Chapter 37: So~ Mu~ch~ Fu~n!
The inside of Kurashige Industries was as chaotic as ever.
The primary cause was none other than Kazuma himself.
He was using Space-Time Magic to expand spaces and distort time within certain areas.
Thanks to this, the researchers had become even more zombie-like than before.
It was only natural for the researchers to be ecstatic, as he had granted them an infinite extension to the time they desperately lacked.
“What are those people doing?”
“It seems they’re trying to create new technology based on the Ibinom Kazuma-san caught.”
“Oh? I wonder what kind of things they’ll make.”
“I don’t know the details, but I hear it can also be applied to medicine.”
“Could it be, they might even make androids or something…?”
“The possibility is quite high, you know~”
“Seriously…? Is the era of housekeeper robots finally here!? The kind that will do that and this for you, those ones!”
“Well, if research progresses, it might be possible in the future.”
“I can’t just stand around here! I’m going too!”
“Ah! Wait a moment!”
Paying no heed to Shouzo’s attempt to stop him, Kazuma headed straight for the horde of zombie-like researchers.
Kazuma was revered by the researchers as if he were a god, and the zombified researchers began to rejoice like believers celebrating the advent of their deity.
“We need jellyfish-type, insect-type, arthropod-type, and bird-type Ibinom! We’d be delighted to have more samples!”
“Leave it to me! So, I’m counting on you for the sexy maid-type robots!”
“Please leave it to us! We will make our! No! Humanity’s dream come true!”
“Yeahhh!”
Much new technology is born from war, but a great deal is also born from humanity’s libido.
Humans, creatures faithful to their desires, are surely sinful beings.
If a god were present here, they would undoubtedly have brought divine punishment down upon Kazuma, but unfortunately, no god was to be found.
In other words, no one could stop Kazuma.
Shouzo, watching this scene unfold, resigned himself to the fact that there was nothing he could do, and could only pray for Momoko’s arrival.
“I’ve brought the haul~!”
“YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
Kazuma had indiscriminately hunted a large number of the specified Ibinom, and the researchers were in a festive uproar.
Kazuma periodically captured Ibinom and brought them to the factory, but if not specified, he would just bring whatever was convenient.
That was why they were so grateful for him capturing the specific Ibinom they requested this time.
Kazuma, who brought back precious samples alive, was truly like a god to them.
“Hit the caffeine! We’re pulling an all-nighter tonight!!!”
The chief researcher shouted at the top of his lungs, thrusting his fist into the air.
He was brimming with motivation, but he was clearly nearing his physical limit, his footing unsteady.
“Chief! You’ll die, you know!?”
“People don’t die from not sleeping!”
“No, you will die! Please, at least sleep for eight hours!”
“That’s a solid sleep you’re talking about…”
The researchers desperately tried to stop their chief, but he, still in the throes of excitement, showed no signs of stopping.
Unable to watch any longer, Kazuma decided to use magic.
“It’s alright. Leave it to me. Sleep Magic, with added Relaxation Magic and Recovery Magic synergized, now heal your fatigue~”
“Gwaaaah~!”
“Seeing them fall asleep groaning in agony as they’re bathed in light really makes them look like undead~”
The researchers, clad in white coats, with large dark circles under their eyes and pale faces, collapsed onto the floor one after another, their loud snores filling the air.
The magic Kazuma used forcibly put them to sleep, healed their physical exhaustion, caused happiness hormones to gush out, and ensured they would wake up feeling happy.
However, one had to be careful, as overusing it could create constantly happy, invincible individuals, which would interfere with their daily lives.
“Is there a nap room?”
“Yes, there is. These people don’t go home, after all.”
“Where is it? Tell me, I’ll carry these people.”
“This way. Please follow me.”
Following Shouzo’s guidance, Kazuma levitated the researchers with magic, carried them, and unceremoniously dumped them into the nap room.
Shouzo’s eyes widened as he watched Kazuma magically toss the researchers roughly into the nap room, but since Kazuma had put them to sleep, he figured it wasn’t a particular problem and decided to turn a blind eye.
