The Third Teammate

"Here you go, these are your number tags. The two numbers on the tags represent the team's and your individual number, respectively. Please keep them safe."

Taking two metal round tags from a prop box nearby, the staff member in charge of registration and formation wrote down the numbers on the tags while explaining their function:

"For example, this sign over here has the number 277, which means your team number is 277. As for B193 below, that's your individual combat assessment number. Please remember it clearly."

Taking the metal token from the other person, Larkspur pretended to examine it for a moment before putting it into her bag. Then she asked, "I understand. So, how do we identify the third teammate?"

"Please wait a moment. We are still registering all the teams that have nominated each other. Once the registration of the nominated magical girls is complete, we will begin the random team assignment process. At that time, if another magical girl draws your team's number, we will also give her a number tag like this."

The staff member spoke quickly, "The number tags of the same team can be sensed through magical fluctuations. You can confirm them now, and then use this method to find your third teammate."

"I see... How amazing!"

Standing behind the Larkspur, the Foxtail Grass closed its eyes and sensed its own and the Larkspur's number plates as instructed. Then, a knowing look appeared on its face. "As expected of this Kingdom, even the exam number plates have such convenient functions!"

"After all, they did collect a registration fee."

Knowing the process all along, Larkspur, who was merely going through the motions, breathed a sigh of relief, slightly pleased that she had successfully passed the registration for the practical assessment. "In short, now that we've completed the formalities, let's not bother others here and go wait on the side."

She accepted Foxtail Grass's request to team up.

There wasn't any particular reason; regardless of whether she nominated someone else or not, she would eventually be assigned to a team. After a brief conversation with Foxtail Grass, she felt that the girl's personality was quite good and she probably wouldn't be the type to constantly cause trouble in the team and make things difficult for everyone. So, there was nothing wrong with teaming up with her.

This is actually based on the experience of the Larkspur.

When she was young, she suffered from a lack of experience when she first participated in the Letter Card assessment, which was beyond her level. At that time, she also left the Fangting City Squad and participated in the random team matching alone. As a result, one of her two teammates happened to be a spoiled young lady who grew up in the Kingdom. Not only was her strength not outstanding, but she was also always bossing others around, making the atmosphere in the team quite unpleasant. To the point that the other teammate almost got into a fight with her several times.

Even now, looking back, she would never call it a pleasant experience. In fact, if it weren't for her exceptional individual skills at the time, which allowed her to lead the team to success even with terrible teamwork, that assessment would definitely have failed.

Now, returning to the examination hall once again under a false identity, she certainly doesn't care about the grades, nor does she intend to make a fool of herself. It doesn't matter if her teammates are a little weaker; what's most important is that they are easy to get along with. Otherwise, when the defense missions from the Magic Affairs Institute become more severe in the latter half of the assessment, she won't have time to appease the temperamental kids.

Lost in thought, Larkspur and Foxtail Grass returned to the shade of the tree where they had been, chatting as they waited for the final team assignments.

"I wish I could be paired with a teammate who's on the Carry Ranking."

As the line at the registration desk in the distance gradually thinned out, the Foxtail Grass uttered this sigh.

"Why?" Larkspur looked at her with some confusion. "Didn't you say you were very strong and therefore more than capable of passing the test?"

"Hmm... that being said, I still think it's better to have stronger teammates when you're randomly assigned."

Foxtail Grass adjusted her glasses. "You see, if our teammates are Carry Ranking, then the probability of other teams having magical girls of that caliber will decrease. It's clearly a win-win situation, right?"

"Then you still want to team up with me?" Larkspur looked at her, somewhat puzzled.

"Gentian -senpai is just a matter of getting along well! You see, the Examination Institute gave us the opportunity to have assigned teammates, which means we should act with our friends and lay the foundation for team unity with unbreakable friendship! Then, we hope that the randomly assigned teammate will be a powerhouse who can carry us to victory, right?"

Foxtail Grass waved her hand and said, "In other words, I chose Gentian because it can give our team a team spirit! And the randomly assigned teammates will become the team's sword and shield!"

"I think the team-building strategy that the Examination Institute expects is completely opposite to what you've said..."

Larkspur commented with a hint of helplessness, "Besides, we've only known each other for two hours. Where did this so-called 'unbreakable friendship' come from?"

"... I don't have any other friends left among those present." Foxtail Grass looked down at her fingers, her tone awkward.

The Larkspur was speechless for a moment.

The waiting period for teammates didn't last long; soon, the team assignments at the registration desk were completed.

"All candidates present, take your number tags! Find your teammates by checking the magic fluctuations!"

A staff member stood in the center of the square and loudly announced to everyone using Spell Formula to amplify his voice, "I'll repeat myself! Take your number tags! Use the magical fluctuations to find your teammates!"

In an instant, the crowd of candidates gathered there began to stir.

Larkspur and Foxtail Grass, holding their number tags, struggled through the gaps in the crowd, Tether by the magical energy. After walking several hundred meters, they finally found their third teammate.

The magical girl who was randomly assigned to the team was doing the same thing. When the three of them finally met in the crowd, looked up, and confirmed each other's appearance, Larkspur and the other girl were stunned for a moment at almost the same time.

"Ah."

"Huh?"

The two of them made short, simultaneous sounds, neither particularly happy nor disappointed, perhaps a little surprised, but not much. The main reason was probably that they had met once before.

"... Foxtail Grass." Larkspur turned his head to look at his teammate.

"What's wrong, Gentian- senpai?" After confirming the appearance of her new teammate, Foxtail Grass also looked at Larkspur.

"It seems that the wish you just mentioned has really come true." Even Larkspur found the current team composition somewhat amusing.

"A wish?" This somewhat vague statement puzzled Foxtail Grass for a moment, but she quickly realized, "Huh? You mean...?"

Without a doubt, the "third teammate" standing in front of the two was the magical girl on the "Carry Ranking" whom Foxtail Grass had just been wishing for.

The other party had met Larkspur on the Kingdom Express when they came to the Magic Kingdom half a month ago.

The girl holding a book in her arms, gazing at the two with a serene expression, was none other than the magical girl from Heavenly City, codenamed Tudingui.