Before the maid-chop, the max-level tree had no choice but to lose.
Because, well, maids are invincible.
“Hoooh... Hoooooh...”
I crouched in front of the defeated tree and diligently rubbed my aching hand.
This was the power of the healing art I had just learned.
It already felt like it was completely healed.
[The Sage of the Star Library advises you to use healing arts.]
“I already used it, but I suppose you didn’t see. A maid’s healing art works like this.”
[The Sage of the Star Library smacks his forehead.]
In any case, after facing the peerless formidable foe that was the tree, I found myself thinking that I needed to raise my stats.
「Name: Han Yuyeon」
「Class: Maid」
「Unique Skills: Maid’s Subspace Pocket (EX), Maid’s Grace (EX)」
「Owned Skills: Healing Art (E)」
「Stats: Strength 1, Agility 1, Stamina 1, Divinity 1 (Remaining Points: 5)」
The ability points I had gained by clearing the secondary objective amounted to 5.
How should I use them?
Even with Strength at only 1, I was quite strong, so maybe I should invest everything into Strength and aim to evolve into a muscle maid.
“Hmm.”
I imagined it for a moment.
The image of Han Yuyeon after becoming a muscle maid.
- Why should I use my head? Is your body weak?
I could see Han Yuyeon resolving most problems with her body and ending up brainless.
That sort of thing could not be called flexible.
As expected, excessive muscles reduce flexibility.
Let’s just cleanly put 1 point into each of them.
「Stats: Strength 2, Agility 2, Stamina 2, Divinity 2 (Remaining Points: 1)」
Perfect balance.
An all-rounder who can flexibly handle any situation.
This is the path a maid ought to pursue.
If the Tower had read my thoughts, it would probably be sending me a message right about now.
You are a model maid.
I think so too. Thank you.
Since I had assigned my stats, it was time to feel the difference.
The difference between 1 and 2 was a full twofold.
And since Strength was not the only thing that determined the power of a technique, I must have become at least three times stronger.
My absurdly strengthened hand blade struck the max-level tree.
Kwa-kwa-kwaang. With an incredible roar, the max-level tree shattered, the rest floor split apart, and the Tower collapsed.
“Hing-ing-ing.”
Correction. What shattered was my hand.
It seemed the healing art hadn’t worked properly after all.
This was definitely a broken bone.
As a feeble human who had dared try to defeat Lord Tree, I had to accept my punishment.
First, I apologized to Lord Tree.
“I’m sorry... I’m sooorry...”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm looks restless.]
[The Sage of the Star Library’s hands tremble.]
But I am Han Yuyeon. An authority on flexible transitions.
At that very moment, an incredible inspiration came to me.
“Watcher of the Sword Realm. You said you used a fish as a substitute for a letter because of restrictions, right?”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm nods.]
“By any chance, when the Constellations bestow grace upon me, can you only send down ‘food’?”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm nods.]
“Then could you perhaps give me a fish with a sharp bill? Something similar would be fine too.”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm is impressed.]
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm bestows grace upon you.]
He realized what I was trying to do.
Thud—a fish resembling a marlin fell before my eyes.
I worked hard to lift the fish, which was easily over 3 meters long, into my arms.
“Hello. I’m Han Yuyeon.”
And then, I swung it at the tree with all my might.
Slice—!
It would have been nice if, with that perfect vertical strike, the tree had collapsed, the rest floor had been torn apart, and the Tower had been destroyed.
“So close.”
It was just a little lacking, so it didn’t work. If I’d done well, I could have destroyed the Tower.
The tiny bit of consideration in my heart that said I should preserve the rest floor had reduced the power of the technique.
On top of that, it seemed the max-level tree’s class must be Guardian.
To think it only got scratched even after taking a maid’s blow.
Was this the true potential of the strongest being on the 1st floor?
But there was one thing the max-level tree had overlooked.
Thanks to my skill, I could fight all day without getting tired.
Chak— chak—
After diligently cutting at the same spot over and over, I proudly shouted.
