With that thought in mind, you approached an elf and spoke in demon language.

"Candy is a boy."

The expected surprise did not materialize. The elf, as if bewitched, continued to cradle his apple, never taking his eyes off the little yellow cap, muttering under his breath.

"The Candy Goddess gave me a Peace Festival gift..."

You kept whispering.

"Your Candy Goddess is a boy."

"Candy Goddess..."

"Is a boy, you know."

"I don’t believe it, I’m not listening, I didn’t see! Miss Candy is my goddess!"

This batch of elves was beyond saving, truly beyond saving.

After making a round, Candy’s basket was filled to the brim, except for the first reciprocating gift they gave him. Before leaving, Candy energetically bid them farewell.

"Please everyone, work hard. Everyone is looking forward to your apples. I am too."

"Okay! For Miss Candy! We’ll work seriously!"

"I live for the Candy Goddess!"

Laughter from before was now shut behind the door. You looked at Candy’s smile with a puzzled expression.

Candy pulled you along to continue forward, explaining, "This was an agreement with Mr. Patrick. Those elves seemed to harbor a grudge against the Peace Festival, not willing to work seriously. Their apples are supplied not only to the Bloody Rose but also to other vendors and within the elf community. So, Mr. Patrick asked me to perform... the act from earlier? To give them motivation. At first, I thought my gender would give me away, but it seems they didn’t notice; the elves are unexpectedly a bit dense." Candy discreetly stuck out her tongue.

They weren’t dense; they were bewitched by the adorable virus called Candy. The Peace Festival, exploitation, and deceit continued to oppress the single dogs.

Candy led you to the Dark Six District, a vast cluster of floating fortresses. The whooshing of brooms echoed across each floating island, this place was the Witches’ district, the Elemental Witches’ neighborhood.

You two teleported onto a large stone slab, surrounded by few races other than witches, as witches inherently carried significant gender bias.

So, how did Candy gain the witches’ approval?

"Obtaining apples is only the first step. We need to process these fruits using witches’ potions to make the apples more enticing or endow them with magical effects."

Candy walked into a small shed next to the stone slab and pulled out a broom taller than him.

"Come on, we’re riding a broomstick to Witch Castle."

You walked over. "Candy, can you really ride a broomstick?"

Candy nodded, placing a light grey witch’s hat on her head, "This is permission from the Elemental Witches’ Matriarch, Yana. As long as I recite the spell, I can temporarily use the broomstick to fly in the Witches’ district."

"What’s the spell?"

"I’m Magical Girl Candy, oh!" The bent tip of the witch’s hat drew a circle above Candy’s head as her voice sounded, and glittering gold dust fell from the tip surrounding Candy. The broom in her hands quivered, flew out of her grasp, spun around in midair, and came to a steady stop before her.

Candy straddled the broom, and you took your place behind him. It felt just like riding pillion on a motorcycle, your arms naturally wrapping around Candy’s soft, slender waist, not an ounce of fat, as if it could snap with a twist.

"Hold on tight, okay."

"Huh?"

"Actually, witches love speeding."

Boom! Your scream shot up into the sky like a rocket.

After a long bout of vomiting, you finally made out your surroundings; this was a room with a floor covered in feathers, and a sea of amber eyes watched you, accompanied by cooing.

"This is the witches’ pet lounge and flight area," Candy placed the broom among the disorderly pile of brooms nearby, "It’s also the reception area for beyond-witch visitors."

Candy looked at the owls overhead, "As for pets, if you’re interested, you can try touching them, Oh, this place seems to have all sorts of owl species."

You’d rather not touch the owls—birds of prey with intimidatingly sharp claws and beaks. With that thought, you spotted another type of pet outside in the corridor.

It was a shiny-furred, beautiful Ankara black cat.

"That pet has escaped!"

You hurriedly ran out, intending to capture the runaway pet.

Cats shouldn’t be a threat in a fight.

The cat didn’t shy away; instead, it turned and looked in your direction as you approached.

You were about to catch her, just a little bit closer... you got caught instead.

A shadowy paw formed from the black cat’s silhouette pinned you to the ground; you were lying there, just 0.1 meters away from the feline.

You were stunned because the cat began to speak.

"Kid, call me ’pet’ one more time, and I’ll throw you off here. You’re the pet. Your whole family are pets." The black cat threatened, raising its forepaw as the claws emerged gleaming from its paw pads.

Candy hurried out.

"I’m so sorry, Miss Cat. He meant no harm. We’re employees from the Bloody Rose Bar, and we have permission from Yana to go to the Potion District to process apples."

With a human-like gesture, the cat propped its chin on its paw pad and said, "I see, Yana did mention it to me."

The pressure on you was lifted. The black cat jumped, landing in Candy’s arms.

"Let’s go together, I’m headed to the Potion District too."

"Of course, Miss Cat."

The black cat tapped Candy’s shoulder with its tail as an acknowledgment.

On the way, both were curious about this talking cat.