Analysis Impossible

The next day, Alex stood before the sacred tree once again. Unlike when he first arrived here the previous day, today his hands held several sheets of recording paper, a measurement crystal orb, and small silver needles for simply marking the flow of magic power. Of course, the first thing he did was ask Luiana for permission.

"Lady Luiana. If possible, may I investigate the sacred tree's magic flow a little more?" Alex asked with utmost politeness. He remembered exactly what sentence he had written in the draft of his report yesterday. Analysis impossible. Absolutely. He had been the one to write those words. But a mage's curiosity usually had the nature of ignoring their own warning labels first. Alex was no exception.

He had barely slept all night. Whenever he closed his eyes, the precise lines of magic power flowing through the sacred tree rose in his mind. He simply could not pretend not to know about it.

Luiana gazed at him for a moment. Then she nodded indifferently.

"Go ahead."

"Thank you. I promise I won't approach it in any way that burdens the sacred tree. I'll only check the external flows..."

"Yeah."

The permission came easily. Alex felt relieved, yet tense at the same time. The fact that Luiana had granted it so readily might mean there was nothing he could actually interfere with. The thought made his fingertips tremble slightly. Still, he was from the Magic Tower. While not a high-ranking mage, he possessed the skill to have received formal training at the Elf Coalition branch Magic Tower and to be dispatched as a field investigator. Reading magic flows, deconstructing structures, and classifying them according to existing theories—he was confident in those tasks. At least until a few moments ago.

Alex sat down at a certain distance from the sacred tree. He placed the measurement crystal orb in front of him and arranged the silver needles in a semicircle. Rather than piercing or touching the sacred tree directly, the method involved capturing the traces of magic power leaking outward with the needles to read the flow. It was the safest and most basic investigation technique.

"First, the external circulation. Natural magic inflow volume, surface emission volume, internal recirculation ratio..."

Alex muttered as he poured magic power into the crystal orb. A single pale green line appeared inside the clear orb. At first it was thin. Then it split into two. Then four. Eight. Sixteen. Alex's hand stopped.

"...Already?"

He had only skimmed the surface of the sacred tree. Yet the orb was already filled with lines branching out as intricately as tiny tree roots. The problem was that they were not merely complex. They were intricate without becoming disordered, precise without any blockages. The flows of magic power did not interfere with one another; instead, they complemented each other as they moved.

Alex hurriedly checked his recording papers. He compared the countless theories he knew against what he was seeing. Existing magic circulation theory. Elf-style natural resonance theory. Human Empire-style magitech circuit theory. Spirit-mediated circulation model. Biotic magic dispersion model. None of them matched properly. There were partial similarities. But the moment he thought something resembled a theory, the next flow would twist in a different direction as if mocking the existing framework.

"If viewed as a storage organ... no, because inflow and emission occur simultaneously. A circulation organ? No, because there's something close to calculation and alignment in the middle. Conversion? Why does stabilization come before conversion? Then is this a safety mechanism? No, why would a safety mechanism amplify the flow?"

His words grew ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠faster and faster. The lines inside the crystal orb multiplied as well. Alex had not even looked deeper into the sacred tree. He was merely reading the surface of the flows leaking outward. Yet even that surface could not be explained by any common sense he knew. None of the foundational theories matched properly. Calling it innovative was not enough. It felt more like he was looking at a technology for which the theory itself did not yet exist.

Alex took a step back. Or rather, he tried to. But his legs did not obey as well as he expected. His heel caught on a small stone, and he collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

"Ah."

A short sigh escaped him. After that, no words came. Alex stared blankly back and forth between the crystal orb and the sacred tree. The pale green lines inside the orb continued to move beautifully. But now that beauty felt like fear.

Luiana watched the scene from a short distance away. At first, because Alex's face looked so serious, she thought he was doing something truly important. But as time passed, her expression grew subtle. She felt exactly like a homeowner waiting for someone who had come to inspect the water purifier. It was her house, her belongings, and nothing was broken, yet an expert had arrived with a grave face and was examining everything. It felt awkward to leave, but standing there watching made her feel like she had nothing to do.

