ebookland Chapter 117 What is a hero?
Chapter 117 What is a hero?
There's no need for the wanderers to be anxious; Mo Wunian was already planning to return anyway.
After all, distance was no longer a problem for him; having the ability to tear through space at will, he had almost no need to worry about being trapped anywhere.
So there can't really be a place that can trap him, right?
After returning, he went back to being the same aimless street urchin, and when he tried to help out at the research institute, he was always turned away.
They claimed that a hero like him, who saved Imaizu, should get some rest.
The problem is, he doesn't actually need much rest at this frequency! Even though he sleeps a lot, he's actually not very interested in sleeping.
I only have this feeling from time to time late at night... Is it because it has become a frequency and still has human instincts?
Can he still be considered a human being now?
"..."
He had no idea.
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"He's really become a street urchin... He just wanders around aimlessly every day..."
"Chao is really a busy person... He has to help set up stalls every day, and he won't let me go even if I want to help..."
"Speaking of which, could this be a version update event...? Counting the time I traveled here, it seems like it really is..."
Wandering aimlessly, clutching a pile of prizes he'd won, unsure of where to go next.
During this period without tasks, he listened to some heroic operas and participated in some small activities, but those activities were really not difficult for him, especially the activity of shooting the moon pot.
The most difficult target was the one he used when he was still in the army, even after he went blind.
Keep in mind that before he went blind, the fight would have been even more difficult, since on the battlefield he wasn't using a gun, but a thrown sword! And if he missed, it would be disastrous!
The only problem was that before he even started preparing for target practice, the group of soldiers returning late at night practically shoved gifts into his arms, looking incredibly indebted to him.
If he didn't know his identity hadn't been fully exposed, he really wanted to teach these guys who were constantly giving away gifts a good beating, just like before.
In the end, he followed the rules and completed the game at all difficulty levels before claiming the prizes, breaking his own record from several years ago in the process.
"Luckily, I don't usually have much in my storage space... I can fit these in."
"It's so nice to have a quiet place like this... No one bothers me, and I can enjoy my life on my own..."
Walking along a secluded path, surrounded by flowers and plants, he felt a rare sense of relaxation. Now, apart from the person still tirelessly following him, no one else was bothering him…
"Behold, behold my Blazing Fist..."
"Waaaaah... No, don't come any closer!"
Okay, let's pretend he didn't say anything.
Hearing the child's voice, Mo Wunian frowned instantly, then sensed the frequency of the afterimage and rushed over in a flash.
Sure enough, a group of charred remains were seen gathered around a rock, and on top of the rock stood a bewildered child, who appeared to be terrified.
Just as he was about to draw his sword, he felt a fluctuation in the frequency around him, and instantly a ball of purple flame struck first, turning the afterimages to ashes.
"..."
Somewhat awkwardly gripping his sword, unsure of what to do, but out of conscience, he first took the child off the rock.
Seeing the child standing on the ground panting heavily, Mo Wunian didn't say anything, but silently waited for the child to calm down before speaking.
"Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
"And what are you, a little kid, doing here at this hour?"
"Thank you, big brother... My name is Xiaoman, and I'm not a little kid anymore..."
"...Why I'm here...that's a secret..."
"But my older brother saved me... I guess I can say that... Mom always said we should repay kindness..."
"Well……"
Looking at the child in front of him who was still stammering and considering for a long time, Mo Wunian patted his forehead and then corrected the child's words.
"Xiaoman, right? I have to correct one of your statements."
"I didn't save you just now; it was another older brother who did."
"Huh? Wasn't it the older brother who made the move?!"
"I'd like to ask my older brother to teach me..."
Why do you want to learn those things?
He shook his head, somewhat puzzled, and squatted down to look at the child in front of him, gazing intently at him. Fortunately, the child was simple-minded, and he quickly received a response.
"Because many of the great heroes in heroic dramas are Resonators who can unleash super-powerful resonance power!"
"I also want to have superpowers like them, so I can protect the people I want to protect!"
"I started by learning and practicing the skills of the heroes, waiting to awaken my dormant resonance ability... though I didn't succeed."
"But then I realized that the Blazing Ranger can only unleash his strongest resonance power in the most dangerous situations! This is called resonance mutation!"
"Is this why you came here alone to challenge the remnant elephant to a duel, disregarding your own safety?"
"...That was an accident! If I want to be a great hero, I definitely need to find an opponent stronger than the afterimage!"
"But that would be very dangerous."
She tried to stop the child's dangerous behavior, but Xiaoman clearly didn't understand. She lowered her head as she looked at Mo Wunian, who was still trying to persuade her.
"But... if we don't do it this way, how can we awaken our resonance ability?"
