Villain Retirement

Chapter 1142: Mother of Death...?

Chapter 1142: Mother of Death...?

"Wait… wait…"

Heli doesn't understand what was happening at all—not at all. When she caught the scent of Monkeh, she thought she would finally have the chance to be with him—her again…

…so why?

Why is the literal Death right in front of her right now? Perhaps, in any other circumstances, she would probably actually be happy. After all, death was her moniker—Heli was a literal goddess of death, for whatever that means—and now Death was here, sharing her grand presence with her.

Unfortunately, that presence wasn't with her right now, but against her.

"You lied to me Heli." But most importantly, there was another presence here that was slowly looming over her—a presence she once thought to be completely negligible, completely… insignificant.

How? No matter how many times she tried to sense any godly aura or even a trace of age from Riley, she truly could not detect anything special from him. If anything…

…she actually sensed nothing in him—at all. He was less than an ant, not even a microbe.

"How…" Heli was finally able to lift at least her torso up from the lavish carpet as she looked at Riley, still confused as to how all of this was happening, "...How can someone like you—someone so little, someone without any presence at all—have Death as your companion? The two of you seem so familiar with each other… How!?"

"Because I have a very pleasing personality, Heli." Riley said with a blank expression on his face—and slowly, he crouched down to the floor so that his eyes would be at the same level as hers, "People tend to like you when you have a pleasing personality, you should try it sometimes."

V and Miss Pepondosovich, who were most aware of what kind of personality Riley actually has, could not help but just exchange glances—but still, after a while, Miss Pepondosovich just shrugged as she returned to her food. She was, of course, still a little on the edge since Death was here.

And as someone from the Domain of the Gods, she was the only person beside Riley in this large hall who knew just how… different the Primordials truly were from the rest of them. But alas, the beckon of food calls—after traveling for so long throughout the empty expanse of space without carrots, it was finally good to have something at least similar to it in taste and texture.

As for V, well… she was just watching Riley throughout the entire situation—memories of him finally returning to her. This is the Riley he remembers.

One who doesn't care about anything at all and just does random things whenever and wherever he wants. He could do it—after all, who can stop him?

That strength, that… sinister vibe that could be mistaken as an eerie innocence—and of course, the way he carried himself—those were the things that made her fall for him when she was young and naive. But right now, right now that she had spent years walking through different parts of the universe.

Those aspects of Riley…

…it just made him cooler in her eyes.

But of course, she was never going to allow herself to fall for him again—not after everything. But it was just truly too bad, if Riley wasn't a villain, if he wasn't evil… then maybe…

…maybe they could have had a future together. But it wasn't just meant to be at all.

She didn't need to get rid of him, that was impossible—what she needed to get rid of was her feelings for her, and she would repeat that to herself over and over again.

"Tell me how!" And while V was completely stuck in a loop from thinking about Riley, Heli was also somewhat in the same predicament as her mind couldn't comprehend what was happening at all, "Tell me—"

"Poor child."

Heli's mouth quickly stopped moving as Death suddenly approached her; her head, instinctively lowered with each of Death's step.

"You are seeking answers that have no answer at all," Death let out a long and deep sigh that lingered across the large hall, "But I could offer you at least a semblance of an answer, I suppose—it is the only gift I can offer to someone who worships and carries my name."

"Death!" Heli collapsed to the floor and offered her palm to Death, "Please, enlighten me!"

"The reason why you can not sense anything from Riley Ross is because there is nothing to sense," Death turned to look at Riley, "This child, in a way, does not really exist at all—he does not have a soul, he does not carry life, he just… is."

"What… does that even mean?" Heli whispered.

"...I don't know."

"How—" Heli looked up every so slightly, careful not to even glance at Death's eyes—but she did not need to be careful at all… because she was no longer there. Instead, she was beside her.

"!!!" Well, not exactly, Death was beside Riley—but since Riley was beside her, Heli could not help but just tremble; Death was already within arm's reach, she wanted to touch her feet, feel her presence even closer—but she knew she couldn't do that.

And so, the only thing she could really do was seal her lips and continue to kneel.

"Where is this place, Riley?" Death once again asked as she looked around, "I do not have any recollection of this place."

"Perhaps ask Elementia, Death?" Riley blinked a couple of times as he stood up and faced Death, causing Heli to suck in her breath.

How can one just stand in front of Death like that? Just… who is this seemingly insignificant being?

"Elementia is busy right now," Death sighed while shaking her head, "The… others have begun acting up again. This place… it truly is weird. The longer I stay here, the longer I feel a sense of… belonging."

"I would not know anything about whatever it is you are feeling, Death," Riley just shrugged as he also started looking around, "I do not belong anywhere."

"...Right," Death squinted her eyes, "Perhaps I should bring the others here—maybe they would return to their normal state. I shall take my leave now, Riley Ross. And please…

…do not get my attention that way again."

"But how else would I call you, Death?" Riley tilted his head in confusion.

"Don't…?" Death shook her head, "It might not seem like it, Riley Ross, but I am very busy—and please, if you can, do not kill this child."

"!!!" Heli could feel her entire body tremble as Death approached her; her feet, close to her face to the point that she could kiss it if she was brave enough.

"I was not planning on killing her at all, Death," Riley quickly shook his head.

"...Right," and Death just once again squinted her eyes in response.

"I am just a little disappointed that you were not able to meet your mother because she lied about that, Death." This time, it was Riley's turn to sigh as he looked down at Heli; the disappointment in his voice extremely palpable.

"Riley…" Death could not help but just cover her forehead, "...My mother, if I do indeed have one, would not be here."

"She might," Riley shrugged, "I meet Ruin's father whenever I die—which I haven't done lately. And I am just from a simple planet, Death."

"That's because you're special. And I do not even know why I am even continuing this conversation," Death's silhouette started to fade, "Goodbye, Riley. Also, perhaps I should mention it…

…the woman who claims to be from the future is also currently in the Outerverse."

And with those words, Death disappeared.

And finally, Heli could breathe fully again; her gasp, almost screaming throughout the entire hall as she quickly crawled back, only really standing up as she got away from Riley.

"You…" Heli then glared Riley right in the eyes, "...You said you were Riley Ross?"

"Yes."

"...Forgive me," Heli then lowered her head, "If I had known what you were, I would not have even shown you even an ounce of disrespect and even welcomed you to sit on the throne yourself."

"This is why you should have a pleasing personality, Heli," Riley let out another disappointing sigh while shaking his head, "It is no wonder Monkeh broke up with you."

Monkey, who was the very reason why all of this was happening, finally snapped out of her shock as soon as her name was mentioned. She did, however, do nothing at all as she was still confused about everything.

"Please, Riley Ross…" Heli then stepped to the side as she looked at the throne, "...It is yours."

"Are you sure?" Riley tilted his head to the side as he walked to the throne, "I do not really have any use for this—but perhaps I can bring it to the ship."

Riley then casually sat down on the throne.

"Hm… it's too hard. I don't—"

"What is the meaning of this!?" And before Riley could finish his words, a loud thunder echoed throughout the entire hall as the large doors were slammed open—and there, an old man stepped inside; one of his eyes, covered by an eyepatch.

"...Father!"