Chapter 4 - The Max-Level Tree Falls Before the Maid's Hand Blade

"Hoo... Hooo..."

I crouched in front of the defeated tree, rubbing my aching hand vigorously. This was the power of the new Healing Art I'd just learned. It already felt completely better.

"I've already used it, but you must have missed it. This is how a maid's Healing Art works."

Anyway, after facing off against this one-of-a-kind formidable foe of a tree, I felt like it was time to boost my stats.

I'd cleared the side objective too, earning 5 ability points. How should I spend them? Even with just 1 Strength, I was pretty strong—maybe dump them all into Strength and evolve into a muscle maid?

"Hmm."

I imagined it for a moment. Han Yuyeon as a muscle maid.

—Why use your head? Are you weak or something?

I pictured myself solving most problems with brute force, turning into a total meathead. That wasn't flexible at all. Too much muscle must kill flexibility. Better to spread them out evenly, one point each.

Perfect balance. A jack-of-all-trades, ready for any situation with flexibility. This is the path a maid should follow.

If the Tower had read my thoughts, it'd probably send a message right now: You are a model maid. I agree. Thank you.

Now that I'd allocated my points, time to test the difference. The gap between 1 and 2 was a full double. And since Strength wasn't the only factor in skill power, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had to be at least three times stronger now.

My ridiculously empowered hand blade slammed into the max-level tree.

Kaboom!

With a massive roar, the max-level tree shattered, the rest layer cracked, and the Tower collapsed.

"Eek!"

Correction. What shattered was my hand.

Guess the Healing Art hadn't taken hold properly. This was definitely a broken bone. A frail human like me deserved this punishment for challenging Tree-nim.

First, I apologized to Tree-nim.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorryyy..."

But I, Han Yuyeon, authority on flexible pivots. A brilliant inspiration had just struck.

"Guardian of the Sword Realm, you said using fish as letters was due to restrictions, right?"

"Can Constellations only send me 'food' as blessings?"

"Then, could you send a fish with a sharp beak? Something similar is fine."

You've caught on to what I'm planning. Thud! A swordfish-like fish dropped right in front of me. I hoisted up the thing that had to be over 3 meters long.

"Hello. I'm Han Yuyeon."

Then, with all my might, I swung it at the tree.

Slash!

A perfect vertical strike. I wished it would cleave the tree, tear the rest layer, and shatter the Tower.

"Caw."

It fell just a tiny bit short. If I'd done it right, I could've wrecked the Tower. That sliver of concern for preserving the rest layer must've weakened the strike. Plus, the max-level tree's class was probably Guardian or something. Barely a scratch from a maid's blow. This was the might of the 1st floor's strongest.

But the max-level tree overlooked one thing. Thanks to my skills, I never tire—I could fight all day.

Slash—slash—

After diligently targeting the same spot over and over, I proudly declared:

"Guardian of the Sword Realm, got any fish that looks like an axe?"

"Eek."

Should've dumped everything into Strength. The battle between the maid and the max-level tree dragged on for a long time...

Declaration. Humanity triumphs over the trees.

It was no easy feat. Without humanity's strongest maid, victory would have been impossible.

At last, after felling dozens of trees, humanity's strongest maid struck a victory pose.

"VV."

Maid's Grace double peace sign.

The effect was tremendous. Now, back to business. But what was it again? Why was I chopping trees?

I pondered in front of the fallen tree, trying to recall my task. Suddenly, I wanted to build a house.

"I'm going to become an architecture master."

First, I cleared the twigs. Their defense was pathetic, so the maid-hand blade handled them fine. Then I wove the trunks into logs and laid them flat. Raft complete. No ocean could stop me now. Tremble in fear, fishies.

Thud! The dropped fish quivered.

"Just a moment. This is a very important part right now."

