Villain Retirement
chapter-54

"You said we were visiting them later… what did you mean by that?"

"That we would be visiting them, Scarlet Mage."

"Yes, Miss Scarlet Mage; how are you not getting that?"

"Can you not?"

Scarlet Mage was trying to keep the volume of her whispers at a minimum, causing the movements of her eyes to become much more exaggerated as she rolled them. She knew that Tomoe was now part of their secret, but it hasn't been a few hours, and Scarlet Mage wants her gone.

Riley alone was enough, and now another eccentric individual has joined them. She wasn't threatened, of course. Why would she? It was not like she was under Riley of her own accord-- her mother was being kept hostage. She also needs to make sure Riley doesn't go out of bounds and massacre everyone.

If anything, Tomoe was an added responsibility. Now she also has to protect her from Riley's… darkness. It would not be good for her to be pulled even further and do something she would regret… like sleeping with him.

"Does that mean you know where their base is?" Scarlet Mage then focused her thoughts. She should worry about Tomoe later; what matters now is to rescue the students that were kidnapped by the Dark Millenium.

"I do, Scarlet Mage. How else would we be visiting them?"

"Yes, Miss Scarlet Mage. How else would we be visiting--"

"Then tell me their location, I will pass it onto Whiteking," Scarlet Mage quickly answered Riley before his parrot could agitate her even further, "You don't have to worry, the information wouldn't be traced to you since I have many excuses I could use as to why I know their location."

"No."

"...What? Why?"

"Father and the other heroes will only get in the way, Scarlet Mage," Riley said after letting out a short but deep sigh, "You will get your chance to force the students to return on your own if you really want to, but our main priority is to meet with my impostor."

"I don't understand why you want to get the others back, Miss Scarlet Mage," Tomoe then added as she too, let out a sigh, "When the 3 students in the sector I was in went with the Dark Millenium, they didn't need a lot of convincing-- I am sure they do not want to be rescued."

"It doesn't matter," Scarlet Mage shook her head, "I am still a teacher of the Academy, I won't give up on turning them into heroes just because they already have."

"That's just sugarcoating--"

"Even in this situation, you are not losing your goal, Scarlet Mage..." Riley breathed out, causing Tomoe to quickly stop her words so as to not interrupt him, "...You are still retaining your kindness, as expected of my First Subordinate."

"...I don't know how to feel about that," Scarlet Mage slightly closed her eyes, "So, when are we proceeding with our secret missio--"

"We're going to come with you!"

And suddenly, their careful whispers were completely overwhelmed by the loud voice that was slowly approaching them. It didn't help that the students that were previously resting on the floor were now looking at them, their eyes now intensely curious as to why Scarlet Mage had been talking with two students alone.

"...Ms. Hannah," Scarlet Mage could not help but squint her eyes even further as Hannah continued to approach them, with Silvie and Gary following her from behind, "You should be resting."

"No," Hannah let out a small scoff as she looked Scarlet Mage straight in the eyes, "I don't know why you are approaching my brother for this, but I know you're planning to go and find the Dark Millenium."

"Were you… eavesdropping on us?"

Hearing Scarlet Mage's words, a small icicle quickly formed on Tomoe's hand. But as soon as she remembered who Hannah was to Riley, she quickly retracted her powers back.

"S… sorry, Ms. Scarlet Mage. It was me who listened in on your conversation," the one who answered Scarlet Mage's question, however, was Silvie, "I couldn't help it since it might have something to do with the missing students."

"How... much did you hear?" Scarlet Mage could not help but take in a small, but very deep breath. Her eyes then quickly shifted to Riley, as she felt his heart slightly fluctuate. Riley had already told her that Silvie might be related to Mega Woman-- she might even be her daughter; so it made sense that Riley's heart would fluctuate around her… but seeing as Riley's fingers were already slowly rising up in the air, it probably meant nothing good.

"How much did you hear!?" Scarlet Mage quickly repeated her words as she blocked Silvie from Riley's view.

"N… Not much," Silvie could not help but flinch as Scarlet Mage yelled at her, "Nothing was clear, but… but I heard enough to know that you're planning to escape to rescue the others."

"Hey, you don't need to yell at her!" Hannah then pulled Silvie away as she once again looked Scarlet Mage straight in the eyes, "I don't know what your problem is, we just want to help!"

"Whoa, whoa. Let's all calm down," Gary then quickly got in between the two. He doesn't know if he was just imagining it, but he could feel sparks trickling around him, "The situation is already tense as it is… I don't like being the voice of reason… but maybe let's all just talk like normal people instead of shouting at each other?"

