02x04 - How Exceptional His Magical Girls Are

[bunniefuu]

AST is here...

Magical Girls from other companies,
please vacate the premises now.

Magic power levels
are already rising in the lab.

As a result, the Kaii will strengthen,
which could lead to secondary mutation.

AST is the only company
capable of exterminating this!

I decline.

My company wasn't called here
for a cooperative mission.

More importantly, our past interactions
dissuade me from trusting your intuition.

Wait a minute!

You can't say for sure
that this case won't benefit AST.

Alice System, initiated!

Sending additional magic effects.

Simultaneous deploy!

Magilumiere Magical Girls.
Five employees. Ten years in business.

No awards for achievements
or Kaii extermination counts.

And their on-site Magical Girls are smug.

I don't trust this.

Huh?

AST is booting up
different magic back there.

I suppose that means
she won't trust us so easily.

Backup Table, large-scale magic
preparing to deploy.

We probably can't
finish this job unharmed.

If worst comes to worst,
AST needs to clean it all up.

Powerful light emission from the Class C.
Aggression detected!

Any shots would only hit
my upper arm or waist.

Ms. Tsuchiba!

Such injuries won't hinder execution.

The stairs changed?!

Added formation
to select RIMT spell files.

Completed reinforcements
for rear and lateral defenses.

EPISODE 4
HOW EXCEPTIONAL HIS MAGICAL GIRLS ARE

He saw one attack
and just built a wall on the spot?

There's no way...

Incoming again!

Is that an additional modification
to the physical magic on those stairs?

I copied Koshigaya's kitty,
but it turned out weird somehow.

Adorable and handy, either way!

Ms. Tsuchiba.

The Class C's attack isn't letting up.

Execute the plan
while our bear takes the hit.

Did Boss just toss a shield up
before the attack even landed?

That's not all he did.

That was the Class C's
first attack since its mutation.

And yet, Mr. Shigemoto
accurately detected its strength

to create physical magic
proportionate to its size.

Even down to the 3D molding...

It's not only precise,
but also incredibly creative.

I've never seen magic
harnessed like this before.

What's this?

At a glance, this looks like a joke.

But he's fast
and precise in real time, too.

There's something more to it, though...

Ms. Tsuchiba, get set!

I must remain focused on the job...

Deploy Table.

Processing.

She laid the Magic Circles in one go!

As expected of Ms. Tsuchiba.

Add formation.

He had another Magic Circle ready
before the first one even got eaten?

You're kidding.

He can't think that far ahead!

Actually, he can.

I guess capable engineers like that
really do exist...

Fast hands...

It's almost time
to order lunch, Midorikawa.

Yes, sir!

Nikoyama, don't let
Koshigaya's defenses weaken.

Uh, right!

He's mastered the art of multitasking!

That man's reputation speaks for itself.

He's not even rusty.

It's hard to believe
he's been away for so long.

Well, that just goes to show
how exceptional his Magical Girls are.

Mr. Koshigaya.

Ah, Shigemoto. It's been a while.

Apologies for my absence.

I heard you started a company.

Yes, I'm in my fourth year of business.

I haven't heard anything about it.

Still no progress at all?

Without any actual work,
you're wasting our tax money.

About that, sir.

Why are you hiding the fact
that your daughter is a Magical Girl?

My daughter's a Magical Girl?
What do you mean?

I mean what I said.

Take your nonsense elsewhere.

I have no daughter.

My company has scouted your daughter.

I haven't the slightest idea
what you're talking about.

But remember this
if you wish to employ Magical Girls.

We use Magical Girls as bait
to make our businesses prosper.

While those girls are exhausted
and injured on the b*ttlefield,

we're having meetings
in air-conditioned buildings.

To properly lead over Magical Girls,
you need to understand their struggles.

That's how you should operate.

I understand.

Thought so.

Each mouth has
a slightly different magic resistance.

We can poke the weak spots to break it.

Mr. Nikoyama, can you
visualize its resistance levels?

I'm on it.

Sorry, Nikoyama. I already did that.

I received the data!

Nice! Just gimme the lowdown.

Kana, Niko, this is our chance
to show 'em who's boss!

Timing, check!

Modification code sent!

Gotcha! This'll be over in a flash!

EMPLOYEE ID
HITOMI KOSHIGAYA, MAGICAL GIRL

Let's go!

First, the oral cavity to your lower left.

What a slowpoke!

With all due respect,
dodging won't inflict any damage.

Eh?!

I mean, that looked like
a silly aerobatics performance.

You tryin' to pick a fight?!

It's all part of the plan!

Well, Ms. Tsuchiba has a point.

Targeting its weaknesses
while dodging attacks isn't a stable plan.

Ms. Koshigaya!

Stay put right there, please.

We're partially changing our strategy!

Ms. Tsuchiba,
could I ask you for more assistance?

Depends on the request.

Stop the two mouths under Ms. Koshigaya!
The one above her head, also!

Just for five minutes!

What? That's ridiculous!

Understood.

Coordinates 38 and 65,
along with coaxial nine.

Magic output from 1.25 to 1.375.

Adding 1.11 to magic power
of remaining Magic Circles.

Detailed adjustments
to increase magic power in specific areas.

She calculated all that
immediately after Sakuragi's orders...

Boss...

No.

Let Sakuragi handle it.

Mr. Nikoyama!
- Yes?

Can you modify
Ms. Koshigaya's BROOM like this?

I see.

I'll try it!

Ms. Koshigaya, Ms. Tsuchiba.

This will be a little rough,
but please make do.

While I'm pinning this guy down...

...I'll support and defend.

Right!

Then, we'll shift to offense.

Just how I like it.
This'll be a piece of cake!

I'll contribute my utmost.

It eats Magic Circles and completely
defends itself from outside threats.

