Reborn with Steve Stand

Chapter 542: [Sponsored]: Fang Mo's Fun and Life Lesson to Tatsumaki

[This Chapter Is Sponsored by JWolf! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!]

"The names are ugly?"

Upon hearing Fang Mo's opinion, Tatsumaki felt a bit strange: "…I didn't think their names were that bad?"

"Of course you don't think so, you're an S-class hero," came the retort.

Fang Mo rolled his eyes in response: "You should take a look at the B and C classes; if I remember correctly, there's even a hero named 'Eyelashes.' Is that supposed to be a hero name?"

Indeed, Fang Mo wasn't wrong; it seemed that naming conventions in this world were extremely casual, especially within the Hero Association. Even the protagonist Saitama, when he became a C-class hero, was bizarrely named 'Cape Baldy.'

"Frankly, such a hero name would be laughable in the Marvel Universe."

As for other heroes, their names were even more arbitrary, like Glasses, Bone, Pineapple Man, Battery Man, Student, Green, Mohawk Man, Red Nose… Could these be considered heroes?

Really, even the neighboring Monster Association had more sensible naming conventions.

That said, Fang Mo suddenly felt that the hero name 'Eyelashes' might be somewhat acceptable.

"…Eyelashes?"

Tatsumaki seemed to recall something: "Isn't that guy the second-ranked hero in class B, one of Fubuki's subordinates?"

"Oh? You know about that?"

Fang Mo was somewhat surprised and gave Tatsumaki a look: "Seems like you really care about Fubuki. I thought you wouldn't bother with such small fry."

"It's just the weak banding together for warmth, as boring as playing house," Tatsumaki scoffed dismissively, then discontentedly said: "Even if you gather all the trash together, it's still just trash. I wonder when Fubuki will see that."

"Yes, only the weak need to band together for warmth," Fang Mo nodded approvingly. "Those who choose solitude are either beasts or deities."

Hearing Fang Mo agree with her view, Tatsumaki was not surprised.

In her eyes, Fang Mo's strength was outrageously overpowered; even she, ranked second among S-class heroes, had no chance to resist. Such a powerful being, she assumed, must operate solo, never allying with anyone.

Just as Tatsumaki thought this.

Fang Mo suddenly laughed.

"Though trash grouped together is still trash, it's not necessarily a bad thing."

As Tatsumaki looked on, puzzled, Fang Mo explained thoughtfully, "The concept of 'trash' is quite fascinating. To me, it's a source of joy."

Tatsumaki was taken aback. How could trash be joyful? What did he mean by that?

"You see," Fang Mo continued, "people indulge in junk food, binge-watch low-quality shows, and feel a strange satisfaction. Venting frustrations can oddly be fulfilling too."

"And sometimes, accepting one's own flaws can simplify life," he added.

Seeing Tatsumaki's astonishment, Fang Mo smiled and said, "And the idea of 'trash' can be reciprocal, right? As an S-class hero, you might look down on B-class heroes. But if I were to outfight you, in my eyes, wouldn't that make you trash too?"

"Consider this: if I view you as disposable, do you truly think you have worth?"

"You…"

Tatsumaki frowned, seemingly wanting to say something.

"Fubuki might indeed be playing house with a bunch of B-class heroes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing," Fang Mo shrugged. "After all, she's happy, so it's meaningful."

"You wander around like an orphan, always playing the lone hero, but are you truly happy?"

Fang Mo looked at Tatsumaki, always smiling: "I sometimes quite enjoy playing with the people around me, finding some fun. In your view, these people are all trash… but who says a strong person can't play with trash? Did you set that rule? Aren't you also trash in my eyes?"

"Interpersonal relationships are utterly meaningless."

Tatsumaki furrowed her brow slightly: "I don't want Fubuki to waste her time on such things. Instead of her becoming happy trash, I'd rather she became stronger."

"Oh boy, what a 'helicopter parent' proclamation,"

Fang Mo heard this and couldn't help but wipe his face.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Mo quickly continued: "You say you hope Fubuki will become stronger, but given your controlling nature… even if she becomes stronger, you won't let her handle things on her own. You'd worry about her safety, wouldn't you?"

