"Now, everyone, gather here."

The students gathered in front of Ronaldo Hasen, who was in charge of the magic practice subject, at his call.

"Today is the practical test for clearing the lower-level dungeon that I mentioned before."

Clearing the lower-level dungeon, one of the practical tests for the advanced class.

This lower-level dungeon was an artificial dungeon created by the academy using an abandoned dungeon.

Ronaldo's brow furrowed and then relaxed repeatedly as he explained the simple rules.

"...So everyone, please be careful. Hey, what did I just say?"

The person Ronaldo pointed at with his chin was none other than Pola.

Pola, who always concentrated in every class, was dazed today.

"T-that's..."

"Do you think you can be of any help to your team members with that attitude?"

Pola bowed her head at Ronaldo's sharp point.

"Sister, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Uh, uh..."

Pola, who had even skipped breakfast, which she always ate, just answered Nella's question with a small voice.

'This is strange...'

Worry settled on Lucas's face as he looked at Pola.

After the Rodrigo County had started to sponsor Pola, she had been more diligent in her classes than anyone else.

Thanks to her constant efforts not to disappoint the Count, Pola had shown rapid growth.

For Pola to be like that.

'I'll have to ask her after the practical test is over.'

Lucas, who had finished his thought, took his eyes off Pola.

"Now, the first group will go in first. Even if it's an artificially created dungeon, there's always a risk. Don't let your guard down for a moment."

The members of the first group, who had swallowed a gulp at Ronaldo's words, headed to the dungeon entrance first.

"Now, the second group will go in in 5 minutes. Get ready."

Ronaldo, who had checked the time by taking out the pocket watch on his waist, checked the members of the second group with his eyes.

"Now, we can do well, right?"

Skir, who was clearly nervous, was biting his lips.

"Hey, don't worry and just put in the buffs well."

Pola, who had patted Skir's shoulder once, winked one eye.

"But a dungeon is a dangerous place..."

"Ah, don't be scared! I'll, huh? I'll kill them all with electricity, papapat!"

Skir burst into a chuckle at Pola's confident shout, who was making a gesture of using magic with one hand.

"You're laughing? You're laughing?!"

"N-no!"

Pola, who had regained her bright appearance as if nothing had happened.

"But sister... what about the traps?"

"...Traps?"

"Yes, you said there aren't just monsters inside."

Nella was right. There were not only monsters in the dungeon, but also traps.

As they went to higher-level dungeons, complicated traps were lurking everywhere, and there were many parties that were annihilated because they couldn't disarm the traps.

"Don't worry. I'll use my detection magic for that."

The children nodded their heads at Lucas's concise words.

A friend who was in the same class as them, but whose skills were hard to gauge.

As the children grew up, they had also been constantly suspicious of Lucas.

But the place where that suspicion always reached was 'it's just Lucas.'

The friend they cherished and loved.

The children didn't care what their friend's identity was.

"Now, group 2. Please enter."

At the professor's call, the children looked at each other and nodded their heads.

"Let's go!"

***

As they entered the dungeon, a damp air hit them.

"Ugh, what's that smell?"

The children, who were new to the dungeon, first covered their noses.

The unpleasant smell mixed in the damp and musty air was something they had never smelled before in their lives.

"Naias. Can you go and see what's in front of us?"

-Okay.

Nella quietly called the Naias and asked.

"Let's go slowly too."

"Shouldn't we wait for the Naias to come back?"

"There's no time. You idiot."

The theme of the practical test was to finish the dungeon in 2 hours and come out on the other side.

Depending on the time it took to clear the dungeon, bonus points were given or points were deducted.

"Ah, I see."

The children began to move forward slowly.

Every time they walked through the dark and gloomy dungeon, the sound of water splashing was heard.

"Light."

Lucas, who had raised one hand and cast a light magic, began to lead the way, and the children carefully followed him.

"S-shouldn't you use detection magic?"

Skir's worry was natural, as most people could only use one magic at a time.

"I'm using it."

"...While also using light magic?"

Lucas was startled at Nella's question, but he just nodded his head lightly.

"...Oppa, you're amazing."

"Amazing..."

"He was always amazing."

Lucas, who had smiled lightly at the children who were each saying a word, raised one hand and stopped the children's steps.

"Be careful. From now on, you just have to follow me, stepping only where I step."

The children, who seemed to be nervous at Lucas's words, began to carefully follow where Lucas was stepping.

"Now, this is it. It's okay now."

It was an easy trap. He didn't know what would pop out if they stepped on it, but it was definitely not a trap that would kill the children in one go.

But there was no need to make the children take such a risk.

"Now, be careful of the walls from now on."

From the path that was gradually getting narrower, traps were hidden in the walls.

"Careful... careful..."

Skir, who had grown quite a bit, was walking with his shoulders hunched, constantly muttering the word 'careful'.

"Hey, be a little quiet."

As Pola, who was annoyed by the sound, finally said a word, Skir just walked silently with his shoulders slumped.

As a wide space appeared after the narrow path, Skir finally straightened his back.

"Naias, what's in front?"

-A person... is dead.

"...What do you mean?"

-A person is dead.

"What did she say? What did the Naias say?"

"What did the fairy say?

The children, who couldn't hear the Naias's words, urged Nella.

"...She said a person is dead."

"What?"

