Villain Retirement

1029 Chapter 1029: Finding Pearson

"You're really leaving? You're not going to help us…?"

It took a while, but Riley and the others were able to escape the masses and exit out of the city. The guards who were guarding the gated city, made sure that no one would follow them out.

"As I said, this isn't my story anymore." Viel already had a portal behind him and was ready to leave the group at any moment, and was just waiting for Riley and the others to start their adventure. But alas, the group was still deliberating on where to go, as even Death did not really know the lay of the land completely,

"Well, I'm not gonna say goodbye. We might still see each other, after all. Or maybe not if the New Universe becomes a thing."

"That…" Karina looked Viel in the eyes for a few seconds before turning to glance at her father. The expression painted on her face conflicted but somewhat still filled with resolve, "...If it comes down to it, then I am ready to kill Dad."

"Kill him?" Viel also glanced at Riley, "You really think your dad's going to choose two of his other children as opposed to three? Four, if you include the lady with the plot armor ability."

"It makes more sense for him to choose Renna and Lucy, there is no use even denying that," Karina shook her head, "He had spent a good 16 years with them. And Enel, well… he's like 4 or 5, I don't think Dad's attachment to him is greater than what he has for the twins. Dad is just… closer to the two than any of us."

"And what about that woman called Hannah? Her… step-sister?"

"Adoptive," Karina raised an eyebrow, "Why do you know so much about Dad?"

"The lady with the plot armor ability told me."

"Seriously, just how much did Talia tell you!?" Karina could not help but scoff as she glanced at Talia, who quickly looked away in response; obviously feigning ignorance as she pretended to speak with Angela and the other paladins.

"Well, I can be very persuasive."

And as Viel once again looked Karina in the eyes, she once again could not help but be lost in his eyes.

"You're a fucking fuck boy, aren't you?" Karina returned Viel's bright blue eyes with a glare.

"Not at all, that's the Rhys guy," Viel just shrugged.

"Rhys…?

"You won't meet him," Viel only let out a small chuckle, "But are you ready for that, though?"

11:34

"To kill your dad," the tone of Viel's voice suddenly changed, "Are you ready to do something like that?"

"Yes," Karina answered without any hesitation, "I have been ready ever since he told me it might be needed in the future. He told me that, you know, way back then? I've only been alive for like 3, 4 years or something, and he told me that I might need to kill him."

"You are a very weird family."

"But strength-wise?" Karina then took in a deep breath as she glanced at her father, who was busy talking to the Pope and Death, "I'm confident in killing any gods in less than a second as long as they don't activate their bullshit domain field or something, but Dad? I can't really ever imagine him losing anymore. But that's only if it was just me…

…the rest of the Universe would also be trying to kill him."

"Then does that mean you are also ready to kill Renna and Lucy?"

And as soon as Viel said that, Karina quickly paused her words as she just stared at the empty air.

"At most, you can really only seal Riley Ross again," Viel smiled at Karina, "Trap him for thousands and thousands of years, delaying the inevitable. That could may very well work — But even then, you would still have to deal with Paige Pearson's universe or suffer both dying away. Tell me then, Karina Ross…

…are your lives worth more than theirs?"

"That…."

"But of course, ultimately, Riley might choose you and you won't have to trouble yourselves," Viel chuckled, "After all, it's just a decision on which of his family and children he would kill, right? No biggie at all."

"..." Karina could really not say anything anymore; her eyes, now just staring down as she thought of Viel's words.

"Or you could come with me," Viel then bent down so that his face was right in front of Karina, "I can take you to a place that would be completely unaffected by all of the chaos that is about to ensue."

"Are… you seriously asking me to elope with you? That's not gonna happen anytime soon. You really are a fuc—wait," Karina's eyes widened as she looked at Viel, "Then maybe you could all take us to that place!?"

"...If only," Viel chuckled as he shook his head, "I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. Anyway, if you change your mind, just can just scream for my name. Alright, alright. Ciao."

"Wait, you—"

And before Karina could even say goodbye, Viel took a step back; winking as he disappeared into the portal he summoned,

"What the—did he really just leave like that?"

"You should have taken the offer, Karina."

"What the—!?" Karina's shock multiplied as she suddenly heard Riley's voice just a foot away from her side. She almost jumped in place as she turned to the side, only to see Riley already beside her and no longer talking to the Pope and Death, "Since when were you there!?"

"Since you confessed your love for the Eternal Child."

"What…? No! That didn't—wait, you're making jokes?" Karina blinked a couple of times, "And wait, why would I accept his offer? Don't tell me…

…you already made a decision? And… you chose… them?"

"No," Riley shook his head, "I do not think I need to make a decision now."

"But… who are you going to choose?"

"Both," Riley just shrugged before gesturing to Karina to follow him, "Let us go, Daughter." 𝑓𝓻ℯ𝑒𝑤𝘦𝑏𝑛ℴ𝓋ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝓸𝓂

"Wait, both what?" Karina quickly followed behind her father, only to notice that Death and the others were going the other road, "Wait, are we not going to wait for them?"

"No, we are moving on our own."

"What…!?" Karina once again glanced at Death and the others, only to see Enel waving at her before he excitedly jumped around Miss Pepondosovich, "We're going our separate ways…? What's the point of bringing in that god of luck, then!?"

"For them," Riley shrugged, "I know that I would eventually find Paige Pearson somewhere, Death needs to find her siblings who have apparently gone insane. Our universe and the people in it would disappear prematurely if they do not find them and solve whatever problem they have."

"That—then why is it only the two of us…?" Karina asked, "Still, shouldn't we bring Enel…? Talia? We need a guide."

"Enel will be safest with Death and Miss Pepondosovich. She is also his favorite person," Riley shook his head, "And also, it is not only the two of us. We have a guide."

"Huh? Who?"

"Darkday!"

Riley did not even need to answer Karina at all as they heard a loud scream coming at them from behind. Karina quickly turned around, only to see Angela running toward them with her large slab of a sword swinging on her back while she wore her helmet,

"What did you say to Father!? Why am I going to get stuck with you again!?"

"Oh, did he not tell you?" Riley did not stop at all and just continued walking, "You will be our guide, Miss Angela."

"Guide to what…?" Angela's frustration was obvious even with her helmet on, "Don't you know how large and empty this place is!? There's nothing to see here beyond a certain point."

"We are going to find Paige Pearson, Miss Angela."

"I haven't even seen her for years, I don't know her," Angela complained.

"That is okay, Miss Angela — at least you are funny," Riley shrugged, "And we need your eyes moving forward."

"Forward to where…?" Angela looked toward the horizon, which was just mountains and the endless sky, "The other cities…?"

"I need to make myself known, so that Paige will find me instead," Riley shrugged, "We need to go to a place that would make that possible."

"You're Darkday," Angela scoffed, "Just do Darkday things and Pearson will notice you."

"Perhaps," Riley shrugged, "But I am not really detecting or sensing Paige Pearson anywhere."

"You can detect her?"

"Yes, Paige and I have a connection," Riley nodded.

"Then if you can't detect her, doesn't that just mean that she's not here…?" Angela's breaths of frustration whispered out from her helmet.

"Perhaps I worded it wrong, Miss Angela," Riley shook his head as he finally stopped walking to look at Angela, "I am not sensing Paige Pearson anywhere because I can sense her everywhere."

"What…?"

"She is here, and there are areas where her aura is stronger," Riley looked at the horizon, "I just need your eyes to figure out where exactly."