"…"

Tatsumaki didn't speak, but her attitude said it all.

"And even if, hypothetically speaking,"

Fang Mo continued: "If Fubuki really did as you wish, training alone… does she have your talent? Could her lifelong efforts possibly surpass you?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Tatsumaki finally couldn't resist asking.

"Don't rush; I'm just giving an example,"

Fang Mo smiled and waved his hand: "Start by assuming that Fubuki can't reach your level… Then there are two paths: one is for her to train hard, and the other is for her to be happy."

"If she trains hard, she might reach the S-class standard, but not as high as you."

Fang Mo spread his hands: "Then suppose a god-level disaster occurs… and you get wiped out instantly. What do you think Fubuki would do? Run away? She would surely fight to the last moment, dying by your side."

"You…"

"Let's switch to another hypothetical,"

Before Tatsumaki could say anything, Fang Mo switched topics: "The same god-level disaster, Fubuki surely can't defeat it. You step in to protect her, but you both get killed by the monster…"

"That's the same, isn't it!?"

Tatsumaki roared.

"Exactly," Fang Mo smiled in response: "You see, you said it yourself, it's the same, isn't it?"

"…Hm?"

Hearing this, Tatsumaki suddenly paused.

"You're not really trying to make Fubuki stronger or anything,"

Fang Mo smiled at Tatsumaki: "You just want her to live your way, thinking interpersonal relationships are useless. So seeing Fubuki with a group annoys you. In the end, it's just your own control issues. If she doesn't obey, you worry she'll leave you…"

"Shut up!"

Tatsumaki couldn't help but shout, then suddenly clutched her forehead in pain.

But just then,

Fang Mo's tone shifted again.

"I can actually understand how you feel," he said, shrugging. "I also have a sister, but honestly, if it were up to me… I'd rather she live her life the way she wants. I might provide her shelter, but I would never be her shadow."

"You have a sister?"

Tatsumaki felt unexpectedly moved.

"Yes,"

Fang Mo admitted.

"You…" Tatsumaki stared at Fang Mo, hesitating for a moment, but eventually couldn't suppress her curiosity: "It sounds like you have a really good relationship with her?"

"Hey, I'm not just blowing smoke," Fang Mo brightened up. "When she was little and got scared during a thunderstorm, she wouldn't go to our parents but would come straight to my room with her pillow. I'd play games while soothing her to sleep. We talked about everything, and when she was upset and refusing to eat, I was the one who sneakily brought her snacks…"

"You…"

Listening, Tatsumaki seemed curious: "How do you manage that?"

"Because we're equals,"

Fang Mo spread his hands: "Even a child has her own dignity, you know. I respect her thoughts and, unless it's something fundamentally wrong, I fulfill her little whims. After all, I'm the big brother, so why not indulge my little sister a bit?"

"This…"

Tatsumaki pondered this, then realized she might indeed be too domineering, always pressing down on Fubuki. Could that really be the issue?

But what Tatsumaki didn't notice,

These words had been said to her before.

It's just that her personality was rather harsh, never giving those so-called "trash" a second look, so naturally, she'd ignored such words.

But now it was different.

She couldn't beat Fang Mo, so she was willing to listen to him.

"So how is your sister now?"

After a brief thought, Tatsumaki became curious about this brother-sister relationship and planned to sneak a peek sometime, perhaps really learning something. So she directly asked, "Is she in Z City?"

"She's... in another world right now."

Fang Mo sighed, realizing he hadn't dreamt of his family for a while.

It seemed like a good time to check in on his parents and figure out how to let them accept this bizarre truth.

"I'm… sorry…"

Hearing Fang Mo's words, Tatsumaki seemed to have misunderstood, possibly associating it with Fubuki, feeling somewhat distressed.

To break the awkward atmosphere,

Tatsumaki quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, you were always researching that... alchemy, right? Like the kind where you hide in the mountains and practice intensively?"

"Pretty much, what about it?"

Fang Mo was curious.

