Villain Retirement

"This won't do at all!"

"Why not?"

"Because you're practically just dressing up as Darkday at this point-no. You are Darkday! Get off! Get off!"

Riley was now riding on the pillion of Hera's motorcycle, but with Hera's garage being filled with mirrors, she immediately saw what the two of them looked like.

And it truly did look like she was giving Darkday a ride on the back, or at least someone who was cosplaying as such. Either way, it was bad since Darkday practically just killed millions of people, as well as Megawoman just a day ago. Although... the media was making a big deal of Megawoman's death, but the people seemed extremely relaxed.

And the threat of Darkday was still actually looming over them - but Hera wasn't surprised at all. People... do not really care about things that do not really affect them at all. The battle between Megawoman and Darkday left the US almost completely untouched.

For the people of this country, the deaths were just a statistic.

"Get off!" Hera repeated her words, practically wiggling her motorcycle so that Riley would get off. Fortunately for her, Riley did not debate at all and just got off without as much as a word, "Can't you materialize any other gear than that? You can just borrow one of my helmets, but that suit is a no-go."

"I do not really see why you are making a big deal out of this, Miss Hera," Riley just let out a small but very deep sigh as his suit melted down and just dissipated into thin air. But not even a second later, another patch of goo escaped his hand and once again wrapped around his body to create a suit - this time, however, it was purple and red, completely matching Hera's motorcycle suit.

"You could do that from the start...?" Hera just stared blankly at Riley as he looked at him from head to toe, "...And did you really have to choose that color? Can't you-wait. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you!?"

"I do not know what you mean, Miss Hera," Riley just shrugged before grabbing one of Hera's helmets and wearing it, "How long has it been since you last washed this?"

"You...

...just get on already!"

***

Hera was wrong. Just because she didn't see people caring about Megawoman's death, it doesn't mean no one was grieving. As she and Riley rode through the streets of the city, she could see people all just putting up signs, some even gathering to hold their own memorial for their lost hero.

...And most people could not even retain the smiles on their faces. The crowd back in the cafe who mobbed her and Riley were just the exemption, or perhaps even not, and they just wanted to distract themselves from the tragedy that had befallen them.

Well, no matter the case, it was completely irrelevant to Hera. She felt bad, but it truly was - as soon as she found out that this reality was solely created for Riley and his so-called trials, everything just became irrelevant all of a sudden.

Even what they were trying to attempt - trying to bring someone else from the trial with them to the real reality was meaningless since these people would just cease to exist once Riley was gone and done with the trial.

"...Can you not grip my waist so hard?" Hera's thoughts were suddenly cut as she felt Riley's arms tightening around her waist, "In fact, can you just let go?"

"I will fall if I let go, Miss Hera."

"No, you won't! You have like that telekinesis thingy!" Hera screamed.

"If I use my abilities every time, it will leave me crippled if ever I lose all of it," Riley shook his head, "And it is also not every day that I get to be this close to one of the cast of Italian Mafia Reborn, Miss Hera."

"...I swear, how did my other version even manage to be alone with you on a space escapade is beyond me."

Hera could really only let out a sigh as she and Riley just continued to talk about all sorts of nonsense although at some point, Hera would be lying if she said she did not actually enjoy the almost trivial conversations with Riley; after all, the other alternative would be talking about the end of all life as they know it.

The two continued their conversation for another hour before they finally arrived in front of a small, and incredibly humble house in the center of a populated area.

"The creator of Italian Mafia Reborn lives in this neighborhood, Miss Hera?"

"She does," Hera only shook her head and sighed as she just knocked on the door, "I'm saying this again, but let me do the talking, okay?"

"Of course, Miss Hera."

"Rose, are you home!?" Hera raised her voice as she once again knocked on the door since no one was answering. Soon, however, they could hear some sort of rumbling inside the house and a few seconds later, someone opened the door.

"Oh... Hera?" And there, a small woman with incredibly messy black hair welcomed Hera and Riley, "And this is-Darkday!?"

"What...?" Hera, and even Riley could not help but slightly widen their eyes as Rose suddenly pointed at Riley. Did... she actually figure out who Riley is just by glancing at her for less than a second? "What are you... saying?"

"Oh, sorry. Sorry," Rose then quickly shook her head, "I just thought that if Darkday was a man, then he might actually look like your companion here. Wait, what are you even doing

here...?"

"It's... a very long story, Rose," Hera let out a small sigh as she glanced inside the house, "Is anyone with you?"

"No," Rose shook her head, "Would you like to come in? Although I would prefer you not to." "We would very much like to come inside, Master Rose," Riley bowed his head.

"...Master?"

"What my friend here wants to say is that we have a project to talk to you about."

"Another one!?" Rose quickly clasped her head, "I... I was just starting to write a new one."

"Again...?" Hera stared at Rose, "Wait, no. It's a different kind of project."

"How much?"

"Huh?"

"How much will I be getting?"

"I can give you a billion dollars if you want to, Master Rose," Riley once again joined in on the conversation. Hera was about to say something, but Rose immediately made way for them and gestured for them to enter the house.

"This..." Hera did not really know where to walk, however, as Rose's house was pretty much... filled with all sorts of things. Not trash, but just random things, "...why do you have a lot of helmets, but I don't see your motorcycle parked outside anymore?"

"Oh, I sold that," Rose forced out a chuckle, "I was going to upgrade to a bigger bike... but I

ended up using the money to fix things in the house."

"Can you not afford to buy a new one, Master Rose?"

"Riley, don't-"

And before Hera could finish her words, Rose just suddenly dropped to the floor and started

weeping.

"No... No, I can't," Rose practically bawled her eyes out while covering her face, "I can't

afford anything. I have so many loans and bad financial decisions, and yet I keep making more

mistakes! Agh!"

"Well, Master Rose - how about we get rid of all your worries?"

"W―are you gonna kill me?" Rose then looked back and forth between Riley and Hera,

"Please... please just kill me."

Riley then turned to look at Hera, "Miss Hera, can you explain everything to Master Rose?"

"...Okay," Hera slightly hesitated, "But...

....this is a conversation best had at the table."

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