Chapter 84 - Hot Chocolate

*Knock knock knock*

From lying on her bed peacefully while using her tablet for distraction, Gem suddenly heard the same three knocks from the door which she could recognize immediately as Sir Fred.

But instead of waiting like the last time, Sir Fred immediately opened the door after knocking, pushing a tray that surprised Gem because she didn't remember telling anyone about being hungry.

"I thought you could use some food, miss Gem." He said politely while setting up the table attached to the tray beside Gem's bed.

"T-Thank you." Gem said despite the weakness in her voice.

Sir Fred noticed Gem squeezing her stomach earlier when he came to visit and thought that it was because she was hungry. And although Gem was actually avoiding the smell of real food for making her feel like she wanted to puke, she was still grateful to Sir Fred's kind gesture and even surprised when the food that Sir Fred brought to her was not making her feel disgusted.

"I figured you were hungry," he said after seeing Gem ogling the sweets that he brought for her on the tray..

When Sir Fred saw Gem contemplating whether to eat the food or not, he immediately followed up with the information that he gathered from the kitchen maids to help her make a decision about it.

He thought Gem was probably scared of having stronger stomach cramps after eating which was usually the case for women on their periods but the maids told him otherwise.

"They say, hot chocolate is the best remedy for stomach aches and you should give it a try," he said while offering the freshly made hot chocolate to Gem in a thick cup.

Gem looked at him for a moment before grabbing the hot chocolate from his hands.

"Be careful though, you should blow on it first before drinking, it's still hot." He said with concern before proceeding to arrange the various types of sweets he was grabbing from the tray into the table bed that he set up for Gem earlier.

When Gem finished the cup of hot chocolate that she patiently waited to cool down first, a slight smile immediately escaped her lips, indicating the warmth and fullness that she immediately felt from the chocolate along with the kind words and actions from Sir Fred.

It was exactly the kind of comfort that she was looking for after kicking out everybody and feeling lonely right away due to the unstableness of her emotions. It was the kind of irritating and conflicting emotions that Gem had never felt before which made it even more terrifying for her. 

"I'll leave this here for you to eat whenever you're hungry and if you need anything else you can contact me or the other servants using this button over here," he said while pointing at a red button on the cart, waiting for Gem to nod first before turning around and leaving the room quietly. 

"He's so kind." Gem thought to herself while eating a set of various cookies that Sir Fred prepared for her beforehand.

"Why didn't I think of this earlier?" she said and filled her cup with another serving of the hot chocolate that she could get infinitely from an automatic hot chocolate maker that Sir Fred left with her on the second layer of the food tray.

"I wonder if this would be considered as cheating by the system? I mean it's not like I'm not allowed to eat, right?" Gem thought to herself while still munching on the delicious cookies that the cooks made especially just for her according to Sir Fred earlier.

[The proper procedure for evolution is by using Energy slimes 100x the mass of the host to create a cocoon that would store the body for three to four days, depending on the kind of evolution that the host will be receiving. This cocoon will then harden into a stone and open like an egg after the evolution has been done. Although the system does not prevent the host from using any kind of medication during evolution, the use of alternative medications below the level of Energy slimes has 1% of success, 29% of malfunction, and 70% of no effect on the host's body during evolution.] Lady announced with that robotic voice of hers.

[So be careful using human medication, Master.] Mr. Gemini followed up.

"But… Is hot chocolate also considered as medication?"

[Hot chocolate's effect on evolution: No effect.] Lady said after a quick scan throughout her body.

"But how did it cure the pain in my stomach?"

[Hot chocolate's effect on the host's body: temporary muscle gratification and increase of temperature.] 

"Oh, does that mean I should keep my stomach warm so it wouldn't hurt as much?" Gem thought to herself, finally done eating her first serving of cookies and second serving of hot chocolate.

[It is advisable for the host to endure the pain if there are no Energy slimes available.] Lady said.

"But then I wouldn't be able to do anything during that time!"

[It is advisable for the host to stay still during Evolution.] Mr. Gemini said this time.

"But I need to complete my daily task!"

[Daily tasks are advised to be done in Solitude for more efficiency.] Lady announced which was news to Gem.

"But it worked yesterday, right?"

[Astral training lessons should be done inside Solitude, Master. The system belongs in Solitude and bringing it out in the real world would disrupt the signal around the whole world, attracting more power-hungry people towards you. I hope you understand, Master.]

"But do I have another choice?! I can't go back there using normal means! Am I allowed to die while undergoing evolution?"

[No.] Mr. Gemini answered.

"See?! I can't go there! I'm not letting go of this chance to finally upgrade my level zero skills! I will do it whether you like it or not! This is the only way for me to finally be useful." Gem said and drank another cup of hot chocolate stubbornly, hoping it could save her from the pain while she completes her daily task.