The Junior's Resolve

"I felt confident I could handle it... so I tried it by myself."

In response to Xia Liang's largely well-intentioned "reproach," Bai Jingxuan could only weakly defend herself, saying, "It won't happen again next time."

"Next time? Oh? Quite ambitious!"

Xia Liang changed her hand from rubbing to pinching Bai Jingxuan's face. "Blossoming the Leaf Rank, and you're already looking forward to the Blossom Rank? If people say things like that, they'll think you're an arrogance!"

"I think it will happen someday." Because Xia Liang controlled her strength well, Bai Jingxuan didn't feel uncomfortable being pinched on the cheek, so she obediently moved her seat a little to the side and leaned against Xia Liang's chest. "If I don't get stronger, I'll never be able to truly face those people..."

"It's about time to stop this topic."

Xia Liang interrupted softly, "Otherwise, everyone will be angry."

"...Hmm." Bai Jingxuan paused, then answered honestly.

She's definitely going to bring up revenge again, everyone knows that, but obviously, no one wants to see a kid like her always getting caught up in those negative emotions.

However, after Bai Jingxuan successfully Blossoming the Leaf Rank, one thing is certain: she has indeed initially acquired the strength for "revenge".

Last summer, when Bai Jingxuan had just become a magical girl, Sparrow, the Claw Mark magical girl who attacked Fangting City alongside Black Ash Dawn, was only at the Leaf Rank. Although the strength difference between Leaf Rank- Leaf Rank characters can be vast, Bai Jingxuan was already at the same Blossoming as her. This meant that if Bai Jingxuan could start learning Spell Formula in the next few months, enriching her Spell Formula repertoire and combat skills, and combining that with her more complete beast transformation ability, she would be able to directly confront Sparrow.

This is quite an extraordinary feat. You see, Sparrow herself was already Letter Card before she even defected from her Kingdom. And Bai Jingxuan, a child who has only been a magical girl for a little over half a year, is only lacking in Spell Formula repertoire and combat skills to reach Letter Card level?

Even to Larkspur, such a rate of growth seemed unreal.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but turn her gaze to Lin Xiaolu beside her, and Xia Liang almost did the same thing at the same time. With Bai Jingxuan imitating the two of them, for a moment everyone was looking at Lin Xiaolu.

"What are you doing? What are you doing?"

Having remained silent for quite some time, trying her best to minimize her presence, Lin Xiaolu suddenly became displeased. "Why are you looking at me?"

"No, I didn't mean anything by it, I was just feeling a little sentimental."

Xia Liang chuckled and looked away, "It suddenly occurred to me that, excluding the junior, among all of us here, it seems that neither Xiao Xuan nor I were the first to become magical girls... or something like that."

"So what? I've only been awakening my Magic Armament for a little over a month, less than two months. What's wrong with taking some time to mature?"

Lin Xiaolu's eyes widened. "And you, if we really fought, would you definitely be able to beat me? Probably not, right?"

"Well... that's hard to say."

Xia Liang chuckled and said, "However, if you bring this up now, I choose to surrender."

"Oh? You only want to surrender now, huh? Interesting."

Lin Xiaolu grinned. "Speaking of which, I haven't fought with you since last month. Looks like you've made quite a few progress lately?"

"Same to you."

Xia Liang wiped Bai Jingxuan's face one last time, then let go. "I'm not so arrogant as to think that only I can improve."

"Then what should we say? Let's find a place to spar?" Lin Xiaolu stood up, supporting herself on the sofa armrest.

"Don't want."

Xia Liang leaned back instead. "What if we fight now, and then we end up facing off again during the practical exam?"

Seeing the tension escalating, Larkspur stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "I don't mind you comparing yourselves, but if you really want to spar, let's find a suitable venue in the Academy District during the day. It's too late now; don't cause trouble for the hotel staff."

"Okay." Xia Liang smiled obediently at Larkspur.

"I understand." Lin Xiaolu glanced at Xia Liang with some reluctance, then closed her eyes helplessly and chose to follow Larkspur's advice.

Even so, given the current atmosphere, Larkspur understood what they were really thinking about the upcoming assessment.

"In short, judging from your expressions, you're all determined to participate in the next assessment?"

Her gaze swept across the faces of the people in front of her. "I want to emphasize again, there really is danger."

"Um."

Of course.

"Yes."

The response came in three voices, almost simultaneously.

"I know it's dangerous, but teacher, I'm not afraid of these things."

Bai Jingxuan expressed her determination thus. "It is precisely because they are there that I must go."

"This is what we promised each other. Once I become a fully-fledged magical girl, you'll fight alongside me."

Lin Xiaolu replied with the same serious expression, "Even if there are dangers during the exam, isn't it only by proactively dealing with crises that one can stand on their own? Besides, so many seniors are there, and so many other candidates are taking the exam at the same time. If I don't go, won't I fall behind them?"

"I think this is a great opportunity."

Xia Liang expressed a different view. "If we don't prove ourselves in this kind of setting, I'm afraid you'll still treat us like kids, instead of real companions, right?"

"But you are still just children," Larkspur retorted to Xia Liang.

"Ordinary children shouldn't become magical girls."

Xia Liang stared at Larkspur: "Senior, we chose this path ourselves, so I won't regret the potential dangers we might encounter, and you shouldn't blame yourself for the dangers we might face. You know you can't keep shielding us from all dangers forever, and I'm already a Leaf Rank, a stage where a magical girl should be independent."

"... I see."

The Larkspur took a deep breath.

She had actually known all along that the children would make this choice, and had even planned ahead based on the assumption that they would continue to participate in the assessment. However, she still wanted to try and see if she could persuade the younger generation to avoid the risks.

However, as Xia Liang said, ordinary children will not become magical girls. Even if there are girls who choose to become magical girls for the sake of a glamorous appearance, such children will not go to the point of taking the exam.

The magical girls who chose to come to the Kingdom for assessment and obtain certification have already expressed their attitude through this decision.

The younger generation is already growing up, and in the future, their growth will only accelerate. She cannot shield them from the wind and rain forever, nor is she destined to do so.

"... Well then, I think it's time to tell you another piece of news."

At this point, Larkspur felt a rare sense of peace in her heart.

Now that she has decided to witness the younger generation's independent growth, she feels it's necessary to pass on more information to them. This doesn't mean revealing all the truth at once, but there are some things they should know, and she doesn't need to hide them from them.

"There's another reason I had dinner with the people from the Magic Affairs Institute today: I plan to shift my focus back to the Magic Affairs Institute from now on."

She looked up at the younger generation in front of her, noticing their slightly surprised expressions:

"And remember not to tell anyone. From now on, I will be working with them, perhaps this year, or perhaps next year... to become the Gem Scepter of the Magic Affairs Institute."