Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

"Fight?" Bai Ji didn't understand.

"Black Ash Dawn, did you battle them?"

Lin Xiaolu looked at the other seriously, "To what extent did the fight go?"

"...As for the battle, unfortunately, we haven't directly fought with the executives of Black Ash Dawn."

Bai Ji's gaze lowered slightly: "After the inspector lord came to our city, she found the enemy that we had been unable to find. Then, as the seniors in our team said, she almost instantaneously killed a member of Black Ash Dawn's Ash Guard. We weren't able to help at all, we couldn't even fulfill the role of 'bystanders', we were merely post-event informants."

"You haven't fought?"

Muttering this answer, Lin Xiaolu's eyes flickered slightly: "...I have gone into battle."

"Hmm?" Bai Ji was somewhat puzzled by the words of the person in front of her.

"I fought with 'Moth'... with that stinky old hag."

Lin Xiaolu stared at the other: "Even though I was no match at all, even though I was beaten miserably, and even I myself felt that I was nothing but dead weight for Emerald Sparrow on the battlefield, I fought with her."

"Since my first battle as a Magical Girl, I have faced death. I know the feeling of fear, and I know the pain of failure. If we're talking about realization, I have been ready for a long time."

"So, what kind of qualities do you possess, and on what grounds do you qualify as our 'pre-assessment'?"

"Why can't we participate in next year's qualification certification exam if we can't beat you?"

Her words rang with determination.

Since there was no one else around, Lin Xiaolu's words fell, and a slight echo wandered the corridors.

The location of the two was on the southern side of the fourth-floor corridor. Skewed sunlight cast several shadows on Lin Xiaolu's face, which combined with her serious expression, made the atmosphere between them tense.

Bai Ji's hand, which was gripping the suitcase, loosened slightly.

"Are you talking about the things the teacher said to you after the concert?"

Her complexion remained unchanged, seemingly unaffected by Lin Xiaolu's questioning: "If you're upset by those words, I apologize to you on her behalf, for she indeed speaks her mind bluntly, and often her words are not pleasant to hear."

"Do I sound like I'm asking for an apology?" Lin Xiaolu frowned slightly.

"Sorry, I don't quite understand," Bai Ji shook her head. "I might not have grasped your meaning."

"What I need is an explanation."

Lin Xiaolu stepped forward, hands on her hips: "That woman... your teacher, why did she say those things?"

"Are you talking about 'you can't go to the qualification certification if you don't beat us'?"

Bai Ji let go of the suitcase, standing upright: "Or her belief that 'Fangting City's team cannot beat Bai'an City's team'?"

Lin Xiaolu huffed: "Both."

"Regarding the first matter, it's actually a bit complicated to explain, as it's internal information that only our teacher can disclose."

After calmly glancing at Lin Xiaolu, Bai Ji stated in a steady voice: "Next year's qualification certification exam might differ from previous years, and if the strength isn't up to par, it could indeed be life-threatening."

"Our Bai'an City team isn't new to the qualification certification, and everyone holds a white card. We have firsthand experience with the assessment, and by battling with us, you can gauge your own strength. If you can't win, it's better to avoid danger and maybe wait another year to take the exam."
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"...According to what you're saying, stopping us from taking the assessment is actually for our own good?"

Lin Xiaolu asked: "Because it will be very dangerous, so if we cannot guarantee our safety, we should not go, is that what you mean?"

"According to my conjecture, yes."

Bai Ji continued to explain: "This is just a conclusion based on information told to me by the teacher. If you want the real answer, it's best to ask her personally."

"'For our own good' is a conjecture..."

Lin Xiaolu slightly tilted her head: "Then, what about 'Fangting City's team cannot beat Bai'an City's team'?"

"That was her exact wording." Bai Ji replied with a polite smile. "Of course, that excludes our teacher and the seniors, it only refers to us, the newer generation."

"You said, the original words?"

Lin Xiaolu's eyes widened.

"Yes, although I do not understand the extent of your abilities, I trust the teacher's judgment," Bai Ji added.

"...Didn't I tell you already? Everyone in our Fangting City team has fought against the executives of Black Ash Dawn," Lin Xiaolu said softly.

"Yes, it must have been a very arduous and brutal battle, for which I hold great respect," Bai Ji responded.

"I said, even though we were completely overpowered, at least on that day, when I stood in front of that person for the sake of this city, I absolutely did not regret it because I 'might die next'."

"I can understand."

"Since you can understand, then, you, who couldn't even find the enemy when your own city faced its greatest crisis, who didn't fight, who didn't protect, a team like yours..."

Lin Xiaolu took another step forward: "What right do you have to look down on us here?"

The corridor fell silent for a moment.

Lin Xiaolu glared at Bai Ji with a serious expression, while Bai Ji continued to look at her calmly, only the polite smile that had been on her lips had vanished.

"Indeed, you've said some pretty harsh words, Miss Bai Mei," she finally spoke after a while, "Do you realize that what you just said, although it is true, was actually not appropriate to say right now?"

"Just call me Lin Xiaolu."

Lin Xiaolu pouted: "Emerald Sparrow once said that the code names of Magical Girls are only for use among comrades."

"...Then, my apologies, Lin Xiaolu, you truly are an interesting person."

Bai Ji wasn't discolored by the barbed words, she just nodded again: "I wonder where I have offended you to evoke such hostility from you?"

"I don't know."

Lin Xiaolu admitted, "Although I don't know why, I just feel annoyed talking to you, always feeling like you are scolding me in your heart."

Bai Ji was momentarily at a loss for words.

After a pause, she barely curved her lips, regaining her previous tranquil demeanor: "So that's it, I apologize to you. It could be because the teacher mentioned on the way here that you are the new leading figure of Fangting City, which may have skewed my impression of you."

"If you truly feel that my words belittled you, then I apologize once again, I am sincerely sorry."

"To show you my genuine gratitude, please allow me to suggest compensation, to mend our relationship. What do you say?"

This proposal, on the contrary, made Lin Xiaolu hesitate.

"...What compensation?"

"You believe the teacher's judgment is wrong, and that you would not lose to us. Although I trust the teacher, I also want to verify whether this conclusion is true."

Bai Ji placed her hand on her chest where her Heart's Gem slightly glowed: "Why not have a little friendly contest between us here in private? How about that?"

"A contest?" Lin Xiaolu finally showed the first smile since meeting Bai Ji, but there was no trace of friendliness in it: "How do you want to compete?"

"It's simple."

The Heart's Gem in her hand shone brighter until it enveloped her whole body, and Bai Ji completed her transformation, appearing before Lin Xiaolu in her transformed state. She then extended her right hand, placing it before Lin Xiaolu.

"Without the use of any Spell Techniques, this is a sphere made solely from my magic power."

As she spoke, a magic power sphere emerged in the palm of her hand, "It's very simple, just magic power gathered together to take this shape, nothing fancy. A straightforward, ordinary magic power sphere."

"Then what?" Lin Xiaolu touched her own Heart's Gem without any delay.

"Next, make one of your magic power spheres. Use your magic power sphere to shatter mine."

Bai Ji's expression remained peaceful, but the words she spoke were anything but peaceful:

——"Or, have mine shatter yours."