Luiana glanced up at her sacred tree for a moment. It looked no different from usual. The magic power circulated well. The flow was stable. There seemed to be no problems at all. That only made it more awkward.

If Alex had known Luiana's inner thoughts, he would have found them absurd. But he had no way of knowing. With a confused expression, he slowly turned to look at her. His eyes asked: Is this truly ordinary to you? Is this structure really something permitted to a living being? Just how did you carve such a precise circuit into a living sacred tree?

Luiana could not quite interpret that gaze. She was simply bothered by the fact that he was sitting on the ground. She approached and held out her hand.

"Are you okay?"

Alex stared at the hand blankly. Then he reflexively grabbed it and stood up.

"I'm... fine. Probably."

"Probably?"

"Lady Luiana." Alex asked with a serious face. "Just what is the purpose of this structure?"

"What is?"

"The structure inside the sacred tree. Is it a defensive facility? A magitech relay? Or... something close to an artificial life form? It stores natural magic power while amplifying it, amplifies it while stabilizing it, and stabilizes it while interfering with external flows again. This cannot be seen as simple biotic magic circulation. Yet calling it a facility doesn't fit either, since it is completely integrated with the sacred tree. What exactly was it designed to achieve?"

Luiana thought for a moment. Then she answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"It's my body."

Alex closed his mouth. That single sentence blocked all further questions. It was not a defensive facility, not a relay, not an artificial life form. Luiana's answer was that it was her own body. Of course, a Dryad's companion tree could be considered part of the Dryad. Alex knew that too. But normally, no one carved a magic structure more precise than a city defense system into their own body.

Not knowing how to explain that fact, Alex looked at the sacred tree again. Luiana watched him for a moment, then turned away.

"Then keep looking."

"Yes? Ah, yes. Thank you."

Alex bowed his head in a daze. Luiana decided not to disturb him any further. More precisely, she judged that even if she stayed, there was nothing she could do. So she headed toward a quiet clearing near the village. It was not far from the sacred tree but slightly removed from the village houses. It was also different from the front yard of the nursery where she taught the children. Trees stood in a circle around it, and the ground was relatively flat. It was a good place for Luiana to swing her sword alone.

She took her position as usual. She drew the sword from her waist and lightly loosened her wrist. Her previous life's body and her current one were different. The sensations of moving with human muscle and bone had vanished. Now her body, closer to the flow of magic power itself, moved the sword. She still could not say she was completely used to it. That was why training was necessary. No—even if she were used to it, training would still be necessary. Once she held a sword, that was only natural.

Luiana extremely suppressed the output of the Cartein-style Magic System. She did so to avoid affecting the village. Instead, she raised only its precision. Not wild power, but a sensation like threading a single strand through the eye of a needle. She gathered the vast flow into a single point at the tip of her sword, scattered it again, then caught it once more.

The sword moved. At first slowly, so quietly it did not even push the air aside. When the tip cut through the empty space, a very thin line of magic power remained. It soon vanished. The next line followed. It vanished, continued, and vanished again. From the outside, it looked closer to a quiet sword dance. There was no loud sound, no splitting of the earth, no trees being cut, no explosion of air.

But anyone who knew the sword would have seen it differently. That silence was not due to a lack of power, but because the power was completely controlled. Each sword path remained unperturbed, and even the gaps between movement and stopping were arranged as if intentional.

At some point, Luiana sensed a presence within her perception. She did not stop her sword. She did not turn her head. Since the presence was not particularly trying to hide, it did not seem like someone spying. Luiana naturally let her gaze brush over in the moment her body turned.

It was Seris. She stood at the edge of the clearing in her leather armor. Her hand rested near the longsword at her waist, but she showed no sign of drawing it. She was simply watching. Her eyes were shaking rapidly. They were the eyes of someone who had discovered something tremendous.