That's the whole reason
we can't exterminate this Class C, but...

They used that theory to their advantage

and fed it Magic Circles
to pinpoint its weakness.

They're putting up a good fight, huh?

Possibly, yes.

Exceptional teamwork
for a last-minute job.

That's exactly the problem here!

Still here, Tsutsumi?
I see you're determined.

This case was an outlier from the start!

An irregular prodigy working with
AST's best girl on the front lines.

And on top of that,
Kouji Shigemoto is the engineer?!

Even if they defeat this Class C,

that doesn't mean the Alice System
is suitable for widespread use!

It's completely unfair
to judge from an outlier case like this!

You're just biased
because your daughter's involved!

You still don't get it, do you?

The heart of the Alice System

isn't about the skill of each girl
or generating Magic Circles in real time.

It's that girl.

Huh?

Do you know who she is?

No, I do not...

Is she famous, or something?

Nope.

No one knows her. She's a total nobody.

A rookie is actively driving
two pro-level Magical Girls in battle.

She's an ordinary newcomer
capable of thinking independently.

The ability to nurture such talent

is what makes the Alice System so fierce.

Ms. Koshigaya, stand by!

Ready!

Are you ready, Ms. Tsuchiba?

Go ahead.

Equipping the new modification code!

Modification complete!

Capturing target!

Canceling Magic Circle at coordinate 42-8.

Kana!

Ms. Koshigaya!

Target locked! Just gimme the word!

Look at that, Koshigaya.

Field work is incredible, isn't it?

Rewriting common sense as we know it.

For higher-ups like us,
all we can do is watch.

Hmph. Don't undermine that.

That's more than enough.

Extension code input.

Centralized Hellfire Mode!

Get ready to blast off!

Mission...

...accomplished!

We did it!
- All right!

Store deployed devices.
Terminate procedure.

Checks done. All tasks complete.

Yo!

You rocked it, Grumpy-Face!

At least gimme a high five, would ya?!

No need. That's not my job.

High-five me, dang it!

Thank you for your cooperation.

I was doing my job.

Those last-minute strategies
and do-or-die attack patterns

were unconventional beyond discussion.

Despite that,

your orders were spot-on.

Uh, um...

My plan was to overwhelm the Kaii
by injecting excessive magic power.

However, this extermination only used
one-tenth of the expected magic allowance.

Despite the Kaii's size,
zero injuries were sustained.

That one spell surpassed all expectations.

An experience like this...

Ms. Tsuchiba, new request for you.

Can you take a solo assignment?

Assign it to me. I'm on my way.

Gone without a trace.
I'm impressed, gotta say.

This is our Alice System,
Director Koshigaya.

Have you acknowledged its effectiveness?

Yeah, I'm convinced now.

However, full implementation
is still a long way away.

I've witnessed its results firsthand,

but this isn't a system
that anyone can learn overnight.

Adoption for ordinary corporations
will come at a hefty cost.

But it's on the table for consideration.

Phew...

I'll consider this experiment
successful to an extent.

I'll discuss this moving forward,

but you'll have to capitalize on that.

Sounds good. We won't let you down.

Again, I'm sincerely grateful.

As a Magical Girl,
I've gained valuable insight today.

It was insightful for us, too!

We couldn't have done it
without the RIMT's analysis and research.

All the data you shared with us beforehand

was crucial in formulating
our risky strategy today.

What's up with this Kaii?!

It has mouths?

We captured it somehow,
but we have no clue how to deal with it!

Should we announce this at the EXPO?

We could gather more opinions.

It won't stop growing!

Cut the magic power.

Seal it! Bump up the sealing magic!

It's too dangerous...

We can't reveal something like this.

What do we do?

Data!

First, collect data.

We're researchers, right?

It's a researcher's job
to gather and share accurate data.

Even if you think it's pointless. Do it!

There are companies
who can use correct data correctly.

If you find a company
who can exterminate this, share all of it!

My dynamic visual acuity
carried the team today, eh?

Right! And not only that...

The fact that
research leads to proven results

is what makes this job so fascinating.

Aw, you're leaving so soon?

At least have some tea before you go.

Make no mistake, Manda.

I had to cram this
into my already-busy schedule, you know.

Because a certain someone
failed to report this Class C!

Uh, yeah, my bad!

And getting rid of Tsutsumi
means more work for me.

What's gonna happen to him?

Although his attempt
to sabotage the industry failed,

he blatantly violated the CMO's statute.

There's no seat for him anymore.

I know I'm at fault too,

but I just wanted to protect our research.

We got people out there
far worse than Tsutsumi, after all.

It's also our job to keep an eye on that.

What a strict guy.

Let's go drinking, just like old times!

I won't partake in any actions
regarded as collusion in the CMO.

I can't drink alone with you
until my retirement.

Director!

I'm Akasaka, the vice chief.

Thank you for your time today!

And I apologize for Manda
failing to provide sufficient hospitality!

I'm the boss, you know...

You're right. The Hawaiian shirt
is proof that your guard is down.

I'll scold him until he gets it!

Hey! I'm your boss!

Well done on today's extermination.

You can count on us.

Piece of cake.

Shall we head back, then?

I heard there's a good ramen shop nearby.

Kana.

Thanks for trusting me on this one.

Welcome back!

Now we got a party!

To celebrate a major job well done.

Gimme the receipt. How much in total?

It's on me! As a token of my gratitude!

Live more responsibly, okay?

I'll cover the food.

But in return, I have another job for you.

From here on out,
we'll need tons of supplies.

Supplies?

Make appointments with this outfitter,
this recruitment agency, and this bank.

As soon as possible.

NEXT TIME: EPISODE 5
CAN'T KEEP ACTING LIKE A ROOKIE