Villain Retirement

883 Chapter 883: Abomination Nation

"I am afraid I am not able to do that."

"Oh."

Miss Esme has not even been able to reply before Randall shuts down any notion of trying to revive the rest of the undead themarians. Riley, however, still has not returned the undead themarians back to his pocket and still had them stretched toward Miss Esme.

"As I have said before, Master," Miss Esme, however, quickly realized what Riley was doing and quickly shook her head; very gently pushing his hand away, "What you do with them is up to you, and since they will not be revived, you still have ownership of them and I will not take them from you."

"Very well," Riley just shrugged before casually returning his army back into his pocket. He noticed Randall and Miss Pepondosovich staring at him while doing so, however, prompting him to retrieve a handful of the cages back,

"Did you want to have your own themarian zombie, Randal, Miss Pepondosovich?" Riley asked as he presented two miniature cages to Randall and Miss Pepondosovich.

And of course, the two quickly shook their heads and refused. Even if they get one of those, they do not really have the ability to return them to their original size… and most of all, they do not want the responsibility of having a monster they couldn't control just resting in their pockets — only an insane person would do that.

"Then, I suppose I would keep them to use with my previous intention," Riley nodded.

"...And what kind of intention is that?" Miss Pepondosovich squinted her eyes, "You know what… maybe you actually shouldn't have those things. Can someone confiscate them from this guy?"

"Nonsense, Pepondosovich," Randall let out a small chuckle as he raised his hand, "Did you not hear Miss Esme's words? Even though she was an undead, Riley Ross took care of her and gave her… a life even better than those who are still living. If Riley Ross is already that kind to the undead…

…I would imagine his compassion and kindness to the living knows no bounds."

"Hm," Miss Esme nodded her head, "That is somewhat true. Before Riley Ross was sent to this place, he had just ended the reign of a multiversal conqueror that had enslaved thousands of universes."

"He had done something like that!?" Randall raised his voice, wanting to pat Riley's shoulder but failing to do so as he quickly stepped to the side, "Do you see now, the greatness and kindness of your companion, Pepondosovich?"

"Oh, trust me…" Miss Pepondosovich let out a smug laugh, "...You have no idea what he really is. You will be surprised once you learn his age. But of course, I am not going to tell you, I only told you to make you curious. Anyway, do you want to stay here, or should we go and visit the next city, Riley? We have, like, a very long treacherous road ahead."

"Wait," Riley quickly turned around as he heard Miss Pepondosovich's words and then started walking toward the Summoning Well, "Do I just need to put my hand inside this puddle of mudd, Miss Pepondosovich?"

"Right… you still have not summoned your own creature yet," Miss Pepondosovich hopped toward Riley, "Just think of what you want to create, and then transfer a part of your life force into it."

"My… life force?" Riley blinked a couple of times as he placed his hand inside the mud and looked at Miss Pepondosovich.

"Oh, just imagine yourself giving birth."

"I am afraid I have not experienced that yet and will not know how to do it," Riley breathed out, "I do believe I have killed someone who was in the midst of giving birth, thought."

"You say the weirdest stuff sometimes," Miss Pepondosovich could not help but just look at Riley in disgust, "You know how to emit your energy whenever you're using your mind-bending abilities to control stuff, right? That is pretty much the same thing."

"Hm, I will try then, Miss Pepondosovich," Riley nodded as he focused all of his attention on the mud.

"Ah, you're doing it!" Miss Pepondosovich slightly backed away as she saw the mud starting to boil, "Now just imagine any creature you want, and the mud will—what in the carrot pie is that!?"

And there and then, Miss Pepondosovich and the other gods could really only take another few steps back as a shadow loomed over them. Even their summons that were staying by their side, almost wanting to just return to the mud as they saw what Riley had just made.

"Hm," Riley placed his hand on his chin as he stared at his creation, "I tried imagining a mixture of Hannah and Aerith, with a little mixture of the deprivation and hopelessness of all the lives I have taken, then with a dash of Cherbi…

…beautiful."

"Beautiful!?" Miss Pepondosovich could not help but scream as she wanted to wash her eyes there and then, "Everyone, just kill it…

…kill it with fire!"

And there and then, the gods inside the City of Summoners have never been more unified as all of them quickly killed Riley's summon, not allowing it to even start breathing amongst them; because it seemed like even its breath was monstrous due to the fact it was releasing some sort of dark cloud from its body.

It did not take long, however, before their green skies were clean and clear again. Riley wanted to summon another one since it was quickly dispatched, but alas, the City of Summoners once again unified as they all decided to kick Riley and his crew out of the city.

"Riley Ross, wait!"

Before Riley and the others could fully leave the area, however, Randall waited for them outside and stood on their path.

"What do you want, Randall?" Miss Pepondosovich scoffed, "Don't tell me you wish to join us in our journey?"

"Only if you are heading to Grea's city," Randall shook his head.

"Then no, that's where we came from."

"I know," Randall let out a soft chuckle as he looked at Riley, "I am only here to bid farewell to a friend since it might be a few hundred years before we meet again."

"Hm," Riley nodded at Randall, "I do not plan on staying here for long, Randall. I need to leave this place since there are people outside waiting for me to kill the—"

"You are leaving?" Randall did not let Riley finish his words as he looked at him with wide eyes, "Do not tell me you are also searching for a Cosmic Piece?"

"I have no idea what that is, Randall," Riley shook his head.

"Oh," Randall let out a sigh of relief, "But if you wish to go out, then finding one is one of the ways to do so. If you happen to garner any news regarding it in one of your travels, follow its trail…

…and perhaps we will meet again sooner than I thought."

***

"I truly do not know why none of you liked my summon, Miss Pepondosovich."

"That was not a summon, Riley! They even forcefully kicked us out and banned us from visiting the city for a thousand years!"

"I was told there were no rules here, Miss Pepondosovich. But it would seem our freedom is completely restricted."

"I agree with you, Master. Your summon was indeed more intriguing than the others."

A few hours after bidding farewell to Randall, Riley, Miss Pepondosovich, and Miss Esme were now walking on a slightly brown field of grass. And with the way each of their height stands, they seemed like a… unique bunch.

"Intriguing? It was hideous!" Miss Pepondosovich stopped walking as she hopped in front of Miss Esme and Riley, "Wait, just the two of you wait! As your guide, I feel like there needs to be a set of rules we should follow!"

"No," Riley quickly shook his head, "Aulus said there are no rules here, Miss Pepondosovich, I prefer for it to be like that."

"I prefer that as well," Miss Esme nodded, "My planet followed the rules to the latter, we were wiped out all the same."

"Then can I at least ask a favor!?"

"Of course, Miss Pepondosovich," Riley nodded, and Miss Esme followed.

"Can you please, please tell me before you are about to do something insane, Riri?" Miss Pepondosovich's bunny ears slightly lowered, "It feels like I am taking care of a baby. Of course, you are only really like a baby, but still."

"That is no problem at all, Miss Pepondosovich. I will tell you if I do something that might feel insane to you," Riley once again nodded, "But can you answer my question first?"

"What? What is it?"

"A cosmic piece, what is it?" Riley tilted his head to the side. And as he did so, Miss Esme sat on the ground to listen to Miss Pepondosovich.

"It's… nothing, really," Miss Pepondosovich sighed,

"It's a way for us to become a Higher God."