Get off work and become a magical girl

Chapter 359 Doubt

No one expected that the assessment would end in this way.

The test takers in the maze had all wondered, to varying degrees, whether the final node, once conquered and the exit opened, would lead to a fierce race to determine the rankings; or whether many teams would fight tooth and nail for points, resorting to violence... Considering such scenarios, many test takers were initially quite nervous.

Therefore, when the examiner announced that "the first place has been determined," many people were not quite there to react at first.

When they realized what was happening, after the initial surprise and confusion came urgency.

Some meticulous test-takers might consider whether the "first place" was unfairly awarded at this point, but most others simply don't have time to think about such trivial matters. Because opening the exit means the final competition has already begun.

The teams that suffered the most were probably those still working on the node strategy. They thought they had controlled when the exit would appear, so they chose a more conservative approach, aiming to minimize casualties while slowly weakening the beast—after all, not all teams had the strength to easily handle a pupa-level creature. However, their battle of attrition was interrupted by a sudden announcement halfway through.

—How did the exit end get opened? Who did it?
That was their first thought.

—So, can we still grind it out slowly like this? Or do we have to go all out?

With similar thoughts in mind, the team members all looked at their captains. The captains exchanged glances, communicating with each other briefly before confirming their next move.

"Damn it... We can't delay any longer, let's do it! Charge!"

Filled with resentment and anger towards the suddenly emerging "first place," several captains roared and pounced on the broken beast.

This is just one part of the maze that happened.

Similar scenarios are playing out in almost every corner. Some test takers are still solving puzzles, some are launching surprise attacks, and some are even still lost... But no matter what they are doing, they are all accompanied by similar thoughts and a difficult choice.

Of course, some teams maintained their own pace, and their reaction to the "export opening" was even rather indifferent.

For example, Squad 629.

It's not that Lin Xiaolu doesn't care about the ranking, but Team 629 really doesn't have the resources to compete for the exit ranking right now—they're still in the node area and haven't come out yet.

Besides, having solved multiple puzzles and obtained some node rewards, Team 629 is already guaranteed a relatively high ranking. Therefore, Lin Xiaolu's focus now shifts to an even more pressing issue:
"What's going on between you two?"

She needs to figure out what's wrong with her two teammates.

If Mint had some grudge against the other party, that would be understandable. But what's wrong with Bai Jingxuan? Although many of the other party's remarks were indeed so offensive they made one want to punch them, there's no reason for Bai Jingxuan to become so irrational, is there?
“I have nothing to say, at least not in this maze. I can’t say anything more.” Mint closed her eyes and crossed her arms, like a suspect sitting in an interrogation room who insisted that she would not speak until her lawyer arrived.

She didn't speak, but Bai Jingxuan seemed to have a lot to say. As soon as Lin Xiaolu asked a question, she straightened up immediately and opened her mouth to explain something.

"that person……"

However, just as she uttered a few words, Mint suddenly coughed, as if to remind her, "Don't forget the occasion."

The occasion she was referring to was probably the magical girl seniors who were holding a ceremony outside the labyrinth. Even if the scene of the ceremony might not be shown to them, no one could guarantee that no one was watching what they were doing.

Bai Jingxuan quickly realized what she meant, murmured twice, and then stopped talking. She then ran to Lin Xiaolu's side and whispered a few words to her.

"That person gave me a feeling of being like a savage beast." This was Bai Jingxuan's first sentence. Then, she subtly gestured in the direction of Mint and added, "This person too."

Although it was only two sentences, Lin Xiaolu found it to be quite informative.

How can a human being give off the feeling of being a beast?

If it were a magical girl with limited experience, she might immediately think, "Impossible," or "It's just an illusion." However, in Lin Xiaolu's view, this was nothing new.

Whether it was the Black Dawn she had encountered before, or the magical girls with claw marks, they all used the magic of the broken beasts to some extent, and the magic of the broken beasts would undoubtedly carry the aura of the broken beasts.

“Claw marks?” So she also lowered her voice and whispered back.

A magical girl who uses the magic of remnant beasts is essentially equivalent to "claw marks." Bai Jingxuan's words can be seen as pointing out that there is some connection between arrowroot and claw marks.

"...I'm not sure, but it feels a bit different."

Bai Jingxuan was leaning on Lin Xiaolu's shoulder, so Lin Xiaolu couldn't see her expression, but could hear a kind of suppressed emotion in her tone: "I always feel that the feeling on their bodies is more disgusting than the claw marks, more...like that of beasts."

This was the first time Lin Xiaolu had heard such a statement.

However, she did not question Bai Jingxuan's judgment, nor did she interpret it as an illusion or misjudgment; instead, she subconsciously chose to believe it.

Bai Jingxuan's previous actions actually corroborated her statement.

The only thing that could make her so irrationally hostile, even to the point of wanting to attack without regard for the consequences... in the past, was the crippled beast. Her reckless attitude towards Arrowroot was exactly the same as her attitude when encountering crippled beasts during her patrols.

Of course, Lin Xiaolu hadn't really thought it through that clearly. She just felt that Bai Jingxuan's words and actions were consistent, and she didn't feel that there was anything unreasonable about it, so she had no reason not to believe her.

If that's the case, then the true identities of both arrowroot and mint are highly questionable.

A magical girl exuding the aura of a savage beast, and these aren't claw marks? If this is true, then could it be that the other party...?

Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but turn her gaze to Bai Jingxuan again.

To be honest, Lin Xiaolu still doesn't fully understand Bai Jingxuan's background. In the past, she was heavily influenced by magical girl anime and always thought it was normal for "one of the companions to possess dark powers." Now, with greater knowledge, she's gradually realized that the magic of the broken beasts isn't something that can be understood that way. In fact, possessing the magic of broken beasts is far more serious than the "dark powers" depicted in anime.

She and Bai Jingxuan lived and ate together every day, so it was really hard for her to associate her with anything bad. However, when they talked about the past, they inevitably brought up Bai Jingxuan's grief over losing her parents. In addition, neither Cuique nor Bai Jingxuan herself had explained these things to her in great depth, so naturally, she hadn't tried to understand what Bai Jingxuan was carrying.

Mint, arrowroot, and Bai Jingxuan—could there be some connection between these three people that she is unaware of?

Lin Xiaolu's suspicious gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, and perhaps feeling somewhat helpless at her attitude, Bohe finally couldn't help but speak up.

"After we go out, you pick a shop and we'll go out for a meal. You can ask us anything else later."

She waved her hand, then stood up: "Of course, there's a condition: you have to treat me."

(End of this chapter)