New Enemy: ????(1)

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IT'S... EVERYWHERE... EVERY CREVICE... EVERY CORNER... EVERYWHERE YOU CAN THINK OF

Currently, Artin and Bella are facing their greatest enemy.

Dust 

Thanks to the support of Merry, forcing her husband, Vulwin, they obtain jobs at his small store, called 'Old Roots.' Artin received a daily wage of 14 copper coins, while Bella's earnings were 8 copper coins, as a portion of her pay went towards settling a debt of 14 silver coins and 53 copper coins owed to Merry. Despite their relatively low salaries, falling below the average range of 23-30ish copper coins, they were granted free accommodation on the store's second floor, which included the convenience of running water.

Their first assignment involved the thorough dusting of the entire store, which posed a challenge due to the numerous layers of accumulated dust. Fortunately, the store's compact size allowed them to employ magic for a more efficient cleaning process.

Bella, unfortunately, lacked knowledge of spells that could aid in the cleaning process, and her struggle extended to controlling her magic externally. On the other hand, Artin faced a different challenge – she couldn't tap into her own magic. Attempts to draw mana from her core risked causing further damage. In the past, when the humans captured her, they employed items to temporarily seal their cores, a measure that, albeit effective, inflicted damage upon their cores.

Once a person's magic core was destroyed, the ability to store magic became permanently lost. The only recourse left was to borrow magic from other cores that retained mana. However, this practice had its drawbacks; while mana naturally absorbed from the environment was considered 'pure' and 'harmless' to the body, depending on where the mana was absorbed, extracting it from other cores came with inherent risks and potential harm.

The risk that came from borrowing magic from other cores lies in the inherent nature of mana absorption. Creatures that absorbed mana naturally filtered impurities and elements into the mana during the process. Using cores obtained from beasts meant incorporating these impurities into the magic. When individuals utilized such cores and transferred the mana from them to their bodies, it introduced these impurities, posing potential harm to those who absorbed it.

The risks associated with impurities in mana could be mitigated through careful refinement of the mana inside the core or by attempting to filter out these poisons gathered in their body using herbs or potions when using the cores. However, the time required for the refinement process varied based on the amount of mana present in the core. Depending on the specific potions and herbs employed, there was a delicate balance to strike – it wasn't always worthwhile to use substances that could potentially cause more harm than good.

Artin faced the challenge of accumulating "poisons" within her body when tapping into Alex's mana. Given the impurity level in Alex's mana, it posed a significant threat to her well-being. Fortunately, as Artin had refrained from extensively utilizing Alex's mana, she managed to avoid harm. Yet, the looming risk persisted, emphasizing the delicate balance she needed to maintain in utilizing external mana sources.

If someone were to check Alex's mana purity level, it would be at a mere 1% purity. This meant that for every 100 drops of mana he released, only one drop was truly 'usable,' while the other 99 were essentially toxic, unstable, or unusable mana. This lack of refinement severely hindered his ability to cast powerful or efficient spells, as most of his mana was practically poisonous, limiting his effectiveness and control over his abilities.

So let's just say, he wastes a looooooooooot of mana every time he uses his mana.

Continued usage of cores and the accumulation of these "poisons" posed a severe threat, leading to the gradual deterioration of a person's body. The terrible effect involved the slow decay of organs, ultimately resulting in a fatal outcome. The perilous consequences highlighted the importance of cautious and strategic use of external mana sources to safeguard one's health and longevity.

Resuming the story, Artin and Bella faced the challenge of tidying up the small store besieged by persistent dust. Lacking in magic usage, both were compelled to tackle the cleaning task through conventional means.

Armed with brooms and clothes covering their nose and mouth, they painstakingly swept the floor. The layer of dust was so substantial that there was practically an inch covering the entire surface. Bella's above-average strength unintentionally worsened the situation; each sweep of her broom sent clouds of dust into the air. Any attempts by Artin to create piles were thwarted as Bella's sweeping in her direction dispersed the accumulated dust.