“Watcher of the Sword Realm. Do you have a fish shaped like an axe?”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm shakes his head.]
“Hing-ing-ing.”
I should have invested everything into Strength.
The battle between the maid and the max-level tree continued for a long time...
***
Declaration. The battle between humanity and trees ended in humanity’s victory.
It was not easy. It is believed that victory would not have been possible without humanity’s strongest maid.
At last, humanity’s strongest maid, who had felled dozens of trees, struck a victory pose.
“VV.”
It was Maid’s Grace Double Peace.
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm looks on with satisfaction.]
[The Sage of the Star Library looks on with satisfaction.]
The effect was tremendous. Now, let’s get back to what I was supposed to do.
But what was I supposed to do again? Why was I cutting down trees?
Standing before the fallen trees, I tried to remember what I needed to do.
Suddenly, I wanted to build a house.
“I’m going to become a master builder.”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm expresses doubt.]
[The Sage of the Star Library cheers you on.]
First, I cleaned up the small branches.
The defensive power of the small branches was pathetic, so they were taken care of at the maid-chop level.
Then I used vines to bind the logs together and laid them on the ground.
Raft complete. Now even the sea cannot stop me.
Tremble in fear, fish.
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm bestows grace upon you.]
Thud—! The fish that fell trembled.
- When are you making the wooden sword?
“Just a moment. This is a very important part.”
Midway inspection.
In my head, I sketched out the rough blueprint for owning my own home.
To start, should I settle for a modest 42-story mansion?
The windows go here. The roof shape goes like this.
Ah, it’d be nice to have a basement too. I want to try farming in the basement.
And the kitchen has to be spacious.
Guests might come, so I should prepare a large dining table too.
After preparing a delicious meal, I’ll serve them with the full maid course.
A perfect blueprint had been drawn.
“I give up.”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm expresses doubt.]
“The only materials I have are max-level trees.”
But I am Han Yuyeon. An authority on flexible compromise.
Since it’s come to this, I’ll build a structure for the Constellation.
Tap-tap, thump-thump.
No such sound rang out. Of course not. I didn’t have a hammer.
All I had were a flexible maid, trees, fish, vines, and the Constellations.
“Tap-tap, thump-thump.”
I bound the trees with vines and completed a square structure.
If I covered it with a roof as it was, it would become a fairly decent house, but what I wanted was not a house.
I built supports, stacked another layer of the structure extending to both sides, then covered it inward again while reinforcing the supports once more.
Feeling the need for more Strength, I had no choice but to invest my remaining point into Strength.
Now that the balance of my stats had been broken, I felt as though my thoughts had become rigid.
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm makes a puzzled expression.]
Let’s focus. This is where it gets important.
With a momentum that seemed to pierce the sky, I diligently stacked the trees upward.
The higher it got, the harder it became to raise the trees.
Because I lacked materials to tie the frame tightly together, it was so precarious that it seemed like it would collapse if I slipped even a little.
I had no choice but to build construction supports beside it again.
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm recommends that you rest.]
“I’m fine.”
Maid’s Grace was incredible.
Even without resting, it felt like my condition remained at its peak.
How much time had passed?
After I ran out of trees, gathered more, and repeated stacking them toward even higher places.
At last, the Constellation realized my intent.
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm covers his mouth.]
[The Sage of the Star Library is impressed.]
That’s right. What I had made was a “giant wooden sword.”
This enormous sword, made by binding max-level trees together, would tear the sky and split the sea.
Han Yuyeon said that the name of this sword was Woodcalibur.
“It’s my feelings, Constellation.”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm is deeply moved.]
The star in the sky sparkled fiercely.
A bit excessively.
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm bestows grace upon you.]
Thud—!
The fish that fell had words carved into it again.
- If there is a strongest wooden sword in the world, it would be this sword.
- Please call me Father.
“Ing.”
Father.
For me, who had never known even the existence of my parents in both my past and present lives, it was a terribly unfamiliar pronunciation.
So I was curious. What does it feel like to have a father?