"After all, only those who can resonate with others can become heroes. That's how it's portrayed in hero dramas... There's no great hero who isn't a resonance-taker..."
"Once I become a great hero, I can protect my underlings, safeguard my family, and be respected by all!"
"But Xiaoman, it's not only those who can gain resonance who can become heroes."
"It's just that some heroes gained the ability to resonate."
"Eh?"
Mo Wunian remained silent for a while, but then quickly organized his thoughts and began to explain in a way that a child could understand.
"Think about it carefully, what is the real reason why the Blazing Ranger can become a hero?"
Xiaoman shook her head in confusion, then gave her answer.
"Isn't it just that they awakened an extremely strong resonance ability, and then knocked the bad guys down with a bang?"
"That's not how it works. To truly create a hero, it takes more than just strength."
"Courage, perseverance, and invaluable, trusting, and supportive companions, along with an unwavering will to never give up in the face of adversity... these are the true elements that make a hero."
"This is why even the powerful villains in hero dramas can be defeated by the Blazing Ranger."
"It's not that you become a hero to be respected, but rather that you become a hero because you are respected."
"..."
Upon hearing Mo Wunian's words, Xiaoman's brain seemed to freeze instantly. She stood there speechless for a long time, finally raising her head to look at the person in front of her and asking somewhat stammeringly.
"Okay...it seems like that's really the case..."
"Yes, and sometimes heroes don't necessarily stand in the sunlight; there are many unsung heroes protecting you from behind the scenes."
"While their names may not be as widely known as those of the Blazing Rangers, their contributions will be remembered."
"Unsung heroes are heroes too."
"...Big brother's words make so much sense...How come I didn't think of that before..."
"...But becoming a hero certainly requires great strength...What should I do..."
"Please, big brother! Since you know so much about these things, you must have a way!"
"And judging from your appearance, you must be an unsung hero! Please tell me about it!"
"Cough cough cough...Me? Me, a hero?"
He nearly choked on his own saliva, staring in shock at the little child in front of him who was acting all cute and affectionate. This time, it was Mo Wunian's turn to have his brain shut down.
"Then you might have the wrong person... I'm really just an ordinary person..."
"How could that be! Although it wasn't my older brother who saved me just now, I could see that he was coming to save me!"
"Not buddy..."
As is often the case with lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot, Mo Wunian once again lost all his strength and resources. He stood up, patted his forehead, and sighed.
But then a sudden realization struck him; he instantly remembered the guy who had just made the move.
"Hey! If you put it that way, I actually do have a friend who could become a hero... oh... a friend."
"No, I have a bunch of friends who can be called heroes."
"How about this, I'll record some of their lives and adventures and show them to you, and right now... there's a hero hiding in the shadows~"
Xiaoman's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing Mo Wunian's words, and she excitedly stomped her feet, anxiously asking...
"Really! When will you bring me the hero's story, big brother? I want to bring Xiao Li and Xiao Mo along!"
"And that hero hiding in the shadows... could he be the one who just saved me?!"
"Big brother, can you ask him to come out? I want to thank him properly too!"
As soon as Xiaoman finished speaking, Mo Wunian instantly sensed a fluctuation in the frequency of the person hiding in the shadows. A smile appeared on his lips as he patted the child's head and nodded.
"It was around the time of the Moon Chasing Festival, during the Xiaoyue Festival."
"As for that person... I'll ask him."
"But I don't think he'll refuse."
Mo Wunian's P.S.: If that guy dares to refuse, he shouldn't come to see me next time.
"Then turn around, you'll see him in ten seconds."
"Great! Ten...nine...seven..."
Watching Xiaoman turn around and begin the countdown, Mo Wunian closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and silently murmured that person's name.
"noob?"
"...You certainly know how to order me around."
Sensing the person's presence approaching, Mo Wunian opened his eyes and looked at Ge Shulin, whose eyes were filled with helplessness and resignation. He nodded in satisfaction.
"Isn't this just you indulging me?"
"Otherwise, how could I possibly command the former general of Jinzhou?"
"..."
Seeing the fearless attitude of those around him, Ge Shulin had no way to deal with them and could only turn his head away and sigh.
Who can blame him when he genuinely likes the people around him?
"I've finished counting! Is this the big brother who saved me?!"
"It's not quite what I imagined... Why does it give me the feeling of a villain from a heroic drama..."
"..."
Noticing the sudden fluctuation in the surrounding frequency, Mo Wunian quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Xiaoman... the heroes hidden behind the scenes are often not what you see."
"Many people are similar to those around you; judging people by their appearance is wrong."
"And isn't it more appealing to be a hero who seems like a villain but is actually protecting others?"