Power charge — money refill
"Is this a risha?"
"Yes!"
Nina nods with gleeful excitement.
I stare at the thing she just handed me.
A white lump the size of a grain of rice, wobbling slightly, making a faint water sound from within.
"Something inside?"
"Of course there is. It's a risha, after all."
Mia takes it from my palm, using her front teeth to neatly split it open.
The risha splits perfectly in two. A translucent liquid spills out from inside the shell.
"Break it like this, and enjoy the flavor. The water inside is sweet, but the shell? Absolutely unbearable."
"Wow, let me try."
"Ah—"
I pop a single piece into my mouth and crush it between my teeth.
"———!!"
Instantly, a taste so intense it feels unnatural floods my mouth.
No, not really a taste.
Something explodes inside, filling every corner of my mouth.
Even though there’s nothing there, it feels like something enormous is sitting right in the middle.
Like cramming a Pshiny into your mouth—except there’s nothing there.
“———”
After a while, even moaning stopped.
“Ah… ah… no way, no way.”
“Master!”
Mira rushed over with water.
Snatching it, I downed it in one gulp.
Still not enough. I signaled her with my eyes—get more.
Five full cups, emptied in a rush—only then did I feel like myself again.
“What the hell was that?”
Tears welled up, spilling over from the sheer agony.
“That’s just how it is. But if you crack the shell just right, the juice inside? Sweet. Delicious. That’s what they use to make Magatan’s traditional wine.”
“Huh… I see.”
I took a deep breath.
Regaining composure, I looked at Nina.
“You managed to produce this?”
“Yeah! Uh… about half?”
“Half? What do you mean, half?”
I tilted my head, annoyed by the vague answer.
☆
Mira, Nina, and I stepped outside Rebeck.
Right after leaving the protective range of my copper statue—replacing the spring—there were several large barrels scattered about.
I approached and peered inside one.
“What’s this… water?”
I dipped a finger in and tasted it.
Clean, odorless, tasteless water.
“What’s so special about this?”
“Second Slave, Your Grace.”
“Uh-huh. Okay, Master?”
Nina, Mira, me—roundabout, as always.
Mira pulled out her slave card and drew a magic circle on the ground.
Nina placed a single reed onto it, then poured in about two barrels’ worth—probably a hundred liters—of water.
After pouring, the magic circle glowed.
The reed and water were enveloped… and transformed into a plant.
A miniature tree, like a bonsai, covered in dense clusters of reeds.
“Hmm, so this is it?”
“No, Your Majesty—wait one full day from here.”
“Huh?”
"Look closely—Risha’s gray, right?"
"Yeah, that’s right."
"We can only harvest when it turns white. That means we have to wait a full day after making this."
"Huh. I see."
Nodding.
A single grain of Risha and a bucketful of water—just before harvest, the Risha tree.
"Can this be harvested over and over?"
"Sorry, but for some reason, the tree dies after each harvest."
"Ah. Well, that’s okay."
I ruffled Nina’s hair, softening her crestfallen mood.
"Good job. Being able to produce at all is impressive."
"Really?"
"Yeah. A reward—here."
I handed her a single origami medal.
Nina beamed.
"Master."
Mira spoke up.
"This… I don’t think it’s really good."
"Why not?"
"Too much water’s needed, that’s all."
"True."
Estimating by eye, the amount of water required now was about a hundred liters.
Fine to try out once, but if we're talking mass production, we gotta start by securing water.
"Say, what about magic power?"
"About that—normally, it's five hundred per unit."
"Hmm."
I checked Mira's reply against my DORECA.
So far, everything I can craft—except the statue—is listed in my DORECA.
The Risha tree, sure—500 magic points. Nothing special.
"We gotta secure water, no doubt."
"Indeed, Master! The sea! The sea!"
Mira chirps, all excited, as if she’s just cracked the code.
"The sea...?"
I get what she’s driving at, but that feels impossible.
After all, the material listed in DORECA says "fresh water."
☆
Three magic circles were drawn outside the town of Magatan.
One, a scarecrow-type barrier with Ilya’s Spring.
Another, the Risha tree for mass production.
And the third, a spring (extra-large) for stable, large-scale water supply.
The extra-large spring—using the large spring itself as material—is gushing water with astonishing force.
More than enough to withstand even Risha’s massive consumption.
I haven’t farmed since I tinkered with a patch back in the first town.
Just thinking that.
“Master Akito… amazing. You can do *this*?”
“Truly, the King’s skill.”
“Still, every time I see that magic talent, I’m utterly captivated.”
The townspeople, led by Mayor Gerasim, chattered in unison.
A chorus of gratitude.
“For now, this should yield a harvest by tomorrow. But only once. After that, we’ll need a new magic array.”
“Yes!”
“By the way, I’m charging for this. It’s not basic food, clothing, or shelter.”
Gerasim and the others stiffened.
Then, muttering, “Oh right… that’s true.”
Perfect. My basic stance is finally sinking in.
“How much?”
Thirty percent of Risha’s cost—after the spell circle’s cast, that’s your job.
Gerasim looked back at the townspeople behind him. All of them nodded in silence.
That’s settled, then.
Yes! Thank you! Akito-kun!
"Thank you so much!"
That should wrap it up, then.