Magical User Aozaki Aoko Case Files Chapter 040

Aside from the attribute and spell slot bonuses gained from simply leveling up, Aoko also received two additional daily spell preparation limit bonuses.

This meant that her daily spell pool became larger, and she had more ways to deal with various situations. It was truly a cause for celebration.

In terms of feats, since she gained 1st level in the Metamagic Adept class, she also gained an additional metamagic feat. She subconsciously chose this feat before she withdrew from her link with the Leyline.

Aoko carefully sensed and found that her second metamagic feat was Empower Spell.

This metamagic feat allowed any spell with variable numerical effects, when combined with Empower Spell, to increase its power by one and a half times. Of course, she needed to expend a spell slot two levels higher than the original to cast this metamagicked spell.

For example, if her Fireball spell originally required a 3rd-level spell slot to deal 10 damage, then after being empowered with Empower Spell, she could cast a Fireball spell that dealt 15 damage by expending a 5th-level spell slot.

This new metamagic feat, combined with the Heighten Spell metamagic feat Aoko had previously obtained, could achieve something similar: a Fireball spell first empowered, then heightened, using a 6th-level spell slot to cast this Fireball, resulting in a super Fireball that dealt more than 15 damage and had a wider range…

Of course, a spell after being doubly metamagicked was still a Fireball; its essence hadn’t changed.

However, using such metamagic techniques still required caution, because any metamagic technique represented a greater expenditure. If a metamagicked strike couldn’t destroy the caster’s enemy, then the subsequent sustained combat ability would become the biggest problem.

Due to gaining a Metamagic Adept class level, Aoko also gained unique abilities of this class.

Based on her current Metamagic Adept level being only 1st, Aoko only gained one Metamagic Adept ability.

[School Specialization]: This ability caused Aoko, as a Metamagic Adept, to give up the possibility of continuing to study Necromancy spells, but it enhanced her learning ability and speed for other schools. And because Aoko had not chosen a specialized school or an opposing school before becoming a Metamagic Adept, only Necromancy was opposed for her now, and her specialized school was automatically set to Abjuration. It should be said that this was a very ideal starting state.

Aside from these quantifiable abilities, Aoko felt that her body had undergone some indescribable changes. However, after repeated careful inspection, she didn’t find where these changes were manifested.

After thinking about it, she believed that her changes might be due to an increase in some of her other basic attributes besides Intelligence. Because so far, Aoko’s Intelligence score was deduced by her from the number of spells prepared daily and her class level according to class rules, but Aoko couldn’t quantify her other non-primary class attributes.

Could it be that my Wisdom or Constitution has strengthened? It can’t be that my Strength has strengthened, right?

With such questions, Aoko began her daily spell preparation.

—Divider—

About twenty minutes later, Aoko emerged from her room and went to the living room on the first floor of the Kuonji Residence.

She immediately saw Alice sitting on the sofa, drinking black tea, staring at her with a particularly resentful gaze.

“Did I do something bad to Alice?” Aoko’s mind raced, recalling which of her secrets that Alice couldn’t know might have been exposed.

The two stared at each other awkwardly for a short while, then Aoko suddenly heard a faint “gurgle” sound coming from Alice’s direction.

It was a delicate “gurgle”.

“I’ll go prepare ‘break’fast right away!”

Understanding why her housemate was staring at her with such resentment, Aoko immediately turned and went to the kitchen, put on an apron, and began preparing food.

After opening the refrigerator and checking the ingredients, Aoko considered that she herself was also a bit hungry. If she made something too complicated, it might make Alice even angrier, so she decided to make something simple and delicious for “breakfast”.

After about half an hour, a hearty breakfast consisting of: coffee, toasted sandwiches (fried egg + lettuce + ham + mayonnaise + American cheese), hash browns, and half a pot of milk was ready.

Although it was a calorie bomb, given that both of them were mages who weren’t afraid of losing their figures, such a calorie count wasn’t a problem. In fact, Aoko preferred food that brought a strong sense of satisfaction.

Aoko took off her apron and pushed the dining cart into the dining room on the first floor, where she found Alice already seated in her usual spot, ready.

Seeing Aoko’s arrival, Alice said nothing, simply closing the book in her hand and placing it aside, her face turned towards the window.

It seemed she had made the young lady hungry, and she was still sulking.

Aoko smiled faintly, not minding Alice’s little temper. In fact, compared to when she first met Alice, Kuonji Alice had become much gentler towards her, no longer the cold, hedgehog-like girl she once was.

Of course, achieving the current result was quite difficult even for Aoko. She had exerted the same effort she used to serve Touko, conquering this lonely little girl who often ate takeout with her superb cooking skills and constantly varied delicious food for years.

Ah, recalling the past days, it really wasn’t easy, she sighed to herself.

Aoko mused, placing the fragrant, steaming “breakfast” on the table and pouring a cup of coffee for both Alice and herself. Sugar and milk were placed to the side, allowing Alice to adjust to her taste.

The two ate in silence, with a strange unspoken understanding.

—Divider—

Today’s breakfast was a bit bland… Alice felt a slight dissatisfaction.

However, since she and Aoko had gone to bed quite late last night, a simple breakfast today was understandable… Besides, she was already very hungry.

It was delicious, so she would forgive Aoko, Alice decided in her heart, nibbling on the hash browns.

Aoko always ate “heartily.” This didn’t mean Aoko lacked table manners, but rather that she looked like those highly efficient elite white-collar workers, achieving a perfect balance between fast eating and maintaining grace.

This gave others a “pleasing to the eye” feeling when observing Aoko eat.

Alice secretly watched Aoko dealing with the sandwich in her hand, and her own hunger became more pronounced, so she subconsciously sped up her chewing.

Aoko seemed a little different today…? Alice thought as she ate, was there something unusual about her body?

Aoko’s every movement today seemed more elegant and attractive. Her appearance hadn’t changed either, still as beautiful…

Alice’s expression darkened, and she came to a conclusion completely opposite to the truth: Since Aoko was fine, then perhaps something was wrong with her?

So she frowned and began a serious self-examination.