Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

While the many young magical girls in the Silver Corridor were still running around to form teams, in another part of the Academy District, within an ancient building, a luxurious and opulent hall, a large door was opened.

Countless magical girls serving the Royal Court stood at the entrance. Not a single person spoke or looked up, all lined up on either side of the door, pledging allegiance to some presence in a reverent and solemn manner amidst the silence.

Footsteps could be heard from within the door.

These footsteps drew nearer and nearer, until they reached the junction of the door frame at a certain moment, and then, without hesitation, stepped into this space.

They were a group of girl knights dressed in armor and uniforms, with solemn expressions. Their attire lacked the flamboyance of ordinary magical girls, being neat and uniform. The alternating black, or rather, dark and gray uniforms added a solemn aura to their ranks. Their postures were upright and poised, their gaze straight ahead, filled with vigilance, as if the entire world could become their enemy at any moment.

The orderly formation advanced quickly with the clashing sounds of armor, stepping out of the door, and closely following them, framed by the knights, were two elaborately dressed women.

Or rather, one appeared to be a "woman," and the other a "girl."

The "woman" among them was enveloped in a black robe full of opulent adornments. Her eyes were concealed by a mask, and at the center of the mask, above the bridge of her nose, was set a blood-red ruby. She wore a faint smile on her lips, exuding lifelessness except for her steps moving with the group, much like a walking doll.

As for the "girl," she wore a white princess gown, with a pale pink diamond necklace around her neck. Her light pink hair was tied into twin low ponytails draping over her shoulders, slightly curled at the tips. She held her head high arrogantly, crossing her arms, with an expression of discontentment as if dissatisfied with everything, critically observing the hall beyond the door.

All the magical girls present knew these two individuals, or it could be said that anyone working in the Royal Court could not fail to recognize them — the Ruby Wand, and the Diamond Scepter, already at the pinnacle of power in the entire Magic Kingdom.

However, even these two, at this moment, existed merely as secondary figures within the entourage. Despite being surrounded by many knights, they were essentially there to pave the way for someone else.

Approximately several meters behind them lay an entirely vacant area.

To call it a vacuum is not quite accurate; rather, it should be said, the entire area contained only one person.

It was a somewhat petite figure, crossing the door into the hall alone, her footsteps so light as to be almost imperceptible, yet each step seemed to throb in the heart of every presence. Though faint, the sound reverberated like a mountain quake.

Surrounding her was a hazy glow, almost like a mist shrouding her, making it impossible for anyone to see her true appearance clearly. The only visible features were her waist-length black hair and the small, jewel-encrusted crown atop her head.

Silence.

Except for the two Gemstone Scepters, all the magical girls held their breath. Besides the sound of the escort advancing, there wasn't the slightest bit of noise on site.

Not until the entire entourage passed through the door, and two winged sentinels emerged to gently close the door behind them, did the atmosphere on site momentarily relax somewhat.

In the Kingdom's "Five Capitals," every city has a door leading to the Rose Palace.

However, even the ruling powers of the Five Cities and the Five Institutes, the Gemstone Scepters, cannot freely utilize the access through this door. Only under extremely urgent circumstances can one pass through this door to report to the Rose Palace.

Apart from this, the only one who can freely pass through and even lead an entourage is the Queen herself.

—"Who among you here is from the Magical Affairs Institute?"

After some silence, the girl in the white princess dress with light pink hair in the center of the group spoke: "Is the examination for today ready?"

"Reporting to Her Excellency Purple Diamond, it is us."

A magical girl stepped out of the crowd, carefully responding to the girl: "The examination should be about to start now."

"Hmm... looks like the timing is just right."

The girl known as "Purple Diamond" squinted slightly, a scrutinizing look on her face: "Speaking of it, wasn't someone among you supposed to be the proctor for the written test?"

"That's correct." The magical girl lowered her gaze, not daring to meet the girl's eyes.

"During the written test, didn't something go wrong?" Yet, the girl's merciless voice came from above the magical girl's head.

"...Yes."

The magical girl from the Magical Affairs Institute pressed her lips lightly together, then softly answered: "There were unknown hostile elements deceiving candidates into using Chaos Technique during the exam."

"What about the investigation result? Who did it?"

The girl asked in an unfriendly tone: "Dare to cause trouble in such an important setting, and they actually succeeded, really shows how useless your Magical Affairs Institute and Research Institute are becoming."

The magical girl from the Magical Affairs Institute didn't dare to retort, only muttering: "Still, still no..."

"Still no?"

The girl's already unheated voice resonated in the hall.

"How many days has it been? A day, or two? Are you implying that while the Queen is about to attend the procession at the Silver Corridor, your people still haven't ensured the scene is free from danger?"

"I am sorry." The magical girl from the Magical Affairs Institute kept bowing her head.

"I am talking to you, why aren't you looking at me?"

The girl continued questioning: "Does nobody in your Magical Affairs Institute even know how to report their work properly?"

"...I am sorry." The magical girl lifting her head slightly, her eyes somewhat reddened.

"Despite being in such a position, yet failing at even your own work, simply resorting to tears when facing issues."

The girl crossed her arms, a look of disdain on her face:

"The only institute among the Five Institutes that has the privilege of answering directly to the Queen, yet every single one of you in the Magical Affairs Institute is just so idle and useless... truly unsightly."

Her words made all the Magical Affairs Institute members present avert their gazes from her.

No one likes to be insulted to their face in such a setting, but the one saying these words is the Diamond Scepter, and behind the Diamond Scepter is that person watching everything. Even if they wanted to defend themselves, they worried about saying something wrong and causing even more serious consequences.

The atmosphere, which barely lightened a little, began to thicken again, and just as everyone had their eyes downcast, ready to endure a coming storm, another voice interrupted everything.

—"It is time to depart."

The woman in the black robe, with her eyes covered by masks and blindfold, spoke. She whispered in a hoarse and magnetic voice: "Everything is ready; there should be no delay."

"What do you mean?" the girl turned, looking at the woman in the robe.

"It's time to go to the examination site." The woman in the robe faced the girl, her sight seeming to penetrate the blindfold: "Her Majesty eagerly awaits this observation."

The girl widened her eyes slightly, glancing back at the shadow behind her, which remained still, silent as always.

However, even so, the girl did not dwell more on it but closed her eyes, her voice indifferent: "The people from the Magical Affairs Institute will lead the way."

"Yes, alright!"

The magical girl from the Magical Affairs Institute immediately felt like spared an ordeal and quickly moved with several members to the front of the group, assuming the role of guides.

The entourage began moving again.

Silence, solemnity, low spirits. Perhaps no one ever thought that, in such a supposed joyous year as the "Queen's Year," the entourage from the Royal Court would have such an atmosphere.

Yet, none present felt there was anything wrong with this; supreme authority naturally carries the highest dignity, inviting no doubt nor retrospection. The grand procession traversed the hall, passed through another door, leaving the ancient building.

And the petite figure in the vacant area stopped momentarily before stepping out the door.

Brilliant sunlight pierced through this silhouette, casting onto the gilded and resplendent floor, yet left no shadow behind.