The Water Magician

"I've managed to get some rice, but now I want miso soup... though that's probably impossible."

Ryo had previously deduced that this house was likely located somewhere between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer based on various conditions.

Indeed, supporting that theory, he had obtained pepper and wild rice.

Now, there is one essential ingredient needed to make miso soup.

That is, of course, 'miso.'

To create that miso, soybeans are required.

However, the native region of soybeans is East Asia, including Japan.

In the Forest of Rondo, it's far too hot.

Furthermore, the humidity is quite high.

Soybeans thrive in well-drained soil... which is why, when sowing soybeans, high ridges are made to ensure proper drainage.

Given these conditions, they likely do not grow wild here.

"Well, it can't be helped. Just having rice is already serendipity."

For normal living, a barrier with a radius of one hundred meters around the house is sufficient.

However, if he were to create rice fields here... it would become rather cramped.

"Then I would have to make it outside the barrier. And if that's the case, it would mean cutting down trees and clearing the land... I guess?"

Using magic and swords to clear land at high speed...

"Yeah, Water Jet can't cut trees yet."

On Earth, trees are cut down with chainsaws.

In sawmills, trees are cut with huge circular saws.

"Maybe if I used something like a circular saw made of water, it could be used as a long-range attack."

He imagines in his mind. A circular saw with a radius of about ten centimeters appears above his right palm, beginning to spin.

"Water Saw."

Just as he envisioned, a water-made circular saw emerges.

"Now, fly away!"

Splash.

The moment it left his hand, it fell to the ground.

"Ah..."

He collapsed to his knees, bowing his head.

In that position, Ryo froze for about ten seconds.

While in that posture, he spoke.

"Let's break down the process."

He generates water.

He spins the generated water.

He shoots it.

"Yeah, three steps. The third step is still not possible, huh?"

He checks while looking down. However, Ryo suddenly stood up.

"Not yet. It's not over."

With a line reminiscent of some red comet, Ryo approached a tree outside the barrier.

Then, he recites again.

"Water Saw."

But this time he doesn't shoot it; instead, he holds the Water Saw with his palm and applies it to the tree trunk.

Vvvvvrinnn

He successfully cuts through the trunk at a speed comparable to that of a chainsaw.

"It can be used for processing wood."

That said, even if he manages to cut something, he lacks glue and nails...

"Woodworking... yeah, not possible."

Crafting seems challenging.

"Rotational motion..."

At that moment, Ryo froze.

"Huh? Isn't something off here?"

What came to Ryo's mind was the Ice Roller he used when tanning the skin of the lesser boa.

"The process for Ice Roller is..."

Collect water molecules from the air.

Freeze the collected water molecules.

Spin the frozen roller.

"Three steps... right? I can do it, but why...?"

Something is significantly wrong.

"Icicle Lance."

An Icicle Lance generates in his right hand.

"Rotate on the spot."

Like a bullet flying off, it spins.

"Fire."

Swoosh. Thud.

As usual, it fell to the ground.

However, today Ryo did not collapse.

He generated a long, slender ice vessel with his left hand and filled it with water.

Then, against the filled water,

"Icicle Lance."

An ice spear is generated while attached to the ice vessel.

"Fire."

The ice vessel, along with the spear, flies forward at considerable speed.

He takes a breath here, steadying himself.

"All right, I can do this. I’m different from my past self."

It’s close to self-hypnosis... but it's really important.

He needs to shatter the rigid image that had formed in his mind.

He imagines in his head.

The generation of the Icicle Lance.

The image of the spear flying from his right hand.

Repeating it over and over until it becomes visible as an illusion right in front of him. He imagines clearly.

"Icicle Lance."

An Icicle Lance generates at the tip of his right hand.

"Fire."

It flies forward with amazing speed.