7A. Magical Verification 1 – Scanning and Materialization

Shiro stood up and walked down from the slope toward the ground. He approached the riverside visible to the west, walking until he reached a section that resembled a sandy beach.

“Can you drink the water from this river?”

Shiro suddenly wondered aloud.

“Affirmative. Potable,” Mitoka replied, fluttering past his side.

“Speaking of which, can I use the so-called Scanning Skill?”

The Scanning Skill was a technique for acquiring information about objects.

“Affirmative. It can be used. To activate it, you channel your magic energy like a laser pointer, directing it to target an object and retrieve its data.”

“So it’s like a magic selection tool implemented as a direct interface?”

“Affirmative. However, in Shiro’s original design, magic manipulation wasn’t accounted for due to VR system limitations. But in this world, actual magic manipulation is possible. Therefore, practicing both magic manipulation and magic phase transitions will be necessary. In that sense, every VR controller input will now be replaced by direct magic control.”

“I see. So in this world’s design, magic is realized through visualization and magic energy shaping—actual spells manifesting through mental imagery and intent…” Shiro was impressed.

Magic manipulation allowed one to move magic energy as freely as moving limbs, guided solely by will. The connection between thought, image, and reality was a crucial element in the implementation of magic.

On Earth, VR systems still couldn’t achieve practical, real-time control of machines through pure will—still in experimental stages. The more Shiro experienced this world, where such things were possible, the more he found himself liking it.

"I'll handle the mana manipulation and analysis until you can use that skill. Based on the results, this river water is safe to drink. No harmful substances or microorganisms detected."

Safe to drink, I move closer to the riverbank and scoop some water into my hand, then drink it.

"Ooh, cold and delicious!"

"Shiro, there are fruit-bearing trees over in the forest. They're edible too."

"Great! Let's go pick some!"

Hearing there was food, Shiro instantly perked up.

The forest was directly opposite the stone stage, so I walked over that way. Near the forest entrance, I spotted a cluster of trees bearing apples-like fruit.

"Is that an apple?"

"Similar fruit, yes. In this world, they're called apprias. And since they grow from trees planted in this sacred site, they grant a mana recovery effect."

Mitoka flew over to an appria fruit, then explained to Shiro.

The skin was bright red—almost crimson—and the inside was pure white. Shiro picked a few and took a bite.

"Ooh, this is good. Juicy, sweet, with a faint tang."

He ended up eating three before he could stop.

"Still, we need some kind of container. Water’s one thing, but we’ll need a storage bag or a canteen. Or… Mitoka, can you use an item box?"

"Shiro, you mean inventory. To use inventory, you need to upgrade your mana manipulation skill."

"Right, makes sense. Then let's keep testing that skill, shall we?"

Shiro thought it over, then headed back to the chair on the stone stage's wall.

Once back at the stone stage, he decided to test basic magic. First on his list: water generation. He checked the procedure with Mitoka.

"Basic procedure: mana manipulation, attribute conversion, control, then manifestation keyword—right?"

"Yes, that's correct. However, for attribute conversion, a willpower-driven mana phase transition is required."

Mitoka floats slightly apart from Shiro and answers.

Here, Shiro realized that this world—of all places—had implemented what could only be called “willpower.” In Filidia, magic was not just about channeling energy, but about shaping it with willpower—the force of intent. It required transforming magical energy into different forms, just as matter shifts between solid, liquid, and gas states. You had to pre-convert the mana itself before using it.

Of course, magical energy doesn’t actually become liquid like physical matter. It’s just a phase shift in imagery—nothing more.

Good—first, shape the mana flow from my hand into a five-centimeter-diameter sphere using mana manipulation, then adjust my willpower and imagine it as liquid.

Shiro, eager to begin right away,

"...Mitoka, how do you even adjust your willpower?"

Mitoka answers with an expression of mild disbelief.

"…I thought you’d realize it’s just focus. For water generation, willpower 110 means standard mana control concentration is fine."

"Right. So I just keep the magic power in a ball shape, imagine it as liquid, and pour willpower into it," Shiro focused, sharpening his concentration.

The mass of magic energy began shifting like liquid, so I visualized water and recalled its chemical formula. That triggered the attribute conversion—my magic sphere transformed into a water sphere.

He didn’t think he’d be attacking this time, so Shiro skipped magic control altogether and focused on endurance, murmuring “Materialization.”

A blue magic circle, about fifty centimeters in diameter, appears and begins to glow.

And when the magic circle vanished, the ball of water was complete.

"Ooh, yeah! This is amazing!"

Shiro couldn't help but shout in excitement. Seeing magic with such vivid realism—actually witnessing it with his own eyes—was genuinely thrilling.

"But why did the magic circle appear this time?"

"Shiro, the status display was meant for your personal use, but this time it was visible from outside. When magic manifests externally, the circle appears."

"Hmm. What's the basis for the pattern on that circle?"

"Likely, the flow of the magical process you triggered was automatically rendered as a magic circle."

"I see…."

As Shiro spoke with Mitoka, the ball of water simply fell to the ground.

"Shoot, I forgot to prepare a container."

Shiro muttered, already regretting the oversight, when an announcement played.

——『[Materialization] Level 1 unlocked』

"Shiro, congratulations. First magic, well done!"

Mitoka bounced side to side, throwing up a victory sign and grinning.

"Ooh, thanks. Guess I actually pulled it off. But it was kinda awkward and took forever—gotta practice until the whole sequence runs smoother and faster."

And so, Shiro spent a good hour or so practicing his water ball.

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