Villain Retirement

Chapter 1087: Chapter 1087: The Return of the 2nd

"Why the fuck do you look so gloom?"

"Because of everything, Sister."

There was a certain sense of peace whispering between Hannah and Riley as they just sat there on a bench, staring at the endless horizon in front of them. Ever since everything that could happen happened to them, the two rarely even got a moment for themselves anymore.

Hannah has thought a lot about the past 600 years - about how she could not forgive Riley for all of his actions and evil deeds. But that wasn't true at all. Because even before he left for the Domain of the Gods, Hannah had actually already forgiven him.

It was fucked up, for sure. But he is her brother.

"Let's just fucking stay here," Hannah let out a very long and deep sigh as she rested her head on Riley's shoulder, "Forget everything and just stay here. Fuck it, let's do it - let's just stay here and take care of some goats."

"Why goats, Sister?"

"Shit, I don't know," Hannah let out a small giggle as she punched Riley's thigh for no reason at all, "I guess they're more annoying to look at than you. Or maybe we could just fucking adopt a kid or something and just co-parent it."

"Like parents?"

"What the fuck? Ew, no. Stop being disgusting," Hannah raised an eyebrow, "But let's adopt someone who already graduated college so we won't have to pay for anything. I mean, Karina's already old enough already."

"What about Rennalyn and the others, Sister?"

"Rennalyn? Who the fuck is that?" Hannah leaned away from Riley as soon as she heard that, "Wait... don't tell me you have another child I don't know about!? You-"

"This will not work," Riley then let out a small sigh before placing a finger on his head, "Pavoom."

And as soon as he said that, the walls of the Black Tower once again filled his sight. He just pulled out his arm while shaking his head.

"He's... he's out. He didn't go with it again?"

There were a lot of people there surrounding the Black Tower - more so than the last time Riley was there. All of them were looking at him and whispering to each other. Riley, however, ignored all of them and just once again placed his arm into Black Tower.

And everyone watched as he just once again failed after a few minutes, once again in the very same scenario.

"Hm..." Riley was about to insert his arm again, but before he could do so, Angela approached him with a glass of milk in hand.

"Welcome back, Darkday," Angela let out a small sigh as she handed the drink to Riley, "You really should rest first - you're not making any progress."

"Crimson Paladin," Riley thought about inserting his arm again, but just let out a sigh as he nodded and grabbed the glass from Angela, "Are there changes I need to know?"

"No," Angela gestured to Riley to walk with her back to the tent, "I just think you need a change in perspective. The Pope's here, maybe you can talk to him about how to proceed next?"

"Perhaps I will do that," Riley nodded as he followed Angela, finally taking notice of all the people staring at him, "There seemed to be a lot more people here, Crimson Paladin."

"Believe it or not, most of them are your supporters."

"Supporters?" Riley tilted his head to the side.

"Yup," Angela shrugged, "Don't tell me you forgot about the religion you made?"

"No. It just did not seem to appear to be relevant."

"Maybe for you, but in the Holy City of Mold, it's all that matters," Angela scoffed as she pushed aside the drapes of the tent and gestured to Riley to go first.

"The outerverse and the Holy City are of no importance to me aside from the Black Tower and Paige Pearson, Angela," Riley shook his head as he stepped inside the tent, and there, the Pope was just chilling; no longer wearing his robes. He just had his dress shirt on and casual pants like he was just out strolling in the park.

"Ah, Riley my boy!" The Pope quickly waved at Riley as soon as he saw him, "I hope you don't mind me resting my old decrepit feet in your tent. I'm taking a long and relaxing break after going on an adventure with Her Lord God Death, after all."

"I am surprised she has not taken you yet, Pope," Riley just placed his glass of milk at the table and sat near the Pope.

"Ha! Contrary, she told me that I have years left in me," the Pope chuckled, "You do not have to worry about me, I could see you have problems of your own."

"I confess, I am currently at a loss as to what to do," Riley nodded, "My evil deeds have caught up to me, finally."

"I heard," the smile on the Pope's face slightly became somber, "Do you not find fate weird, Riley Ross? I have told you before that you will end up saving a lot of lives in the future — and you are."

"You have never told me that, Pope."

"...I didn't?" The Pope squinted his eyes, "Then let us just pretend I did. But now, your dilemma is that you can not save two people that matter to you - and the answer to your problems might be on the top of that Black Tower."

"You seem to know a lot about my problems, Pope."

"I am the Pope, I heard a lot of things from different people," the Pope chuckled.

"And do you have any insight for me? The Crimson Paladin told me you do."

"Yes," the Pope nodded, "Sometimes, sacrifice is necessary."

"I suppose you would say that, Pope," Riley closed his eyes and sighed, "Knowing the history of your religion."

"And many could learn from that religion," the Pope nodded once more, "Either way, you are sacrificing something, my boy."

"Do you have a more direct advice, Pope?" Riley tilted his head to the side.

"Kill the one in the Black Tower," the Pope then said without any hesitation as he looked

Riley in the eyes, "And the only thing you will sacrifice is yourself."

"If I do that, Pope..." Riley returned the Pope's gaze, "...What else do you think I will be willing to do in the future?"

"Well..." The Pope just smiled and breathed out, "...Then it is time for the universe to pay the consequence for creating you."

"Hm..." Riley just let out a sigh and stood up, "...I already finished my glass of milk, I will be returning to the trial."

"Stop opening the fridge and hoping there will be something else there, my boy," the Pope also breathed out as he watched Riley step outside the tent, "You have refrained from

choosing, Riley Ross - I think you can not avoid it this time."

"I am afraid so," Riley nodded.

"...That was morbid," Angela, who was waiting for him outside the tent, heard everything

that the Pope said, "But he has a point, Darkday."

"I know," Riley nodded, "Everyone has."

"Then-"

"My Lord... My Lord!"

And as the two were walking back to the Black Tower, one of the people from the crowd suddenly approached them and started groveling in front of Riley while holding up a photo

for him to see,

"Please... please bring back my daughter!"

"My Lord Riley! Please, my wife... my wife might still be out there! Even... even if it's a

variant, I just want to see her one last time. Please!"

"Hm?"

"Your cardinal, Elizabeth..." Angela let out a small sigh as she saw the confusion on Riley's

face.

"I remember her."

"She somehow got the information that you were... converting Paige's creations and bringing

them into the real reality," Angela let out another sigh while looking at the crowd, "And like the good Cardinal she is, she spread the word and now everyone thinks you're the next coming

of the messiah."

"Interesting," Riley let out a small hum.

"...Most of these people know that their friends and families have died," the tone of Angela's voice became weaker as she looked at the tears of the people begging Riley, "And they're just

hoping that maybe... Paige created a copy of them out there."

"Okay."

"Everyone, please!" Cardinal Elizabeth then raised her voice as she moved between the crowd

and Riley, "Our Lord is already trying his best to bring everyone - if your family or your friends are alive... they will be here! Just trust in our Lord like he trusts in us! All Hail Riley

Ross!"

"All Hail Riley Ross!"

"Still think they're irrelevant?" Angela snickered as he looked at Riley, who was already walking away, "...Really? Can't you-"

Before Riley could actually reach the Black Tower, however, someone managed to squeeze through Elizabeth's blockade and rushed toward Riley. But instead of groveling in front of him, however, she just stood right in front of him; looking him directly in the eyes.

Riley stared back at this woman for a few seconds while tilting his head to the side. And after a

few seconds, he realized who it was.

"Dark Fro-"

Before he could finish his words, however, Tomoe Reynolds slapped him on the face.