Get off work and become a magical girl

Chapter 358 Gentian, the Emotional Guide

In the final stage of the assessment, everyone held their breath, focusing intently on obtaining the final reward points. Even though most people didn't know where the final node was or what stage their current progress was, it didn't stop them from preparing for "it will be over soon."

The larkspur also didn't know the location of the last node.

Admittedly, if she were to truly utilize her Flower-level perception and magical power, she could likely uncover all the secrets of this labyrinth in an instant, but she couldn't do that. Therefore, even she didn't know when this trial would end.

Team 277 already had a lot of reward points. After leaving the third node, they even solved a puzzle along the way, bringing their points to a level where they no longer needed to work hard. Like top students who finished their exams long before they were over, and even had time to check and refine their work after the exam was graded, they were probably one of the most relaxed teams in the entire maze.

However, Cui Que also knew that there were still many candidates who were under pressure.

After all, even now, there are several small teams hanging behind them, maintaining a subtle distance, but still quite noticeable.

"We're being targeted?"

Noticing this, Foxtail Grass asked curiously, "Why? Is it because our team has a higher score... or is there some other reason?"

"They probably thought we might be able to find an exit."

Lark casually guessed, "After all, we were quite efficient at finding puzzles and nodes before, so we thought it would be better for them to follow us and maybe even get a ranking on the way out of the exit... Although I don't know how they found out our team's identity and location, the possibility is still quite high."

“I think so too,” Tu Dinggui agreed. “At this stage, there shouldn’t be any teams that are always looking to fight others anymore. Since they’re following us, they’re probably hoping to get some benefits from us.”

"Huh? But why? We don't actually know where the exit is, do we?"

Foxtail Grass still couldn't understand: "Then isn't it a waste of their time following us?"

"They did it because they believed we would find out, regardless of the facts."

Cui Que shook her head: "Or perhaps they might be spies sent out by those 'large teams,' after all, I can't think of any other candidates who could pinpoint our location and identity during the exam."

Undoubtedly, for most candidates in this assessment, simply ensuring they don't get lost and managing to solve a few puzzles is already quite an achievement. The idea of ​​simultaneously taking the exam and monitoring the progress and movements of other candidates within the maze is practically a pipe dream for a team of only three.

The candidates following Squad 277 must have known about their squad's progress, as well as their identities and locations, to be able to keep up. This level of intelligence gathering ability is certainly not something that ordinary candidates possess.

Although the examiners would occasionally report on the achievements of some leading teams, they would never reveal information about the members of these teams. It was impossible for any candidate to glean information about other teams from these snippets. Those capable of doing so were either teams with members possessing relevant professional skills, or large, temporarily allied teams that leveraged their numbers and internal communication methods to obtain more information.

But now, the origins of these "followers" are not important to Squad 277. Since they don't seem to have any obvious hostility, they can just let them follow.

"But if things continue like this, and we don't find an exit soon, won't they also waste their time?"

Foxtail Grass looked nervous: "If they take a roundabout route with us, will they talk badly about our team after we get out, saying things like 'they're nothing special'?"

"The probability is low," Lark answered frankly.

"Hmm...that's possible." Tu Dinggui nodded.

Clearly, while both of them felt that the idea of ​​foxtail grass was rather negative, it wasn't entirely unfounded.

"Then, what should we do?"

Now Foxtail Grass panicked even more: "Should I go and tell them the truth, that we haven't actually found the way either?"

"...Do you think they'll believe that?"

Lark looked at her with drooping eyelids: "No matter what we say to them, it's useless. Admitting 'we found the exit' is like a confession; denying it is like trying to hide something. They're right behind us, how could they possibly believe us?" "Uh..."

The foxtail grass pondered for a moment, then realized the larkspur was right, and couldn't help but feel disappointed: "What should we do then?"

"Let them come along, we haven't done anything wrong anyway."

Lark turned his head and continued forward: "It's normal to want to do better when others are paying attention to you, but just do your best. You can turn pressure into motivation, but don't let your motivation become pressure."

"what……"

Foxtail Grass looked slightly taken aback, and followed behind Lark, stammering, "Senior Gentian, sometimes you really do say a lot of things that sound like an adult."

"Just consider it my personality—I like to overthink things and spout grand theories."

Cui Que gave a casual reply, without intending to explain further. After all, the three of them had been together for almost a day, and this wasn't the first time she had said something like "not like a child." Trying to cover it up again would only make things worse.

This conversation was supposed to be just a brief interlude, and Lark didn't care about the small group following behind her. But after taking a few steps forward, she noticed that Tu Dinggui, who had been walking steadily, had suddenly slowed down.

"What's wrong?"

Noticing the thoughtful look on the other person's face, Cuique asked a question instinctively.

She has begun to adapt to her role as an emotional guide in the team. Since there's not much work to do, helping these two teammates adjust their mindset so as not to affect their performance is a small favor.

"...No, it's nothing, I just thought of something."

Tu Dinggui shook his head, hesitating to speak: "By the way, I think what you just said makes a lot of sense."

"Which one?"

"Motivation and pressure."

Tu Dinggui regained his calm demeanor: "Since the other teams are so confident that we can find the exit, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to work even harder."

She placed her palms back on the wall, closed her eyes, but this time, unlike before, she wasn't acting casually. She was clearly using more of her strength to sense the surrounding path…

— [Notification, notification].

However, the sudden announcement interrupted Tu Dinggui's actions.

[Due to unforeseen circumstances, the assessment process has been altered. Although some maze nodes remain uncompleted, the maze exits will open in 60 seconds. Please take note.]

[To reiterate, due to unforeseen circumstances...]

It wasn't just Tu Dinggui; at this moment, everyone in the maze was diverting some of their attention to the content of this voice.

[By the way, although it was quite sudden, the first team to leave the maze in this assessment has been determined. Let's congratulate Team 582 for winning first place, and...]

The tone of the announcement suddenly became somewhat meaningful.

[...Miss Xiao Jin, who has made outstanding contributions to the team, is truly remarkable.]

(End of this chapter)