Luiana left Seris alone. There was no particular reason to chase her away. Others might think differently, but in Luiana's opinion, swordsmanship was not a secret that needed to be hidden. Swordsmanship was something to be seen, learned, clashed with, and developed. A sword clutched alone would eventually grow old with its owner. But a sword that touched another's hand would stretch in new directions. Luiana liked that. In her previous life, she had never been stingy with what she had realized. She had taught many people. They swung their swords in ways different from her own, and she had been delighted whenever they found paths she had never imagined. Because she simply loved swordsmanship itself.

So if Seris could gain something from her sword paths, that was a good thing too. Thinking that, Luiana continued swinging her sword.

The training continued for about an hour. The final sword path was drawn in the air, and the pale green line slowly disappeared. Luiana lowered her sword. But Seris still could not move. She stood there like a stone statue, completely entranced. She did not even seem to realize that Luiana was no longer holding her sword.

"Seris."

Luiana called out. Only then did Seris's shoulders flinch, and she blinked as if coming to her senses. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly walked into the clearing. Her steps were cautious, but her eyes were determined. When she reached Luiana, Seris knelt.

"The sword technique just now—might I have the opportunity to see it again?"

Luiana let out a small laugh.

"Just going to watch and stop there?"

Seris could not answer immediately. She remained silent for a moment, as if trying to understand the meaning behind the words. But it did not take long. She raised her head and spoke.

"If possible, I would like to learn it."

Luiana liked that answer. She had hesitated but had not backed down. She had not stopped at wanting to see it but had spoken of wanting to learn it. Someone who held a sword should have at least that much greed.

"Good."

Luiana nodded.

"Come to this place at this time every day."

Seris's eyes widened slightly. She looked surprised that permission had been granted more easily than she expected.

"Thank you."

It was a short answer. But her voice clearly carried heat. Seris stood up and bowed deeply. Before turning away, she showed a faint smile for the first time instead of her usual expressionless face. It was a smile of relief. Her footsteps were a little lighter than when she had arrived.

Luiana watched her retreating figure. She had had many disciples in her previous life as well. She had believed that teaching many people meant extending branches of possibility. Some branches broke early, while others grew twisted. But occasionally one would stretch in a direction even she had not anticipated. Luiana liked those moments. Even after reincarnating as the unfamiliar race known as a Dryad, that thought would not change. She still loved swordsmanship. And good things were more fun when shared.

Meanwhile, Alex had barely regained his composure. He began writing the report that was his true duty. The recording papers already exceeded several sheets. The handwriting shook in places, and one line had been pressed with so much force that the paper was slightly torn. But he did not stop. As an investigator and a mage from the Magic Tower, he had to record what he had seen. No matter how absurd the content was.

A short while later, Alex looked down at the completed report. Even though he had written it himself, a sigh escaped him. The contents included the fact that the sword-loving Dryad was teaching the children flow control through wooden swords. The fact that an ultra-high-density magic system of overtechnology level—something the Empire's capital defense system could not even compare to—was engraved in the sacred tree. And the support request list, which contained an excessive volume of supplies for what was supposed to be an ordinary new elf village: additional tools, additional barrier stones, basic magic textbooks, swordsmanship textbooks, magic measurement tools, and one longsword. Preferably a sturdy one.

Alex stared at the final item for a long time. That item was something Luiana had casually asked about yesterday.

"Can you add a sword to the support list too?"

At the time, Alex had answered yes without thinking. More precisely, he had missed the chance to say no. Luiana had asked so naturally, and Seris had given a tiny nod beside her. As a result, one longsword had proudly made its way into the support request section of the report.

For reference, he had written this note next to the item: At the aggressive request of the Dryad. It looked a bit childish once written, but he did not erase it. There was a high chance the Coalition Headquarters would not pay it any mind anyway. Even so, it was a small act of revenge. After having the tools and barrier stones taken from him yesterday, Alex felt he at least had that right.

Alex neatly organized the report and prepared the messenger spell. When he placed the report on the small circular formation drawn in silver ink, a faint light began to seep from the edges of the paper. It rose once, then the letters unraveled into thin strands of light, coiled round in the air, and soon flowed far away along the veins of the forest. It was the messenger spell heading for the Elf Coalition Headquarters.

