Tokyo: Magical Girl Shatters My Dream of Going Public

Chika went back.

Worried about being seen by her sister, she even made Kurokawa park the car a street away before going home with an umbrella.

Before leaving.

Qianxia was worried that her younger sister would become suspicious, so she specially asked him for seven days off. She wouldn't be coming to the company for this week.

For Kurokawa, who already needed construction, Chinatsu's absence for a week had no impact whatsoever.

Returning to the factory alone, Kurokawa didn't even bother to rest and immediately began making the dolls.

Although it's just the most basic model of a doll, fortunately, the basic model can be upgraded after the research station is completed, so it's not a complete waste.

At 2 a.m., while Kurokawa was still busy, he received another text message.

It was sent by Yingzi. She said her boss was being capricious, and there were some problems with the business, so she needed to go on a business trip for more than ten days...

I suppose working overtime is related to tonight's tasks?

Kurokawa simply replied "ok" and then ignored it.

Sakura's return more than ten days later was good news for him, as it gave him ample time to move all the equipment from the first floor to the basement.

------

Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, nine days had gone by, and it was May 5th.

The second floor, formerly the factory director's office, is now the [research lab].

Inside, the fully automated research table, which had been painstakingly assembled, occupied the central position.

In the center of the projection is a humanoid doll about 1.7 meters tall with smooth lines.

Its aesthetic design draws inspiration from the elegant postures of classical geisha, but its materials and structure exude a cold, mechanical, and magical blend of technological sophistication.

At that moment, Kurokawa quickly slid across the keyboard, adjusting the parameters.

His gaze was focused on the several mechanical tentacles extending from the back of the doll.

As the number of tentacles increased to six, the real-time data curves for intensity, energy consumption, and structural stress began to show a clear inflection point of decline.

"With more than six bars, the overall strength drops that much?"

Kurokawa muttered to himself, his fingertips pausing.

After a moment's thought, he quickly lowered the tentacle number parameter, eventually settling on "2".

The material strength simulation of a single tentacle, the power of the drive unit, and the overall energy distribution logic were also adjusted accordingly.

"With fewer tentacles, the strength and speed of each individual tentacle can be greatly improved."

"Furthermore, with reduced structural load, the theoretical range should be extended by at least 40%..."

As he calculated, he input the final adjusted set of parameters into the core simulation program.

[New Type of Battle Doll (Rank F) - Battle Masochist.]

[Parameter Confirmation]

[Full-environment simulation begins, estimated time: 21 hours 32 minutes.]

The research station emitted a steady beep.

The holographic projection of the puppet model began to perform virtual calculations at an extremely fast speed, showing various combat postures, movements, attacks, and the ability to withstand blows.

Kurokawa exhaled and leaned back in his chair.

"If the simulation succeeds and it is eventually manufactured, this might be the world's first magical combat doll that truly meets F-rank combat standards..."

This doll incorporates all of the company's technologies to date.

It is made by combining puppet technology, regenerative tentacle technology, and patrol enhancement, and finally combining it with the technical blueprint of the [Puppet Magic Combat Suit (Kimono Style)].

That's right.

The combat dolls even directly utilize combat suit technology.

By utilizing the technology of combat suits, different basic attribute allocations can be directly assigned to combat dolls.

It is now possible to create stat-balanced kimono dolls.

Subsequently, if the technology is successfully verified, it may even be possible to integrate the technology of the human combat suit to create a defensively specialized "terrifying doll".

Once the technology tree is unlocked, horizontal research will become exceptionally smooth.

Those combat suit technologies that are not commonly used may come in handy in the future.

The only downside is the high cost.

Such combat dolls do not include research and development costs, equipment costs, energy costs, or any other expenses.

The material cost alone is a whopping 300 million yen.

If you factor in research and development costs, the price of one unit could easily exceed 3000 million yen.

Just then, the door to the research room was silently pushed open a crack.

A doll, only about 30 centimeters tall and dressed in a gorgeous kimono, nimbly walked in.

Six mechanical tentacles, each as thick as a thumb, floated behind it.

These tentacles, like those of an octopus, are so flexible that they are comparable to human fingers.

