[Small Water Reservoir]
[Materials: Stone × 50, Iron Ore × 30]
[Capacity: 500 Liters]
[Description: Can store liquids, connects to various water facilities via pipes.]
A pale blue light lit up in the empty space next to the Train Conductor’s room.
A square water reservoir rose from the ground, about waist-high, with a metal casing.
It hung on the wall of the train, able to supply water using gravity.
There was an inlet at the top of the tank, and several metal pipes connected to the side, extending along the walls toward the rear carriages.
[Ding!
The water reservoir has been connected to the bathrooms and kitchen sinks of each compartment.
Current water level: 0 Liters.]
Kagashi patted the casing of the reservoir and turned to look at Furina and Roxy.
“Filling it up is up to you.”
Furina walked to the reservoir, took off her top hat and set it aside, then pressed both hands over the inlet.
“Water · Convergence.”
A pale blue glow lit up from her palms.
Water molecules in the air began to gather, condensing into a sphere of water above the inlet.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on Furina’s forehead.
“A-all right.” Gritting her teeth, she pushed the water sphere into the inlet.
“Splash—”
The stream of water poured into the reservoir through the inlet, making a crisp sound.
The water sphere surged into the inlet with a muffled thud.
[Current water level: 500 Liters.]
Furina stumbled slightly, and Kagashi reached out to steady her.
“That’s enough,” Kagashi said.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Furina panted, her face a bit pale, but a forced smile still hung on her lips, “Just a little tired.”
Kagashi helped Furina sit down at the long table and poured her a glass of water.
Furina took the glass, took a large gulp, and leaned back against the chair with her eyes closed for a while before her complexion slowly recovered.
“Using magic to supply water consumes mental energy,” Roxy said softly.
“That move Furina just did probably used up half of her mental energy for today.”
“Half?” Kagashi frowned.
“Then if we need to fill it every day…”
“Then I’ll use up half every day.” Furina opened her eyes and sighed, “When I encounter danger, I won’t have the strength to fight.”
The carriage went silent for a moment.
Kagashi leaned against the reservoir, his finger lightly tapping the metal casing as he calculated rapidly in his head.
The water source problem had to be solved.
But before finding a stable water source, he couldn’t let Furina waste her mental energy on filling water every day.
“Next stop,” Kagashi said, “one of the goals is to find resources that can optimize our living.”
“In any case,” he glanced at Furina, “I can’t let you guys waste your mental energy on trivial chores.”
“Magic is for fighting, not for filling water tanks.”
Furina looked at him, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly.
“You say that as if you’re so worried about me.”
Kagashi didn’t respond; he turned and opened the Construction System again.
The options popped up.
[Small Hot Water Reservoir]
[Materials: Stone × 30, Iron Ore × 20, Iron Ore × 10 (Insulation Layer)]
[Capacity: 200 Liters]
[Description: Requires an external heat source, can maintain water temperature.
Once connected to various water facilities, it can provide hot water.]
Kagashi checked the inventory; there was still enough stone and iron ore.
He clicked build.
A pale blue light lit up next to the water reservoir.
A metal water tank, one size smaller than the reservoir, rose from the ground and hung on the wall right next to the reservoir.
[Ding!
The Small Hot Water Reservoir has been connected to the shower equipment in each compartment’s bathroom.
Current water level: 0 Liters.
Water temperature: Room temperature.]
“A hot water reservoir,” Kagashi said, “but it needs a heat source.”
He looked at Roxy.
“The heat source is up to you.”
Roxy walked to the hot water reservoir and raised her staff.
“Fire · Heating.”
The tip of the staff lit up with an orange-red glow, and a steady flame burned at the interface of the heating device.
Heat was transferred into the tank through the pipes, and the water temperature began to rise slowly.
[Water temperature: 20 degrees…
25 degrees…
30 degrees…]
“Just keep it at this temperature,” Kagashi said.
“No need to go too high.”
Roxy nodded, maintaining the output of the flame.
Her mental energy consumption was much lower than Furina’s; maintaining a steady flame was much easier than condensing a large mass of water.
When the water temperature reached 43 degrees, Kagashi called a halt.
“That’s enough.”
Roxy withdrew the flame, with hardly a bead of sweat on her forehead.
“I’ve experienced the utility of magic so quickly.” Kagashi looked at the reservoir and the water heater, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
“If it weren’t for you guys, I’d probably still be drinking cold water and taking cold showers right now.”
“If it weren’t for you, we’d probably still have no instant noodles to eat and be sleeping on the floor,” Roxy said gently.
The two looked at each other and both laughed.
Misaka Mikoto stood to the side, hands in her pockets, looking at the reservoir and water heater, then at Furina and Roxy.
She didn’t say anything.
Yoshino, holding Yoshinon, also stood to the side with her head down.
Kagashi noticed.
He walked up to Misaka Mikoto.
“What’s wrong?”
“Feel like you didn’t help?”
Misaka Mikoto’s fingers tightened in her pockets, and she didn’t speak.
Kagashi looked at her, silent for two seconds, then said, “Don’t be in a hurry.”
Misaka Mikoto turned her head to look at him.
“Electricity will have a very important role in the future,” Kagashi said.
“Lighting, repelling enemies, powering equipment.”
“Right now the train is only level 2, and your current isn’t enough to support the entire energy grid.
But wait until it reaches level 3, 4, or 5; your current will increase exponentially.”
“By then, you’ll be our most important source of energy.”
Misaka Mikoto’s mouth twitched slightly, but she still kept her face turned away.
“Really?” Her voice was very small.
“Really,” Kagashi said.
He then walked up to Yoshino, crouched down, and looked her in the eye.
“And you, Yoshino.”
Yoshino looked up, her eyes red.
“Ice will also have a big role in the future,” Kagashi said.
“We need ice to store food, and we’ll need ice to counter water-type mutants.”
“Even in the extreme cold apocalypse later on, your ability to control ice might be the key to our survival in the freezing cold.”
Yoshino blinked, the moisture in her eyes hadn’t dissipated yet, but the corners of her mouth had already curved up.
“Really?”
“Really.” Kagashi reached out and gently patted her head.
The train traveled through the fog, its wheels making a “clack-clack” sound.
“Alright.” Kagashi clapped his hands, “That’s about it for today.”
Everyone go back to your rooms and rest, the hot water should be enough for everyone to take a shower.”
“Hot water!” Furina’s eyes lit up, and she jumped up from her chair, “I’m going to be the first to wash!”
“Why do you get to be first?” Misaka Mikoto also perked up.
“Because I provided the water!”
“That water is for everyone!”
The two bickered as they walked toward the rear carriage.
Yoshino, holding Yoshinon, followed behind with small steps, giggling.
Roxy walked last; as she passed Kagashi, she whispered, “Goodnight, Mr.
Kagashi.”
“Goodnight.”
Kagashi stood in the middle of the carriage, watching the backs of the four girls disappear into the aisle.
Then he turned and walked into the conductor’s room, closing the door.
Sitting at the desk, he opened the system panel.
[Estimated arrival time: 25 hours 44 minutes.]
Kagashi leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
The water in the heater pipes flowed slowly, making a faint “gurgle gurgle” sound.
The corners of Kagashi’s mouth curled up slightly.
This is nice.
“I’ll go wash up too.” Fortunately, Kagashi had directly removed the wardrobe from the conductor’s room and replaced it with a bathroom.
“Comfortable~”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.