[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-off-the-clock-then-a-magical-girl":3,"chapter-off-the-clock-then-a-magical-girl-off-the-clock-then-a-magical-girl-chapter-353":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Off the Clock, Then a Magical Girl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2350273,4594,"Chapter 353: Casual Talk During the Magic Gear Assessment","off-the-clock-then-a-magical-girl-chapter-353",353,"\u003Cp>The so-called \"qualification certification\" examination system was, at its inception, actually more about \"protection\" than \"honor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This system, drafted jointly by the Magic Affairs Institute and the Research Institute, existed solely to prevent magical girls, who were not yet powerful at the time, from blindly hunting down remnant beasts that exceeded their strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one had not reached the White Badge, one was not to strike at the Pupa stage; if one had not obtained the Character Badge, one was not to challenge the Metamorphosis stage beyond the half-molt. Linking strength to \"qualifications\" rather than judging it solely by the Flowering stage was a system designed to save precious reserve combat power from meaningless attrition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this, in the early days of the qualification certification system, there was no such thing as a \"written test.\" At that time, the qualification certification only had two \"practical\" items: one to test the magic gear, and one to test the mastery of techniques and other basic abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the development of the era, many things changed. The symbolic meanings of the \"White Badge\" and \"Character Badge\" gradually shifted; they were no longer just \"hunting qualification certificates,\" but were endowed with more honor, rights, and obligations. At the same time, the test content for the White Badge and Character Badge examinations gradually diverged. Today, the White Badge and Character Badge have become two vastly different types of tests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the White Badge test itself has evolved from a single two-part practical exam into the current four written tests and four practical tests, all to evaluate the capabilities of a new magical girl from more dimensions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, one thing has remained unchanged from ancient times to the present: the \"magic gear\" test. It should be said that ever since the qualification certification system for magic matured, the \"magic gear\" item has never been removed from the White Badge examination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is beyond doubt, simply because magic gear is the absolute core of a magical girl's ability. A magical girl who cannot properly develop her own magic gear ability is almost destined not to go far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Capability specifications, scope of effect, field of application, development potential, stability... these are all indicators that the Examination Institute refers to. Only after combining these test contents do the examiners give a comprehensive rating for the magic gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Representing the highest level, like a solitary flower crown, is the Soliflore grade; symbolizing the shining star is the Aster grade; and then there is the Briza grade, which corresponds to the blue sky, the atmosphere, and the breeze...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huazhu kept popping out one obscure foreign-language word after another, leaving Mint and Lin Xiaolu stunned. It was thanks to them not being completely ignorant of this examination that they could guess that these words the other party was saying were likely the true meanings of the \"S,\" \"A,\" and \"B\" ratings they had heard earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should know that the potential of magic gear is related to the complexity of its external form, right? Paired magic gear will have more potential than a single piece, and grouped magic gear has even further potential.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having separated from the small group of Silver Corridor graduates, Huazhu acted like an old friend, naturally occupying the space between Lin Xiaolu and Mint, and explained to the two: \"Precisely because of this, that child who said she was B-grade earlier was likely not telling the truth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\" Lin Xiaolu asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing that the other party's goal in making friends was her, not Cornflower, she felt she had no reason to refuse, so she agreed. Since someone had delivered information to her doorstep, adhering to the principle of \"it doesn't hurt to listen,\" she naturally had to ask a few more questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because it has never been heard of in the Silver Corridor that non-'paired' magic gear could possess a rating above C-grade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huazhu's tone was calm: \"From its form, that child's magic gear is just a very simple single piece. Although I don't mean to discriminate against others... but from the lowest E-grade to C-grade, a single piece of magic gear must cross three levels to be able to challenge a B-grade rating; such a feat has been rare since ancient times. She doesn't look like someone capable of doing such a thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A single piece of magic gear can't be above C-grade?\" Hearing this, Lin Xiaolu was a bit unhappy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she hadn't said it out loud, she knew her own situation very well; her magic gear could actually only be called a \"single piece.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In all likelihood, or rather, it is almost impossible at the White Badge stage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huazhu seemed not to hear the emotion in Lin Xiaolu's words: \"Some magical girls will evolve their magic gear from a single piece into other forms after the Bud stage. But this is the result of personal effort and opportunity. At the White Badge examination stage, examiners cannot raise scores for a vague and distant future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what if that child is exceptionally gifted?\" Lin Xiaolu was still trying to argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps there are, but it is definitely not that child.\" Huazhu glanced at Lin Xiaolu sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\" Lin Xiaolu sensed the subtext in her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One of the external manifestations of my magic gear ability is that it allows me to discern the truth or falsehood of others' words to a certain extent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huazhu looked at Lin Xiaolu with her heart-shaped irises: \"So I could tell that the child was bluffing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What the heck, can you read minds?\" Lin Xiaolu subconsciously moved two steps away from Huazhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It hasn't reached that level. I said, it's just distinguishing between truth and lies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huazhu didn't mind Lin Xiaolu's movement: \"Just like when you said she might be exceptionally gifted just now, I could tell that even you didn't believe what you were saying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Lin Xiaolu fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, does paired magic gear guarantee at least a B-grade?\" Since Lin Xiaolu wasn't speaking, it gave Mint, who was listening, a chance to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Generally speaking, paired magic gear is only rated C-grade if its performance is truly poor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huazhu answered everything asked: \"Just like grouped magic gear, it is only rated B-grade when its performance is truly poor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then a set?\" Finally, it was Bai Jingxuan's turn to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Undoubtedly S.\" Huazhu's answer was also very precise: \"It should be said that since the history of the nation began, there have only been two digits' worth of magical girls who could have their magic gear receive an S-grade rating at the White Badge stage. The vast majority have become famous figures in history books, or even big shots who can still be seen in the upper echelons of the nation today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan looked at each other; the two children thought of the same person almost simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, you said Cornflower...\" Finally, Lin Xiaolu couldn't hold back her impatience and spoke up to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cornflower did not participate in the White Badge examination; she skipped it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huazhu gave Lin Xiaolu a meaningful look: \"The Character Badge examination does not test magic gear, so no one knows what rating her magic gear would have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that's true.\" Lin Xiaolu didn't want to meet her gaze, so she looked away awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few of them leaned against the corridor wall like this, chatting intermittently. After finishing the information related to the examination, Mint took the lead in starting to talk about various anecdotes and gossip... It must be said that Mint truly had a talent for heating up the atmosphere and creating topics that ordinary people couldn't match, so even though Huazhu was a stranger to them before today, they were able to chat together for several hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like that, when the four of them were so engrossed in conversation that they almost forgot what they were there for, the door to the examination room in front of them finally opened for the umpteenth time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the examinee called was Bai Jingxuan.\u003C\u002Fp>",1341,"2026-06-21T02:45:53.136Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","aee7a406f21ced731f05dc6f4c79666fd46d42a3811f468acfd4c1f36ceab105","off-the-clock-then-a-magical-girl-chapter-354","off-the-clock-then-a-magical-girl-chapter-352",364,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foff-the-clock-then-a-magical-girl-cover.jpg"]