SSS-Ranked Surgeon In Another World: The Healer Is Actually OP! - Chapter 367: Without Effort

Chapter 367: Without Effort

As the car sped off into the distance, its silhouette shrinking beneath the fading light, silence slowly reclaimed the space it had left behind.

The faint hum of the Fenrari’s engine seemed to hang in the air a moment longer than it should have, like an echo that refused to disappear. Even the ground itself felt as though it still remembered the force of its departure, the precision of that acceleration, the smoothness of that exit.

Then, Nothing.

Ozai exhaled slowly. “…Yeah.”

The word slipped out under his breath, quieter than he intended, as if speaking any louder would somehow disturb the moment that had just passed. His shoulders relaxed, just slightly, the tension he hadn’t realized he was holding easing away with that single breath.

A faint smile formed on his lips. “…He’ll be fine.”

His gaze didn’t shift. It remained fixed on the empty stretch ahead, on the exact point where the Fenrari had disappeared from sight, as though expecting it to reappear at any moment. But it didn’t.

And still, He kept looking.

Because something about that departure lingered.

Not the speed. Not the machine. But the way it had been done.

Ozai’s eyes narrowed slightly, the faint smile still resting on his face, but his thoughts had already begun to drift elsewhere, replaying the scene again and again in his mind.

The moment Bruce’s hand had touched the steering interface.

The way his mana had flowed.

It was as if the machine had never been unfamiliar to him in the first place.

As if there had been no gap to bridge.

No learning curve to overcome. It hadn’t felt like someone operating a vehicle.

It had felt like, recognition.

Ozai’s fingers twitched faintly at his side. That wasn’t normal. Even experienced drivers needed time and adjustment.

The Fenrari wasn’t built to be forgiving. Its sensitivity alone was enough to overwhelm most people on their first attempt. Too much mana, and the circuits will flow to fast, the acceleration would be overwhelming. Too little, and the response will lag.

And yet, there had been no hesitation. No fluctuation. Not even the slightest correction. Just, seamless control.

Ozai let out a quiet breath through his nose, his gaze finally lowering slightly, though the thoughts didn’t stop.

What he had just witnessed, was something else entirely different from what he thought will happen

A low chuckle escaped him, barely audible, carrying a hint of disbelief.

“…What kind of monster did I just hand that over to…”

There was no fear in the words. No regret.

If anything, there was curiosity. A growing one.

His head tilted slightly as he glanced down at his own hand, the same one that had passed over the keys just moments ago. For a brief second, he could almost feel it again, the quiet certainty in Bruce’s grip, the complete lack of doubt.

The kind that didn’t need to prove itself. The kind that simply, existed.

Ozai’s gaze lifted again, returning to the horizon.

And this time, It shifted. Not to where the car had gone.But beyond it.

As if trying to follow the path of something far less tangible.

His smile deepened, just a fraction.

Because somewhere along the line, without him realizing it, his concern had changed.

It was no longer about whether the Fenrari would be handled properly.

That question had already been answered.

What lingered now was something else entirely.

A quiet, undeniable realization settling into place.

The Fenrari wasn’t the dangerous variable anymore.

Bruce was, and for the first time since handing over the keys,

Ozai found himself far more interested in the driver than the machine he had just driven away.

’Hed make a good mech driver with such control, but considering his strength, not only does he not need it, but it’s useless asking him…

Meanwhile, The Fenrari cut through the open path like a silent shadow, its hum low and steady beneath them, the world outside blurring just enough to remind them of its speed, yet never enough to feel out of control.

Everything was, smooth. Too smooth.

Inside, Sophie leaned back slightly into her seat, her fingers resting lightly against the edge of the armrest as her gaze drifted across the interior before settling on Bruce.

For a moment, she didn’t speak. She just watched him.

The way his hand rested on the interface.

The way his eyes stayed forward, calm and focused, yet not tense in the slightest, as if driving something like this, meant nothing to him.

And somehow, that made her smile.

“…You’ve really never driven before, have you?”

Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of curiosity beneath the warmth.

Bruce didn’t look at her immediately.

