Companion Chatbot Gentian

As the assessment progressed into its later stages, Team 277 made steady progress, Larkspur felt increasingly idle.

After clearing the first node and securing a reward, they efficiently found the second node. Although another team had already entered this node and was initially reluctant to cooperate with Team 277, Tudingui displayed her astonishing strength and almost single-handedly dealt with the Aberrant Beast within. This made them reconsider their approach. Ultimately, out of respect for Tudingui, they voluntarily gave up half of the reward.

After conquering the second node, the trio found and solved two more puzzles, bringing their total rewards from five puzzles to five. With these five puzzles and the points from the two nodes, Team 277 firmly secured their position as the team with the highest reward points in the maze.

During this process, Larkspur did nothing, or rather, she had the opportunity to do anything that could be called a "contribution".

She became an ordinary bystander, watching Tudingui display his skills from beginning to end. If she did anything, she would probably just say something like "That was really impressive" after Tudingui's battle ended, depending on the atmosphere.

Yes, she discovered that Tudingui seemed to really enjoy being praised.

Although she won't bring it up proactively, or even show any signs of it, there's actually a subtle atmosphere of "should I say I was amazing?" when she returns from a battle.

For some reason, the Larkspur, sensing this atmosphere, chose to go along with it. Adhering to the principle that saying a few nice words wouldn't hurt, she offered a couple of compliments to satisfy the other person's vanity. Even if she only said the most meaningless platitudes, just a couple of compliments would inexplicably boost the other person's mood.

As for how Tudingui behaved after he became happy...

"Um, Senior Tudingui."

Like a child on a spring outing, Larkspur turned his head with a hint of helplessness. "Your hand."

She noticed that, for some reason, Tudingui had started touching his head again.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Tudingui withdrew his hand from the Larkspur's head, looking slightly apologetic. "I accidentally put it there again."

"I understand, habitual actions are indeed difficult to change."

Larkspur nodded. "I'm not accusing anyone, just saying."

"Yes, I'll be more careful from now on." Tudingui nodded, but a hint of disappointment still showed on his slightly pursed lips.

Noticing this, Larkspur let out a barely audible sigh, completely baffled by the other's inexplicable warmth towards her. Could it be because she had complimented her a couple of times? Was this child so easily appeased?

She didn't consider herself heartless enough to refuse even a child's kindness. In a slightly more private setting, she might have been more accommodating to appease the child. But in this situation, she absolutely could not agree.

Simply because it was being broadcast live.

Even if Larkspur herself couldn't see what was happening on the viewing platform, based on her understanding of the assessment system, she judged that Team 277 was currently the focus of the live broadcast projection. No matter when or where, the team's situation could potentially be projected onto the viewing site.

The false identity of "Gentian" might fool outsiders, but the Green Faction of the Magic Affairs Institute, as well as Emerald and others, are well aware of her true identity. If these people saw her being treated like a child by a child, they might laugh at her for it.

Moreover, besides Emerald and others, the Queen must also be present to observe the ceremony.

Had she already seen Team 277, or even noticed them? Larkspur had no idea, but that didn't stop her from feeling a little uneasy.

She thought that by using this fake identity to sneak into the assessment site, as long as she acted ordinary enough, there was no possibility of her becoming the focus of attention. But she didn't expect to be so "lucky" in drawing teammates, drawing a "powerful" player who could single-handedly lead the entire team to first place in the standings.

The mere thought that the Queen might see what she was doing sent chills down her spine. Had she already seen her? Could she recognize her as an "exile"? If she did, what should she do next? Should she leave? And what about her descendants?

The hidden worries in her heart made Larkspur's nerves tense, and the free time in reality gave her room to overthink. She tried hard to suppress the chaotic thoughts in her mind, not wanting to show anything unusual in front of her two teammates, and threw the topic back to Tudingui:

"Speaking of which, Senior Tudingui mentioned that he often plays with his younger sister. So what do they usually play?"

After the so-called "ice-breaking" process, the atmosphere in Team 277 had become much more harmonious. Although for some reason, the team was in a delicate state where "both of them really liked to talk to Larkspur."

Tudingui began to proactively share some of her daily life experiences, such as studying, training, her work as a magical girl, and her family.

However, it seems that only when the topic of family comes up does the Foxtail Grass have the courage to speak up and exchange words with the Tudingui. She remains silent on other topics. Thus, it becomes a strange situation where the Tudingui and the Larkspur chat about this and that, with the Larkspur occasionally responding.

Of course, the point that everyone present knew, but no one brought up, was Tudingui's teacher, Blue Star.

Regarding Blue Star, and this "strongest magical girl in the Material Realm," Tudingui never mentioned it. Larkspur could find many unnatural connections in her words; clearly, Tudingui deliberately concealed Blue Star's existence.

Larkspur wasn't that curious about Blue Star, because she knew all too well about Anya. Beneath the halo of being the "strongest," Anya was just an ordinary person living a mundane life. So there was no need to fantasize too much about an empty title; Blue Star was most likely just a magical girl living her own life.

Perhaps one day she will see Blue Star and see what kind of existence this magical girl who inherited Anya's identity is, but she will not let that lead her to fantasize.

Meanwhile, Foxtail Grass, who also had nothing to do, enthusiastically pulled her aside to chat about anime and related topics. Tudingui couldn't get a word in edgewise and could only listen to them talk. Larkspur, who didn't watch anime, wanted to say that she wasn't good at this kind of topic either, but she couldn't take back the persona she had previously established, so she could only rack her brains, recalling the bits and pieces she had glimpsed while Lin Xiaolu was watching TV, trying to find a way to get by.

She felt like a robot who could only chat with one person. When Tudingui was talking, Foxtail Grass could only wait on the sidelines. When Foxtail Grass finally had a chance to chime in, Tudingui could only wait on the sidelines. She was sandwiched between the two of them and wanted to say something like, "Can't you two chat more?", but she was always shut down by one of them's high spirits.

After all, didn't I come here to take an exam? Why didn't I just sit around doing nothing and get first place, and now I'm stuck here playing the role of a chatbot being fought over by two kids?

The Larkspur was somewhat puzzled.

Was it really just bad luck that I got the draw, or is the pressure of this assessment really that low? Are other teams like this too?