Thankfully Vulwin who was in the Store storage room came out and saw that there was no progress made. 

Vulwin remarked, "You know, you ladies can employ magic to assist with the cleaning process," as he observed the lingering dust in the air that showed no signs of settling down.

The girls simply shook their heads, conveying their inability to use magic. Vulwin sighed, shook his head in understanding, and retreated into the storage room. Upon his return, he brought out a device resembling a vacuum.

"Bella, focus your mana into your hand, and the vacuum will take care of the rest," instructed Vulwin as he handed Bella a sizable red vacuum. He explained the usage to her. The red vacuum resembled a typical Earth vacuum, but instead of relying on electricity, it operated through the infusion of mana. Especially the blue mana core located on its handle.

The utilization and progress of simple runes allowed the creation of numerous appliances that enhanced daily life. As seen in earlier chapters, for instance, lamps utilizing runes could generate light solely through the injection of mana.

Household essentials like refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, lights, and various typical appliances operate through mana, thanks to the integration of runes. The significant progress in rune science owes much to the contributions of a couple of other worlders.

Due to the research and teachings of these other worlders, scholars and scientists continue to discover innovative ways to enhance life through the application of runes.

After instructing Bella on the usage of the vacuum, Vulwin left her to it and escorted Artin to the storage room. Recognizing Artin's limited mana abilities, Vulwin assigned her a straightforward task.

"Alright, Artin, considering your mana limitations due to your core, I'll assign you another task. Take a look at all these boxes. Your job is to empty them and give everything a swift clean. Use these rags and do a quick wipe-down on everything. And be careful, some of these stuff are still pretty sharp" Vulwin instructed, leaving the storage room after giving Artin her task.

Artin sighed, examining the storage room more closely. Wooden shelves adorned the walls, covered in cobwebs and dust, showcasing the remnants of an elven arsenal that had long gone untouched. Elven blades, bows, swords, staffs, and various other weapons lay scattered about.

In addition to the weaponry, there were around 30 wooden boxes, some containing old and either rusted or broken weapons. A few of these boxes still contained ingots commonly used for smithing. While Artin sifted through each box, she discovered an old broken furnace hidden behind some stacked boxes.

Artin carefully shifted the heavy wooden boxes, revealing a path to the dormant furnace that lay before her. The room echoed with a sense of abandonment, as dust particles danced in the air, disturbed by the movement. As she approached the lifeless structure, Artin couldn't help but feel a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

The furnace, which should have been a vibrant hub of warmth and activity, now stood silent and gray. Its surface was marred by time, bearing the scars of countless years in neglect. Cracks snaked across its form, reminiscent of the passage of time, weathering the once-sturdy facade. However, despite its apparent decay, the material from which it was constructed gleamed with an otherworldly quality.

The metal surface of the furnace was covered in mysterious runes, etched intricately into the material. They glowed faintly as if retaining a residual magic from days long past. Each symbol told a story, a narrative of forgotten enchantments and the purpose this furnace once served. Artin couldn't help but be drawn to the mystique of the runic patterns.

Artin couldn't help but think about her brother Alred, who had a deep passion for runes and aspired to become a runemaster, would have relished the opportunity to study these particular runes.

As Artin extended her hand toward the broken furnace, a sudden grip on her shoulder yanked her back. It was Vulwin, who had returned to the storage room to fetch another vacuum and assist Bella with the cleaning.

"Easy there, Artin. You shouldn't touch that." Vulwin cautioned, surprising her as he swiftly pulled her away from the furnace. Artin, fueled by curiosity, inquired about the significance of the old furnace. 

"Hmm, I suppose I should fill you in on what I do and what this store sells, considering you two are going to be working here. Let me fetch Bella real quick," Vulwin said. He left Artin momentarily and returned with Bella, who was covered in dust with teary red eyes from dusting.

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thanks for reading

 fuck dust bro