Chapter 49

"Hmm, somehow I'm starting to feel comfortable and sleepy..."

*Splash*.

"W-What the heck!"

Water all over my face!

"Hey, are you awake now?"

"No, no, I was just about to drift off to the other side. You need to be more careful. I'm a lightweight, you know."

"Pitiful... You don't have to be so reliable, you know. You can just be yourself."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Being pitiful means fewer rivals, right? That's what I'm saying."

"I don't get it..."

Secoia, who knows where he got it from, offers me a hand towel.

I gratefully take it and wipe my face... Oh, I feel refreshed.

It makes sense that washing your face after eating makes you feel refreshed.

I'll just pretend I didn't get doused with water unwillingly.

"Well, since you've eaten, let's head to the blacksmith's."

"Joshua, I had an idea while you were asleep. Should we talk about it before you forget?"

"Sure. Sometimes a small insight can lead to significant progress. I'd love to hear it."

"Haha, you really think like me. I like that."

"Uh, yeah, sure."

To prevent him from suddenly hugging me, I put my hands out in front of me, ready to push him away.

But Secoia puts his finger to his chin cutely and says, "Hmm."

"Mana can take various forms depending on the spell. However, only intelligent beings like humans, beastmen, and elves can construct new spells. Dragons and thunder beasts don't do that. Their abilities are built into their bodies."

"Right, magic and spells require 'construction' to be activated."

"Exactly. But a dragon's breath or a thunder beast's lightning isn't constructed each time. It's built into their bodies."

"That's what I thought."

It's the same with Earth's creatures.

For example, some fish can emit light. Bioluminescence isn't something they scientifically formulated; it's a mechanism built into their bodies, which they use instinctively from birth.

The same goes for a thunder beast's lightning. They don't construct a magical formula each time.

"That's why you came up with the idea of reverse-engineering the mechanism to create mana from lightning, right?"

"Right. In other words, creating mana from electricity and then retaining it as a material—creating a magic stone."

"I don't think it's impossible. In fact, I see it as a natural progression. However, there's something crucial missing to make it happen."

"Oh? What's that?"

I'm not surprised that he understands my idea so easily.

We had already discussed creating a magic stone from electricity before I lost consciousness.

If we can create magic stones, many issues in daily life can be resolved. For example, purification and water supply systems using magic stones are existing technologies.

We can do the same as in the capital.

It shouldn't be difficult to implement, and we have the materials.

But what is the crucial thing Secoia is talking about? I hope it's something we can create.

Secoia responds to my question, furrowing his brow and raising a finger.

"Listen, Joshua. Mana is something that's always present in the body, right?"

"Oh, right. I should think of the mana in the body like water in a bucket."

"Exactly. Mana is used as needed, but thunder beasts and dragons consume mana pooled in their bodies. So, wouldn't electricity also be pooled and then converted?"

"I never thought of that! That makes sense. We should try pooling the electricity. We could try without it, but..."

"Does it seem difficult?"

"No, I understand the concept of pooling electricity... I know what a battery is, but I don't know how to make one. Also, I think a 'catalyst' is needed to convert electricity into mana."

"Catalyst... Ah, a scientific term. Yes, it makes sense. Thunder beasts likely use some kind of catalyst in their bodies to convert mana into lightning."

"Thunder beasts might not use one, but I think a catalyst is necessary to convert electricity into mana, scientifically speaking."

"Hmm, fascinating. It's quite enjoyable, like unraveling the mysteries of the world."

It seems I can seek Secoia's opinion on the handling and properties of mana to find the answers.

The problem is on my end.

"Battery and catalyst..."

Hmm, how do I make it?

*Do you want to make a battery?*

"Yeah, but I don't know how."

Hmm, I answered without thinking, but this voice isn't Secoia's.

"It's not me."

"Yeah, I noticed. I thought you were just changing your voice..."

It's like a girl's voice from an anime. You know, the kind where a female voice actor does a boy's voice.

Where is it coming from?

Since Secoia isn't reacting, the voice either isn't hostile or isn't a significant threat.

I was tilting my head when the voice spoke again.

*What year are you from? Heisei? Maybe Taisho? No, it's probably post-war, right?*

I was carefully trying to locate the source of the voice, and this time I could clearly tell where it was coming from.

The river. The voice came from the river.

And the language... it's Japanese!

This is the first time I've heard Japanese since being reborn as Joshua in this world.

So, another reincarnated person?

But there's no one in the river. Just the penguin that squished a snail earlier.

*Where are you? I have no intention of harming you. Show yourself.*

*What are you talking about? I'm right here.*

The Japanese voice responded immediately.

Huh?

No way.

*Penguin?*

*That's right. I somehow ended up as a penguin. I heard the word 'battery,' which brought back memories, so I decided to speak to you.*

*Is that so? But Japanese...*

*That's it! I saw a human form, but I couldn't understand the language. I didn't have the courage to speak. After all, I'm a penguin. I didn't want to be captured.*

*Yeah, I get it. You're a penguin.*

*Exactly. A penguin, you know...*

The penguin, treading water, seemed to exude a sense of melancholy.

What a poor soul to be reincarnated as a penguin.

Maybe he was enthusiastically squishing snails.

*Don't worry. I have no intention of doing anything to the penguin.*

*As a fellow Japanese, I'll trust you. I want to. Meeting someone from my hometown is a rare thing. Even if I'm deceived, I won't regret it.*

*No, I really won't do anything. If you want, you can stay at my place.*

*I'm a penguin now. Squishing snails suits me.*

*That... I'm sorry to hear that...*

*No, that's not important. I heard the word 'battery.' And I secretly saw the structure of your water wheel. Did you create a power generation facility with the water wheel?*

*Yeah, I did, but...*

*So, you need a battery?*

*It would be useful to have one.*

*Hmm... I see...*

The penguin climbed onto the shore, flapping its flippers and tapping its white belly.

It's surreal... too surreal.