Mud examined the new box that appeared in its mind.

Class Name Description Expected Change Dominator ® One who controls others, and desires dominion over all that exists.

High increase to all mental statistics. Improved ability to influence others. Improved ability with mind-affecting mana.

Master Butler ® A master of the art of service, capable of fulfilling every desire of their employer to the utmost standards of quality. Medium increase to all primary stats. Improved ability when following a master's orders. Improved ability with hidden weapons and unarmed combat. Pacifist Class for those unwilling to kill. Medium increase to mental stats. Attacks from class holder become unable to directly cause death. Improved ability with healing mana. Slave Owned laborer. Unable to disobey their owner. Medium bonus to Stamina and Strength. Class holder can not change class without owner's permission. Assassin ® Silent killers who strike from the shadows. High increase to all physical stats. Improved ability with stealth and sneak attacks. Mentalist Mage specialized in the use of Mind mana. High bonus to mental stats. Improved ability with Mind mana. Can not use other forms of mana. Pugilist Fighter specialized in unarmed combat. High bonus to physical stats. Improved ability with unarmed combat. Improved ability with Chi mana. Reduced ability with weapons. Laborer Worker specialized in manual labor. Medium bonus to physical stats. Improved ability with manual labor. Mage Wielder of magic. Medium bonus to all mental stats. Improved ability when manipulating mana. ...

The list of available classes continued on with hundreds of options, but, like the Skill Point list, the most interesting options appeared to be concentrated at the top of the list. Of course, Mud diligently checked every entry to be sure there were no hidden gems. Ultimately, the golem was forced to admit that the Akashic Record, or the orb, had done an excellent job of analyzing its soul and arranging the skills. While there were some interesting classes lower down, such as Gardener and Scribe, none of them had any chance of actually being selected.

Looking through the highly ranked classes, Mud first considered the third column. If the 'Expected Change' column was to be believed, Classes could have powerful and strange effects. Being unable to use certain kinds of mana, or unable to kill were notable restrictions. The section seemed to focus exclusively on statistical changes, major restrictions, and improved abilities in certain fields, but Mud was certain that wasn't the entire depth of what the Classes would do. The large number of thick books filling the room made that clear.

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Scanning the top of the list, Mud reduced his choices down from things it merely wanted to things that would actually be useful in the future. Mage, Pacifist, and the three Rare classes. Mentalist and Pugilist were made redundant by Dominator and Master Butler respectively, and the labor focuses classes granted too little utility.

Mage was interesting because it would allow a much wider variety of magical mastery than any of the other options. In terms of utility and scope, this was the best choice. Unfortunately, Mud recognized that both time and Skill Points were a limited resource. In all likelihood, the path of a Mage was to be mediocre at many things. That was not the kind of power Mud desired.

Opposite the Mage's versatility was the singular focus of the Pacifist class. In exchange for a major disadvantage in combat, they gained unique skill in healing. While it seemed like a useful class in the right situation, and would make it much easier to follow The Master's order of not killing humans, it would, unfortunately, be of little use to Mud at this time. The restriction would make it too difficult to farm experience, and Mud usually hunted alone.

Next came the Rare grade classes.

The weakest of the lot was Assassin. Mud was already capable of unleashing incredibly powerful attacks from Stealth as it was. While the increase in ability to hide would help prevent it from being discovered, it would be of little use in situations where it couldn't hide, or where the initial attack failed to kill the target.

Next to consider was the Dominator. This option was considerably attractive to Mud. This was a class that was perfectly suited towards the golem's primary instrumental goal at the moment. If Mud could dominate humans and make Sapients into thralls, it would become trivially easy to follow The Master's orders.

Finally, there was Master Butler. Of all the classes at offer, this option seemed to fit Mud's personality and preferences the best. While the Dominator had synergy with the golem's current most powerful means of attack Mind mana, the Master Butler instead had synergy with the golem's first and most reliable form of attack, its own body. Additionally, the Master Butler provided bonuses when following orders, which would potentially apply to Mud's every action.

Mud slithered over to the bookcase holding the Rare grade class books. Searching the spines, the golem removed two books and began reading. As expected, there was much more to classes than the tiny descriptions the Record provided. Mud careful to memorized every aspect of the classes recorded in those books.

Nearly an hour later, Mud closed the books and returned them to the shelf. While the golem was at it, it decided to tidy up the rest of the room, moving books that had been placed in the wrong spot, dusting the tops of the shelves, realigning the bookshelves with the walls, and clearing out cobwebs.

Then, Mud returned to the orb and once again touched its cool smooth surface. Once again, the list of classes appeared. This time, Mud did not hesitate. There was no doubt which class was the most suitable for the golem. While the golem had long decided to take control of the world, that would happen as a natural result of gaining power. Instead of taking a shortcut, it would build on its own strengths. The things which Mud was the best at, and which Mud was always sure to do. There was no need for shortcuts in Mud's neverending task.

Perhaps the deciding factor was the advice of the old receptionist. 'A person should pick the class that matches their personality and preferences best.' Class was a matter of the soul. The very essence of one's being. And, as a matter of the soul, a class should be a reflection of what their holder desires to be; their own Ideal of themselves. Mud would shape its soul into the Ideal of Mud.

Making its choice, mana once again flowed from the orb into the golem's soul. This time, it was not content to merely examine. The mana pulled, stretched, bent, and ripped Mud's soul into a new shape. While the sensation had every right to be agonizing, to Mud it felt only satisfying. Mud's soul was finally taking its true shape; it's correct shape. With a final wrenching sensation, Mud's entire soul snapped into a new form, and the foreign mana retreated back into the orb.

[Service Skill obtained at level Max]

[Cooking Skill obtained at level Max]

[Etiquette Skill obtained at level Max]

[Household Mastery Skill increased to level 3]

[Hidden Weapon Skill obtained at level 1]

[Unarmed Combat Skill increased to level 6]

[String Manipulation Skill obtained at level 1]

[Bodyguard Skill obtained at level 1]

[Servant's Loyalty ® Skill obtained]

[All Primary Statistics increased]

[Class is now a Master Butler ®]