Arya immediately exchanged her points for the item and began examining it carefully.
The object was roughly 1.8 meters long, slender like a pole. Its upper portion curved into a shape resembling a question mark, while the lower end spread outward like bristles.
At first glance, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary broom.
And after a closer inspection, Arya realized that it was indeed a broom.
[Magic Broom (C)]
[Energy: 0 / 1000]
[Function: Automatic Cleaning]
[Description: A magic broom that requires mana input to operate. Once activated, it performs fully automatic cleaning, freeing the user's hands and granting them more leisure time.]
See? It really was just a broom.
The only difference between this and a normal household broom was the fact that it could clean autonomously.
For someone like Arya, this was essentially an extremely convenient automatic floor sweeper.
Of course—
If that were all, she might have hesitated before choosing it.
What truly caught Arya's attention was not its cleaning function, but the fact that it required mana input. The input port was located at the curved, question-mark-shaped handle at the top.
Arya had long wanted to study her own Magic Barrier, but she lacked both the foundational knowledge and a suitable subject to experiment on.
Now, hadn't that opportunity arrived?
Although the Magic Broom was only a C-grade magic tool, compared to her Magic Barrier—which likely started at A-grade or above—this should be far easier to analyze.
At the very least, this broom definitely involved mana transmission and mana storage.
Otherwise, why would it need fresh mana input every time it was used?
Thinking of this, Arya immediately infused mana into the broom to test it.
The moment the mana entered the tool, the Magic Broom trembled slightly, then lifted itself into the air.
It floated twice as if adjusting its balance, then slowly descended to the floor.
Shh—shh—shh.
The broom began sweeping on its own.
In an instant, clouds of dust rose from the first floor of the tree-hole Shelter.
Arya stared in disbelief.
"…Good heavens. If I hadn't started cleaning, I wouldn't have realized how dirty the inside of the Shelter actually was."
She quickly retreated upstairs to the second floor.
"Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!!!"
Suddenly, frantic noises echoed from below.
Arya looked down—and burst into laughter.
Gang Emima was being swept across the floor by the Magic Broom like a piece of trash, rolling helplessly as the bristles pushed it forward.
"Pfft—!"
Arya hurriedly flew down and scooped Gang Emima up into her hand.
"Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!"
Gang Emima struggled furiously, baring its tiny teeth and letting out threatening squeaks at the Magic Broom below.
It was clearly treating the broom as a mortal enemy.
"Hm…"
Arya observed the broom's movements thoughtfully.
"This time, I input one hundred points of mana. Based on the consumption rate, it seems to use roughly one point per minute. That means a full charge of one thousand points would let it operate for nearly twelve hours."
Satisfied, Arya carried Gang Emima upstairs and left the Magic Broom to continue cleaning on its own.
In truth, Arya had another—slightly selfish—reason for choosing this item.
She was already a Witch.
Wasn't it only natural for a Witch to own a magic broom?
Of course, despite her research ambitions, Arya had no illusions about her current abilities.
Studying the Magic Broom would have to wait.
She was keenly aware of her own limitations. With her present level of knowledge, even researching a C-grade magic tool was pushing it.
Frankly speaking, she felt that if she had been given a D-grade magic tool instead, that would have been ideal.
At least then, she might have been able to make some tangible progress.
As for E-grade equipment?
Those had practically no research value at all.
Yes—this was what people called a humble brag.
She was casually dismissing D-grade tools that countless others would fight desperately to obtain.
Still, since the broom was free, she decided to keep it as a reserve.
At the very least, having an automatic cleaner while her abilities were insufficient was undeniably useful.
Just as these thoughts crossed her mind, a familiar, cold voice echoed through the world once again.
[Ding! All participants have completed their selection. Thank you for your cooperation. From this point onward, the Kalim World will follow a fixed cycle each month: seven days of Mana Turbulence, followed by three days of Mana Tide. Please make all necessary preparations.]
Arya tilted her head slightly.
"…Isn't this warning a bit late?"
She glanced at Gang Emima, who was still sulking in her palm, glaring daggers at the Magic Broom downstairs.
In truth, Arya wasn't the only one complaining.
Almost everyone who heard the announcement couldn't help but curse under their breath.
If they had been told this information a few days earlier, wouldn't they have been able to prepare more thoroughly?
Now some people had already died, others had barely endured the disasters—and now the announcement came?
What was this, if not painfully late?
However…
A dangerous alternate world operating on a thirty-day cycle, where ten days were spent sheltering indoors under forced conditions.
On second thought, this was absurdly similar to a "three days off, two days of work" schedule.
And with a guaranteed extended rest period every month?
It was practically a built-in Golden Week.
This was the kind of blessing people wouldn't even dare to dream about.
Many people actually broke down crying once they realized this.
Yes, this was an alternate world overflowing with mana.
Yes, you could lose your life in an instant if you weren't careful.
But at least the schedule was stable.
Dying was instantaneous—but 996 work culture eroded the body and mind over time.
When viewed from that perspective, didn't it sound like a curse instead?
No.
Maybe it was even crueler than a curse.
For reasons unknown, after hearing the World Will's announcement, many timid individuals who had been hesitant until now suddenly stopped being afraid.
Since they were already here, they might as well make the best of it.
They had survived two rounds of natural disasters.
They were still alive.
So the only thing left was to live properly in this world.
Just as the World Will had declared when they were first transported here—
Populate this world.
Moreover, everyone now possessed magic and Talent.
Even if not everyone had S-grade Talent, every person had at least an awakened ability.
Wasn't that enough to serve as a foundation for survival?
Didn't they see that the Witch of the Tower's Talent was only E-grade?
Was she missing limbs? Was she crippled?
If she could survive, how could they possibly be worse off?
After reaching this realization, many people made up their minds.
They decided to take advantage of the darkness and venture out in search of treasure chests, hoping to find books or tools that would help them adapt to this world more quickly.
They wanted to carve out a future for themselves.
However—
Just as they were about to act, as if sensing their thoughts, the World Will delivered a merciless blow.
[Due to the expiration of the one-month treasure chest agreement between the Kalim World Will and the Blue Star World Will, all supply treasure chest drops will cease immediately. From now on, all participants must resolve their own needs for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.]
…
Silence fell.
"…Wait."
"We just got motivated."
"How can you crush our enthusiasm like this?"
"What exactly is the World Will thinking?"
"This isn't okay, right?"
Those who had just stepped forward toward their doors froze—and slowly retreated back inside.
Meanwhile, Arya's expression changed drastically.
Because she remembered something.
She recalled the items she had previously identified using the small screen—
[Shackle Treasure Chests].
If she remembered correctly, the appraisal description had mentioned a specific phrase:
"One month."
So this was what that meant.
Arya's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Troublesome."
The world was far more calculating than it appeared.
And this was only the beginning.
For more chapters
patreon.com/Jackssparrow