Villain Retirement

1030 Chapter 1030: Faith

"...Tell me again why we are riding a wagon?"

"You can't fly here, and you can't go higher than a certain speed — themarians have tried, they always end up just falling down. I guess in a way… it's to prevent another devastating and brutal war from happening?"

"Interesting. It reminds me of my biological mother's variant's universe where she restricted all the other races — except here, it is obviously Paige who is deciding."

"W—Ow! Doesn't this thing have a suspension!?"

Karina found herself bouncing inside a car. And although she was complaining about not being able to go faster, they were actually already moving at a decent speed, enough to almost make the outside blurry. The cart was being pulled by some sort of gigantic lizard with 6 limbs; its tail, being used as the rein by the driver.

"You complain too much, Karina. It would seem Katherine has spoiled you a little bit," Riley let out a small sigh as he kept himself properly in place using his telekinetic abilities while everyone else struggled, "Look at Miss Angela, she is wearing a full heavy armor, and yet she is not complaining."

"Do you even know where we are going, Dad?" Karina could really only groan in response as she slightly pulled the drapes and looked at the outside, "It's getting colder already, where are we even going?"

"The Holy City of Mold," Riley answered nonchalantly, "It is where Angela and the Pope were before they met us in that small city, Karina."

"Yes, but what exactly are we gonna do there?" Karina sighed, "We should have just gone with the others and followed the traces of the Primordials, maybe that would lead us to Paige too."

"Do you truly believe that I could be seen with Death by the other Primordials, Karina?" Riley looked Karina in the eyes, "And that they would not attack me or Death as soon as they see us together, and put you and Enel in danger?"

"That… you're making a fine point," Karina let out another sigh as she just stretched her legs and arms, "And you think we're going to find traces of Paige in this holy city because… obviously there's a reason why it's the Holy City?"

"I suppose," Riley nodded, "The Holy City was built there for a reason."

"Uhh…" Angela then raised her hand to get the attention of the father and daughter duo, "...I hate to break your guys' bubble, but the city was already there before we even arrived in this mysterious world. In fact, I think most of the cities you see here were already here when we were suddenly thrown into this place, the people didn't build them."

"Huh…" Karina crossed her arms, "...Convenient. Do you guys think Paige knew about the war, and she specifically created this place to shelter us? And… how many of us are actually left, if the people in the remaining universe are actually just Paige's… creation?"

"I'm now aware of the current number, but the number of all the people the Pope and I have met and seen so far is…" Angela turned quiet for a few seconds, "...Approximately 2,324,668."

"That few!?" Karina's eyes widened.

"That is only the people we've met and seen," Angela shook her head, "Even now, after 200 years of roaming this world, I do believe we have not even explored a quarter of it. Honestly… with all that I've heard so far, I don't think this place is meant for us — we were here because of Hera and her variants. You know the story, correct?"

"She… told us," Karina nodded, "She, Talia, and all of her variants tried rescuing as many people as possible and taking them to safety during the war — but once there were no safe places, they suddenly found themselves here with all of the refugees. Wait…

…do you think the people outside the remaining universe, Paige's people… do you think this place was the one actually meant for them?"

"That—now that you are saying it," Angela placed her hand on the chin of her helmet, "That makes sense, no?"

"Then what if we transfer Renna and Lucy to this place, and all of us real people return to the real universe!?" Karina stood up and she started waving her hands.

"I do not believe that will work, Karina," Riley, however, just shook his head, "The two worlds are still colliding, destruction is inevitable."

"Can't… you be more optimistic, Dad?" Karina groaned before just letting herself fall back to her seat, "The end of everything is upon us, we can use a little more positivity from you."

"Darkday, positive?" Angela scoffed, "That is how I will know that the end as we know it truly is upon us."

And while the three were casually talking about the end of everything, the person who they were sharing the wagon with could not help but just widen his eyes in shock.

He just also happens to be from Earth and so he could fully understand what Karina and the others were talking about. He wanted to join in on the conversation at first since it was rare to see someone talking in the same native language, but lost his chance as soon as the conversation turned… grim.

"Anyway, Crimson Paladin…" Karina once again let out a seat as she looked at Angela from head to toe, "...With all the things you've seen, you still believe in your Faith?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Angela quickly answered with a shake of her head, "If anything, it makes me believe more."

"...Right," Karina only squinted her eyes at Angela's answer, "Never mind, then. But my god, for more than 600 years, life had been incredibly peaceful — and with Dad just appearing again, everything is already turning to shit." 𝔣𝔯𝖊𝔢𝖜𝔢𝔟𝖓𝖔𝔳𝔢𝖑.𝔠𝖔𝔪

"My presence or absence would not change the fact that the two worlds are colliding with each other, Karina," Riley looked at his daughter.

"I know, I know — and it's not about you, it's just become an expression back in the house throughout the years."

"An expression?" Riley tilted his head to the side.

"Yup. That if you are here, ultimately, something is gonna go wrong," Karina let out a small chuckle as she shrugged, "I think Aunt Hannah started saying it, then Mom also started saying it, and then even Aunt Aerith and Grandma started saying it."

"Hm…" Riley let out a small breath as he looked to the side, "...I suppose that is fairly accurate."

"Wait, you're not even mad about that…?"

"There is no reason to."

"Ack, you should at least be hurt we are talking about you behind your back!"

"I have killed trillions of people, Karina — people are going to talk about me irrelevant of where their backs are turned."

"You…"

The three continued to talk during the journey, leaving their poor companion to be completely restless throughout the entire ride. And unfortunately for the man, they still had to camp out since it would take another half a day before they reached their destination — and suffice it to say, Riley and the others were still talking about the end of the world, making him unable to even sleep.

Fortunately for him, that meant he was unconscious throughout the remaining journey and did not have to suffer the grim conversations — and as he woke up, they were already at the Holy City of Mold.

"Which religion do you practice, Child?"

"I am here to search for it!"

"Okay, proceed."

The man quickly got off the carriage and proceeded to the gate, where he was questioned by the armored guards. Karina, who saw this entire process, could not help but raise an eyebrow as she looked at Angela, who removed her helmet as they also approached the gate.

"Wait, Crimson Paladin," Karina lightly grabbed Angela's arm, "I thought the Holy Land was the Pope's place? Why is it that I'm seeing different… believers here?"

"...No," Angela let out a small sigh; her eyes which were sewn shut, slightly fidgeting as she sighed, "All sorts of religions and faiths from different planets have gathered here, but that will change."

"...At least tell me you're the biggest one, right?" Karina forced out a chuckle.

"...No," Angela could really only clench her fist in response, "...But that will change."

"You—"

And before Karina could even say her piece, Angela already approached the people guarding the gate.

"Crimson Paladin, you may enter." The guards did not question her at all as she just proceeded inside. Karina was going to do the same, but was blocked by the guards,

"Which religion do you practice, Child?" And was asked the same question as everyone else.

"Which, uh…" Karina blinked a couple of times before glancing at her father, "I… I don't really practice anything."

"Hm…" The guards looked at each other as they heard Karina's words before just nodding and stepping to the side, "...Very well, I hope that you will find one. Proceed."

"Oh…" Karina just shrugged and smiled as she stepped through the gates. But of course, she immediately stopped before even taking a good look at the supposed Holy City as she quickly glanced back to her father.

"Which religion do you practice, Child?"

"The religion of Riley Ross."