When we had turned in our excess materials and Requests, Jahi decided she wanted to eat out, dragging us into the city and towards a restaurant that she had heard of.
Entering, I sighed as, unsurprisingly, the place she brought us to was an all you can eat barbecue place, the tall Demoness dropping the required coins for the meal before guiding us towards our table.
Anput and Jahi instantly started grilling their own meals as soon as the plate of raw meats was available, and Leone glanced over to me, her eyes going wide as I offered her my wrist.
Watching them all eat with content faces, I sighed again as I slowly found myself calculating how many meals I could have made with the coin that Jahi used to pay for this, only to have to let that thought go as it grew to be more depressing then it was worth.
Especially when Anput decided that some of her coin was definitely worth spending on wines.
When I saw Jahi mirror Anput and purchase two bottles, I sighed again before grilling my own steak, staring at the subpar meat and placing it on pitiful greens...
Leone did the same, but she seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere that Jahi and Anput were creating, the two letting loose a little as they ate and drank.
The meal was long, and I helped guide the two tipsy women home, before pushing them into the bedroom, listening to how quickly Anput started to moan.
Giving Leone a tired smile, I shook my head and gestured for her to join them, which she did.
Going back to the couch, I sighed as I sank into the soft cushions, my body clean from a quick 'shower' of water magic.
'How long will this update take?'
Closing my eyes, I tuned out the sounds coming from the room behind me, instead focusing on the system as it spoke.
[Shouldn't be long, especially not with how much prep time the Host allowed. Shall I start the update now?]
'Please do.'
[Very well. Host may experience tiredness and mental strain during the update; Suggestion: Host should find an area that will amplify Mana regeneration so as to counteract these effects.]
Sighing, I nodded as I got up, making my way towards Leone's room and entering her bath.
Waving my hand, I dropped the temperature of the bath significantly, disrobing and lowering myself into the freezing water.
Surprisingly, the low temperature didn't bother me at all; instead, I felt comfortable as small patches of frost crystalized over the surface of the still water.
Closing my eyes again, I focused on pulling in the mana around me, gradually restoring my core to full.
[Update commencing. Expected time of completion: 10 Minutes, 23 seconds.]
Leaning back, I watched the timer slowly tick down, my mind going blank as my entire focus honed into the numbers.
My already tired body didn't seem different, but my head was slightly numb, like I had been reading in a dim room for too long.
There was no nervousness as the timer slowly ticked down to zero, and I simply let my mind wander as time passed, not thinking about... anything.
It was rather relaxing, not worrying about something, not thinking about anything; when the clock hit zero, I actually flinched when I heard something, the mini eternity I had created being snuffed from existence.
[Update Complete. 'Servant System' reinitiating...]
I could... 'feel' the system inside of my mind changing, the small shifts around creating an interesting effect as my body warmed up again, before returning to the temperature of the water around me.
[Hah~! This feels rather nice~! Like... moving from a cramped apartment into a real house~!]
Hearing the system's voice again, I asked 'So what's new? Surely you'll wish to display this... 'houses' new shiny bells and whistles, no?'
[Indeed, indeed~! Oh, but I must say it feels nice to be able to... 'move' around? Hmm, don't really know how to explain it... Anyways, yes, new features~! Here we go... Sending you a screen now.]
[Servant System: Lvl 25
Class: Servant
Xp: (0 / 1,000,000)
Stats: STR (40) , CON (42) , AGI (40) , DEX (40) , CHA (42) , WIS (42) , INT (40)
Skills: Chione's Blessing (N) , Frost of Despoina (N) , Hunter (N) , Enchanter (N) , Crucible (N) , Dagger Proficiency (Ad) , Stealth (Ad) , Growth (Ad) , Healing (Ex) , Housework (Ex) , Mana Control (Ex) , Hardworking (M) , Nymphomania (MAX)
[Skill Tiers: Novice (N) , Apprentice (Ap) , Adept (Ad) , Expert (Ex) , Master (M) , Legendary (L) , MAX (MAX)]
Skill Points: 15
Stat Points: 0
Shop Points (SP): 0
[Would Host like to Evolve Servant System? Y / N] ]
'Evolve..? So I was right in the sense that the previous version had become-'
[Outdated? Yes, I sadly was. Besides that, this 'update' will allow you to choose what you wish to do in the future. Will you remain JUST a maid, doing the household chores and sleeping with your Mistress', or do you wish to become a different type of Servant; a bodyguard, warrior, mage, enchantress, whatever it may be...]
Nodding, I opened my eyes and stared at the translucent screen before me, which was replaced.
[Here are the options, if you were curious. Remember though, this is not replacing the Servant System, simply making it something new. It is... expanding upon it; all the skills and progress you made will remain, as will the current quests and things of that nature. Alright, go ahead and look; if you have a question, ask.]
