Chapter 94

Roy and I approached the Cathedral of Floredia, blending into the darkness of the night. The interior of the cathedral, silent and still, felt somewhat chilly. However, from time to time, the yawn of a patrolling knight would echo, jolting us back to reality.

"I didn't expect the cathedral to be so unguarded. What is Rodney thinking? The Crystal Cathedral is indeed the most important, but that doesn't mean this place can be neglected."

Roy, though quietly angry, moved quickly forward. We arrived at the prayer room where the statue of Floredia stood, almost too easily.

"......"

The ease of it all left Roy and me speechless.

"Come on, let's hurry. If we pray to the statue of Floredia, we can change our class," I said.

"Understood," Roy replied.

Roy seemed to have something he wanted to say, but he knew there was no time for such exchanges. He knelt before the statue of Floredia.

"We've finally made it here..."

I knelt as well, feeling a sense of nostalgia. The first time I knelt here was when I changed my class to Healer. It hasn't been that long, but the intense days I've spent make it feel like a distant memory.

"O Goddess Floredia, grant me a trial."

As I prayed, a quest window appeared before my eyes.

**Ascension to Archbishop**

Your efforts in training are recognized.

Prove that you can heal and show compassion, but do not sell your soul to demons.

"Alright, let's tackle the class change quest. I think we can finish it quickly with two of us, so let's get it over with. Ready, Roy?"

"Of course. But, how do we do it?"

Roy, unsure of what to do, chuckled wryly at the vague instructions.

"This means we need to defeat Undead monsters."

"Are you telling a Healer to fight? ...No, now that we've reached this level, we have more than enough combat experience."

Roy let out a dry laugh, and I couldn't help but chuckle as well.

"Still, the places where Undead appear are limited. Do you have any preferences, Roy?"

"I don't know where they are. I have some knowledge, but compared to Sharon, it's like the difference between heaven and earth."

"In that case, I recommend the Paradise of Elngora. There are Undead monsters there."

When I suggested it, Roy was slightly surprised. "An unexplored dungeon?"

I remembered that I had provided information about the Paradise of Elngora to the guild and received a reward, but I hadn't mentioned that I was the source.

"I think it's the best place for us to go. There are other places with Undead monsters, but the other monsters are strong. Without Kent and Cocoa, it would be too risky. With just the two of us, we can clear Elngora."

"Then let's go there."

So, we set off immediately.

***

"You tricked us, Sharon!?"

"What a terrible thing to say, Roy!"

I never said the Undead monsters wouldn't be the boss...! Calling me a fraud is harsh.

"Normally, when someone recommends a dungeon, you don't expect the boss to be Undead, right?"

"......"

Roy's usually cheerful eyes were cold as he looked at me. In front of us stood the dungeon boss, the Ghost of Elngora, just about to attack.

"---Divine Hammer! ...Let's deal with Elngora first."

"Agreed. Divine Strike, then High Holy Heal!"

After Roy used his skills, I attacked Elngora. This skill was one I reacquired after receiving a Skill Reset Potion from Tarte. ...In other words, after this battle, I will have to go through the ultimate ordeal of resetting my skills again. The thought made my stomach hurt.

But, it's necessary to become an Archbishop.

"---I will crush those who defy me! Fiery Instruments!!"

Elngora launched an attack with alchemical instruments, so I threw the Holy Water I had prepared. The instruments Elngora threw shattered upon contact with the Holy Water.

"Good, it worked!"

The Holy Water dealt damage to Elngora and weakened its defenses. This gave us a significant advantage. I threw a large amount of Holy Water, knowing it would deal damage. This is how a cleric fights!

"Really... I never thought Holy Water would be used so casually."

Roy, despite his wry smile, used Divine Hammer and High Holy Heal to attack Elngora. Though he seemed exasperated with me, his hands didn't falter.

Roy often calls me exceptional, but he's not too bad himself...

"Almost there!"

When Elngora's HP dropped below 10%, it started a tornado with its staff, making it impossible to get close. The standard strategy is to use ranged attacks.

"High Holy Heal!"

"Divine Hammer!"

Roy and I attacked simultaneously and reapplied our buffs. With just a little more, we could finish it off. Our steps were light, remembering the long battle we expected the first time we fought Elngora. Now, it's so much easier with our higher levels and party members.

I threw Holy Water one more time to deal damage and finish it off.

"High Holy Heal!!"

"Divine Hammer!!"

"ROOOAAARRRR!!"

Our voices overlapped as Elngora's final scream echoed through the room.

***

That night, after returning from the Paradise of Elngora, Roy and I were back in front of the statue of Floredia in the Cathedral of Floredia. Unlike secondary classes, to complete an ascension, we had to return to the statue of Floredia. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but given the current situation, it was quite troublesome.

Next to me, Roy's face was quietly angry.

"......The key to the room with the statue of Floredia is still broken. Despite the many priests, priestesses, and Cathedral Knights here... no one has noticed? Oh, how sad it is to see such lax management..."

"Well, well, at least it allows us to pray to the statue of Floredia. Let's just be grateful for that."

This time, it was very helpful.

I stood before the statue of Floredia and looked up at it. I had prayed here several times before, but I had never really taken a good look.

"Looking at it, I realize it has historical and artistic value. I wish I could have seen it properly earlier."

I muttered this last part unconsciously, but it was true. Every time I came here, it was in a hurry.

"Alright, the final step. Let's pray, Roy."

"Yes."

I knelt before the Goddess Floredia, and Roy followed suit. Then, our bodies glowed brilliantly, and we became Archbishops.