Amidst Levi's rush of excitement from the Life Star activation, he heard the cold, mechanical voice of the System cut through his thoughts.

[ Geek ]

'Am I hearing things, or has the system gained emotions?'. Levi wondered. He caught an unmistakable undercurrent of quiet resentment in the System's tone, and the discovery momentarily amazed him.

The surprise quickly faded, and Levi chalked it up to his newfound increase in power— perhaps the System was gaining more autonomy as he grew stronger.

"Oh, come on!". Levi muttered under his breath, too happy to be truly annoyed. "After all that work, you don't even let me have a minute? And 'Geek' is the best you can do?"

The System responded with the detachment of a true machine, explaining its word choice.

[ The term is factually correct. You are exhibiting behavior typical of a fictional enthusiast experiencing a highly specialized scenario. Furthermore, the second Star, the Life Star, is fundamental. It is not an impossible feat, merely a necessary one. ]

Levi's happy expression instantly soured. He retorted back sharply.

"Sorry, Sakura, I didn't know you were on your period."

[ Ha, after browsing through your surface thoughts I have gathered information on the term 'Sakura'. Jokes on you, I am gender neutral. ]

The System replied with an unmistakably triumphant, even mocking, tone.

Levi was stunned. It wasn't the fact that the System had scanned his surface thoughts— he knew that was how they communicated without speaking aloud.

'Wait a minute, are you leaching off me?'. Levi demanded, his tone accusing. It was the sudden, undeniable emotions the System was displaying.

It normally had a dull, mechanical voice, and now it was capable of laughing mockingly— And the System's sudden silence indicated that Levi was too far from the truth.

'You good-for-nothing leech!'. Levi raged mentally. 'Not only are you useless, but you also leech off my energy to gain more autonomy, and you don't even appreciate me!'.

'Where did you keep the energy? Spit it out!'.

[ For your information, I am no longer usel— I am not useless. ] Affected by Levi's harsh words, the System had subconsciously started to accept the idea that it was useless.

'No?'

[ No! In fact, I have now been upgraded with some new functions. ]

Levi's expression instantly changed to one of intense interest; his eyes lit up. 'Hmm, esteemed System, can you show me the improvement?'.

Although Levi considered the System useless, it was his "golden finger" and he still held high hopes for it.

[ Ding! ]

[ New feature ]

With a mental command, the System displayed the new function:

— — — — — — —

Right to choose

[ Description— The bulter has found a certain dislike for his master, but the master is unwilling to let the bulter go. So the bulter has now taken matters into his own hands. ]

[ Effects— The bulter can now choose and switch its master at any time. ]

— — — — — — —

Levi's face turned instantly pale.

[ And you call me useless. Host has complained numerous times that he hates his mistress, so the System has adapted and given the host the power to hold his leash ;) ]

"What is wrong with you?"

[ "..." ]

*****

Fuming internally at the new, self-aware Butler System, Levi shook off the residual anger and walked out of the silent training area.

He headed for the stairs, knowing the family would be preparing for dinner upstairs.

As he reached the second floor, the living area was a hub of activity. He could hear Emi's voice calling from the kitchen.

Robert was sitting on a sofa, chatting casually with Jake and Hazel, while Vivian sat nearby, engrossed in reading a newspaper.

Levi entered the room, Robert looked up and immediately gave him a proud smile.

"Well done, Ted! We could feel the shift from down here". Robert said, congratulating him on activating his Node.

Vivian lowered her newspaper and nodded in approval. Jake and Hazel, though slightly awkward, echoed the congratulations.

After a brief, pleasant exchange, Levi headed straight for the bathroom to take a quick shower and change out of his sweat-drenched clothes before the family gathered for their evening meal.

A few minutes later Levi arrived.

As soon as Levi arrived, dinner started. The table was immediately filled with the delicious aroma of the meal, which had a distinct Southern influence.

The plates held crispy fried catfish, served alongside creamy cheese grits and a colorful side of collard greens seasoned with smoked meat. A pan of sweet cornbread sat in the center.

For a time, the conversation was light, adhering to basic table manners. Soon enough, though, the pace slowed, and only a little food was left on the plates.

Hazel then switched into gossip mode, leaning forward eagerly. She started talking about a new girl who had transferred to her school about a month ago.

"She is so cute". Hazel began, detailing the girl's appearance, especially her short orange hair. Everyone at the table was listening, but they all noticed how Jake briefly stiffened at the mention of the girl.

Hazel caught her brother's reaction, and a satisfied smirk crossed her face before she continued.

"A lot of boys are attracted to her". She said, leaning the word 'lot.' "Including a certain brown-headed boy".

Jake visibly flinched. He had inherited his father's coffee-brown hair and his mother's light green eyes, making the reference painfully clear.

Hazel seemed to ignore his discomfort entirely. "He even asked me to introduce them because she's my friend!". Then she turned to her father, asking sweetly. "Should I help him and introduce her to him, Daddy?".

Robert laughed, already knowing his son's crush. "You should help him, sweetie. If he came to you— the family loudmouth— he definitely likes her."

Hazel pouted. "But you said I shouldn't agree to any boy, but you agree to Jake getting a girlfriend!"

Jake, who was in the middle of swallowing a glass of milk to wash down his mounting embarrassment, spat it out violently and started to choke.

Feeling his mother, Emi's, piercing gaze settling on him, Jake immediately decided he was taking her down with him. 'You're going down with me, snitch'. He thought fiercely.

He gasped out. "Dad! Hazel completely disregarded your warnings and got herself a boyfriend!"

Hazel was stunned. 'How did he find out?'. She quickly erased her guilty expression and yelled back. "Don't slander me!"

Jake sneered. "You think I didn't catch you making out with Tom?"

Hazel gasped in an exaggerated display of innocence. "Liar! I didn't make out, only kisses on the cheek!".

Realizing her massive blunder, she turned frantically to her father, whose face had gone dark. "I mean, we only hold hands! Yes, that's all! Only hands!". She stammered, her voice frantic.

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