I tilted my head.
What was that? Why did he seem so surprised?
Was there anything surprising in our recent exchange? I had merely offered words of encouragement.
“Hmm…”
…Ah.
Could it be that my words were simply too kind?
After all, ever since I brought him in, I’d mostly focused on teasing him, rarely offering any genuinely kind words.
As that thought crossed my mind, Mob’s flustered expression suddenly struck me as rather endearing.
I chuckled to myself.
Hmph hmph, how does it feel to experience the overwhelming power of my paternal affection?
It’s incredible, isn’t it? You must be completely disoriented. Heh, what can I say? There’s nothing this genius Doctor can’t do.
I’m great at comforting (TL Note: ‘Nadenade’ is a Japanese onomatopoeia for gently patting or stroking, often used in a cutesy context.), and I’m great at defeating heroes. I’m just an all-around genius Doctor!
I flashed a triumphant grin, brimming with self-assurance.
****
Beep-beep.
Then, a series of electronic beeps, tickling my ear, brought me back to reality.
It was a familiar sound—the error warning from the shapeshifting device nestled in my chest pocket.
Had it been affected by Jjirit-jjirit-gun (TL Note: A playful onomatopoeic name for a character that might emit electric shocks or have a ‘tingling’ effect, similar to ‘Zap-zap-guy’) during the recent battle?
Still, it didn’t matter. The situation had long been resolved. I could simply return to base, give it a quick repair, and it would be good as new.
With that thought, I tugged on Mob’s collar.
“Let’s go, Mob…”
“Huh? What?”
Yet, Mob’s face remained utterly blank.
What’s wrong with him?
To get Mob, who remained frozen and bewildered, to move, I gripped his collar tightly with both hands and pulled.
Despite my strenuous efforts, grunting and tugging with all my might, Mob’s body remained stubbornly rooted to the spot.
“Mob, move it, quickly! The shapeshifting device is malfunctioning. Its effects will wear off in less than five minutes!”
As I muttered in exasperation, he finally seemed to snap out of his daze, glancing briefly at our surroundings.
Mob then uttered in a low voice,
“…That was incredibly dangerous just now.”
Oh, I’d thought his prolonged silence meant he’d finally devolved into a speechless beast, but it seems I was fortunately mistaken.
And ‘dangerous,’ you say?
I tilted my head in confusion.
Hmm… was he referring to that moment from earlier?
It was certainly perilous, him recklessly charging at the villain like that.
If not for this genius Doctor, it would have been game over for sure. Such a reckless male lead.
Continuing that train of thought, I began rummaging through my clothes.
“Ugh, where did it go this time…”
I distinctly remember putting it here. Did it sprout legs and run off in the interim? Why isn’t it here?
My hand stretched into the pocket, but found nothing; even fumbling deeper proved fruitless.
It was then that Mob suddenly widened his eyes, staring directly at me.
For some inexplicable reason, his face flushed crimson as he cried out,
“D-Doctor?!”
“What is it?”
I responded nonchalantly.
“This genius Doctor is quite busy right now…”
I’m currently searching for the invention that will take us home.
Hurry up and cheer me on, Mob.
If this Doctor fails to find it, my shapeshifting will unravel, and I’ll be arrested as a pervert.
At the very least, you could help me look for it.
“No, why are you suddenly… taking off your clothes?!”
But contrary to my hopes, the fellow simply stood there, rubbing his face with both hands.
Mob, what in the world is he doing? Did he suddenly recall his past escapades of ‘devouring’ heroes (TL Note: ‘따먹다’ (ttameokda) is a vulgar slang term meaning to ‘conquer’ or ‘have s*x with’, often used playfully or provocatively in this context to imply dominance or taking advantage of someone.)?
I shrugged, then casually plunged both hands back inside my clothes.
Rummaging deeper still, I stared blankly into the air.
“Hmm, it absolutely has to be here…”
Before me, Mob continued to fluster and blush.
“D-Doctor…! No, everyone can see everything!”
Be quiet, Mob.
You’re distracting me from my search.
“Ah, found it!”
So it was here all along.
I let out an inward sigh of relief as I pulled it out.
From the pocket beside my left hip, a small, circular device glittered as I withdrew it.
“Ta-da! My portable teleportation device! With this, we can return straight to base…”
Beep-beep!
“Ah, so it’s time…”
To think five minutes had already passed. That was a close call.
I immediately pressed the device’s switch.
In an instant, a halo of light spread, enveloping our bodies.
Smiling, I naturally closed my eyes, then opened them again to find the familiar white ceiling of the lab filling my vision.
We had returned to the center of the research lab.
****
The moment we returned, I instinctively gravitated toward the sofa.
Having returned from an outing after such a long time, my body felt as heavy as lead, and all I desired was to collapse onto the plush cushions at once.
“Phew… Another hard day’s work, my brilliant self…”
Just as I exhaled a soft sigh and prepared to throw myself onto the sofa,
Thump.
A heavy weight settled onto both of my shoulders.
“H-Hmph…?!”
The unexpected, firm sensation on my shoulders made my body jolt instinctively.
However, realizing almost immediately that it was Mob, I relaxed my expression and offered my characteristic easygoing smile.
“Mob… what’s the matter?”
His face, which I peered up at, seemed incredibly angry for some reason.
His lips were pressed into a firm line, deep furrows creased his brow, and his eyes held a piercing intensity. His entire expression was a tight, furious scowl.
…
A question naturally arose within me.
Why is he angry again? Living his life constantly upset about every little thing must be exhausting.