[Servant System Evolution Paths (As determined via Skills, Experience, and Desires):
<Housewife>
<Frost Mage>
<Frost Warrior>
<Frost Rogue>
<Shadow Guard>
<Retainer>
<Head Maid>
<Succubus>
<Enchantress>
<Soul-Bound Killer>
<Load More...>]
'That... is a lot of options...'
I scrolled through the long list, before returning to the top.
'Is this sorted via compatibility again?'
[Yes and no... it's hard to determine compatibility, so I grouped some together and placed the ones that you might be more interested in up top.]
'Housewife..?'
[Ahem... that one really is the most compatible, if you must know...]
Chuckling, I shook my head as I asked 'How many Evolutions or Classes could I have?'
[Two Classes, but the Evolution is technically unlimited. Something could always be improved, and your skills and experiences will always grow as well. For now though, just know that you don't have the ability to retain a Second Class; your body isn't entirely ready for that...]
'When would it be?'
[Each Class places... strain on one's soul, and if enough strain is felt, a soul could be torn... which usually results in death. Permanent death; no reincarnation, transmigration, regression... just... oblivion. As for when; likely by the time you reach Lvl 50, you would be capable of withstanding a Second Class.]
'So until then, I have whatever I choose here. Alright... explain the 'Frost' and 'Shadow' prefix please.'
[Due to your element, disposition, and skills, these variations on Mage, Warrior, Rogue, and Guard have been selected. For Frost, the system will focus entirely on your Ice Magic and how to improve upon it. Quests for learning how to implement and utilize your Ice correctly will be prioritized, and the rewards will stem off of items or 'ideas' based on Frost.
As for Shadow, due to the Stealth Skill and your desire to remain hidden, this altered the Guard Class to fit you better; since a Guard serves someone, this Class changed to become the Shadow Guard, and it will focus on you secretly protecting those you serve. The Quests will be based on your ability to remain hidden from prying eyes, fooling those around you, and the rewards will be item or 'ideas' based on Steath and remaining hidden.]
Nodding again, I pursed my lips as I asked 'That sounds more like me then the whole Frost line though?'
[Well, they were all tied; your love of your Ice, paired with the skill with a blade and magic created the 'Frost Line', as you call it. As for Shadow Guard, that was focused more on your beliefs and desires. You consciously act like a Shadow Guard, but your skills and personality fit those Frost Classes well.]
'Alright... I get that. So, whatever I choose here is somehow an 'Evolution' of the original Servant System?'
[Correct; each one relates to being a servant in someway; even Soul-Bound Killer is a servant class, since you are... well... Soul-Bound... Besides that, even the combat class', like the Frost Line, are 'servants', since you can be employed or bound to a person. Servant really was a broad label... Who came up with that? They must not think ahead...]
'I feel kinda offended; I mean, I chose the damn thing!'
[Oh, not you; it really did fit you well in the beginning, but- I think we should stop... I feel like I'm angering someone...]
'...same...'
? [A-Anyways, when you chose an evolution, you will be able to receive Daily Quests, which award small experience bundles, as well as larger, normal Quests, which could award experience, skills, skill points, stat points, items, Shop Points, or 'ideas', which you can think of as someone slamming a textbook of information into your brain...]
'Alright... weird, but I get that. So, when I choose a new... 'Class', will the change be immediate or..?'
[Kind of. The update preloaded most of these Classes, so when you choose one the System will update in a few minutes.]
Nodding, I stared at the screen ahead of me for a few more minutes, reading each option and weighing them carefully.
The entire Frost Line of Classes was tempting; I did love my Ice Magic, and with them I could further my magic even more, but...
With any of those choices, I bound myself towards one style; a Mage, Warrior, or Rogue.
Sure, I could still learn to fight however I wanted, but choosing a Mage Class and not using magic wouldn't get me the most experience, and if I chose Warrior and used magic, I would run into the same problem.
Which made me go down to Shadow Guard; the entire Class would revolve around me protecting Anput, Leone, and Jahi from the shadows, with no one knowing how strong I was besides them.
I didn't need to put myself out there; the attention for being a top talent seemed more of a detriment then anything else...
I was content letting them shine as I supported them, and a Guard was free to use whatever they pleased, as long as they protected the people they were meant to guard.
Nodding to myself, I double checked every other class, before saying 'Shadow Guard. I want to evolve into a Shadow Guard.'
[Are you sure? Once an Evolution is selected, you cannot reverse that change. Think this through first bef-]
'I have. Please evolve my Servant System into Shadow Guard.'
---
Alright, so I went with Classes, since there is such a broad definition for Servant.
And Guard was one of them.
This will alter her quests, which will now encompass her being an unseen, unknown power that protects the other three.
Which fits her.
Besides that, this allows more flexibility with the System, and I will go into detail next chapter about those changes.
What'd you all think of these changes though? I'm curious.
---
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