Chapter 42: You Have No Choice

“Seventy percent? But doesn’t that mean you’re actively giving up on the remaining thirty percent?”

“That can’t be helped. If we raised the accuracy to ninety percent, then the number of people we could screen might not even reach half of the Empire’s total population.”

The special ores required to test elemental affinity could not be found anywhere within human territory. The ones currently in use were all seized from the beastfolk’s lands many years ago.

After the Gluttony Church was established, the Holy Light Church was forced to divert its efforts to deal with it, losing its access to magical ore sources. As a result, testing costs only continued to soar.

This wasn’t some secret among the upper echelons of noble society—Ailberna included, everyone knew about it.

It also meant that anyone with elemental affinity was an exceedingly rare talent in the eyes of the Holy Light Church and the Empire alike.

“Miss Josuna believes my maid is an uncut gem lost by the Church?”

Sensing that the situation was heading in an uncontrollable direction, Ailberna had no choice but to step in and help Peletti.

“Of course. And this isn’t some spur-of-the-moment decision. Sometimes, whether someone has aptitude can be roughly judged by those with experience—especially when that affinity is particularly strong. Take Miss Peletti, for example. Don’t you think the light around her is noticeably brighter than elsewhere? And this is a corner of the shop, no less.”

Hearing this, Ailberna looked toward Peletti and realized that things really were as Josuna had said. The light around Peletti was far denser than in other areas, and one could even see faint golden threads flowing through the air.

At first, Ailberna had chalked it up to a visual illusion caused by Peletti being too beautiful. But after hearing Josuna’s words, she found the reasoning oddly convincing.

Maybe Peletti’s light-element affinity really was extremely high…

…

Wait—no, damn it!

Isn’t Peletti a witch?!

Others might not know, but Ailberna, who had studied witches since childhood, remembered very clearly:
There had never been a Witch of Light among the ranks of witches!

Creatures with light-element affinity had gone extinct centuries ago. How could Peletti possibly possess it?

Suddenly, Ailberna recalled how Peletti had asked her the night before for light-element magic and witch archives. A terrifying possibility began to take shape in her mind.

Perhaps Peletti was a newly born witch. The reason Ailberna couldn’t sense her magic wasn’t because she was too strong—but because she was too weak.

She’d asked for light-element magic because she was, in fact, a Witch of Light!

Normally, when a human became a witch, they would gain immense magical power. Peletti’s lack of overwhelming magic suggested that something had gone wrong during her transformation, leaving her an incomplete witch.

That would explain why no church had detected the birth of a Witch of Light—her magical fluctuations were simply too faint, undetectable unless one was very close to a church.

And as for requesting witch archives, perhaps she was searching for a way to “complete” herself.

A Witch of Light—the only being in the world in nearly a hundred years to possess light-element affinity. The gravity of this matter far exceeded Ailberna’s expectations.

The top priority now was to find Peletti’s identity before her witch transformation. If her family from her human days could be found, they might serve as an effective means of restraint.

Forcibly taking her away was impossible. Absolutely impossible.

She didn’t know the true strength of that short witch, but Caroline was a legendary figure in history—the founder of the Forbidden School. Even as a human, she’d been absurdly powerful. As a witch, her control over elements had reached unprecedented heights. Everyone in this city combined probably wouldn’t be enough to fight her alone.

So only strategy would work.

Seeing that Ailberna remained silent, Josuna looked at Peletti with the confidence of a victor, her bare foot forcefully pressing into the sea of lace.

Peletti’s long lashes fluttered lightly, like the wings of a startled butterfly.

“Relax. I know you’re just a commoner. I’ll cover the entire cost of the test. You don’t need to feel any psychological burden at all, little maid.”

That bratty little sister—at a time like this she was still thinking about teasing the maid. It hadn’t even been that long since anyone last watched over her, and she’d already grown this twisted and perverse.

If there were a chance, she’d definitely need some proper discipline.

At this moment, Peletti still naively believed that Josuna was unaware of her true identity, assuming that Josuna simply liked flirting with girls like this.

Peletti snapped out of her daze and put on a nervous, grateful expression.
“I’ve always wanted to bathe once more in the Holy Light, but I’ve been held back by financial difficulties… Thank you, Master, for giving me this opportunity!”

Josuna had already gone this far. If Peletti refused without a legitimate reason, it would immediately arouse suspicion.

A single aptitude test wouldn’t harm the body, the exorbitant cost was covered, and the Church was the sole authority of faith in the Empire.

If Peletti were a normal person, she couldn’t think of any reason a normal person would refuse—unless they had something to hide.

Ailberna’s eye twitched. Peletti was way too good at acting. Anyone who didn’t know better would think her pockets were emptier than her face.

“Why put it off? Since the maid has agreed, let’s go today. What do you say?”
Josuna’s voice was sweet as honey, but her gaze carried an unmistakable, unyielding force.

It sounded like a question—but she left Peletti no choice at all.

“Uh… today? But I still have work…”

“That’s fine. I’ll wait right here. Until you get off work.”

Peletti looked helplessly toward Ailberna.

With Josuna’s foot planted where it was, Peletti couldn’t leave at all—let alone work.

This was clearly an attempt to force her into going to the Falisar Grand Cathedral.

She’s really learned all the bad tricks now. Completely rotten!

For a moment, Peletti even considered just going straight to the cathedral with Josuna. It was bound to happen sooner or later anyway, and continuing to stall would only benefit Josuna.

Ailberna intervened just in time.
“It’s fine. Mei Lansa can handle the customers alone. You go to the cathedral with her—I approve.”

“Since Ailberna has approved, the maid shouldn’t have any objections, right?”
Josuna shook her empty cup lightly, smiling at Peletti.

As she finished speaking, Josuna withdrew her foot. Peletti felt as though she’d been granted a pardon and sprang to her feet.

“Of course, no problem at all.”

“And where do you think you’re going, little maid?” Josuna drawled, her tone teasing.

“To change clothes, of course. Why?” Peletti stopped and turned back in confusion.

Josuna lifted her bare foot toward Peletti, a sly curve forming at her lips.
“You’re still my maid, and I am your master. Put my shoes on.”

After putting Josuna’s shoes on—and soothing Feiye as well—Peletti was forcibly dragged onto the carriage by Josuna, without even having the chance to change her clothes.