The setting sun's afterglow dyed half the sky red.
Rimuru and Tony Stark sat on a giant donut, quietly eating without a word.
But Rimuru could clearly feel that Tony Stark had something on his mind!
In fact, Rimuru had already sensed this when she teleported to Tony's villa.
However, Tony chose to hide it, and Rimuru very tactfully did not ask.
But Rimuru accidentally drank all of Tony's extensive collection, and that became the final flood that broke through Tony's inner defense line!
After finishing the donut, Tony wiped his hands with a napkin, looking at the setting sun's afterglow with a hint of melancholy.
"I've been a genius since I was a child. I entered the Department of Electrical Engineering at MIT at fifteen and graduated with the highest marks."
"When I was twenty-one, both of my parents died in a car accident, leaving me without even a single word of farewell."
"As an only child, I naturally inherited Stark Industries. At the time, many people sneered, saying Stark Industries would be ruined in my hands. But I only took half a year to make Stark Industries' performance soar, shutting all those people up!"
"As an arms dealer, the weapons I developed were always among the best. That fool Justin Hammer, by simply imitating Stark Industries' products, managed to become the U.S.'s second-largest arms dealer. But he always followed in my footsteps; the grand prize he cherished was worth less than dirt in my eyes."
"Being kidnapped in Afghanistan should be considered a turning point in my life. It was there that I was first called a murderer to my face, and it was also there that I designed the Mark One."
"At the press conference, I calmly declared, 'I am Iron Man,' because I felt I could handle any challenge."
"Rimuru, you, who inherently possess powerful magic, might not know this, but when I put on the Mark armor, I feel omnipotent."
"But the truth proves that this world is even more complex and vast than I imagined."
"Facing Iron Monger, I lost my first battle, and ultimately you had to clean up the mess; facing Abomination, my plan failed, and I lost again; fighting Abomination again, I lost yet again."
Quietly listening to Iron Man Tony Stark pour out his heart, Rimuru felt a strange mix of emotions.
To be honest, in Rimuru's heart, Tony was the Iron Man who was always confident and never gave up.
No matter how many blows or setbacks he faced, he could endure them!
But now, Rimuru had only one thought—there are no born superheroes!
Compared to his original life trajectory, because of Rimuru's interference, Tony was not only cut off but also faced too many powerful enemies too early.
One failure might be fine, but repeated failures accumulate an unimaginable sense of frustration in one's heart.
What's more, Rimuru was already there as an example!
It could be said that the current Tony was living in Rimuru's shadow, constantly being compared to her.
And precisely, he was the one who lost every time!
Each time a fresh wound, constantly stabbing at his heart. The pressure Tony endured was far greater than Rimuru imagined.
Rimuru couldn't help but recall Tony suffering from anxiety in the movie.
There are no born superheroes; Rimuru had thought of Iron Man as too extraordinary.
On the path of growth, not only does someone need to tell him "that's terrible," but someone also needs to tell him "that's wonderful."
Tony needs more encouragement!
After a long silence, Tony suddenly asked the question he had been pondering for a long time, "Rimuru, do you think I'm not suitable to be a superhero?"
Rimuru thought for a moment, her expression gradually becoming serious, and nodded. "Yes!"
Tony was stunned, his lips slightly parted, unable to speak for a moment.
He felt like he had taken ten thousand critical hits!
Rimuru patted Tony's shoulder and comforted him, "Tony, don't be discouraged. Life is full of ups and downs and more downs. If you don't work hard, you won't know what despair is!"
Stab!
Tony Stark clutched his chest, almost spitting blood and dying.
He must have run into a ghost to confide in Rimuru!
"Tony, it doesn't matter if you fail a few times. Even if you fail 99 times, you should keep trying to make it a round number."
Tony Stark could no longer tolerate it. Bang, bang—he harshly gave Rimuru a few head knocks.
However, Rimuru, possessing [Physical Attack Nullification], felt no pain whatsoever, her expression becoming even more punchable.
Tony Stark was so angry he nearly ascended to heaven. "You little brat, you're trying to piss me off so you can inherit my fortune, aren't you?!"
Rimuru exclaimed in surprise, "I can inherit your fortune? Waaah, Tony, you're too good to me, I'm so touched. You can rest in peace; I'll take care of Pepper for you. And Stark Industries, I'll help you make it flourish too!"
Tony Stark suddenly stretched out both hands and grabbed Rimuru's neck.
"You scoundrel, you want to take care of Pepper for me? A friend's wife is not to be trifled with! You perverted slime, our friendship is over!"
"Slime doesn't need to breathe, Tony, you can't kill me. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I've watched 700 episodes of Conan, know over 600 ways to kill, am proficient in over 200 locked-room murder methods, know hundreds of poisons, and am skilled in countless ways to create alibis. Tony, how do you plan to die?"
"Perverted slime, even if the grass on your grave is three feet high, I still won't die!"
"Not possible, I can live for at least another thousand years. Tony, I'll inherit your fortune well!"
"Give me back the money!"
"What's our relationship? Talking about money is too vulgar!"
"Give me back the money!"
"Tony, I misjudged you. I never thought you'd be like this, Tony!"
"Give me back the money!"
"Talking about money hurts feelings too much!"
"Give me back the money!"
Rimuru: "…"
"Having weaknesses is not terrible; what's terrible is arrogance and conceit. Being temporarily weak is not terrible; what's terrible is losing fighting spirit. As long as Mark has room for improvement, Iron Man's steps will never stagnate; as long as technology has room for advancement, Iron Man's power will never have an upper limit!"
Hearing Rimuru's words, Tony Stark's eyes widened.
Rimuru could even say such philosophical words?
As long as technology has room for advancement, Iron Man's power will never have an upper limit.
My God, is this the Iron Man in Rimuru's heart?
For a moment, Tony Stark's heart was filled with longing; his blood surged, and his soul trembled.
Wonderful, simply wonderful!
Tony looked at Rimuru and said "shyly," "Anything else?"
Damn it, Rimuru almost got so angry she directly punched that punchable old man's face a few times. This was too shameless!
Rimuru: "How much is what I just said worth?"
Tony pondered, "A body of flesh and blood, a heart of steel; with human power, rivaling gods. Such a golden phrase is naturally priceless!"
Rimuru smiled, "Priceless, huh? That means my debt is paid off. Sorry, there's nothing left!"
Tony Stark: "…"
You're too realistic!
Just then, Nick Fury, dressed in a black leather jacket and wearing an eyepatch, stood below the donut. "Iron Man, and Blue Angel, can you two please come down from the donut?"
Rimuru looked in the direction of the voice; who else could it be but Nick Fury?
Also… what the hell is Blue Angel?
...
More Chapters at Patreon.com/zeaser