After all the loli research institutes were set up, Setsuna found that doing research suddenly became much easier.
As long as he told the little girls what kind of technology he wanted developed, they would immediately start working on it.
The actual manufacturing was handled by Bulins—so the lolis only had to take care of the theory and blueprints.
Thus, the entire research process became a virtuous cycle:
Setsuna issued the research task → the lolis worked out the theory → Bulins handled the building.
"Commander, please confirm our future research department directives."
"Which projects would you like us to focus on?"
Early in the morning, Senju Kayo walked into Setsuna's office.
She placed a document on the desk, waiting for his instructions.
"Oh, you really are starting to look like a little scientist."
Setsuna smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Hmph! I'm working now! That means I'm already a grown-up, Onii-chan!"
Senju Kayo puffed out her cheeks, tilting her head upward.
Her serious and diligent attitude was irresistibly cute.
The nearby shipgirls and Spirits couldn't help but smile.
"Hmm..."
Setsuna glanced over the report Senju Kayo handed him and thought for a moment.
"Engineering: start with designing a Starbase. We're a spacefaring civilization now—it's just not right to not have one, or at least a space dock."
"Physics: continue developing FTL (Faster Than Light) tech. Whether hyperspace, warp, or best of all, jump drive—anything works."
"Biology: keep pushing forward with gene tech. Also, tweak our crops so they can adapt to space environments."
He felt like he was playing Stellaris—picking research options and letting scientists handle the rest.
And now, he had an entire elite team of max-level researchers! Efficiency off the charts.
"Understood. The Starbase is easy—our tech reserves are solid, and there are no real construction difficulties. We should be able to deliver a blueprint in a month or two."
"As for FTL... we'll need to run some experiments. That'll trouble you a bit, Commander."
Senju Kayo's golden eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
"No problem."
"Oh, and one more task."
At the end, Setsuna remembered something else.
"We're going to start developing off-world colonies. Start researching relevant technologies."
"Huh?"
Senju Kayo and the shipgirls and Spirits in the office were stunned.
"Off-world? You mean...?"
"The Moon, Mars, Venus, Europa—let's start within the solar system first."
Setsuna pulled up a star map and marked several locations.
These were all low-difficulty targets that humanity had already considered pre-space age.
"But... Earth still isn't fully developed~?"
Richelieu looked confused. She pulled up a world map.
Currently, the capital had a permanent population of about 7 million, plus another million or so Bulins working alongside countless Manjuus mining resources around the globe.
While key mining zones and oil fields on every continent had been established, they hadn't yet fully secured the entire planet.
"It's better to plan early. Bulins and universal angels expand fast. Just look—our capital's already getting crowded."
"We don't even have enough space left for new starship docks and farmland."
Setsuna spread open the city's expansion map. With the growing population, support facilities were also increasing.
Since landing, the city had already expanded outward several times.
"Then can we start developing other parts of Earth? Like moving the industrial zones to Europe or Asia, and setting up agricultural areas in South America..."
Formidable twirled her hair as she asked.
"That's part of the next phase of the plan, but ultimately, we'll be relocating most industries off Earth and building specialized planets instead."
Setsuna answered.
"Like industrial planets, agricultural planets, research planets... I think Mars would make a great industrial base. The Moon can be our science hub. Venus... maybe a magical experiment field."
Centralizing each industry on a single planet was a core concept of the Stellaris era—higher efficiency through specialization and easier management.
"Then what about Earth?"
The shipgirls blinked and asked curiously.
"Earth? Of course Earth will be turned into an ideal city or garden planet—for us to live on, vacation, and do happy things~"
Setsuna replied without hesitation.
"?!"
"Whoa, you just exposed your true self!"
Gudako slammed the table.
"If you're not happy about it, I can always send you to Mars to mine ores."
Setsuna raised an eyebrow.
"..."
Gudako paused for a moment.
"I think I'll just stay on Earth and help you push butts instead. Just save me a bed, okay?"
...
After assigning tasks to the loli scientists,
Setsuna went to inspect another research institute on the outskirts of the capital.