At this moment, this little doll is "holding" a cup of steaming hot tea with its two tentacles.

The little doll moved to Kurokawa's side, gently placed the teacup on the edge of the table with its tentacles, and then quietly stepped back half a step, as if waiting for instructions.

"Thank you." Kurokawa picked up his teacup and took a sip; the warm liquid helped to ease some of his fatigue.

He looked out the window at the workshop hall on the first floor below.

In the field of vision, there were three other small dolls of the same model that were busy at work.

A machine is repairing a crack in a wall with a small welding torch at the end of its tentacles.

The other machine uses suction cup tentacles to move heavy metal sheets.

The third machine was cleaning the floor.

Their movements are orderly and highly efficient.

Over the course of nine days, Kurokawa combined puppet technology with the [Regenerating Tentacles] technology to initially create 10 such [Infrastructure-type Auxiliary Puppets].

They lack sophisticated emotional simulation and advanced combat abilities, but rely on their multifunctional mechanical tentacles and efficient use of magical energy.

One doll is as efficient as three skilled adult workers in terms of labor, and it does not need to rest; it can work continuously as long as the magic battery has enough energy.

It is thanks to them that the construction of the base has been able to proceed at a rapid pace.

Nowadays, apart from the research platform on the second floor, all other precision equipment, such as the treatment cabin and the plug-in manufacturing device, has been moved to the space on the first basement floor.

At the current rate, the training ground should be completed in about three more days.

At that time, the manual's operational tasks could also be completed smoothly.

In addition to these "construction workers", Kurokawa also created two "patrol dolls".

They are slightly larger and more mobile, equipped with simple environmental awareness and threat assessment modules, but their firepower consists only of non-lethal, low-power stun guns and tranquilizer dart launchers.

It might be enough to deal with wild beasts or ordinary intruders, but its combat power is almost negligible when facing a true F-class vengeful spirit or a well-trained combatant.

Their primary responsibility is to carry out patrol missions that require a certain level of terrain adaptability and flexible judgment.

The mission is singular: to fill the gaps in drone capabilities in certain complex environments.

As for the base's overall security network.

Kurokawa has integrated the previously acquired [Magic Drone] technology with the [Patrol Enhancement Module] to create 10 [Patrol Drones] with longer endurance, stronger stealth, and intelligent patrol path planning.

Like silent sentinels, they tirelessly weave an invisible surveillance network over the factory and its surrounding area, day and night.

At this moment, the construction mascot that had delivered the tea left, only to return again.

With its two tentacles, it gently placed a gray, combination-locked airline case, about the size of a suitcase and printed with a simple code, at Kurokawa's feet.

"Hmm?" Kurokawa put down his teacup, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "It's already finished?"

He bent down and entered the password.

The lid popped open, revealing a brand-new suit-style combat uniform carefully protected by neatly packed pearl cotton stuffing inside. Next to it was a fully charged magic battery and three plug-ins.

These are: [Puppet Control Plugin], [Tentacle Regeneration Plugin], and [Patrol Speed-Up Plugin].

This set of equipment is brand new.

The load of the [Puppet Control Plugin] is 2, and the load of the [Tentacle Regeneration Plugin] is 4.

Kurokawa confirmed that everything was prepared.

He closed the suitcase again.

"Now that it's finished, it's time to contact that... 'legendary instructor'."

This combat suit was prepared by him for Kanzaki Jin.

He immediately drafted the letter himself.

After completing the task, he even used a 3D printing device to create a fireproof and waterproof magic card.

This is just a small design, but it's enough to showcase the company's technological prowess.

After confirming the contents of the letter were correct, Kurokawa handed the letter to the doll beside him and gave instructions.

"Deliver this letter to Jin Kanzaki's home using a drone."

The doll nodded obediently, and after its two tentacles respectfully accepted the letter, it turned and left the research lab.

After finishing all that, Kurokawa stretched and prepared to go downstairs to check on the construction of the training room.

The next second, his watch suddenly vibrated and flashed a crimson light.

He glanced down and saw a notification on his watch that an intruder was approaching the factory!

"Could they be the enemy?!"