Chapter 344: Reflection After the Exam

When Team 277 walked out of the maze, several hundred examinees had already passed through the exit.

Clearly, the speed at which Cui Que and the others found the exit was not particularly fast.

Although Tu Dinggui had already used her true abilities, their starting position was simply too poor—having ventured deep into several nodes, they were quite far from the actual exit, so even by rushing, it still took nearly an hour to reach it.

Cui Que had no particular thoughts on this result; after all, compared to the thousands of examinees, being able to find the maze exit within the first few hundred could already be considered quite good. When adding the bonus points Team 277 obtained inside the maze, their final total score could also rank third, which was quite excellent. In fact, if measured by Cui Que’s own goal of keeping as low a profile as possible, this result was far too good.

However, Tu Dinggui did not seem all that satisfied with this result.

Although she did not show much emotion on the surface, the slight sense of urgency she displayed while finally searching for the exit, as well as the look of disappointment when she learned that their exit ranking was outside the top hundred, were both captured by Cui Que.

"This is only the first round of the practical assessment, so this can already be considered a pretty good start, right?"

Taking advantage of a break while Tu Dinggui was resting, Cui Que feigned a casual tone: "As long as we perform steadily and can also achieve good rankings in the next few assessments, it’s not impossible to take first place in the end, is it?"

"Hm? Ah."

Realizing that Cui Que was speaking to her, Tu Dinggui reacted for a few seconds before responding softly: "Sorry, did I make my disappointment too obvious?"

Cui Que did not expect her to be so direct.

"…Not really, at least Gouweicao shouldn't have noticed."

After thinking for a moment, she stopped holding back: "I didn't actually feel any 'disappointment' from you, I just deduced logically that you might not be that satisfied with this result."

"Mm, indeed, I am a bit dissatisfied."

Perhaps because the magic consumption inside the maze was significant, Tu Dinggui had already deactivated her transformation state; she took off her coat and held it in the crook of her arm, stating bluntly: "I would rather be in first place."

"That much is clear."

Cui Que nodded: "And what you want, Senior, shouldn't just be first place in one assessment, but first place for this entire batch of assessments, right?"

"…Of course." Tu Dinggui hesitated slightly: "Or rather, I must be in first place."

This statement sounded like the kind of top student in class who might cry because they didn't get a perfect score on an exam.

"Then your self-expectations are truly strict."

Cui Que was slightly stunned: "But there are so many people participating in this assessment, and there must be many powerful examinees; the idea of 'only accepting first place' will make things very hard for you."

"I know."

Tu Dinggui nodded while holding her coat: "That is why I feel that if the results of the first assessment could be better, the chance of getting first place in the total score would be greater."

"Ha." Cui Que could only let out such a sigh at this self-torturing demand and logic.

"Sorry." Hearing Cui Que’s sigh, Tu Dinggui apologized in a low voice.

"Why the sudden apology?"

"These are all my own demands for myself, but because we are a team now, it will more or less affect you all in the coming projects." Tu Dinggui was dead serious.

"In that case, shouldn't I be the one apologizing to you, Senior?"

Cui Que looked puzzled: "After all, I said the ugly things upfront; I am not a very powerful magical girl, and being teammates with me certainly won't help your goal of 'competing for first place'."

"But if it weren't for being on a team with me, a normal examinee would only need to achieve a standard 'passing' grade."

Tu Dinggui was clearly convinced of her own logic: "And in order to achieve my goal, I might semi-forcibly push you all to move forward together in the next projects."

How on earth was this child raised?

For once, Cui Que began to feel that Tu Dinggui was also quite a troublesome child.

She had no doubt that if it were her own daughter, having dragged an entire team to the top of the maze exploration points and achieved third place in the overall assessment, she would definitely have her nose in the air, thinking, "You all should thank me and praise me."

Or rather, the vast majority of people should have a similar mindset in such a situation.

Yet Tu Dinggui, who had done the most work and made the most contributions in the team, was able to turn around and apologize to her teammates, feeling that not getting first place meant she hadn't done well enough?

"I do want to get a good result, Senior Tu Dinggui."

Controlling her facial expression, Cui Que said as calmly as possible: "And as far as I know, Senior Gouweicao should think the same. So you don't have to feel that 'wanting to be first' is just your own wishful thinking; if possible, we all hope for that."

Of course, this was a lie.

Cui Que herself actually didn't want to be first at all; rather, she was the type of person Tu Dinggui mentioned earlier who "only wanted to achieve a standard passing grade."

Everything she was saying now was entirely

based on the assumption of what a magical girl like Long Dan would feel if she were a newcomer participating in the assessment.

It would be strange if a newcomer magical girl participating in her first assessment didn't want to get a good result.

"But even if we want a high score, if you hadn't been assigned to our team, Senior Gouweicao and I wouldn't have been able to achieve such good results. So, you are actually the hero of our team right now."

Cui Que tried hard to step into the role of "Long Dan," saying to Tu Dinggui in a very serious tone: "In my view, you have already done very well and are quite remarkable, Senior Tu Dinggui; I am very grateful to you."

"…Thank you for saying that."

The encouragement from her "junior" seemed to make Tu Dinggui feel a bit happier, and her calm expression held a bit more joy: "Yes, I should actually thank you too, Long Dan. Although I don't know why, I feel that you have said many things today that are very valuable to me, including now; I have learned a lot."

"It’s just a few scraps of wisdom I’ve picked up; if it’s useful to you, Senior, then that couldn't be better."

Cui Que was equally humble: "I hope you can keep your spirits up, Senior; after all, what rank our team gets in the next few assessments depends entirely on you."

For a moment, the atmosphere between the two became quite harmonious; if the teachers of Silver Corridor saw such polite and humble dialogue, it would likely be listed as a typical case study for "Magical Girl Team Etiquette."

"Mm, I will."

Tu Dinggui smiled slightly: "Or rather, please leave it to me."

"That is truly reassuring." Cui Que also revealed a ritualistic smile.

"However, Long Dan."

"What is it, Senior?"

"That, although it might be a somewhat abrupt request, and it could be said to be my own personal preference, but..."

For some reason, Tu Dinggui suddenly became a bit coy, and then, quite hesitantly, said:

"If it’s alright, could you stop calling me 'Senior' and call me 'Sister' instead?"