Looking up at the sky, I spoke it aloud for now.
“Father?”
Then, the star in the sky sparkled like mad.
***
Welcome to Woodcalibur.
It was a structure shaped like a giant sword, but if I attached a door, I could count it as a house.
If I divided it into floors, it could probably be divided up to 10 floors.
My ability to utilize space frightens me anew.
“Father. I’m going to become a master swordsman.”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm affirms your will.]
“How much time would I need to learn your swordsmanship, Father?”
Thud—!
I read the fish letter that had fallen.
- With your talent, it would take about 100 years.
“Hmm. 100 years, huh.”
I sprang to my feet.
If I had to train for 100 years, there was no time to waste.
“Sage of the Star Library. I’m going to become a master of magic.”
[The Sage of the Star Library expresses doubt.]
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm expresses doubt.]
“Please teach me magic.”
[The Sage of the Star Library opens his eyes wide.]
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm opens his eyes wide.]
“You both have the exact same reaction.”
Thud—! The words on the fish that fell were messy.
- Daughter. Could it be that you intend to give up the sword?
“100 years is too long.”
[The Sage of the Star Library bestows grace upon you.]
Rustle—this time, a giant leaf fell.
There were words carved into the leaf too.
The handwriting likewise looked as though it had been hastily scrawled.
- If you call me Grandfather, I shall teach you.
“Ing.”
Grandfather.
What is a grandfather?
It means the father of one’s father.
Which means, in other words.
“Watcher of the Sword Realm, were you the son of the Sage of the Star Library?”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm is aghast.]
[The Sage of the Star Library shudders and denies it.]
“Oh dear. It seems you were a family that didn’t get along. Families shouldn’t fight. I don’t like broken families.”
Thud—! I checked the fish that fell.
The letters were large, so the sentence was cut off.
- No, daughter. I am a Wa
“Father. Please write the letters a bit smaller.”
- tcher created in the Sword Realm. The Sage of the Star Library cannot cre
“Even in the middle of this, you always put periods properly.”
- ate me. Magic-users cannot even set foot in the Sword Realm.
“Gasp. Is that occupational discrimination? I don’t like occupational discrimination.”
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm swallows a groan.]
A brief silence passed, and then another fish fell.
This time, the letters had become smaller.
- They do not. “Magic-users” is an affectionate term for mages in the Sword Realm, not an expression meant for discrimination.
And daughter, learning magic would take 1000 years.
“That’s what he says, Sage.”
Rustle—this time, it was the Sage’s turn.
A leaf fell, and I confirmed the message written in neat, orderly handwriting.
- I can do it in 10 years.
“That’s what he says, Watcher. I’m going to become a master of magic.”
- I beg you, please call me Grandfather.
“Grandfather?”
[The Sage of the Star Library cheers.]
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm expresses rage.]
Hmm. Light is leaking in through the ceiling.
The gaps are bigger than I thought.
The twinkling, blinking starlight stands out.
As I watched the starlight, a fish fell.
- I can do it in 5 years.
“Ing. You said it would take 100 years.”
- We shall go with intensive education.
“That’s what he says, Sage. I’m going to become a master swordsman.”
[The Sage of the Star Library raises his staff.]
[The Watcher of the Sword Realm readjusts his grip on his sword.]
Huh. The starlight is kind of fascinating.
When I went outside Woodcalibur and looked up at the sky, the stars were shooting clusters of light at one another.
“Watcher. Sage. Look at that. It’s so pretty.”
No answer came back.
Are they busy? Well, since he reduced 100 years’ worth of training to 5 years, he’d have to establish the theory.
It’s a shame, but I suppose I have no choice but to watch it by myself. This must be a scene you can only see in the Tower.
Since I’m here anyway, it’d be a loss not to enjoy it.
“VV...”
I lay down on the ground and performed Maid’s Grace Double Peace.
As I lay there, I somehow felt like sleeping.
“vvV...”
Even if my condition stayed at its peak, I still wanted to sleep.