——"Candidates watching, please step aside, next one, enter."
Through the doorway, the voice of the examiner inside the test hall was clearly transmitted to the corridor outside.
Compared to the grand scale of the first test's labyrinth, the venue for the second test was undoubtedly much simpler—just a classroom in the Silver Corridor.
Although as an institution directly under the Kingdom, the classrooms in the Silver Corridor aren't really simple. They have two notable features: firstly, they are large; secondly, there are many of them.
They are large because their interiors are generally modified with spatial stretching, allowing them to accommodate larger equipnt when necessary.
They are nurous because these classrooms are configured by subject, with each class owning between five to seven classrooms based on different subjects. And to adhere to the philosophy of personalized and elite education, even the equipnt used by the reserve magical girls trained in the Silver Corridor on regular days is individually assigned, rather than shared.
This high-investnt preparatory education may be why magical girls from the Silver Corridor contribute more significantly on average in their careers compared to their colleagues from other origins, and number more in positions within the Five Institutes of the Kingdom than those from the Material Realm.
Of course, such future matters are still a bit distant for the candidates currently undergoing the real combat test. A more practical manifestation to ntion now would be Mint's previously issued "Top Thigh" list.
Ranked first on that list, deed by Mint as the strongest magical girl in this examination, was Mu Mian, also from the Silver Corridor.
Furthermore, if this so-called "Top Thigh" list were unfolded and its fifty people categorized by identity labels, the "Silver Corridor Faction" would definitely be the most frequent label. Following this tag might be categories like "Central City Garrison Team" and the like.
During the first labyrinth test, because the rules mandated that candidates act in teams and the maze terrain was complex with difficult mutual positioning, this kind of faction from one's background wasn't much reflected. At most, in the latter part of the test, so candidates with similar backgrounds would group together forming larger teams.
In this second test, likely due to it mainly relying on personal effort without mandating team actions, many candidates naturally chose to be with companions they had better relationships with.
Magical girls from the Silver Corridor were more willing to be with their past classmates; those from Central City were inclined to be with teammates from their sa city or other central cities; magical girls from small cities also felt they had more in common with candidates from other small cities…
However, there were still those who gathered according to examination groupings.
For example, Lin Xiaolu, Bai Jingxuan, and Mint.
At this mont, the three of them stood together in the corridor, watching the testing process in the classroom.
And yet, although they stood together, there was an unusually large distance between Lin Xiaolu and Mint; although Mint seed indifferent, Lin Xiaolu didn't hide her expression of disdain at all.
This disdain wasn't because of any connection to Black Ash Dawn. In fact, knowing that Mint didn't partake in the misdeeds of Black Ash Dawn, Lin Xiaolu didn't hold any prejudice because of that.
What truly made her feel disdain towards Mint was yesterday, after Mint, through her own ans, managed to contact Erald Sparrow.
——"So disgusting."
This was the thought Lin Xiaolu blurted out back then.
Though to be fair, being a fan of Erald Sparrow was quite normal, sothing Lin Xiaolu even sowhat endorsed. But Mint's obsequious attitude was sothing Lin Xiaolu simply couldn't accept.
The most unacceptable thing, beyond Mint's tendency to scream like the most brainless fangirl, was her audacity in asking Erald Sparrow for an autograph.
Even Lin Xiaolu didn't have Erald Sparrow's autograph.
Though she knew that if she asked, Erald Sparrow would likely give her one. But now, the two were just too familiar with each other, making the act of "asking for an autograph" feel awkward.
Moreover, Lin Xiaolu considered herself now, in na, as Erald Sparrow's student, and privately, was recognized by Erald Sparrow as her "daughter." Although only privately, she could call her "mom"! They were already so close; wouldn't getting an autograph lower her own standing?
To sum it up, unexpectedly, this "outsider" Mint managed to accomplish sothing Lin Xiaolu hadn't and obtained sothing she didn't have.
This made her very unhappy.
Even after Mint explained afterward that she idolized only well-known and powerful magical girls, admiring Cornflower out of longing for her deeds and legends with no further transgressing thoughts, Lin Xiaolu's grievance wasn't eased.
After all, even if she didn't admit it, there was a bit of the sa-gender repulsion between them in this matter.
Lin Xiaolu liked Erald Sparrow very much and believed that she deserved to be loved by more people. But when others showed affection for Erald Sparrow in front of her, she felt a bit jealous.
Yes, just a bit.
This led to their strange relationship and mode of getting along—Mint didn't want to stay with other Beast Children for fear of betrayal if not concealed properly, preferring to act with Bai Jingxuan and Lin Xiaolu, whom she terd Sacrificial Children; whereas Lin Xiaolu, unsure about Mint being a "Black Ash Dawn person," thought it safer to keep her within her line of sight.
Both agreed on acting together, but Lin Xiaolu still remained sowhat displeased with Mint.
Even Bai Jingxuan, who initially was quite hostile towards Mint, regained her usual deanor upon knowing Mint wasn't truly a Remnant Beast in essence.
Now, it was Lin Xiaolu and Mint standing on both sides, with Bai Jingxuan in the middle. Though the three stood side by side, they were peculiarly united in appearance yet distanced in spirit, with hardly any exchanges.
They just watched, observing what those exiting the test hall had to say.
Just then, as a candidate finished their test and ca out, the magical girls surrounding them approached at once.
As this candidate ca out, not even having the ti to retract her magic armor, Lin Xiaolu could see from afar its form—it was a simple white handheld pinwheel, looking hardly different from those shoddy toys sold by street vendors.
Yet, with such unremarkable magic armor, she claid to have received a "B" level potential rating.
This naturally piqued the curiosity of the candidates watching by the door.
However, to protect the privacy of candidates' abilities, the Exam Institute specially sealed the test hall windows and even laid a perception-blocking magic technique. Hence, those waiting outside in the corridor couldn't see the test taker's abilities inside. And the magical girl who just finished the test clearly wasn't keen on revealing her magic armor abilities, so she just had a few casual words and left.
——"That person looks like they're lying."
A strange voice suddenly entered Lin Xiaolu's ears from the side.
Lin Xiaolu turned her head and saw a group of candidates she didn't know, with a magical girl in the center saying those words.
Undoubtedly, her opinion was sharp and intriguing, leading her small group of accompanying mbers to inquire curiously.
Yet, after saying this, the magical girl seed to realize her slip, shook her head, and refrained from discussing the topic further.
Just another annoying riddler.
Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but roll her eyes.
However, as she averted her gaze, another person in the team made a sudden move. Mint, who had been feeling restless due to lack of attention, seed to find a target at last and left Bai Jingxuan's side, heading towards that small group.
"Hey, Hua Zhu!"
Then, as if encountering an acquaintance, she naturally called out to the magical girl standing in the center.
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