Surviving as a Witch in a World that Hunts Heretics-Chapter 14 : Chapter 14

Chapter 14. Actually Able to Study (Studying Makes Me Happy)
In the end, for the material reward, Leticia chose some crop seeds and a few items to improve daily life. Priest Marshall promised that they would soon be delivered to Leticia and John.
“Such a result makes me feel relieved, yet also a little uneasy......”
Walking out of the church, Leticia squinted up at the sun. “Honestly, so many things happening out of nowhere......”
To sum up what had just happened in the church: the well-off Lamb and Laila, whose family lived near the mining area, successfully entered the “Path of Sanctity.” Mody, who compared the Lord to “food,” and Diego were chosen by Priest Marshall to remain in the Innsmouth Village church, very likely to become assistant clerics in the future.
As for Leticia, it wasn’t as though she got nothing. Aside from receiving some goods, the most important thing was that, for a period of time, she would follow Priest Marshall and learn the written language of this world.
“Ah...... suddenly, being illiterate really feels like such a blessing......”
Leticia sighed. If she could read...... no, she still had some muscle memory from her body’s past. If she already knew the written language, she wouldn’t need to learn at all......
Ahhh, why did she have to be illiterate!
Just as she was lamenting to herself, the voice of Stano Banson once again rang out in her mind.
“It’s already over?!”
His voice sounded disappointed, as if regretting that he hadn’t been able to see Leticia enter the church.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Hmph, nothing. I’m fine. A commoner like you doesn’t need to worry about me.”
Stano huffed. He had finally managed to escape his mother’s “entanglement,” found himself a quiet spot, and came over—only to find everything was already finished!
“So, what was the result?”
Stano asked.
Leticia hesitated slightly, then answered with a tone both heavy and relieved: “I wasn’t chosen, but I can study the written language under the priest.”
“Ha—so you’re illiterate, huh?”
Stano drew out the words with exaggerated length, full of mockery. “Oh wow, why didn’t you say so earlier? I can read.”
“Oh, you can, but would you actually teach me?”
Leticia could already tell from his tone that he wasn’t reliable.
“Well, that depends......”
Stano laughed darkly. “Depends on my mood. If you, little stick, are willing to kneel down and beg me with tears in your eyes, I might just agree to teach you.”
“Then forget it.”
Leticia’s eye twitched slightly, but she refused without hesitation. “Anyway, I can learn from the priest now. I don’t need you~”
“Hey, what a bad temper!”
Stano clicked his tongue. “I’ve hardly ever met anyone who dared talk to me like that. Aren’t you afraid I’ll mess with you when you’re trying to study?”
In truth, it was exactly this kind of attitude that made Stano so fond of this “toy.” She never bored him. This wild streak reminded him of those fierce beasts he had seen while hunting with his father—unbending, refusing to yield—and it excited him.
“You won’t.”
Leticia simply said those two words. That was all.
And it nearly choked Stano silent.
Come on, if Stano could observe Leticia, then surely Leticia could observe Stano as well? She had lived many more years than this little brat. Her judgment of people was bound to be better than his.
“......Heh, fine. You’re right, I wouldn’t do that. It would tarnish my character.”
Stano chuckled. “But not getting to see you embarrass yourself in the church really upset me. How do you plan to make it up to me?”
“Tch, why are you acting like some yokel who’s never seen the world?”
Leticia was nearly driven mad by this brat. “Didn’t you always say how noble your birth was? Haven’t you ever been to the ‘Path of Sanctity’ yourself?”
Why cling to her like this?!
“Cut, do you know who I am? The heaven-gifted noble son, Stano! How could I possibly not have attended a church selection? I nearly became part of the choir once, but I wasn’t interested, so I begged my father to let me return......”
In truth, he had simply disliked the atmosphere and ran away. Though he was beaten and punished with six months of confinement, Stano still got what he wanted: no more church.
He said proudly, “The ‘Path of Sanctity’ is indeed a fine route, but for us, it’s nothing worth mentioning!”
Why did it feel like this boy had no reverence at all for the Church?
Leticia’s head was full of dark lines. Still, some of what he said caught her attention. “What do you mean by that?”
“Beg me, and I’ll tell you.”
Stano’s tone dripped with smugness.
“Tch......”
Leticia was deeply frustrated. Not only was her body under his control, now even information required her to cast away pride and dignity to obtain it. Such a life was simply unforgettable—for all the wrong reasons!
“Fine. Please, I beg you, can you explain in detail?”
Leticia ground her teeth as she asked.
“Mm~ mm, that’s better. Well, since you’re begging so nicely, I suppose I’ll tell you.”
Stano chuckled a few times, then said seriously: “The so-called Path of Sanctity is just the Church’s way of recruiting extra people. On one hand, sure, it’s a good path for the lower classes. But......”
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”
Listening to his half-mocking explanation, Leticia finally understood. Peel away the holy glow surrounding the “Path of Sanctity,” and what remained was a purely mechanical process and its true purpose.
Just like restaurants need people to sweep the floors and clean up.
Churches need the same.
Those who entered this path would be assigned to churches across the land. The slightly more “talented” ones might reach more important churches, but they were still outsiders, never truly important figures.
Yes, their basic needs would be met, but it wasn’t anything so grand as the rumors suggested. They could only protect themselves at most, not elevate their whole family.
The real path to advancement didn’t lie in the so-called “Path of Sanctity.” It was already reserved, far higher up.
For those who entered through this road—stay quiet, stay devout, maybe earn the title of assistant cleric. But if they found it unbearable, they’d never leave the church alive.
“Actually, at the start, I heard the Path of Sanctity was truly sacred and powerful. It was established by a highly respected pope, to help believers with potential rise up and strengthen the Church. In the past, some geniuses did ascend through this path—even competing for the title of Saint Son.”
Stano recalled something his father had once told him. “But later, they discovered one of those so-called geniuses was actually a corrupter, deeply hidden. Supposedly a seed planted by a demon from Hell itself. Nearly succeeded, too. The Church was shaken, executed him publicly, and reformed the Path of Sanctity.”
“Since then, it’s no longer pure. Mostly just a way to funnel servants into the Church, not select prodigies.”
Stano spoke with a faint sneer. “Still, for people like you, it’s already a fine opportunity, isn’t it?”
Indeed......
Leticia didn’t reply in her heart. Though the boy’s words were biting, full of class prejudice, enough to spark an argument with anyone more hot-tempered, she didn’t lash out.
Because she knew this was simply the natural tone of a boy raised among nobles. After so long, even if she wanted to be angry, she had grown used to it.
Besides, she had to admit—there was some truth in what he said.