“What’s next?”
“Are you making anything else right now?”
“We’re currently building defense mechanisms against colossal Ibinom.”
“Like battleships?”
“Yes. And, of course, giant robots too.”
“Oooh~! Can’t you make things like space battleships?”
“Technically it’s possible, but there isn’t much need for them, so I think it’ll be a while.”
“So you do plan to make them eventually…”
“Well, the Ibinom are unknown life forms that came from space, after all. If so, then aliens probably exist too. There’s no guarantee they won’t come to invade, so it’s better to be prepared.”
“Aliens, huh… That’s true. If there’s a possibility, we need to have countermeasures.”
It was a grand topic, but the Ibinom had indeed come from space.
Whether they were merely a natural disaster or the result of some entity’s will was unknown, but it was safe to assume that threats existed in space as well.
“Right. What’s happening with the city’s security robots?”
“They’re already complete. The rest is up to the government.”
“Why the government?”
“Because there are legal issues and such.”
“Ah~, so that’s how it is…”
“We already have surveillance cameras installed throughout the city, but the new ones are robots based on creatures like mice, spiders, and birds that will patrol the city and check for criminal activity with their onboard cameras. Privacy concerns are involved, so it’s quite complicated. Even if it’s AI-based automatic analysis, being constantly monitored would be distressing for some people.”
“Even if it’s for crime prevention, having your private life peeked into is unpleasant, huh.”
“Yes. Not everyone will agree to it…”
The security robots, created with Kazuma’s cooperation, were based on small animals, insects, and birds, designed to blend into the scenery.
One wouldn’t notice them at a glance, but if you looked closely at their eyes, for example, you’d see they didn’t blink.
Still, unless told, no one would likely notice them, so it wasn’t something to be overly concerned about.
However, as they were called security robots, they were equipped with cameras and constantly checked for criminal activity.
For this reason, they were also designed to look inside buildings, which some might consider an invasion of privacy.
Even if it was for crime prevention, having one’s private life observed would likely feel unpleasant.
“Things don’t always go as planned, huh~”
“There’s nothing we can do about this one~. Criminal activity never ceases.”
“You see it on the news a lot. Humans are foolish creatures, aren’t they~”
“They say Japan is safe, but not everyone is a good person.”
“I guess that’s just how the world is.”
This was a problem that simply couldn’t be helped.
Even if Kazuma could steamroll through anything, there were problems he couldn’t solve.
“We’ve strayed off topic a bit, but you’re making other things too, right?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Alright then, I want to take a look around, so show me the way.”
“Understood. This way, please.”
Kazuma toured the factory with Shouzo.
Perhaps because of the at-home, friendly workplace atmosphere, the workers were full of life.
And why wouldn’t they be? Funds were plentiful, and Kazuma was their sponsor, so they wouldn’t get yelled at even if they indulged in their hobbies.
Normally, they’d be scolded for making unnecessary things, but Kazuma allowed it, so there were no reprimands.
For workers with otaku temperaments, it was a paradise of a workplace.
“Uooooooooooh!!!”
“Pile Bunkers really are a man’s romance, aren’t they…”
“Nice…”
As usual, their otaku hobbies were on full display, a man’s romance exploding forth.
One group, developing weapons like Pile Bunkers, drills, and chainsaws, was particularly盛り上がっていた (excited/盛り上がっていた).
“That place looks fun!”
Naturally, Kazuma, being a boy himself, couldn’t help but get excited.
His eyes sparkling, Kazuma sent Shouzo a look that said, “Can I go play?”
“It does, doesn’t it? Would you like to take a look?”
“Can I!?”
“Yes. There’s no problem.”
“Woohoo~!”
Like a child joining others playing in a park, Kazuma, full of excitement, dived into the weapons development team.
“Let me try too~!”
“Sure~!”
“Yay~!”
After that, Kazuma played to his heart’s content, swinging around weapons like Pile Bunkers, drills, and chainsaws with abandon.
Needless to say, he also gave instructions to incorporate them into his own Powered Suit.