that you two will buy will turn you and Alina into Monsters that will blend well in this World.”
To say that what Asteria said was a bombshell will be an understatement.
”No.” Alina muttered in the background, as she felt that she did not like what she was hearing. ”Now I do not want to buy that cultivation body…”
”Hehehe…”
Alex let out a sigh as he resisted the urge to just smack Asteria to wipe away that s**tty grin on her face.
Asteria's admission did not sound that good to Alex at all.
After all, it seemed like he and Alina will have to look inhumane in this World in order to succeed on their Mission.
Even if Alex was thrilled to have a new power, he was still unhappy to become something different.
”If we do not buy these new cultivation bodies, what is our chance on succeeding on our Main Mission?” Alex inquired as he and Alina gave hopeful looks at Asteria.
If there is at least 30-40% chance of them succeeding without turning into Monsters, then Alex will not buy the additional cultivation body.
Asteria's answer however once again derailed his plans.
”Zero. Percent.” Asteria said as she relished on the disappointed looks on Alex and Alina's faces. ”After all, you need to be Monsters first to do the Main Mission. If you don't, then you two will die from the Penalty.”
”....”
It took Alex some seconds to compose himself from the hopeless revelation. As for Alina, Alex was not sure if Alina was fine with what was about to happen to them. But even if Alina looks pale and scared, she seems to be not backing out of buying the cultivation body.
”Fine. We shall buy the additional cultivation bodies first.” Alex said as he grabbed Alina's hands to comfort her. Alina reciprocated in kind as she tightened her hold on Alex's hands too.
Asteria seems to be somewhat pissed by the sweet scene that she saw as she literally growled at Alex.
”Traveler Alex, why don't you and Alina start purchasing it now?”
”Oh right…” Alex replied as he slowly removed his hands away from Alina, which just served to piss Asteria more. ”But before I buy, can you tell me about my remaining lifespan first?”
Aside from his impending cultivation body, Alex was also curious about his new lifespan.
After all, he and Alina just completed a mission that seems to be set at a difficult level. For him to gain some amount of lifespan is already a given.
Now, Alex just needed to know how much he got.
”You only have 20 Years and 21 Days of Lifespan left.” Asteria said nonchalantly. ”Originally, your lifespan should be 100 Years and 21 Days, but 80 Years of your Lifespan had been used to transport you here in this World.”
”I am not sure if that sounds good or bad…” Alex said as he ruminated on what Asteria just said.
Originally, Alex only had 7 days of Lifespan left.
Alex's Bonus Mission will reward him with 15 days of lifespan, and technically speaking, Alex saved Elizabeth, so Alex was able to get these 15 days.1 Day was subtracted after Alex and Alina slept for almost a day to remove their injuries.