Alex remained seated until the light completely disappeared. Then he quietly muttered.

"Whoever reads it first, I hope they're a calm person."

That wish was only half fulfilled. Not long after, an emergency meeting was convened at the Elf Coalition Headquarters. The conference room held the Coalition's high-ranking elves, the Coalition Leader, and Elysia, the Dryad of the headquarters. The atmosphere was less serious and more awkward. It felt less like someone had reported critical information and more like a strange document had arrived to test the readers' common sense.

The Coalition Leader flipped through the report once more. She read the letters silently for a long time before finally rubbing her forehead as if she had a headache.

"So. It says the newly born Dryad enjoys swordsmanship."

One of the high-ranking elves answered cautiously.

"Yes. It is written as 'swordsmanship preference.'"

"And that she is conducting flow control education for the children using wooden swords."

"Yes. That part is also written."

"Inside the sacred tree exists an unanalyzable ultra-high-density magic circulation structure. Absolutely."

The Coalition Leader read the last two words again.

"Absolutely?"

A brief silence fell over the conference room. Another high-ranking elf spoke up awkwardly.

"Is Investigator Alex usually a bit excessive in his expressions?"

Yet another elf answered.

"He is diligent. However, it cannot be said that he is entirely free of exaggeration..."

"Is it possible he overworked himself?"

"New village investigators often overwork themselves."

"Is it possible he became intoxicated by the newly born Dryad's magic power?"

"That is not entirely impossible."

At those words, Elysia, who sat at the head of the room, smiled quietly. The smile was gentle. But everyone's eyes naturally turned toward her. She lightly brushed the magic wavelength record attached to the report with her fingertips. A soft light rose above the paper. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠It was the trace of magic power that had flowed from Luiana's sacred tree.

"It does seem the sentences were written while overworked," Elysia said. "But they do not appear to be false."

The conference room fell quiet again. The high-ranking elves looked at one another. The absurdity of the report's contents had not changed, but if the Dryad Elysia said so, they could not ignore it. Moreover, the attached magic wavelength record was excessively clear. Its source, intensity, and stability did not contradict the report. If anything, the report's sentences now seemed to have been written as politely as possible.

"Then we should send additional personnel to confirm the sacred tree's condition," ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Coalition Leader said. "Would personnel from the branch Magic Tower be sufficient?"

"For now, sending personnel from the branch Magic Tower is appropriate. If a large group moves from headquarters, it will burden the new village. We will frame it as support for stabilizing the new village and confirming the sacred tree's condition."

"What about the support supplies?"

"We will send them. The requested items will be approved first. Add extra barrier stones and include the magic measurement tools. Basic magic textbooks will be needed as well."

"Including the swordsmanship textbooks?"

At that question, everyone's eyes in the conference room turned back to the report. Under normal circumstances, criticism would have begun with the excessive volume of supplies. The number of tools was too high for new village support, and the barrier stone request was quite generous. But because the preceding content had been so unbelievable, the supply issue had been buried for a while. A sword-loving Dryad. An unanalyzable sacred tree. Wooden sword education for children. In front of those points, a few extra sets of tools felt like an ordinary matter.

However, once the meeting calmed a little, the support supply list finally came into proper view for everyone. Additional tools. Additional barrier stones. Magic measurement tools. Swordsmanship textbooks. And at the very bottom: one longsword. Strong request from the Dryad.

The air in the conference room paused strangely. One high-ranking elf spoke cautiously.

"We are sending a longsword to the Dryad?"

No one answered immediately. Elysia looked at the report, then smiled very faintly. The smile contained both awkwardness and curiosity.

"Send it."

"The swordsmanship textbooks as well?"

"Send those too."

"To the Dryad?"

Elysia tilted her head slightly.

"No. Probably to the elves who will learn from her."

Silence fell over the conference room once more. The words were gentle, but the content remained strange. In a meeting for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠supporting a new village, they were discussing textbooks for a Dryad's swordsmanship disciples. One high-ranking elf who realized this fact muttered cautiously.

"This is still new village support, right?"

No one could answer right away.