Mid-check. I sketched the blueprint for my home in my head. For now, a modest 42-story mansion would do. Windows here. Roof like this. Oh, a basement would be nice too. I'd farm down there. And the kitchen needs to be huge. Guests might come, so a big dining table. Serve a delicious meal, then the full maid course. Perfect blueprint.

"Abandon."

"I only have max-level tree materials."

But I, Han Yuyeon, authority on flexible compromises. If that's how it is, I'll build for the Constellations.

No tap-tap sounds came, of course. No hammer. All I had was a flexible maid, trees, fish, branches, and the Constellations.

"Tap-tap."

I wove trees with branches into a square frame. Slap a roof on, and it'd be a decent house—but I didn't want a house. I extended supports sideways, stacked another layer, covered inward, reinforced supports again. Sensing I needed more Strength, I reluctantly invested my last point there. The balance broke, and my thinking felt stiff.

Focus. This was the crucial part. With sky-piercing vigor, I stacked trees higher and higher. The taller it got, the harder it was to lift them. Lacking materials to bind the frame solidly, it wobbled precariously at the slightest nudge. I had to stack side supports again.

"I'm fine."

Maid's Grace was incredible. Even without rest, peak condition held steady. How much time passed? I fetched more trees when they ran out, stacking ever higher. Finally, the Constellation caught on.

That's right. What I'd built was a "giant wooden sword". Woven from max-level trees, this massive blade could tear the heavens and part the seas.

Han Yuyeon named it Tree Calibur.

"It's from my heart, Constellation-nim."

The stars above twinkled wildly. A bit too much.

Thud! Words were engraved on the fallen fish.

"Huh."

Father, huh. Awkward for someone like me, who never knew parents in my past or current life. I wondered what having a father felt like. Gazing at the sky, I tried saying it aloud.

"Father?"

The stars above twinkled like mad.

Welcome to Tree Calibur.

It was a giant sword-shaped structure, but add a door and you could call it a house. Divide the levels, and it'd go up to 10 stories. My spatial utilization skills were terrifying even to me.

"Father. I'm going to become a swordsmanship master."

"How long would it take for me to learn your swordsmanship, Father?"

Thud! I read the fish letter.

"Hmm. 100 years."

I shot to my feet. No time to waste if it took 100 years of training.

"Sage of the Star Library. I'm going to become a magic master."

"Teach me magic."

"You two have the exact same reaction."

Thud! The fish's text was messy.

"100 years is too long."

Rustle— This time, a massive leaf fell. Words were inscribed on it too, in hastily scribbled script.

"Huh."

Grandpa. What even was that? Father's father. Which means...

"So Guardian of the Sword Realm is Sage of the Star Library's son?"

"Oh dear. Must've been a rocky family. No fighting among family. I hate dysfunctional homes."

Thud! I checked the fallen fish. Big letters, broken sentences.

"Father, write smaller, please."

"And yet the periods are always perfect."

"Gasp. Job discrimination? I hate job discrimination."

A brief silence, then another fish fell. Smaller text this time.

"That's what he says, Sage-nim."

Rustle— Sage-nim's turn. A leaf fell, with neat, orderly script.

"That's what they say, Guardian-nim. I'm going to become a magic master."

"Grandpa?"

Hmm. Light leaking from the ceiling. The gaps are bigger than I thought. Twinkling starlight stands out nicely. While admiring the starlight, a fish fell.

"Huh? You said 100 years."

"That's what he says. Sage-nim, I'm going to become a swordsmanship master."

Huh. The starlight's kinda magical. I stepped out of Tree Calibur and looked up. Stars were shooting beams at each other.

"Guardian-nim, Sage-nim, look at that. So pretty."

No reply. Must be busy. Makes sense—they're condensing 100 years of training into 5, so theory-building time. Too bad, but I'll enjoy it alone. A Tower-exclusive view like this would be a shame to miss.

"VV..."

I lay on the ground in Maid's Grace double peace pose. Lying down made me sleepy.

"vvV..."

Even with peak condition forever, sleep still called.