Mutual Probing

That's so strange.

Everything that was happening was so sudden that Xia Liang didn't even have time to react.

It wasn't until the three fallen members of the team had escaped the maze that she suddenly realized her predicament. Almost instinctively, she gripped the wand that had appeared in her hand.

Among the crowd, there were others who had similar reactions to Xia Liang, and those two weren't even the sisters Mountain Lily and Tiger Lily, but rather Butterfly Bush's teammates. The two magical girls who had attacked the Calla Lily team with her but stopped after the smoke was dispelled were also taken aback by Butterfly Bush's actions.

Yes, even Butterfly Bush teammates found her series of words and actions incomprehensible.

In fact, on the way to their team's location, although Butterfly Bush was the guide, she never mentioned that she was specifically heading to attack someone. Even when attacking Calla Lily's team, her explanation was that "they may have discovered some kind of mystery, and we can try to hide our identities, eliminate them, and seize their resources."

So it wasn't just Calla Lily who was utterly baffled when she was eliminated; no one present expected that, with her appearance and identity already exposed, and even eliminating others potentially leading to identification, Butterfly Bush would dare to act so blatantly.

"Hehehe, did you guys see that expression on her face when she was eliminated?"

Seemingly oblivious to the almost frozen atmosphere, Butterfly Bush turned around and, as if showcasing some kind of creation, cheerfully began to speak. Her shoulders twitched as she let out a wicked laugh, her gaze shifting between her teammates and Xia Liang: "She's just a clueless idiot, she looks so stupid."

However, no one responded to her.

Her two teammates were clearly just ordinary test-takers, already frightened by her unauthorized actions. As for Xia Liang and the others, they were certainly on high alert, if not as if facing a formidable enemy.

Even Mountain Lily had realized the seriousness of the situation. She and her sister Tiger Lily held hands, their faces serious. No one dared to trust a candidate who would attack other teams at will, even if that person didn't seem inclined to do so at the moment.

The same applies to Xia Liang.

However, if possible, she didn't want to fight the opposing team.

This idea wasn't entirely based on a assessment of strength, although she was indeed a little worried about whether the Mountain Lily Tiger Lily sisters could withstand the opponent... but that wasn't the main point. The real point was that the Butterfly Bush seemed unconcerned about being "identified."

One of the biggest limitations facing all the candidates in this maze test was being treated as nothing by their opponents, and the implications behind this were worth pondering. Xia Liang couldn't figure out why for the time being, so she chose to stay away.

"... What a fantastic battle."

So she organized her thoughts, trying to persuade the other party by starting with compliments, "Although our team just happened to be passing by, you all gave us a wonderful practical demonstration, from which we benefited greatly."

"Really? Heh."

Butterfly Bush smiled upon hearing this, but remained somewhat noncommittal. "You have a good eye."

"I apologize for possibly interrupting your battle. However, our team was simply passing through and has no intention of participating in the fight, nor are we interested in what you might be fighting for."

Seeing that there seemed to be some possibility of communication, Xia Liang pretended to be naive while continuing with an innocent smile, "So, now that your battle is over, could you let our team pass through here? We don't intend to linger, nor will we do anything sabotage."

"Pass...?"

Suppressing her unsettling, eerie laugh, Butterfly Bush glanced expressionlessly at the passage behind her.

At that moment, she seemed to suddenly become a normal person again, turning to her two teammates and asking, "What do you guys think?"

"Huh, huh?" The teammate, taken aback by her question, looked at her with an expression that seemed to say, "So I'm involved here too?" and stammered, "What?"

"The team said they meant no harm and wanted to pass through the intersection behind us."

The Butterfly Bush curled her lips slightly. "Do you think this is believable? Should we let them go?"

"I... I think it'll probably be fine..."

As if to confirm whether the Butterfly Bush had "returned to normal," another teammate, while sizing her up, replied, "Anyway, we're all just passing through. If we're not planning to fight, let's just move on."

"Yes, that makes sense."

Butterfly Bush nodded slightly. "Anyway, I'm not interested in opponents who aren't very strong. I've had my fun fighting others now... There's no reason for me to drag them into another fight."

"Okay, it's decided then."

After muttering to herself for a while, Butterfly Bush made a decision on her own, turned to Xia Liang and the others, and said with a relaxed expression, "You can go now."

Xia Liang couldn't help but exchange glances with Mountain Lily and Tiger Lily.

Is it really that simple?

It's no wonder she was suspicious. Everyone was confused by the Butterfly Bush's inconsistent attitude, but since she was now demonstrating normal communication skills and her words seemed sincere, then... there probably wasn't a problem, right?

Thinking this through, Xia Liang maintained her "naive and innocent" persona and said with a carefree laugh, "Alright, thank you then, let's go."

She reached out and pulled Mountain Lily, subtly gesturing for the two to stand to her left, and then walked past the Butterfly Bush as if she were completely unguarded.

Nothing happened.

Butterfly Bush and her two teammates simply watched Xia Liang and her two companions pass by quietly, as if, just as she had stated, "There was no reason to start a fight."

However, for some reason, Xia Liang suddenly remembered a sentence that Larkspur had said to her and Lin Xiaolu a long, long time ago.

"Being vigilant towards enemies and strangers, and trusting one's companions as much as possible, is the guiding principle of magical girls."

So, is the seemingly unaffected Butterfly Bush, who appears to have no intention of taking action, really as she claims?

Xia Liang couldn't help but observe the other person out of the corner of her eye.

Without a doubt, at this moment, the Butterfly Bush was simply standing there in a very relaxed posture, hands behind her back, back hunched, legs apart, with no obvious magical fluctuations emanating from her. Such a posture was undoubtedly relaxed... right?

No, that's not how it works.

Xia Liang noticed it; in fact, she sensed something was wrong the moment she saw that movement.

The Butterfly Bush has its hands behind its back.

"Retreat!"

She suddenly shouted at her two teammates, and almost simultaneously released her Magic Armament. Several mirrors quickly formed a clear barrier between the team and the enemy.

Through the gaps in the Magic Armament, Xia Liang seemed to see the sudden, blooming smile of the Butterfly Bush.

Then, the purplish-red smoke suddenly burst open, instantly filling the entire passage.