#707 A Superhero’s Appearance

Without a moment’s delay, let’s call her in.

"Come on, Platy!"

"Yeah, yeah, coming."

Platy, holding our second son Norito in her arms and our eldest son Junior's hand, comes forward.

I asked my wife Platy, a master at making potions, to pioneer the research on creating a superhero's transformation system.

"So, this is the belt made by the dwarves... I see; it’s made exactly as ordered."

"Absolutely... We had an extensive discussion with you when the order was placed, madam...!" timidly answers Pops Edward.

Yes, from here on, we’ll hand the task over to Platy.

She prepared the transformation system that will be integrated into the belt!

"Shall we get right to the experiment? The system’s construction is already done."

"Since we have this chance, we'd like to observe..."

Pops Edward and Sensei watch from the side with anticipation, wondering what will happen.

"Okay, let's integrate the belt into the buckle right away..."

The belt strap, crafted by the elves, is joined with the dwarven-made buckle!

This completes the belt for now.

It has, coincidentally, become a joint project between the elves and the dwarves.

"And now, I will wear this belt!"

"What?!"

What's the matter?

Is it that surprising that I'm going to wear the transformation belt?

But this was my idea.

I should be the one to step up and become the test subject!

I’m a father now.

There's nothing strange about transforming into a hero for the sake of my children!

It's not like I have a desire for this myself, okay?!

"Ready, Platy! Transformation explanation, please!"

"Got itttt."

Is it just me, or is my wife starting to give careless responses?

Is she getting tired of this?

"Don't worry, the transformation will be done with this magic potion!"

She takes out a potion-filled test tube.

This is indeed a method befitting a mermaid.

"I’ll fix this magic potion’s test tube... directly into the buckle!"

Clunk!

The test tube fits into the buckle with a satisfying sound!

It's off to a great start!

Boys always love this kind of satisfying click when something fits perfectly!

And that's why combiner robots will always be popular.

Now that it’s fixed, the magic potion inside the test tube flows into the buckle!

Something that looks like the core part inside the buckle reacts to the magic potion, and...

Whoa?! A membrane that forms around the belt envelops me!

It’s covering me completely...?

Shiiing!

Transformation complete!

"How is it?!"

How does my transformed version look?!

"Hmm, it's good that we were able to produce the desired effect by using the magic potion, but...!"

Huh? What?

What's with that doubtful response?

The armor generated from the belt completely covered me, but there’s still a problem?

"You should see for yourself, Lord Saint."

Sensei waves his finger, and a reflective object appears out of nowhere.

A mirror.

And it's even taller than me.

I see. He wants me to look at my reflection. As expected of Sensei, he can instantly prepare anything, even a full-length mirror.

Then let's check it out... What’s this?

While I am indeed completely covered in the black membrane generated by the magic potion, looking as if I've transformed, it's just a simple covering, like stockings but for the entire body.

There obviously isn’t a shred of superhero-like stylishness!

If anything, I look like a minion from an evil organization!

"Dad, you look sillyyyyy."

Even Junior is criticizing me!

The Superhero Creation Project is a huge failureeeeeee!

"Hmm... there’s a problem with the design..."

Next to me, Platy makes a calm analysis.

"I can modify the temporary membrane potion to embody a certain shape. How about we improve the design that way?”

Platy’s such a competent wife, quickly coming up with a solution on the spot! 

Please do!!!

"Do you have any motif requests? Designing from scratch is difficult even for a professional, let alone a non-expert like me..."

I see.

Indeed, sharing an image is necessary.

If we're talking about a superhero-like appearance or motif...

"...A grasshopper?"

"Huh?"

"A grasshopper-like design?"

"Why? Are superheroes grasshoppers? I don’t see the connection!”

I understand what Platy is trying to say.

But the very essence of a superhero is a grasshopper! That is the will of the primordial god and will never be overturned!

"Can't it be a little more masculine...? There are other insects that are... you know, right?"

Hmm, true.

Even among bugs, beetles like stag or rhinoceros beetles are more popular among kids.

Boys are always fascinated by their horns and pincers.

"Hmm... If that's the case, there's a way to make it work."

"Huh? What do you mean, Platy?"

"If we're using a living creature as a motif, we could incorporate its life essence into the magic potion. That would not only influence the design but also imbue the abilities of the creature's lifestyle."

"Wow, that sounds so cool!"

That's like the epitome of a transforming superhero!

Typically, each generation of superhero shows introduces various new characters with different motifs that evolve beyond their original forms.

All of them were super cool!

"Using the technology I borrowed from Zoth Syra, it's easy to incorporate life essences. In that case, let's try to get a life essence from something stronger than a grasshopper!"

Platy really wants to move away from the grasshopper idea.

But grasshoppers are cool, too, right?

"Luckily, the strongest creature in the world happens to live on our farm. It'd be easy to get its life essence, which would be much more fitting for a superhero!"

A grasshopper is fine, too...

Although, I have a hunch about whom Platy is referring to.

What's the strongest creature, biologically speaking?

The answer is pretty clear in this world.

Dragons.

Whether in the sea, on land, or in the air... dragons boast invincible power in any environment.

A superhero incorporating the powers and design of a dragon would surely be the strongest and most popular, wouldn't it?

Or so Platy says.

To incorporate the life essence of a dragon, our farm has a prime candidate.

Yes, our farm is home to a dragon, Veil!!!

* * *

"No way."

But then we got a swift rejection.

What the heck?!

"I'd rather my power be used for Junior. If you're going to transform, it should be Junior. Master, you should do your best as the guinea pig first!!!"

"Piggy, piggyyyy.”

Veil says as she cuddles Junior.

She really has become a solid Junior fanatic, hasn't she?!

Hmm, so should we look for another strong creature to provide a life essence?

But I wonder if there's one...

Like I said before, the staple motif for a superhero show would be a beetle—like a stag beetle or a rhinoceros beetle.

But we don't know any beetles like that.

Do we know any other animals or insects suitable for a superhero motif...?