Located a bit farther from the Loli Academy was a smaller, castle-shaped building resembling Hogwarts in architectural style.
On the main building's doors were gilded words:
[Imperial Magic Research Institute]
The school didn't just produce science-savvy lolis; it also trained magical ones.
These girls studied magic and spellcasting from various worlds, along with their corresponding theories.
It was the central hub for research on all things magic-related.
But since magic experiments came with risks and could easily go wrong, the Magic Institute wasn't run by a loli.
Its head was the Spirit of Origin.
Upon seeing Setsuna, Mio happily ran over, clinging to his arm with a bright smile.
"Hubby, are you here for an inspection?"
"Yup. You're the dean of the Magic Institute now, Dean Mio."
Setsuna grinned and pinched her cheek.
Tohru was a maid, Lucoa was always goofing off in the library, so the position of Magic Academy Dean naturally went to Mio. Her power alone could handle any magical emergency.
"Aww, hubby, don't call me dean~"
Mio pouted playfully.
As they walked through the interior of the research institute, the magical academy had a totally different vibe from the science one.
There were no particle colliders or biological labs here.
Instead, shelves of books, scrolls, and all sorts of bizarre alchemical tools filled the space.
Some lolis were reading grimoires, others drawing magic circles or casting spells.
It was colorful, noisy, and far livelier than the science lab.
When they saw Mio and Setsuna, the girls waved and greeted them.
"Hi, Dean Mio! Good afternoon, Onii-chan!"
"Our current main fields of study include Type-Moon Magecraft, spirit magic, dragon magic, and more."
Mio began explaining.
"Type-Moon Magecraft came from Chaldea. Thanks to their research, we've now managed to artificially imprint magical circuits."
"We're currently working on increasing both the quantity and quality of those circuits."
"Huh?!"
Gudako jolted in surprise.
In Chaldea, the number of magical circuits one possessed was determined at birth—and directly correlated to a mage's potential.
If artificial imprinting of magical circuits could be mastered, it would allow the mass production of powerful magi in the future.
"Sign me up! I love Chaldea!!"
Ritsuka Fujimaru raised her hand.
"Didn't you say you weren't studying magecraft anymore?! Huh? You gene-ascended, Gundam-piloting Spirit Master!"
Setsuna flicked Gudako on the forehead.
"Still, there's no harm in learning if it helps me get stronger..."
Gudako rubbed her head and muttered.
She figured if she could imprint enough magical circuits on herself, then combine them with the wild variety of magic learned here, becoming a Grand Servant someday would be a breeze.
"This research is still in its early stages. If it proves useful, I'll let you know."
Mio smiled and led the group deeper into the institute.
"Spirit magic refers to what I specialize in. Some of the girls here even volunteered to become Spirits, so we could study their spiritual energy."
"But, uh, they won't grow up anymore."
She pointed to a few girls in divine Astral Dresses—subsidiary Spirits born from Mio's crystallized essence.
In a sense, Mio now had dozens, maybe hundreds, of daughters.
"As for dragon magic... That comes from Tohru and Lucoa. Their magic is abundant and complicated to analyze."
"Also, some of the smarter girls have started inventing original spells. They're not powerful yet, and sometimes backfire, but it's still pretty interesting..."
Out in the testing field,
Setsuna saw groups of magical lolis practicing spells together, chanting incantations and casting with their hands or wands.
"Transform now!"
Midori Fuse pointed at a cat and shouted. A red flash burst out.
Poof—
When the smoke cleared, she had turned herself into a tabby cat.
She meowed anxiously as she rubbed herself against Setsuna and Mio's legs.
"Oh? Working on transfiguration, are you?"
Setsuna picked up the cat and gently teased it.
A catgirl loli turning into an actual cat—quite fitting.
Mio waved her hand and turned her back.
The girl shifted awkwardly, slightly embarrassed.
"Actually, I was trying to figure out how to turn a cat into a catgirl with magic... but it looks like I still have a long way to go..."
"You're doing great—this research has value."
Setsuna patted Midori Fuse's head.
"Let's see if you can start creating monster girls next."
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