Table Manners

"Excuse the intrusion, I've brought the cakes Goddess Freya requested for."

That was the half-dog assistant who spoke. He was carrying a plate of cakes and I had Mind's Eye examine them.

Chocolate Brownie [Luxury Grade]

Baked by the best patisserie in La Boutique. Guaranteed to make anyone who eats this feel rejuvenated.

Effects: Energy +2

The half-dog assistant walked up to the table and placed the plate of chocolate brownies right where the dew tea was. I took that time to examine him.

[Dog-Lover] Jeremy Hound

Race: Half Beast

Age: 30 years old

Skills: Dog-Whisperer, Butler-in-Training

Oh? So Jeremy wasn't a regular assistant.

Sedna and Freya entered and Jeremy took his leave. There were five slices of brownies and I did some basic math. I would receive +10 energy if I absorbed them all. I wonder if that will erase my sleepiness. However, Freya and Sedna seemed to want them too. I guess I should hold back my curiosity for now.

[System detects a question. Processing an answer.]

What?

[To answer Zero, the system ranks the strength of an effect based on a regular non-combatant human. 10 is the maximum capacity of a regular non-combatant human.]

Regular non-combatant human huh? I wonder how strong they are.

"How was the measurement?"

Jen smiled. "It is done. We can start making the clothes soon."

Freya frowned. "Don't you usually serve tea for the guests?"

Jen stiffened.

"It was good. There was a +1 calming effect for five minutes."

The goddesses stared at me blankly. I paused. Did I say something wrong?

"Calming Effect for five minutes?"

I nodded. Freya frowned in confusion but Sedna understood.

"Zero, did you drink the tea or absorb it?"

I cocked my head to a side. "What is 'drink'?"

The three women were silent at my question. After a while, Freya snapped her fingers.

"I get it now! Alright. Zero, we need to give you a crash course on how humans behave so that you can blend in. As your clothes will take some time to be ready, I suggest we seize this moment now."

Sedna agreed and I couldn't protest as Freya took me by the hand. Jen watched on helplessly and I could only follow. After a while, I decided to ask what we were going to do.

"Firstly, we are going to learn some table manners."

Table manners? Sounded like something I didn't want to deal with. Absorbing food was fine for me. What's the fuss?

She stopped abruptly. There was a deep frown on her face and a large pout.

"You're thinking why there is such a need to do something so troublesome, right?"

I gulped. Could she read minds too?

Sedna chuckled. "No, Zero. It's your expression that makes it easy for us to guess what you're thinking about. Don't worry too much. Table manners aren't difficult to learn. You might have to stop absorbing things for a while when you are with humans because normal humans can't do that. Also, it is wonderful to experience tasting food."

I was slightly skeptical of it but since it was Sedna, I decided to place me trust in her and followed without fuss.