Asuna Yuuki was both amused and at a loss for words at Li Yu's compliment. "It's really nothing special. It's just a little hobby of mine. I'm simply not used to eating takeout."
Though she sounded modest, the corners of Asuna's mouth still lifted slightly. It was clear she enjoyed Li Yu's praise.
Asuna treated him to dinner that evening. After eating at her place, Li Yu said his goodbyes. It wasn't as if he could stay the night, after all.
"I'll head back and get to work, Asuna!" After dinner, Li Yu said goodbye to her. Asuna watched him leave without saying anything.
When he got back from Asuna's place, Li Yu started putting his things in order. He put away his clothes and the rest of his belongings, then began preparing to set up a Magic Array in his room.
This time, Li Yu also took care of the materials Kato Megumi and the others would need tomorrow. He mixed all the Crystal Cores together as well.
He mixed in the materials he would need, too. After making sure this wouldn't lower their quality, he began setting up the array in his room.
Li Yu had taken a little cut for himself this time. After all, his Magic Stones were inferior to Yukinoshita and the others', yet he had mixed all three batches together.
Of course, he'd only done it because he was sure mixing them wouldn't lower their quality. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared. What was wrong with improving the Magic Array in his own home, as long as the quality didn't suffer?
They were all the same anyway, so there wouldn't be any problems. That was why Li Yu felt safe handling the materials this way.
By the time Li Yu had finished setting up the Magic Array at home, it was already late at night. He looked at the array and nodded in satisfaction.
Since he'd done it once before, Li Yu was much more practiced this time. He'd even finished far faster than he had when he drew Asuna's array. He was sure he'd be even quicker tomorrow when he drew one for Yukinoshita and the others.
After finishing the Magic Array in his room, Li Yu brought back the bed, wardrobe, and other things he'd moved out.
Once everything was in place, he put the remaining materials into a thermos. If they weren't stored properly, their magic power would dissipate completely within two or three days, rendering them useless.
After putting everything away, Li Yu washed up and went to bed. He activated the Magic Array, plugged in his phone, and set it on the nightstand. Then he continued reading aloud from the books he'd downloaded.
Once he'd done all that, Li Yu quickly entered a meditative state. With the Magic Array's assistance, his meditation was noticeably better than the night before.
In the blink of an eye, it was the next day. Li Yu got out of bed feeling refreshed. The Magic Array on the floor had already gone dark.
After checking how he felt, Li Yu was thrilled. This method of meditating in his sleep was just too good!
He'd become quite a bit stronger overnight. Carefully sensing his magic power, Li Yu nodded in satisfaction.
He could now be considered a third-tier mage. Li Yu had already learned quite a few spells, too.
He'd mastered a variety of Beginner Magic spells. At the thought, the corners of Li Yu's mouth curled up and his mood brightened.
After washing up, Li Yu took the remaining materials from the night before and his weapon, then set off for school. Since he'd moved, his route to school had changed.
He had to head in the opposite direction, but the journey was about the same length. Li Yu stepped outside and pressed the elevator button. Before long, the doors opened. The elevator had just come down from above.
Li Yu was surprised to see who was inside. Besides a few residents from the upper floors, Asuna was there too. What a coincidence.
But didn't Asuna usually get to school very early? Why was she only coming down now?
Normally, by the time Li Yu arrived at school, Asuna was already sitting in the classroom reading.
"Good morning!" Asuna spotted Li Yu as he stepped in and greeted him with a smile.
"Morning. What a coincidence!" Li Yu greeted her as he entered the elevator. Since there were other people around, Asuna didn't say anything; she simply smiled and nodded.
Only after the elevator reached the ground floor did Asuna complain to Li Yu, "The Magic Array you set up for me yesterday works too well. I ended up getting up late today."
Though she said that, she looked thoroughly pleased. She'd gotten to experience the thrill of leveling up while AFK.
She'd only slept, yet her magic power had increased quite a bit by morning. How could that not be addictive?
"No wonder you're so late today. So it's my fault!" Li Yu laughed. "I'll treat you to something delicious tonight!"
The two left the apartment building and headed to school together, chatting and laughing along the way. Li Yu even bought breakfast with Asuna; they ate as they made their way toward school.
At some point along the way, Li Yu suddenly noticed that there were fewer Patrol Squad members on the streets. Things had returned to normal. Seeing this, he couldn't help wondering what had happened.
Was it over? Had the spatial rift that appeared here been dealt with? And what kind of place lay beyond it? He couldn't help being curious!
Li Yu and Asuna soon arrived at school. By the time they reached their classroom, quite a few people were already there, chatting in little groups.
Their arrival drew everyone's attention, but nobody read anything strange into it. Arriving in the classroom together was an everyday occurrence at school.
Rather than wonder about such things, everyone was more focused on their studies. As soon as Li Yu sat down, a classmate came over and said, "Li Yu, Li Yu, explain the lesson to us!"
He was the top student, after all. There was still some time before class started, so why not ask Li Yu about anything they didn't understand? This had been happening since yesterday.
Li Yu didn't refuse his classmates' questions. Instead, he asked, "What don't you understand? Go ahead and ask. I'll explain it."
As soon as Li Yu said that, quite a few people grinned and gathered around to ask him for help. They were all glad to have someone like him in their class.
When they couldn't understand something the teacher explained, there was already someone in the class who understood it easily—and was happy to help them.
That was just great! If Li Yu ran for class representative or something, most of the class would surely support him, wouldn't they?
Who could turn down a class representative who was willing to explain the lessons to them? And one who was incredibly capable, too!
Before you continue