Magical Girl Production Line

(Miluno)

"This way! This way!"

This little thing has become my scout.

Although her image is a projection in my mind and doesn't actually exist, her ability to manipulate darkness is real. She can not only help me block surveillance, but also sense the movements of nearby enemies and report them to me.

She led me into a dead end in the second-floor corridor.

"This way! There are no security cameras here!"

Through the glass curtain wall on the second floor, you can see the witch production line on the ground floor.

The little thing's abilities are quite useful.

She stood with her hands on her hips, spinning around my head, and said arrogantly:

"Hmph! Now you know how powerful I am! From now on, you'll have to call me Lady Witch!"

Don't push your luck; that's the only way.

"Ugh! How could my main personality be such an annoying person like you~"

Why is this parasite suddenly looking down on me?

She started biting me with her teeth, but of course she couldn't bite me. However, I felt a faint stinging sensation on my arm, which was the sensory feedback she was simulating in my mind, so I ignored it.

While this little thing was acting unreasonably, I had already changed back into the Ghost Combat Suit in a blind spot of the surveillance cameras. Everything was fine; the invisibility and protective suit were both working properly.

"Alright, let's get down to business."

I pulled her off my arm.

"Although the purpose of this infiltration is to kidnap Aldebaran, would you like to take a Base Body back with you? This is Magical Girl Soldier Production Line; we have countless magical girl Base Body without personalities implanted in them. Although they can't compare to my body, you'll be freer if you're separated from me, right?"

I think it's a good suggestion, beneficial to both of us, but the little one just hugged his short arms and turned his head away.

She retorted angrily, "Hmph, no!"

Don't you think this is a lot of trouble for us?

"I really like this way of being together, so no~ Besides, if we're together, you won't have to worry about me stealing Ceruno- chan from you~"

When Ceruno was mentioned, the little thing still wriggled and squirmed in the air.

"I really do like Ceruno. Who wouldn't like such a wonderful girl?"

To be honest.

The fact that she can manipulate darkness alone is enough to prove the little thing's abilities, but it also shrouds her identity in mystery.

Of all the witches I've encountered so far, none have wielded darkness with such mastery as she does. Is she truly just my Witch Persona?

"Ha?"

The little thing could hear my inner doubts.

She pounced on my face like a facehugger, yelling, "I'm a personality born from within you! I can read your memories and thoughts, what else could I be but your Witch Persona!"

Oh no, I can't see the road.

I pulled her face away before replying, "No matter what, we have to find a way to bring back a Base Body. Even if you don't need it, there's SpiCa's Witch Persona. If all else fails, we can pick a suitable Base Body for Xiaojie."

A dark-skinned, white-haired bride.

It doesn't quite match Xiaojie's innocent and carefree personality.

"I understand, but what are you planning to do? That production line is filled with that shimmering gas; I'm afraid there's no way to steal what you want without triggering the alarm."

I looked at the assembly line behind the curtain wall.

The overall structure was similar to the Monster Production Line I saw at the Fomalhaut base, except that the thing that fused with the Base Body changed from Simulacrum Factor to Artificial Crystal, and the fusion process was much longer. I squatted for more than ten minutes but didn't see a single magical girl come off the production line.

However, just as the little thing said, although Aldebaran's tower itself did not contain that unknown gas, it was filled with closed production lines.

What do you think that is?

The little thing shook its head.

"Have no idea."

How about we tie up SpiCa first and then come back to steal it?

"What can you do to lure her over?"

Huh? Then why did I sneak in so carefully?

Besides, Aldebaran isn't a stupid deer; how could it possibly know I was wandering around inside the tower?

"You don't need to show yourself. Just deliberately damage some parts to make the assembly line look like a normal malfunction. Aldebaran, being a technician, will definitely come down to check it out himself. That way, you can achieve two goals at once."

The little one does have a point.

Don't you think I've always been a brainy type?

So, strategist, how can I sabotage the assembly line without actually entering it?

"Hmm hmm~"

She made a cute nasal sound.

"You can't do it, but others can! There's always a solution to every problem. You've been relying too much on your gut feeling!"

Why should I get lectured by this little brat?

Then I'll see what you're capable of.

With the plan set, the little creature squeezed through the glass curtain wall and began causing destruction.

The robotic arms on the assembly line opened when they shouldn't have, and clamped tightly when they should have, causing the Base Body to fall off the assembly line.

This anomaly quickly attracted attention, and two researchers in protective suits came in and replaced the robotic arm.

But Aldebaran himself did not come.

Then black smoke billowed from the fusion device; the little thing had caused it to short-circuit and stop working.

So the two technicians gritted their teeth and rushed over, and after a thorough inspection, they repaired the fusion device.

But Aldebaran himself did not come.

Then, the capsule containing the personified individual could no longer be opened...

Haha~ How did I do?

These phenomena are all the work of a small thing manipulating Dark Energy. Since her influence extends from me, I have to move back and forth outside the assembly line in coordination with her.

At this moment, the short man wearing special protective clothing entered the assembly line workshop.

That's less than 1.5 meters tall, is it Aldebaran?

"Of course! She's still in the workshop. What should we do? Move now? Those technicians aren't exactly combat-ready, the patrolling soldiers are all outside the tower, and she doesn't have any other witches or magical girls with her. If you can finish this in ten seconds, we can take the Base Body and Aldebaran back with us."

She had no soldiers with her because she herself was the strongest fighting force in the tower.

She always referred to herself as a researcher, but her fighting ability was not weak. Not only did her wide-ranging Golden Storm make me feel troubled, but she also had considerable defensive power. At that time, I kicked her with all my might and sent her sprawling face down, even deforming her waist, but she just turned around, dusted herself off, and stood up.

This little girl looks petite and delicate, but she's practically made of gold; she probably weighs three to five hundred pounds.

"Pure gold? That's valuable!"

This little thing looks like Heat Haze... Oh, I'm quite fond of money myself.

"She's leaving, what are you going to do?"

We should handle those gases, whose purpose we don't know, with care. Let her fix them, then we'll wait for her at the door.

The gas was spraying everywhere around the tower. Since even Aldebaran had to wear protective gear to go inside, the gas must be some kind of dangerous...

We've come this far, I can't afford to be careless.

Uh, if you have anything that's about to expire and it would be a waste not to use it, please give it to me.