The Water Magician

Fourteen days since coming to Fai.

Last night, I enjoyed the thigh meat of a lesser boa.

The other parts have been frozen and thrown into the storage.

After reflecting on yesterday's battle calmly, I broke into a cold sweat.

The lesser boa is the weakest type among the boa type, or in other words, the weakest kind of monster classified as "lesser."

Of course, compared to slimes or lesser rabbits, they are still troublesome, and their ferocity in charging makes it impossible for ordinary farmers or hunters to defeat them solo.

However, according to the "Monsters Encyclopedia: Beginner Edition," it is still ranked the weakest.

"But it's good that my first enemy was a lesser boa. There was a chance I could have encountered a stronger foe, so I consider myself lucky."

Ryo was positive.

Even if I can't throw the icicle lance, I can use it like a spear thrust, or "yaribusuma."

I can use it, but it inevitably means using myself as bait to draw in the enemy before launching it.

If I fail, the damage could be immeasurable.

What if the enemy moves faster than I anticipated?

What if they don't slide on the ice?

It seems like I wouldn't be able to use it if attacked from the air...

Once again, since I can use magic, I want to establish a safer way to hunt from a distance.

If I keep pushing myself to the limit, it might not be good for my mental health.

While the water ball can fly, the icicle lance cannot.

After trying various things, I concluded that while water can fly, ice cannot.

Both are created using water attribute magic.

The water ball probably collects water molecules from the air and launches them.

The icicle lance probably collects water molecules from the air, freezes them, and launches them.

"Hm? Does the icicle lance have one more step? Could it be that right now I can only use magic equivalent to two steps...?"

I decided to prepare the water in advance and just try the "freeze and launch" part.

I created an ice vessel to avoid any issues with the hand bucket and filled it with water.

I held my right hand over the ice vessel and visualized it in my mind.

The image of the water freezing and the vessel flying away.

"[Icicle Lance]"

Whoosh.

It wasn't a spear, but the frozen water flew about ten meters, along with the container.

"Alright, success!"

After days of struggle, I solved it in one go.

"That's how it is. Once I gather the necessary information, the answer flashes in my mind."

In Ryo's case, it might not have been that the necessary information was gathered, but rather that the acquisition of flint and battling outside the barrier had reduced his mental stress... However, it's a fact that the problem has been solved, so that's good enough.

"I understand the reason. For now, it seems I can't perform all three steps at once. I wonder if I'll be able to do it as I become more proficient with water magic. I hope I will be able to."

For the time being, it seems I can't launch ice... This means that my only available long-range attack method is water.

"Speaking of which, I haven't tried the water jet recently."

I had practiced hard on the third day after arriving at Fai and concluded that I could only condense it to the level of a car wash hose, making it unusable for attacks.

Since then, I hadn't used it once.

"Considering I've gotten the hang of generating ice and water attribute magic, I’m sure I can do better than back then..."

I extended my right hand forward, imagining the water jet in my mind.

"[Water Jet]"

Whoosh.

Compared to before, a much thinner and vigorous stream of water was launched.

"I'm making progress!"

Next, I aimed at a tree located just inside the barrier.

Whoosh... Splash.

I still couldn't cut the tree... but the area where it hit was slightly dented.

"I think this is something I can manage with practice..."

Ryo resumed his practice with the water jet.

For the next four days, Ryo devoted himself to practicing the water jet.

Of course, he made sure to have a proper breakfast and took baths regularly.

For breakfast, he grilled meat. That's right, grilled meat for breakfast! Breakfast is important!