"Tch, fucking pedo," Hannah then shrugged her shoulders violently as she backed away; her eyes, still intent in glaring at Scarlet Mage.

"..." Scarlet Mage truly wanted to retaliate, but as a teacher, she should know better. But… was she really actually a pedo? Considering Riley is already at the age of consent, then… no, that's not the time to think about this-- What matters now is the children.

From her earlier screams resounding throughout the dome, not only the students, but some of the instructors were already looking at them. She could not help it, however. She was sure that Riley was about to kill Silvie right here and then; but seeing him no longer with his fingers raised, it would seem that it was the right decision.

"We're still coming with you whether you like it or not," Hannah then said as she crossed her arms, "I know the other instructors don't know about this, or else they would already be huddled up and thinking of a plan."

"That's not--"

"No."

And before Scarlet Mage could respond, Riley finally stepped forward and opened his mouth.

"I am afraid that's not going to happen, sister."

"What? If I am not going, then you're not going," Hannah then let out a small breath as she looked at her brother, "As your big sister, I am not going to allow you to put yourself in--"

"I am truly sorry about this, sister."

And with those words, Riley suddenly snapped his fingers-- loud enough that it reverberated throughout the entire dome-- no. Rather, the sound that was echoing throughout the shelter was not his finger, but the sound of people dropping on the floor, all almost at the same time.

"W… what did you do?" Scarlet Mage's stuttered whispers mixed with the small thuds softly snapping in the air as she watched not only the students but everyone else lifelessly sprawled and scattered on the ground,

"Did… did you kill them?" Scarlet Mage could no longer hear Riley's heart, as the sound of her own heart beating erratically overpowered everything else.

Even Tomoe, who had been watching everything about Darkday, could not help but slightly take a step back. There was still a slight excitement inside of her, of course… but now, it was accompanied by fear.

"No, what do you think I am?" Riley's disappointed sighs then entered their ears as he gently placed Hannah, who was resting on his arms, gently on the floor, "They are just unconscious, Silver Moon."

"...Unconscious?" Silver Moon did not even mind the sudden change of her name. Instead, her eyes were busy looking at the ocean of people around her. "You… can also do that?"

"When… when did you have the ability to control minds, Darkday!?" Tomoe then slightly pushed Silver Moon to the side as the tone of her voice became high-pitched, "I… I don't think I have any records of you having that ability!"

"I don't," Riley then shook his head as he stood up, "I just lightly racked their brains, but they should be fine, Tomoe. And please, do not call me Darkday-- I am currently in retirement."

"O… of course, Master Riley," Tomoe then suddenly kneeled on the ground, her loud and slightly excited breaths still persisting in the air.

"You… racked their brains… all at the same time?" Silver Moon, on the other hand, was still busy trying to listen to everyone's hearts. It was true that none of them were dead; one could even say their hearts were normal-- a sign that none of them were truly hurt or damaged.

But… to be able to incapacitate everyone at the same time while being confident enough he didn't hurt anyone badly-- this was no longer just a show of power.

It might look simple in hindsight; but anyone with telekinesis would know just how difficult, maybe even impossible, Riley's actions are.

Just how much control does he exactly have to be capable of something like this? This is no longer just someone with superhuman abilities. Riley…

...Riley is a god.

Silver Moon then looked towards Tomoe, who was still kneeling on the floor. Should… should she actually do the same? Should... she bend her knees again for him?

"You seem to be worried, Silver Moon."

"W… what?" And before she could kneel, she felt Riley's warm hand touching her chin.

"If you are thinking about the cameras around the shelter, then you do not have to worry-- I have disabled all of them."

Silver Moon could not respond, however. She had completely forgotten that they were in a heavily secured facility, her thoughts, only reliving the time she previously bent her knees for him as the warm touch of his hand continued to caress her chin.

Tomoe, who was still kneeling on the floor, could not help but bite her lips in frustration. If only she was lucky enough to be the First Subordinate, then she would probably be the one being touched by Riley right now, she thought.

"Lead us out, Silver Moon," Riley then breathed out as he retracted his hand, "I believe you've been oriented with the layout of the shelter?"

"Y… yes. But there should be guards--"

"They are also incapacitated, Silver Moon. Please, lead us out. We still have a long way up after this."

"...Long way up?"

"Yes," Riley nodded before pointing a finger upwards, "No.. 7 and Little Riley is currently in the sky."