Tokyo: Magical Girl Shatters My Dream of Going Public

Seeing Chinatsu's embarrassed smile, Kurokawa knew she definitely hadn't told the truth on the phone.

However, Kurokawa had no interest in prying into the sisters' little secrets. As long as Chika didn't reveal the company's secrets, he couldn't be bothered to care.

He simply took 3 yen out of his wallet and handed it to Chika.

"Give."

Chika looked at the three 10,000 yen bills handed to her and instinctively took them.

She held it in both hands, blinked, not understanding what it meant, and asked.

"President... is there anything you need me to buy for you?"

"?"

Kurokawa glanced at her, put away his wallet, and then turned to walk towards the design table to get the documents he had prepared earlier.

He explained as he walked over.

"This is your payment."

"Oh, the payment."

Qianxia suddenly realized, and the ahoge on her head swayed from side to side. She hadn't quite caught on yet, but after a few seconds, she finally understood.

"Eh—! Rewards, me, me?"

She was just a newcomer, and Kurokawa took her on missions and taught her how to fight.

Kurokawa not only refused to charge her tuition, but he even gave her money?!

"Is this really for me!? Don't I need to pay you back...?" Chinatsu couldn't believe it, clutching the 30,000 yen tightly in her small hand as if she were afraid of losing it.

Kurokawa was even more speechless.

What had she gone through to think that someone would turn around and ask her for money?

"Of course it's for you. In our company, everyone gets a base salary of 5000 yen for every mission, and there are additional bonuses based on performance in combat."

Kurokawa received the prepared documents and then began rummaging through boxes and cabinets looking for the stamped red clay.

"Thanks to you, I was able to figure out the enemy's rules in tonight's battle. You were also a great help by carrying my backpack. This 30,000 yen is well-deserved."

Upon hearing this, Qianxia counted on her fingers.

One task costs 30,000, and if there are 30 tasks in a month, that's 900,000!

This is two to three times higher than the salary of an average office worker in Tokyo!

After a quick calculation, Qianxia was a little dizzy from the number, but soon, a heavy sense of reality overwhelmed her excitement.

She held the three crisp 10,000 yen bills in her hand and suddenly felt they were a little hot.

"President, is this really enough for you...? Actually, a base salary of 5000 yen would be fine..."

"This is a dangerous job, so it's normal for the pay to be higher. Besides, this is your current salary. If you can grow to the point where you can fight against C-rank magical vengeful spirits, your salary for a single mission can reach 100 million yen."

In my previous life, high-level combatants were an extremely scarce resource.

There are quite a few people who achieve financial freedom through combat, but of course, the prerequisite for a high salary is being able to become a high-ranking combatant.

And Chika has that qualification.

Previously, when she got off at the subway station, she could sense the presence of magical vengeful spirits from a great distance, which means that she has a very high magical adaptability.

This is a prerequisite for becoming a senior combatant.

We must recruit Chika into the company first, no matter what.

"One task costs 100 million... that's 3000 million a month?"

Chinatsu was so shocked by the 3000 million yen monthly salary that she began to daydream endlessly.

If I could earn 3000 million a month, I could probably buy a house...

Well enough....

While she was still lost in thought, Kurokawa had already come to her, spread the documents out, and gave her instructions.

"Please sign this document."

"Okay."

Without any hesitation, Chinatsu signed her name where Kurokawa pointed.

"There are also these two documents..."

Two new documents were laid out at the same time.

Chika signed her name without even looking at it.

"Finally, you need to collect fingerprints using this red clay."

Kurokawa guided Chinatsu step by step, and the three documents were signed.

It wasn't until Kurokawa handed her a tissue and wiped the red mark off her thumb that she realized what had happened.

His eyes held a clear kind of foolishness.

"By the way, president, what did you ask me to sign?"

Kurokawa carefully checked for any omissions, and without looking up, he said, "An employment contract, a confidentiality agreement, and an agreement for the installment deduction of a 3000 million yen combat suit deposit."

"What's worth 3000 million?" Qianxia's mind went blank for a moment.

"Agreement on Installment Deduction of Combat Suit Deposit of 3000 Million Yen".

Kurokawa patiently repeated himself, explaining in detail what the agreement was for.

"In our company, to join and use the combat suit, you need to pay a deposit of 3000 million yen. Considering that you probably don't have the money right now, we'll have you pay the fee in installments. I'll take a percentage of your mission rewards until it reaches 3000 million yen."

"Huh—? Aren't the combat suits supposed to be free to use?!"

They're already risking their lives in this job, why should they have to pay for their own combat gear?

Kurokawa reiterated, "This is a security deposit, not a rental fee, and certainly not a purchase fee."

"The contract mainly confirms two things. You have the right to use the combat suit, but not ownership. If you damage the combat suit for personal reasons, I will deduct part, or even all, of your deposit."

Kurokawa handed the contract to Chika and said, "You can read the contract carefully to see the detailed terms."

Suddenly and inexplicably, I found myself burdened with a debt of 3000 million yen.

Her little face was filled with worry, and the tuft of hair on her head drooped listlessly.

Kurokawa reassured him, "Don't worry, the 3000 million is an interest-free loan, and it's a deposit. If you leave the company normally in the future, I will return all 3000 million to you."

"Furthermore, if you were to die in battle one day, your family would not be responsible for repaying this loan, and even the remaining margin would be given to your family along with the compensation."

After Kurokawa's explanation, Chika immediately felt it made sense and became able to accept it.

After all, when you go skiing, you have to pay a deposit to rent ski suits...

Kurokawa made a copy of the three contracts and handed them to Chika, saying, "These are copies. You can take a closer look at the contents. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me later."

"Okay!" Qianxia accepted the contract with a smile.

It seems that Chika has no idea how outrageous it is to sign the contract first and then look at its contents.

However, Kurokawa didn't betray Chinatsu.

These are all rules and regulations that the company has practiced many times in its previous life.

Chinatsu only glanced at the contents of the contract before quickly losing interest; she was more interested in the combat suit.

She looked at the combat suit that Kurokawa had taken off earlier, which was now damaged and hanging on the wall, and asked expectantly.

"President, when will my combat suit be ready? Can I choose the same design style as that one?"

Kurokawa followed Chinatsu's gaze and glanced at the first-generation combat suit.

He shook his head and said, "That combat suit is obsolete. The combat suit I'm going to make for you next is a genuine magic combat suit. As for the design style... that can't be customized. We'll talk about that when you're stronger."

Upon hearing that it was a new generation of magical combat suits, Chinatsu became even more excited.

They surrounded Kurokawa, asking him all sorts of questions.

Kurokawa just smiled mysteriously and said, "Just look forward to three days from now. Your combat suit will be completed in three days."

"Three days—!"

Chika memorized the time, wishing she could immediately travel to three days later.

Unfortunately, this was just wishful thinking on her part.

That evening, since the trams and buses had stopped running, Kurokawa personally drove Chinatsu home.

Chika's home is in a dilapidated two-story apartment building, with each room being only about ten square meters.

Judging from this, the 3 yen she received today is indeed a considerable sum for her.

"Let's keep the deposit amount lower from now on... consider it a benefit for our first employee..."

Until they faintly heard what sounded like Chika's sister's delicate shout coming from the second-floor room.

Kurokawa then slowly drove away.

His first employee, and also the first "subordinate" he was responsible for.

It feels...not bad.

It was 12:21 a.m. when I got back to the factory.

The task of recruiting employees is now complete.

At the same time, new operational and containment missions were also released...