Game Reference and abilities: Dungeons & Dragons
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Considering what might happen next, Aozaki Aoko adjusted her spell preparation for the day. Her natural intelligence score was 18—a value she estimated based on knowledge gathered from the Woven Fragment. Simply put: Intelligence modifier + class level = the number of spells she could prepare, [(18-10)/2 + 5 = 9].
She didn't need to prepare cantrips in advance. For her 1st-level spells, she prepared Mage Armor, Shield, Magic Missile, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, and Expeditious Retreat. For 2nd-level spells, she prepared Mirror Image, Cloud of Daggers, and See Invisibility. For the 3rd level, she only prepared one spell: Hold Person. In total, she had prepared nine spells.
Aoko's spellbook also doubled as a scroll repository. Some pages were temporarily enhanced using imaginary number, allowing her to store spells for later use. She had written these down when she had extra spell slots, storing them for future needs. However, in this world, scroll-making materials—both parchment and inks—were incredibly expensive. Although Aoko's family was wealthy, her parents and grandfather managed her funds strictly. Aside from essential expenses, acquiring rare materials was difficult.
Currently, Aoko has two Haste scrolls, three Fireball scrolls, and one Hold Person scroll. Due to the high cost of creating scrolls, she prioritized copying high-level spells, with practicality taking a back seat.
After half an hour, Aoko closed her spellbook, stretched, and stood up from her chair.
...
"Touko!"
A clear, cheerful voice pulled Aozaki Touko from her book and her thoughts. She took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes, and looked up to see her sister descending the stairs.
"Aren't you going to school?"
Touko asked in a cool tone.
"You're going to be late, aren't you?"
"Seriously? As my sister, you don't even know it's my middle school graduation today?"
Aozaki Aoko faked indignation, frowning as she continued, "That's so irresponsible! You'll have to treat me to a meal! I want to eat at that new Italian place on Main Street!"
"Besides, Reien Girl's Academy and your middle school aren't even in the same city," Touko replied with a smirk, not falling for Aoko's act.
"And wasn't the food at that place just average compared to what you can cook yourself?"
"I don't care!"
Aoko ran over and sat beside Touko, draping an arm around her sister's shoulders while playfully tapping her chin with the other hand.
"How can food I cook compare to food you treat me to? Don't you get it?"
"Stop it."
Touko calmly pushed Aoko's hand away.
"You need to get to school. If the graduation representative is late, it'll look bad for everyone."
"Sigh~"
Aoko exaggerated her sigh, pulling her hand away and standing up.
"Just make sure to reserve a table tonight, okay? That place is super popular!"
Touko gave an impatient wave, signaling Aoko to hurry and leave.
...
The graduation speech as class representative went smoothly, and Aoko's presence would remain in the history of Asagami Private Girls Academy. She skillfully managed the girls who wanted last-minute photos or dared to slip her love letters.
Throughout her three years in middle school, Aoko had found her shoe locker flooded with love letters daily. She had a routine for managing the affection of her cute underclassmen and beautiful seniors, using magecraft to soothe their restless hearts without exposing the secrets of magecraft. She employed a memory-altering spell she'd learned from her sister's friend, Kuonji Alice, to leave these girls with dreamlike memories that felt real but were just vague enough to be dismissed.
After wrapping up her affairs, Aoko sighed slightly, feeling a bit weary. If an all-girls school was this intense, what was co-ed Misaki High School going to be like?
When the ceremony ended, Aoko took her diploma and found the family driver who had come to pick her up. Estimating the time, she gave him a few instructions before dozing off in the car.
Around 5:00 p.m., Aoko arrived at the Italian restaurant. After getting out, she approached the attendant.
"Do you have a reservation?" the attendant asked politely.
"Yes, under Aozaki Touko," Aoko replied with a smile.
"One moment."
The attendant checked the list and then looked up.
"Ms. Aozaki Touko has already arrived. Please follow me."
The attendant led Aoko to a corner of the upscale restaurant, where Touko sat in an elegant evening gown, sapphire earrings glinting as she stared out the window in thought. Most patrons here were wealthy, and dressed formally, but Aoko's private school uniform fit the atmosphere.
"Have you been here long?"
Aoko asked as she sat down.
"That outfit looks great on you—did you dress up just for me?"
"In your dreams," Touko rolled her eyes.
"I have plenty of outfits like this. I just grabbed one."
Aoko chuckled, then picked up the menu. Though she knew Italian cuisine well, each chef's take on a dish had subtle differences that fascinated her. She couldn't resist trying something new at a good restaurant.
The meal was enjoyable, with the sisters sharing stories about daily life and studies. Aoko even discussed some magical challenges she'd encountered. Naturally, Touko had already cast a soundproofing spell to keep their conversation private.
As they neared the end of the meal, Touko's expression shifted.
"What's wrong?"
Aoko asked, enjoying her dessert.
Touko took out an old-fashioned pocket watch and activated a small spell to check something.
"Grandfather wants us to go to his workshop," she said, looking troubled. "It's probably about that matter."
Aoko had hinted to Touko that their grandfather might change his mind about the Fifth Magic's inheritance. She'd tried to prepare her sister for this possibility.
Touko quickly caught on, but after years of studying magecraft together, the sisters' relationship wasn't as tense as in the original timeline. Yet Touko wasn't one to abandon her life's goals, and Aoko knew this well. In many ways, they were alike.
"Let's go," Touko said, signing the bill and leaving a generous tip.
"Let's not keep the old man waiting."