Ice Maker

While I'm at it, I'll ask Marcel-san about the magic tools, too. If I have to hide the fact that I can use all attributes, that might limit the magic tools I can make.

"Marcel-san, could I ask you about a magic tool, too? If I'm not allowed to use all attributes, I might not be able to make the magic tools I've been thinking about."

"Of course. I'm interested in the magic tools you come up with, Leon."

"Thank you! I was thinking of something called a refrigerator—a cold box for storing food, but..."

"Ah, but that won't work, since you can't make ice."

"Actually, I managed to make ice."

"What!?"

Marcel-san froze in surprise again. I may have startled him too much today. I hope his heart doesn't stop.

"Um, are you all right...?"

"Ah, yes, I'm fine. You've kept startling me all day, and it's exhausting."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's all right. So, how exactly can you make ice?"

"I create water that's just on the verge of freezing with water magic, and it freezes when I stimulate it."

"Could you try it once?"

I created water that was just about to freeze in the container Marcel-san had given me, then shook the container to stimulate it and freeze it.

After watching, Marcel-san fell silent and pondered for a while, a troubled look on his face.

I wondered what was wrong. Had something gone wrong?

"Do you think anyone who uses water magic could do this?"

His question made me fall silent and think.

I have knowledge from the modern world and can visualize it, so maybe that's why I can do it. I have no idea whether people in this world can...

No, perhaps I should use magic while thinking only of water on the verge of freezing. If that works, people in this world might be able to do it, too.

"May I try using magic one more time?"

"Of course. As many times as you like."

This time, I used magic on a new container while thinking only of water that was about to freeze, without visualizing anything. It consumed about five times as much magic power as before, but I managed to create the water.

Had I succeeded...? I cautiously picked up the container and shook it to stimulate the water. It turned into ice with a series of sharp cracks.

I did it! Then even ordinary people might be able to do this! But perhaps it would still be impossible without a great deal of magic power.

"Marcel-san, I think someone with a large amount of magic power could probably do it. You can do it by using magic power while thinking of water on the verge of freezing. But it seems to require quite a lot, so I don't know how much magic power would be necessary."

"I see... Your magic power is five, right? Perhaps I should have someone with five points of magic power and the water attribute try it."

Marcel-san seemed ready to gather some other people and have them try it. Maybe we could make a refrigerator after all. Thank goodness.

"We'll test the magic later, but have you decided on the shape of the magic tool?"

"Yes! I have a general idea. I want it to be a tall, box-shaped container with several shelves inside, and I'd like to put the ice-making mechanism at the very top. I was thinking the box could be made of ordinary iron instead of magic iron, with only the ice-making part made into a magic tool. What do you think?"

"Yes, I think that's a good idea—we should conserve magic iron as much as possible. But if you do that, wouldn't 'Ice Maker' be a better name than 'Refrigerator'?"

That's true...! The magic-tool portion is really an ice maker. In fact, it might be better to market it as something that makes ice rather than as a refrigerator.

I'll skip the iron part I was planning to make into a refrigerator and sell only the magic-tool portion. It'd be more convenient if everyone could figure out how to use it for their own purposes.

"That's right. We'll call it an Ice Maker. We won't limit its purpose; we'll make it a magic tool that produces ice. That way, people can use it freely."

"Indeed. That would be better. Then let's make one."

With that, Marcel-san laid a magic stone and some magic iron out on the table.

"Would you like to make it this time, Leon? If you have five points of magic power, you can work with magic iron, too."

"Is that all right!? I'd love to try!"

"Then first, hold the magic iron in your hand and imagine the form you want it to take. Once you channel magic power through it, it'll change accordingly."

I thought it would be better to make large ice that would melt slowly, so I envisioned a container thirty centimeters on each side. I also envisioned two places to insert magic stones and channeled magic power through it.

The magic iron rapidly changed shape, and before long, it had become exactly what I envisioned.

Magic iron is amazing!!

"It's finished!"

"Why did you choose this shape? I assumed you'd make it something like a faucet. And it seems to have two slots for magic stones—why is that?"

"I thought larger ice would be better because it would melt more slowly, so I made it this shape. But with this shape, the stimulus doesn't reach the center, so the ice doesn't freeze solidly. That's why I use wind magic to send wind simultaneously from the water's center and outer edge, providing the necessary stimulus."

I first made ice, then tried making it many more times, but the more water I used, the less solidly it froze.

I don't know why, but I discovered that creating wind with wind magic at the center and outside of the water at the same time makes it freeze solidly.

I don't really understand why that makes it freeze so neatly, but magic itself operates according to principles I don't understand, so I've decided not to think about it.

It's amazing that magic can work even when you just wing it. Yeah, it's perfect for me.

"Leon, it's also the first time anyone has incorporated two different attribute magics into a single magic tool. Still, I feel like explaining common sense to you would be pointless, so I suppose I'll refrain..."

Marcel-san was looking at me with an exasperated expression.

How rude! I'm a normal person! I am, right...? Maybe I'm out of step with this world in all sorts of ways...?

No, I'll try not to think about it. It's too late for that now...

I took the two magic stones and infused them with magic power while picturing the magic.

First, I fitted the wind-attribute magic stone into place. While making the ice, I realized that it was more efficient in terms of magic power and produced better ice if I made the water appear where a gentle breeze was already blowing.

When I put my hand inside the magic tool, I could feel a gentle breeze blowing. This one was a success.

Then I fitted the water-attribute magic stone into place. A few seconds later, ice formed. It was probably a success!

I removed the magic stones and took the ice out of the box. It was a beautiful, perfectly square block of ice. A huge success!!

"Marcel-san! It's finished! What do you think?"

"This is incredible... It will let people keep food from spoiling even in summer, and surely many people will want one. And this ice looks far higher quality than the ice you made in the container earlier."

"Exactly! If I use only water magic to create water, then shake it to turn it into ice, it either becomes sherbet-like or freezes only on the surface. But if I create the water where a gentle breeze generated by wind magic is already blowing, it turns into hard, beautiful ice."

"So even someone with the water attribute and five points of magic power can't make high-quality ice. They'll need to cooperate with someone with the wind attribute. This might actually sell."

Wonderful! Maybe this will let me repay Marcel-san, at least a little...

"Then I'll have someone with the water attribute and five points of magic power confirm whether they can make ice, and then I'll take this to the Royal Palace to have it registered. Is that all right?"

"Yes! Ah, but couldn't the person testing it steal the idea from me...?"

"I'll ask a trustworthy friend to do it, so don't worry. Besides, since it combines the water and wind attributes, no one could think of it and imitate it right away. I'll go register it that same day, so it'll be fine."

"Then that's fine! Please take care of it."

"Yes, leave it to me. While I'm at the Royal Palace, I'll deposit some money into your account too, Leon, so be sure to check later."

"Yes! Thank you very much!"

Once we'd wrapped things up, I happened to look out the window and realized it was already time to start the evening service!!

"Marcel-san! I have to go now! I'll be late for the evening service."

"All right. Be careful."

"Yes! I'll come again!"

With that, I dashed out of Marcel-san's house and raced home.