His gaze remained ahead, the faint glow of the mana circuits reflecting subtly across his eyes.

“Not this.”

A small pause. His lips curved slightly as he thought of cars of earth.

“But it’s not complicated.” he said after a while.

Sophie blinked once. Then let out a quiet breath that turned into a soft laugh.

“Not complicated…”

She repeated it under her breath, almost as if testing the words.

For anyone else, this would’ve been overwhelming. Even she found it hard and stressful to drive mana mobiles but here he is doing it so easily.

Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer before shifting slightly, watching the path ahead through the wide, open view of the lowered window. The wind brushed lightly against her hair, strands of it moving gently across her shoulder.

“…You’re enjoying this.”

It wasn’t a question. Bruce’s eyes flickered slightly.

Then,

“…Yeah.”

The answer came honestly. No hesitation. There was something about it. The control. The precision.

The way everything responded exactly as he intended.

It felt, right.

Sophie turned her head again, studying him more openly this time.

And there it was. That faint smile.

Not the composed one he wore in front of others.

Not the calm mask. This one was his.

Her heart stirred.

“…I like that look on you.”

The words slipped out naturally, softer than before, carrying something deeper beneath them.

Bruce finally glanced at her. “…Which one?”

Sophie tilted her head slightly, her eyes meeting his without hesitation.

“This one.”

A small pause.

“The one where you’re not thinking about everything else.”

Her gaze softened just a little.

“Where you’re just, here.”

The words lingered.

Bruce didn’t respond immediately. But the slight shift in his expression said enough.

The Fenrari accelerated smoothly as the path opened further, the city beginning to stretch out around them in longer lines of light and structure. The hum deepened slightly, the vehicle responding to his subtle input like it was an extension of his own body.

Sophie adjusted slightly in her seat, one hand brushing lightly against the side as she leaned just a little closer, not enough to be obvious, but enough to feel.

“…You didn’t even hesitate.”

Her voice dropped again, quieter now.

“When you bought it.”

Bruce’s gaze remained forward.

“…Did I need to?”

Sophie smiled faintly.

“No.”

A small breath escaped her.

“You never do.”

There was no sarcasm in it. No teasing. Just, quiet admiration.

She shifted again, this time letting her hand move just slightly, her fingers brushing against the back of his hand resting on the interface.

Light. Barely there. But intentional. Bruce felt it. His fingers didn’t move away.

Instead, they adjusted.

Just slightly. Enough to let her hand rest there more naturally. The contact was subtle.

But it lingered. Warm. Steady. Sophie’s gaze softened further.

“…You know,” she murmured, her thumb brushing faintly against his hand without thinking, “most people would’ve been nervous just sitting in this thing for the first time.”

Bruce exhaled lightly. “…You’re not.”

She shook her head. “No.”

A small pause. Then

“Because you’re the one driving.”

Bruce glanced at her again.

This time, for a second longer.

And Sophie held his gaze. Didn’t look away. Didn’t shy back.

There was no hesitation in her eyes. No doubt. Just trust. The kind that didn’t need to be proven. Didn’t need to be tested. It just, existed.

Something in his chest tightened.

Not uncomfortably. But enough to be felt.

“…You really don’t doubt me.”

It wasn’t a question.

Sophie smiled.

Soft.

Warm.

“Not even a little.”

Her fingers curled slightly against his hand.

“…Should I?”

Bruce let out a quiet breath.

A faint huff that almost turned into a laugh.

“…No.”

The Fenrari surged forward again as the path cleared, the speed increasing smoothly, the world outside slipping by faster now, lights stretching, wind brushing more noticeably against the open window.

But inside, Everything felt still.

Sophie leaned back slightly again, though her hand didn’t move.

Her eyes drifted forward.

“…It’s nice.”

Bruce raised a brow slightly.

“The car?”

She shook her head.

“No.”

A small pause.

“This.”

Her fingers tightened just slightly against his.

“Being like this.”

The words were quiet.

But they carried weight.

Bruce didn’t respond immediately.

But his grip adjusted again, this time, more deliberately.

Holding her hand. Not tightly.

But enough to make it clear.

He wasn’t letting go.