It was September 1989, half a year after Touko embarked on her search journey to Europe.
Aoko had shown significant growth in the Magic Web magic, raising her Mage level to 8 within two years, gaining two 4th-level Spell Slots, and increasing her Intelligence score by two points, reaching 20 Intelligence.
However, Aoko was skeptical about whether her growth system was completely the same as the player character handbook released in her “past life,” because before reaching level 8, she had already gained the so-called “Spell Mastery” feat through daily meditation and research, which meant she could prepare some spells without using a Spellbook, simply through quick meditation. The number of spells she could prepare corresponded to her Intelligence modifier ((20-10)/2 = 5), which greatly increased the speed at which she prepared spells each morning.
When she reached level 8, she did not gain an additional two points of Intelligence by choice. It now seemed that even if she didn't actively choose Intelligence, her Intelligence would increase with her growth. And if she gained feats early through personal effort and talent, they would also replace the extra feats awarded when reaching the corresponding level. So, for Aoko, character levels were a baseline mechanism; as long as she was smart enough and possessed sufficient physical potential, she could potentially gain some class abilities ahead of time.
In game rules, restrictions were set to balance character abilities, but it now seemed this wasn't the case in the real world. Just like when Aoko chose Alertness as her first extra feat, her original Intelligence attribute still grew by two points.
According to Aoko’s current understanding, what is called a “class” is actually a human understanding and application of the universe's rules. However, at this moment, Aoko was not in Kingdom Tenyu, so her class source could only be obtained through the “Magic Web Fragment” within her, because there was no such thing as “class” in this universe.
In terms of spell learning, Aoko had learned three 4th-level spells: Dimensional Anchor, Ice Storm, and Dimension Door, as well as some lower-level spells like Avoid Detection, Protection from Energy, Advanced Mage Armor, and Dimensional Lock. These spells were all very useful, but they had to be used in appropriate situations to achieve maximum effect, which greatly tested a Magician's experience and wisdom.
Since Aoko had a high science background in her “past life,” she was very proficient in mathematics. This advantage allowed her to progress particularly quickly when learning the “Number Magic” of this world’s Magicians. Even Kujo Arika, with her taciturn and aloof personality, praised Aoko several times for her talent in Number Magic.
The reason Aoko wanted to learn Number Magic from Alice was because this type of magic improves the efficiency of magic operation. She already possessed inhumanly high efficiency in magical energy operation, so Aoko wanted to capitalize on this strength, specialize this ability, and maximize it.
Through Number Magic, Aoko had elevated her specialty, Magic Bullet projection, to a level that would make even a Clock Tower Lord exclaim “Beast!” upon seeing it, fully embodying her destructive nature.
At the same time, Number Magic is also an auxiliary magic that assists Magicians in constructing spell formulas and magic circles. Improving this skill is entirely beneficial, and even Kujo Arika, her current magic instructor, couldn't find anything wrong with it.
In addition to Aoko’s own improvements, last year Aoko also spent a considerable amount of money to buy a New Caledonian Crow chick from abroad and converted it into her familiar. These intelligent birds are already among the smartest birds, and New Caledonian Crows are particularly known for their intelligence among crows.
After being transformed into a familiar, this little New Caledonian Crow gained a special supernatural ability of a language specified by Aoko. Considering the breadth of language use, Aoko set this language to English.
Based on Aoko's own Intelligence and level attributes, this New Caledonian Crow familiar now possessed 10 Intelligence, meaning it fully reached the passing standard of an average human. Aoko often chatted with it when she was bored, and the relationship between the human and the crow was quite good.
Aoko gave this clever little crow a name: “Dazhuang.” She hoped this cute little bird would grow up strong every day.
Dazhuang was very intelligent and obedient, deeply grateful to Aoko for transforming him from an ordinary crow into a highly intelligent Magician's familiar, and he cherished his current status very much.
He diligently completed the tasks Aoko gave him, because Dazhuang subconsciously worried that if he didn't perform well, Miss Aoko might replace him with another familiar, and then he would return to that muddled, ordinary animal life.
“Not that!” Dazhuang thought, “At least not until my crow life ends, right?”
In reality, Dazhuang’s worries were completely unnecessary, because in Aoko’s view, Dazhuang the New Caledonian Crow was absolutely the best familiar choice. Not only was his innate intelligence a bit higher than other crows, but Dazhuang’s language ability after becoming a familiar was also more convenient than other familiars.
Moreover, Aoko really liked Dazhuang’s feather color; up close, it was that soft “colorful black” that looked very high-end.
Aoko even spent a lot of money to buy Dazhuang various imported nuts and various health supplements specifically for pet crows. For the still young Dazhuang, these nutrient-rich foods allowed him to grow better, faster, and healthier than his peers.
Kujo Arika also had Robin the Wren, a PLOY left by her mother, as a companion for chatting during leisure time. Of course, it could also speak, but it was, after all, an artificial familiar. Robin the Wren’s language logic followed the Magician’s settings; outsiders might not notice, but as the owner, Kujo Arika understood that Robin the Wren's “personality” was actually restricted, and it paled in comparison to Dazhuang.
Furthermore, Dazhuang was a Magician's familiar who could share Aoko's spell abilities to a certain extent, which Robin the Wren could never match.
Kujo Arika was a lonely girl, and seeing the interaction between Aoko and Dazhuang, she said nothing on the surface, but deep down, she was very envious.
Aoko had more than once found Alice secretly leaving some snacks for Dazhuang in obvious places, and Aoko would not expose her, merely telling Dazhuang that he could eat any snacks Alice left for him.
Of course, Kujo Arika was not without dissatisfaction towards Dazhuang. However, this dissatisfaction was not directed at Dazhuang, but at Aoko. Kujo Arika was a girl who paid great attention to taste and style in life, and when she first learned that Aoko had given her important familiar such a strange name as “Dazhuang,” she almost got into an argument with Aoko. However, Aoko kept playing tai chi, deflecting the topic, making Alice feel like she was punching cotton. The issue of Dazhuang’s name was eventually dropped and she gave up on it.
Perhaps Aoko would give Dazhuang a new name in the future, but for now, she was too lazy to think. Dazhuang was fine; a humble name makes for an easy upbringing.