***

"Is that really true? That your son's illness has been cured?"

"This person... has he lived his whole life being deceived?"

The man, who was slightly annoyed at the repeated questions, answered indifferently.

"No, how in the world... how was that illness cured...?"

In fact, the position of the man who was asking the question was also understandable. The son's illness was none other than a congenital mental illness.

Although there were various mental illnesses in the world, most congenital mental illnesses were incurable.

"Hoho, you too... if you can't believe it, go to my house! My son can now speak properly and eat properly, I'm telling you!"

"...It's a strange thing."

"I can't believe it either. To think that the day would come when my Derik would call me dad..."

The man, whose heart was full at the thought of his son, rubbed his tingling nose once.

"How in the world was he cured? The cult you mentioned last time... is it real?"

"I'm telling you it is! The Resurrection Cult is on a different level from other temples."

'The Resurrection Cult' was a new religion that had caused a stir in the empire.

Unlike most temples that worshiped existing gods, it was said to be a religion that believed in and followed a resurrected person.

"No, but... then won't you incur the wrath of the other gods...?"

"Come on, what have the other gods done for me! You know well how much of a dowry I've offered to the Temple of Herdone all this time, don't you!?"

"Ah, of course I know."

"The goddess who is said to bring joy! Has she ever brought me joy! But the Resurrection Cult is different. It has given me joy, no, more than that."

The man began to nod his head at his words, which were spoken with an excited voice and spitting saliva.

"You should go too. The moment you set foot in the Resurrection Cult's church, you'll feel it. Ah, I've been serving the wrong god all this time! I'm telling you."

"I see... I'll go and see once."

***

The Resurrection Cult, a rising new religion.

The followers roared as if they were about to collapse at the benevolent smile of the man standing in front of the church.

"Leader!!! Leader!!!"

People who were reaching out their hands high to try and grab his robe.

The woman, who had struggled to climb up to the high-located resurrection hall with her son who couldn't walk on her back, felt as if all her pain was being washed away as she saw the leader's face.

"Leader... leader!! Please, please look at my son!!!"

The leader's eyes turned to her son at the woman's desperate cry.

"Bring that woman to me."

"Yes."

At the leader's command, the man quickly went down the platform and brought the woman and her son up.

"What is... your name?"

"I-I'm... I'm!"

The woman, who was flustered at the leader's sudden call, was just moving her lips.

"In front of me, you are just one of my pitiful Yentels... whatever your name is, you will be reborn today."

"L-leader...!"

The woman, who seemed to be moved by his words, prostrated herself on the floor.

"Is this your son..."

"Yes, yes!! That's right. Please...] please look at my son..."

Her son, who was said to have been unable to walk since birth, had only his legs withered.

"How pitiful..."

A faint wrinkle formed on the leader's eyes, as if he were sorry.

"All my Yentels, listen!!!"

The leader, who had taken his eyes off her and her son, shouted to the audience.

"I will bestow a blessing on this pitiful woman and her son today!"

"Leniento!!!"

The followers shouted the ancient word 'Leniento', which meant 'I believe', in a loud voice.

"You shall see! The blessing that I, who have been resurrected from death, bestow!!!"

"Leniento!!!"

The man, who had finished his words, slowly approached the woman's son who was sitting on the floor, and the followers' gazes were focused.

The leader, who had placed his hand on the boy's head, closed his eyes and began to recite a blessing.

"I will bestow salvation on this pitiful soul..."

As the leader's hand slowly swept down the boy's leg, a faint light began to emanate from his hand.

"Ooooh...!!!"

A gasp of admiration burst from the followers' mouths.

"The one who has received that salvation and has been sitting will rise today..."

-Saaak

"There will be infinite glory for those who believe..."

As the leader's hand reached the boy's toes, the light grew larger and larger.

"Rise!"

-Flash!

As the light burst out, the followers prostrated themselves on the floor and began to pray.

Some even shed tears, moved.

"Now, pitiful boy... try to stand up."

"..."

At the leader's words, the boy was trying to get up, trembling, with one hand on the ground.

The mother, who was supporting the boy's one shoulder, had her eyes full of anticipation.

"Uh, uh...!"

As the boy put his foot on the ground, gasps of admiration began to pour out from here and there.

The boy was trying to put strength in his legs, with his brow furrowed, as if he couldn't put in strength well.

"Just a little... just a little more..."

The mother, who was holding the boy's arm, encouraged him. Then the boy clenched his teeth and tried to hold his trembling legs.

"Uh, uh, uh!!!"

"Now, believe. Show the people that you can stand on your own two feet!"

"Leniento!"

The mother, who had answered loudly on behalf of the boy, carefully released the boy's arm she had been holding.

"I-it's done!!!"

Although the boy's legs were still trembling, the people were seeing it clearly with their own two eyes.

"It's a miracle!!! He has performed a miracle!!!"

"Leniento!!! Leniento!!!"

The people's shouts were getting louder and louder.

"Listen!!!"

At the leader's shout, the people quickly shut their mouths and looked at him.

"I will bestow a blessing on all who have come to this resurrection hall today."

"Leniento!!!"

-Saaak

As a stardust-like light began to pour down on the entire church, the people reached out their hands high and tried to touch the light.

"You will all be saved."

"Leniento!!!"

(End of Chapter)