Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

When the three members of Team 277 followed the magical power fluctuation to find their target, they unknowingly stepped into the central area of this region.

The dim soil tunnel became wider and wider, originally only a few meters wide, now expanded to ten meters. However, the widening of the space did nothing to ease the increasingly silent atmosphere. On the contrary, the further they advanced, the more suffocating the air became, and the color of the mud walls grew increasingly gray, until in the end, even the dead branches were reduced to only a few.

After passing through the last tunnel, a gigantic empty chamber appeared before them.

The chamber's surroundings were still composed of mud like the previous tunnels; whether it was the dome or the surrounding soil walls, everything was gray to the point of turning white. There were no light sources anywhere, so it was pitch black. Though for a Magical Girl, this darkness did not obstruct their vision, it was still enough to cast a layer of oppression on one's psyche. What made one feel even more stifled was that in this vast empty chamber, aside from a hanging deadwood in the center, there was, quite literally, "nothing else"—no items of interest, and not the slightest sound. The entire area seemed as if everything tangible and intangible has been drained away, becoming a desolate land.

The trio maintained their formation with Tu Dinggui at the front, Amaranth at the back, and Emerald Sparrow squeezed in the middle as they stepped into this space, glancing around for anything meaningful.

"Looks like there's nothing here."

Amaranth quietly said, glued to the back of Emerald Sparrow's head, "Could it be that we went the wrong way, and this maze area is not open to candidates?"

"Probably not."

Emerald Sparrow shook her head: "According to the Examiner, the entire maze is generated for the exam, so it wouldn't make sense to have areas not open to candidates."

"But this is just..."

Amaranth diligently searched the surroundings, her gaze seemingly trying to scrape off a layer of mud from the cave walls: "This is too empty. Normally, creating a giant space in a maze's central area should also house some enemies, right?"

"Yes, indeed."

Emerald Sparrow affirmed: "Moreover, I think our previous perception was correct. Since there's a special magical power fluctuation in this area, then something must be hiding here. We should look further..."

Just as the two were softly discussing, Tu Dinggui suddenly took two strides forward. This action immediately caught Emerald Sparrow's and Amaranth's attention.

Did she realize something?

Both of them thought this simultaneously, even Emerald Sparrow was not an exception. After all, throughout this journey, Tu Dinggui's adept performance has already earned her recognition. As a newbie Magical Girl taking part in the exam for the first time, Tu Dinggui's abilities were indeed not like those of a beginner, perhaps even "trustworthy".

With her focused gaze, Tu Dinggui continued forward, seemingly inspired by something, slowly lifting her head toward the center of the hollow, and then—

"Ah——"

She prolonged her voice for a while.

"Ah..." An ethereal and clear echo formed within the empty chamber.

"Ah——"

Tu Dinggui called out once more, and the echo still resonated.

Emerald Sparrow and Amaranth watched her finish, and only when she stopped did Amaranth ask, "Did you discover anything?"

"Yes."

Tu Dinggui nodded: "It's fun."

"Eh, found something so quickly, truly worthy of praise..."

Amaranth was about to compliment a few words, but fell silent after hearing the words: "What do you mean by 'It's fun'?"

"I thought such a large space would have an echo and wanted to try it for fun."

Tu Dinggui displayed a calm, natural demeanor, seemingly unconcerned with the oddness of her behavior: "So I tried it, and indeed it's fascinating."

"What is this... I thought..." The source of thɪs content is novel★fire.net

Amaranth sighed, uncertain whether she felt disappointed or relieved: "Forget it, playing around a bit isn't really an issue."

"Won't you try it?" Tu Dinggui even attempted to invite.

"No, I'll pass." Amaranth had zero desire to try such a behavior only extroverted people might do; yelling loudly just to hear echoes wouldn't suit her. It wasn't even slightly fitting, better put she'd rather be killed than do it.

Yet just as she refused, Emerald Sparrow suddenly stepped forward.

"Oh, Long Dan-senpai?"

Amaranth uttered in confusion as Emerald Sparrow stood where Tu Dinggui had previously shouted, unemotionally lifting her head, staring straight at the cave's top, and slowly opening her mouth—

"Ah——"

Then, just like Tu Dinggui, she shouted aloud.

She controlled her volume so it wasn't harsh on the other two teammates; the crisp and limpid sound spread intently around, gradually distancing until disappearing. And soon, another sound bounced from the chamber's heights:

"Ah..."

The echo was as clear as the result Tu Dinggui got earlier.

Beside her, Amaranth felt like crying.

She initially considered "Long Dan-senpai" could be her natural ally, but didn't expect Tu Dinggui to casually cajole Long Dan into playing along. Though she understood, Long Dan was just a kid after all, playing is inherent. But now in the three-player team, two had tried shouting, was she to become the outlier?

What to do? Should she really go up and shout at the cave like them?

Amaranth's thoughts churned; thinking of doing such a task involuntarily had her toes curl. Her mouth opened slightly, wavering, almost saying she didn't want to go up, yet worried it would dampen the mood.

"Is it fun?" Tu Dinggui inquired by Emerald Sparrow's side, unaware of the tug-of-war happening in Amaranth's thoughts at the back.

"Yes." Emerald Sparrow responded faintly, but her expression seemed to be pondering something. Not showing any playful ease, but rather furrowed brows, exuding seriousness.

She lingered momentarily, then abruptly lifted her head again. However, this time, without vocalizing, she instead raised her hand, conjuring a glow-blue Magic Power in her palm.

In her palm, the active Magic Power continuously dispersed her characteristic magical power fluctuations around. These fluctuations, perceivable only by Magical Girls, spread layer by layer like sound waves, filling the entire chamber, even penetrating through the walls.

Now, both Amaranth and Tu Dinggui could tell Emerald Sparrow was seemingly up to something.

As the magical power fluctuations spread, the previously lifeless environment indeed began to change again.

Just as with the shouting producing echoes in the cave earlier, another distinct yet reminiscent magical power fluctuation appeared instead of Emerald Sparrow's style, slightly strange.

"Is this... the 'echo' of magic power?" Amaranth was startled by this abrupt turn, instinctively asked.

"No, it's not. Unless in special material environments, the powerful penetration of magical power fluctuations can't form any 'echo'."

Standing beside, Tu Dinggui explained: "This is fundamentally not a natural occurrence."

"Including the 'echo' we shouted out earlier as well."

Emerald Sparrow immediately followed up, gaze fixed upward: "The surrounding walls of this cave are soft soil, which should produce strong sound absorption, even if there's an echo, it shouldn't be so clear or loud. So if it's not a normal natural phenomenon..."

Following her words, that deadwood, rooted in the soil and hanging upside down, moved.

The alien magical power fluctuation finally revealed its true form: the gigantic "deadwood" extended nearly ten immense "branches".

Their length even exceeded that of its main body trunk, stepping onto the ground with an exaggerated motion.

"...Then something is imitating us." Emerald Sparrow finally completed her sentence, yet now, the "deadwood" already stood before the trio.

No, perhaps this thing was no longer a "deadwood" at all, but something resembling a walking stick insect, though magnified countless times, making one shudder on sight...

——Remnant Beasts.