Chapter 39: White Badge, Character Badge, Flower Badge

Lin Xiaolu’s question was very sudden, which made Cui Que ask in return: "Why do you want to ask this?"

"Because that day before, you said on the phone, telling us not to come over..." Lin Xiaolu answered in a low voice.

"Do you think I was disgusted that you were useless?"

Cui Que raised her eyebrows slightly and explained: "That’s not it, I didn't mean that at all."

"But, Cui Que has actually been acting alone the whole time, right?"

Lin Xiaolu stared into Cui Que’s eyes: "It was the same for a while before, you were always staring at things in your hands in a daze, and often said you were investigating something. I often thought: could it be that Cui Que has actually been fighting alone in places we don't know about?"

She gripped the corner of her clothes, her voice gradually growing louder: "I know Cui Que is very strong, but at times like this, I still feel worried. I don't want to only be able to worry in vain from the back, I want to help you!"

"There will be a day for that."

Cui Que lowered her eyes, her voice cold but carrying a hint of comfort: "You are newcomers, you just need time to grow. An older generation like me will eventually leave the stage, and the future will always be yours."

"The future, huh..."

Chewing on this word, Lin Xiaolu pondered, then immediately shook her head: "But, compared to the future, I really think the present is more important."

"I said before that I want to become a magical girl like you, Cui Que. I don't want to lose the courage to stand by your side just because I'm used to standing behind you."

"So, I want to work hard to become strong. I will be careful not to let myself get hurt. When you encounter a Residual Beast that you can bring me along for, will you let me come?"

Her words were earnest, and the intensity of the emotion within them even made Cui Que feel a subtle sense of jealousy.

This was the jealousy she felt as a father toward herself as a magical girl, jealous of why the identity of Cui Que could make Lin Xiaolu open her heart so proactively.

"...I understand your feelings, and I am very happy."

Pushing down the strange emotions in her heart, she decided to treat Lin Xiaolu’s question seriously: "Since that is the case, I will answer you specifically."

"First, I can take you with me whenever I go out, but if we encounter a Residual Beast above the Maggot-rank, I need you to watch the battle from afar, because that is truly not a battle you can intervene in right now."

"Second, you want to know exactly how strong you need to be to help me; I will explain that to you now."

"I said before that I am Flower-rank certified, by number. Has Moke told you what exactly a 'Flower-rank' is?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Moke, who was dozing off in Xia Liang’s arms, twitched her ears and lifted her head in confusion: "Eh, what?"

"About the certification badges." Cui Que repeated.

"Certification badges... hasn't mentioned it yet. Does the Inspector intend to let Xiaolu and Xiaoliang participate in the certification test?"

Moke looked puzzled: "This year's exam is already over, right? Isn't it a bit too early to talk about it to them now?"

"It is a bit early, so I am just mentioning it first to give them a goal."

Cui Que looked at Lin Xiaolu and said: "Then let me explain first. Regarding a magical girl’s combat power, the Magical Kingdom has a specialized grading system. This grading mechanism is called 'Certification Badges,' just like this one."

She took off the deep blue emblem at her collar and gestured: "Certification badges are divided from low to high into 'White Badge,' 'Character Badge,' and 'Flower Badge' based on the rating. Among them, except for the 'Flower Badge' which is issued directly by the Royal Court, both White Badges and Character Badges require participating in specialized tests."

"You and Xiaojin are both uncertified magical girls right now. If you want to promote to a 'White Badge,' you need to go to the Magical Kingdom to take the test."

"It's just that the exam time is usually scheduled for March, and it is already June now. You need to wait for the one next year. At that time, as long as you persist in your training, you should be able to obtain the White Badge certification."

"If you become a White Badge, I can acknowledge you as capable of standing on your own and let you participate in more dangerous battles; when you become a Character Badge, you can help me in dangerous battles; when you become a Flower Badge, I can safely entrust my own safety to you."

"Flower Badge..."

Lin Xiaolu was stunned, repeating the words in her mouth.

Xia Liang, who was on the side, was also thoughtful, and then became somewhat eager to try.

"Put the Flower Badge matter aside for now, think about your White Badge exam. Although it's next March, given your progress, it's actually quite tight to start preparing from now."

Cui Que stretched out a finger and said: "If you want to pass the exam next year... hmm, isn't your summer vacation coming up next?"

The two nodded subconsciously.

"Then, for this entire summer vacation, I will conduct devilish special training for you every day, striving to have you both reach the Bud-rank and master your own magic constructs within two months." Pointing her finger at the two in front of her, Cui Que announced this.

"Eh, two months?"

"Isn't that a bit..."

The two newcomers revealed somewhat troubled expressions in unison, because after nearly a month of training, they knew deep down that it would take a long time for them to reach the standard of the Bud-rank.

"That is why I said it would be very tight. You can quit at any time now." Cui Que said expressionlessly.

"Ugh... if it's to help Cui Que!"

The troubled feeling didn't bother Lin Xiaolu for long; she quickly determined what was more important and reignited her fighting spirit.

No matter how arduous the road ahead, she must work hard and catch up to Cui Que’s footsteps!

She thought this in her heart.

——"However, speaking of exams and summer vacation, I have one more question to ask you."

Cui Que picked up her teacup again, took a sip of tea, and let her bangs cover her eyes: "Bai Mei, Xiaojin, how were your final exam results... at school?"

The moment she asked, Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang, who had just been full of fighting spirit, both felt a chill and shivered for no reason.

This was no wonder, because when talking about this topic, Cui Que’s tone was several times colder than usual.

As for why this was the case, it had to be traced back to the parent-teacher meeting two days ago.

Lin Yun, who had rushed to the school in the pouring rain, went to Lin Xiaolu’s class and then received a report card that made him suspect it had been printed incorrectly.

Out of a total of 100 points, Chinese 77, Math 53, English 63, Physics 42... the grades on the report card were not just shocking, they were painful to look at.

That would have been fine, but when the parent-teacher meeting ended, Lin Xiaolu’s homeroom teacher singled him out to stay behind. Out of politeness, the teacher didn't mention the embarrassment of his appearance, but first criticized him for being late, believing that this didn't set a good example for the child; then, the teacher earnestly told him to pay attention to the child’s education.

Regarding this, Lin Yun was truly speechless and could only apologize while smiling, then returned home with his daughter under Lin Xiaolu’s somewhat guilty gaze.

On the way, he tried to bring up the grades, but the attitude Lin Xiaolu displayed was one of "a dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water," leaving him at a loss as to how to continue the topic.

After considering it to the end, he felt there was only one most efficient way.

Looking at the two photos of the report cards on his phone, Cui Que fell into deep thought.

If Lin Xiaolu’s grades could be called ordinarily terrible, then Xia Liang’s grades could only be described as horrifying.

"Failing every subject? Single digits in Math?"

Lifting her head to look at Xia Liang, who was sitting there properly and obediently, looking every bit the well-behaved good student, Cui Que took a deep breath and pressed the lock button on her phone.

"Since it has reached this point, there is no other way."

She crossed her arms and looked seriously at the two in front of her: "Starting from today, we enter the devilish training phase, and besides preparing for the certification test, one more item will be added to the content."

——"Every night, you must study properly for me."