Gary was in fact leading a marvelous life. At least comparatively. The average person barely had any hope of achieving anything beyond the innate talent realm, and most of them would cripple those around them for a chance to become a servant. It would be fortunate if the average Joe managed to scrounge up 800 coppers a week. Anyone making that much is the 'upper class' of the lower class. Summersong city is particularly affluent and the slums are almost entirely populated by auxiliary servants who perform all of the essential tasks of the city. You know, like cooking, cleaning, jobs that require someone 'expendable' that sort of thing. Even if the servants could move to better housing, Everything outside of the slums was prohibitively expensive. The slums themselves were technically private property. Still to the average Joe the dream is to become a servant, or marry one.

  Gary was lucky indeed.

  Sure he didn't have any freedoms, wasn't allowed to actually own property, couldn't physically leave, and was by all definitions equivalent to a serf, but he didn't have to pay rent, and he received actual pay. Now isn't that true freedom?

  Gary at least has a way out. Cultivation! God's 'shit sorry about that' to all of the sapients around the multiverse. With the existence of these higher energies, and ways of harnessing them, the general shittiness of life was gradually accepted by beings all across the multiverse as an appropriate price to pay for hope. How wise.

  Gary had a 'Near-Mortal' level talent. The lowest possible talent rating to practice cultivation. Whilst mortals exposed to mana can reach the innate talent realm, anything beyond that would require some divine intervention, or secret knowledge. Without that, try as they might, mortals aren't qualified to cultivate in the slightest. Whilst cultivation was a nice apology note, you'll have to get lucky with your dice rolls and hope you reincarnate in an appropriate body.

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  The talent ratings went:

  Mortal
  The vast majority of beings land squarely on mortal, but the lucky few land typically around the Near-Mortal to knight level. The truly lucky few are reborn as Paladins, and above.

  Gary was an auxiliary servant of the Moonlit Summer Trade Union, a subsidiary sect of the Immortal Sunset Empire. If an auxiliary servant reaches the Innate Talent realm before the age of 18 they're qualified to become a regular servant, or door guard. A spectacular privilege that offers one improved accommodation, the freedom to leave Summersong city temporarily, and the ability to marry. Mind you if you fail to ascend to ideal face by 24 years old you will be drafted into the military which has abnormal mortality rates to say the least. Some years are good, some years are not so good. You will be qualified to marry before being deployed. So there's a plus side.

  Gary is more than qualified for that.

  "'Suppose I have to talk to Butler" thought Gary.

  Gary walks into Mrs.Butler's office. She's ready for him.

  "Oh so you've awakened already?" evokes Mrs.Butler. "That's great!"

  Gary had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Perhaps hydrochloric acid isn't strong enough to digest one's own soul? More research on that later.

  "You wouldn't mind staying with us a little longer right? Hell it even comes with a double promotion!" Mrs.Butler commanded with a smile that was clearly an impostor.

  Gary decided that Mrs.butler was no longer to his liking. He also decided to retain his mortal life and accede to any request she would demand of him. Marvelous.