"By the way," Elsa spoke up next. "Right now, we're researching why magi-craft doesn't work on living bodies, but it's proving difficult. If anyone has a hypothesis, I'd like to hear it."
At those words, looks of understanding appeared on the faces of everyone listening, as if to say, "Ah, that."
"It really is strange, isn't it?"
"Even though Healing works on living bodies."
"Hmm... That's a difficult topic."
It was hardly something that would be solved immediately, but Elsa intuitively felt that putting their heads together at this stage would not be a waste of effort.
Since everyone in the Jin Family was already thoroughly familiar with the theories proposed so far, Elsa refrained from stating the obvious.
However, it was an issue they had pondered endlessly without ever reaching a conclusion.
This time was no exception, and progress did not come easily.
Even after an hour had passed, not a single new theory had emerged.
However...
"Um, this might just be an amateur's thought, but..." Elsa's mother, Mine, spoke up timidly. "What is the actual difference between 'magi-craft' and 'Healing'? Elsa can use both, right? Um, so... well, I can't quite put it into words properly, but..."
Because Mine was unaccustomed to such academic debates, her phrasing was hesitant, but those capable of grasping her intent understood immediately.
"I see—approaching it from that angle!"
"Mm. Magi-craft doesn't work on living bodies, but Healing does. In that case, what is it between those two types of magic that creates such a difference?"
"Ah, of course!"
Jin and the other theorists realized, belatedly, the value of direct comparison.
As it was already growing late that day, Elsa and the others decided to use this hint to take another approach the following morning.
"For the sake of comparison, I think we should pick spells from magi-craft and Healing that share similar effects."
"Yes, that sounds like a good idea."
"I think so too. But is there such a spell?"
The group consisted of Elsa, Lishia, and Hanna.
"Mm. There is 'Narkose'."
"That's the spell that administers anesthesia, right?"
"This is the first time I've heard of it..."
"The other day, during the rescue operation for the cave-in accident in the Shouro Empire, I wanted a spell that could induce unconsciousness rather than using 'Stun,' so I developed it after returning."
"You created it...? As expected of you, Elsa-san."
"That's amazing, Elsa-onee-chan."
At any rate, with this, they could compare the actions of Narkose and Stun.
"Stun is a spell that passes high voltage through the nervous system to paralyze via shock, right?"
"Yes. And Narkose is a spell that suppresses the faint electrical currents flowing through the nerves, dulling responses."
Here, Hanna interjected. "If you strengthen that, wouldn't it be able to halt neural activity altogether?"
"Mm."
"Eeeh! That's way too terrifying!"
"...Even as the one who made it, I agree."
In other words, it meant the function of the cranial nerves could be stopped in an instant.
"It might be best to designate it as a forbidden spell."
"Unfortunately, I think so too."
Setting that aside, the three began to ponder: what were the commonalities and differences between these two spells, both of which manipulated electrical currents?
"Stun applies electricity from the outside. But Narkose manipulates the electrical currents inside the body..." Hanna tilted her head. "It feels like there's some kind of hint in that."
"Indeed. Hmm... Narkose operates on the faint currents and voltages naturally present inside a person's body, while Stun uses a low current but high voltage... No, that's not quite it either."
Lishia pondered the matter as well, but she could not find a decisive factor.
"I wonder if it's not just a matter of intensity..." Hanna let out a sigh. "Voltage? Current? In the first place, how do you manipulate electricity?"
To Hanna's question, Elsa replied:
"I believe it involves converting magic into electric power. While it remains magic, it obeys the caster's will, but once it turns into electricity, that's no longer the case, which makes that aspect difficult."
"Ah, I think I sort of understand."
Since Hanna could not use magic, she had to rely on a general mental image.
"In other words, Healing requires finer control...?"
However, Elsa shook her head.
"Not necessarily. For example, Jin-nii can eliminate errors down to the micron unit."
The delicate adjustment of joints in Adriana-style golems and automata was only possible thanks to that exact skill.
"In that sense, it might be a matter of 'scale,'" Elsa suggested.
"Scale?"
"Mm. Magi-craft can manipulate absurdly massive structures, but Healing fundamentally targets a person's body."
"Ah, I see!...Though now I understand even less..."
Here, Lishia offered her perspective.
"Elsa-san, you can use both magi-craft and Healing. Is there anything you feel... or rather, is there any difference in the knack required to use them?"
"Hmm..."
This question seemed to hit the mark surprisingly well, and Elsa fell into deep contemplation.
"Perhaps it's 'synchronization.'"
"Synchronization?"
"Yes. Without it, there is no way one could tamper with another person's neural currents."
"Ah, that makes sense."
"That is true."
"It isn't just neural currents. Accelerating the healing of another person's body is the same."
Healing one's own body was one thing, but treating someone else was another matter entirely.
"...Indeed, 'synchronization' might very well be the answer."
Lishia thought it through carefully and agreed the possibility was high.
"In the case of magi-craft, the target material has no inherent magic pattern. Therefore, there is no need for synchronization," Elsa explained as she reasoned through the concept.
"However, in the case of a living body, it possesses its own inherent magic pattern, which means you cannot produce an effect without synchronizing first. That's what it comes down to, right?"
Lishia picked up where Elsa left off.
However, Hanna raised a counterpoint, pointing out a flaw in the theory.
"But if that's true, what about living organisms that can't use magic? Or rather, biological materials? Like wood or grass, for instance."
While this strayed slightly from the discussion of Healing, it brought them right back to the core question: why magi-craft inexplicably failed to work on living bodies.
"It seems 'synchronization' is the key, but..."
The three could not help feeling that they were just one flash of inspiration away from the truth.
"Hmm, Healing requires synchronization. Magi-craft does not. Hmm... Wait, what?"
After racking her brain, Hanna hit upon an idea for a test.
"Hey, Elsa-onee-chan, do you think you could try using magi-craft on a living body while 'synchronizing' with it?"
"Ah, that's a wonderful idea."
Lishia agreed as well.
This was an experiment that could only be asked of Elsa, who commanded both disciplines at a high level.
"Mm... Even if I try, the subject..."
"Ah, right."
They could hardly cast Forming on a human being. The three were left to ponder what would make a suitable subject and an appropriate spell to test.