The Water Magician

Ryo and Abel volunteered to cut down lumber.

They would be harvesting trees from the forest right next to the village.

"Time to show the prowess of a water attribute magician!"

Ryo was filled with enthusiasm.

As usual, Abel looked at him with a deadpan expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Abel?"

"Well, carrying the wood is heavy, isn't it?"

Abel replied with an utterly reasonable answer to Ryo's question.

"Don't worry. I have [Ice Path]!"

"Oh, the ice floor. Indeed, that would make it easier to carry."

Abel felt relieved by Ryo's sensible answer.

That said, they first needed to cut down the trees.

The forest where they would be cutting trees was located across from Tiger Mountain, divided by Spring Village.

"[Water Saw]"

A rotating water saw, about ten centimeters in radius, was generated above Ryo's palm and was applied to the trunk of the tree.

Vrrrrrrr.

A high-pitched sound echoed from the forest as the two entered, cutting through the trunk at a speed comparable to that of a chainsaw.

It was a spell they had used quite often in the Forest of Rondo.

"Cutting lumber is fun, isn't it?"

Ryo seemed satisfied as he patted a conifer that resembled a cedar, about ten meters tall.

Abel, watching him from the side, seemed to want to say something.

"What is it, Abel?"

"Well, it's just a thought... but can't you cut the tree with the thin line of water you always use?"

"Eh…?"

"The one called [Water Jet]. With that, you could cut the trunk and trim branches without moving from that spot, right?"

Ryo froze completely at Abel's words.

"No, I just thought of it randomly, so don't mind me."

Seeing how frozen he was, Abel hurriedly added.

He looked quite embarrassed.

"No, it's fine, Abel. You're right, I could cut the tree with [Water Jet]. Trimming branches would be... a few [Water Jets] would do it in an instant."

Ryo answered, but his expression was very dark.

And then, finally...

He dropped to both hands and knees on the ground.

A pose of despair.

"Ryo... I'm sorry."

Abel felt a sudden urge to apologize.

"It's not your fault, Abel. I simply assumed we would be cutting the trees with [Water Saw], and I was shocked that I didn't realize that until you pointed it out."

"Um..."

Abel couldn't continue and simply watched Ryo.

The [Water Saw] was developed before he could freely use [Water Jet] as he does now, and before it could produce such power.

They were at a turning point in history where new magic was driving out old magic...

Yeah, that was an exaggeration.

Thirty seconds later.

"Ha!"

Ryo stood up with a strange shout.

"I won't lose to you, Abel!"

Ryo declared resolutely.

"Why am I the bad guy here?"

Abel had a dissatisfied expression.

However, seeing that Ryo had regained his spirit, he accepted it.

Abel was a very good person.

And he was very magnanimous.

His majesty the king would expect nothing less...

Ryo had cut down two pieces of lumber, each ten meters long.

Ryo and Abel carried one each to the plaza.

Abel went first, and Ryo followed.

This was so that Abel could generate [Ice Path] only under the lumber he was carrying, while Ryo did the same under his own lumber.

If they generated it beneath their feet, it would be a disaster.

By the way, the lumber was attached to ice chains, and each was being pulled by them.

They looked like they were carrying heavy loads, but thanks to [Ice Path], it required no extraordinary strength...

"I've brought it!"

As Abel called out, Vice Daimyo Fu Ten and those surrounding him, as well as the porters, gathered around.

And they were astonished at the lumber that the two had brought.

"...Carrying one of these each? Are you guys super strong?"

The porters, who usually carried loads, were surprised.

"There was just the right spell for water attribute magic," Ryo replied with a smile.

"Alright, let's cut this further and make a fence. Ryo and Abel, keep cutting more like this!"

At Vice Daimyo Fu Ten's words, the two nodded.

They were steadily constructing the fence.

It was a simple structure, so it could be easily broken by a two-and-a-half-meter ogre, but wouldn't be breached by goblins.