“Mob, why are you so angry? This genius Doctor heard a little something, you know. People who get angry often tend to age faster. They also experience hair loss more quickly…”
Though I’d intended for my words to lighten his mood, Mob’s expression remained utterly unyielding despite my efforts.
If anything, it hardened further. The grip of his hands tightened, pressing my shoulders down even more deeply.
“Ugh…”
The instant I felt the pressure, I was acutely reminded of our significant difference in physique.
In my current stance, Mob’s towering shadow loomed over me, his nearly double-sized frame completely filling my field of vision.
His massive build, coupled with exceptionally well-defined muscles,
was perhaps why a primal, almost bestial sense of intimidation instinctively made me cower.
‘…Cowering? Me?’
I vehemently shook my head inwardly.
Preposterous. I am a genius Doctor. How could I possibly cower simply due to a difference in physical stature?
Such a thing was impossible. It had to be a delusion.
“Mob…”
I opened my mouth, meeting Mob’s gaze with what I hoped was a confident expression.
Though for some reason, maintaining eye contact proved difficult, causing me to inadvertently glance away, it was still a rather dignified pose, I thought.
See? I’m absolutely not intimidated.
It must be the fatigue from our outing causing these strange delusions. Yes, that’s certainly it.
“This Doctor’s… shoulder is starting to ache a little. Would you mind explaining why you’re doing this…?”
After a moment of hesitant deliberation, I cautiously posed my question, and soon, a deep, reassuring voice, characteristic of an adult male, descended from above me.
“…Doctor.”
“Yes?”
As I tilted my head, responding.
“Doctor, you need to take better care of yourself.”
With those words, Mob slowly lowered his hands from my shoulders.
…
What was that?
He said I need to take better care of myself.
What could he possibly mean?
I mulled over his words for a moment before finally nodding.
Aha. Now I understand why Mob was so angry.
He was worried because I, being so clumsy, got myself taken hostage, wasn’t he?
My current body is that of a Doctor, yes, but it is also a frail, defenseless form.
It’s only natural, then, for Mob, who is indebted to me, to be on edge with worry.
Tsk, tsk. But there’s one crucial fact our Mob doesn’t know.
And that is: this genius Doctor is absolutely destined never to be ‘devoured’.
So it’s perfectly fine for me to live as I please. There’s absolutely no need to worry.
Still, it seems our Casanova wasn’t entirely an ungrateful scoundrel after all.
I flashed an inward smile of relief and nodded, placing my hands confidently on my hips.
“Of course! I’ll keep that in mind!”
“…It seems you’ve misunderstood something again. Well, if you say you understand, then I suppose it’s fine.”
Mob muttered something under his breath, but I paid him no mind, instead stretching my limbs expansively.
“Ugh…”
Stretching my arms high above my head, I let out a weary sigh.
“Anyway… my face has been exposed again. Oh dear, it seems I won’t be able to wander outside for a while.”
At my mischievous words, Mob let out a deep sigh.
“You barely ever go outside anyway, so why pretend… Wait a minute.”
Then, as if a realization had struck him, his eyes widened into perfect circles.
“Now that I think about it… that self-proclaimed rival recognized your face immediately. You didn’t change your appearance? Even with the shapeshifting device on hand?”
Instead of answering, I simply lay sprawled on the sofa, slowly nodding my head.
“Mmm-hmm…”
I casually twisted my body with languid indifference, mumbling with lips shaped like a cat’s.
Burying my face into the cushion, I rolled around playfully.
Mob, who had been looking down at me, asked with a weary expression,
“…Why didn’t you change it?”
Still lying down, I shrugged my shoulders and replied as if it were of no consequence.
“Isn’t that obvious…? This genius Doctor is simply too handsome.”
Mob attempted to retort, but seemed to find himself at a loss for words, stammering, “That’s…”
Then he quickly averted his gaze, his face slightly flushed, and added,
“Rather than handsome… wouldn’t ‘cute’ be more accurate?”
Hmph hmph.
I playfully rotated my small body once, curling up on the sofa as I spoke.
“It’s all the same. Anyway, this Doctor is confident in my looks, so I didn’t change it…”
Even if I did change it, as Mob said, I barely go outside, so it wouldn’t be very useful anyway.
More importantly, it’s a hassle. Setting up a new appearance takes a precious five minutes!
Mob scratched his cheek at my words and muttered,
“What are you even saying…? This just makes you the same as me, who doesn’t wear a mask.”
At his words, I abruptly sat up.
I wiggled my finger, flashing my characteristic gentle smile.
“Tsk, tsk. This genius Doctor merely got caught up in something by chance while out shopping. The premise itself is different, rookie…”
“Hmm… well, that’s true.”
Mob nodded.
Then, after a brief pause, he added in a low voice,
“…I’m glad you’re safe, Doctor.”
“Oh?”
My eyes instantly widened.
“Ohh, is Mob… worried?”
The man looked embarrassed, once again avoiding my gaze.
“W-Why?”
Heh heh.
I never imagined that a Mob in his rebellious phase would express gratitude so directly.
Alright, I’m in a good mood. Since Mob mustered his courage, I should reward him accordingly, right?
“Mob…”
I smiled brightly and said to him,
“Thank you. What you did back then, trying to save me, it was incredibly cool.”
“…!”
Mob’s eyes widened tremendously in an instant.
“Th-Tha… what… uh, uh…”
He sputtered like a broken machine, then suddenly clutched his head with both hands and bolted into his room in a frantic rush.
Huh?
Faced with his sudden, inexplicable behavior, I could only tilt my head in bewilderment.
“What was that…?”