"Just that your power seems a bit excessive." Tatsumaki couldn't help but comment. "But since you're not a monster… that's a relief. But don't you plan to register with the Hero Association? With your strength, you could definitely become an S-class hero, and then the hero name probably wouldn't be too bad."

"Oh, the Hero Association,"

Fang Mo nodded, indeed planning to visit soon: "I'll talk about that in a few days, when I go to register with my disciple."

"You have a disciple?"

Tatsumaki was surprised.

"He's a millennium-old bald man, Ancient One, the lord of the Ancient City, who once suppressed countless dimensional demons alone," Fang Mo boasted. "He's known as the Sorcerer Supreme."

"…A millennium-old bald man?"

Tatsumaki was startled: "Your disciple is that old? What about you?"

"I'm thirteen this year, a student," Fang Mo said seriously. "Your sister is so beautiful, may I rest my head on her lap?"

"…"

Tatsumaki's face instantly darkened.

"Okay, just kidding."

Fang Mo chuckled, then continued: "Actually, I'm the original Sorcerer Supreme, but I've already ascended to godhood, so I left the title to my disciple… I've actually been silently guarding this land for tens of thousands of years."

Saying this, Fang Mo tried to keep his expression serious.

"Aren't you curious how I know about you? I've always been quietly observing you, and the Hero Association. As long as you could handle the crisis, I'd let you handle it, as it's also a form of growth."

"But it's different recently. I sense a god-level disaster might be approaching Earth, so I had no choice but to come out of hiding."

"But you just said you came out because of some kind of copper refining…"

Tatsumaki couldn't help but remind him.

"Cough cough, that was a joke," Fang Mo coughed and said: "When you've lived as long as I have, you have to find some amusement, or you'll go mad."

"It still sounds a bit suspicious…"

Tatsumaki frowned slightly, feeling like there wasn't a single true word in Fang Mo's mouth, but considering his immense power, if he were really a monster, the world would probably already be destroyed, and he wouldn't be sitting here talking so much nonsense with her.

Thinking this, Tatsumaki felt a bit confused again.

"I'm telling the truth,"

Fang Mo spread his hands, then suddenly had an idea: "Oh, right… Blast, you know the S-class top-ranked hero Blast, right? He's been struggling against a god-level disaster for decades. If you don't believe me, just ask the Hero Association."

"What! You mean Blast?"

Tatsumaki suddenly got excited, having been saved by him as a child and feeling somewhat like a fan: "He's fighting a god-level disaster?"

"Yeah."

Fang Mo nodded directly.

"Why doesn't he call others for help?" Tatsumaki couldn't help but ask: "Others aside, couldn't even I be of help?"

"Sister, it's a god-level disaster,"

Fang Mo spread his hands: "Not to mention others, how would you handle it if I punched you right now? Would you call your fellow comrades from Little Association to help you? Could they handle it?"

"…"

Faced with this, Tatsumaki suddenly felt extremely weak, as if she hadn't grown at all over the years, unconsciously biting her lip.

"That's how it is,"

Fang Mo shrugged casually: "If you don't believe me, just go ask the people at the Hero Association yourself. I don't need to explain so much since you probably won't believe it anyway."

"I…"

Tatsumaki listened to this, then directly shook as she stood up: "I'm going to ask them now…"

"Please."

Fang Mo didn't stop her, simply waving his hand.

With a thought, Tatsumaki clumsily manipulated her psychokinesis and flew away.

And as Tatsumaki left,

Fang Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief, quickly messaging his partner through Steve, to send another teleport command.

His partner didn't say much, just sent a command over.

Fang Mo's thoughts moved, and type /tpaccept the teleport command. In a flash of white light, another small figure appeared before him.

But unlike the previous Tatsumaki,

This figure's aura of resentment made Fang Mo slightly uncomfortable.

"I'll give you three seconds to find that shit you just took and show it to me," Xiao Yao said, seemingly seeing through everything, calmly speaking to Fang Mo: "If you can't find it, you'd better have a reasonable explanation."

~~~

This chapter is wholesome

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