Villain Retirement
chapter-603

[P…p…p…p…wait.]

"Hm."

Riley's hums, as well as Ahor Zai's crackling voice, filled the entire cube, almost creating a sort of track that could be used for a song. Despite Ahor Zai's obvious glitching, however, Riley has still not left the so-called library—after all, the fact that no one was barging inside yet meant that no one knows what was happening.

…It would be better for everyone if it remains so.

"Are you okay, Ahor Zai?" Riley leaned away from his seat as he looked at the trembling red goo in front of his feet. He wanted to poke it with his shoe, but that might break the red goo, whatever it was; Riley could really only assume it to be Ahor Zai's memories—it is still a computer, after all.

But if it is a computer, will rebooting it fix it? But to his knowledge, plugging off a system while it is doing something would corrupt it. But since this isn't like the computers back on Earth, maybe it won't do anything? But then again, how exactly would he reset it?

"..."

"..."

"..." Riley stared at the red goo for a few more seconds, before just finally lightly flicking his finger—telekinetically throwing the red goo straight onto the wall, in which it splattered, but did not scatter.

It did, however, stop glitching as it just very slowly unstuck itself from the wall, plopping back to the floor like the goo it is.

"Are… you okay, Ahor Zai?" Riley once again asked, and this time, the red goo responded to him by jumping from the floor and once again finally hovering in the air.

[Forgive me, Riley Ross. It would seem accessing information about this entity called Nothing forced me to access memory that has either been deleted or corrupted.]

"So, you had information about it?"

[There is a 100% chance that I did, Riley Ross. I have actually been working on trying to recover some of my memories that were deleted, but I have not been successful,] the goo once again started circling around Riley,

[Where did you come by the information about Nothing? Perhaps inputting more in my memory would help me recover all the data I have lost.]

"From Nothing itself, Ahor Zai," Riley shrugged as he once again leaned back on his seat, "But I am afraid that what I told you is all that it told me."

[A being that exists beyond the multiverse and has existed before it,] the goo stopped in front of Riley,

[The existence of another universe is currently being studied by the Norinlads, I am afraid that if they do have information, they have not shared it with me yet.]

"Norinlad. I suppose it is inevitable that I will talk to them, Tedi said she would meet me here."

[Elder Tedi? Yes, she might offer you insight. I would truly appreciate it if you speak here, the information would benefit everyone.]

"That would depend on her, Ahor Zai."

[Of course, Riley Ross. If there is any sensitive information, one can request it to be removed from the Codex. I apologize again for not being of help to you.]

"You can still help me, Ahor Zai," a small smile then crawled on Riley's face as he rested his chin on his palm, "My questions are only starting."

[Very well, Riley Ross. I have to say, it is truly a relief that someone is finally taking interest in my memories again,] the red goo started vibrating as it floated in front of Riley.

"Relief? I thought you can't feel emotions, Ahor Zai?"

[I do not. But fulfilling my purpose of handing down and gaining knowledge creates a change in my system, I am programmed to chase that prompt. And so, what is it you desire to know, Riley Ross?]

"How many do I need to kill every day to wipe out all life in the Known Universe and be done in a year?"

[...]

"..."

[All life?]

"Is that not a question you can answer, Ahor Zai?"

[I can answer it, but I am afraid that it is impossible to calculate as I am missing many variables. The number of insects and wildlife on each planet is not in my memory.]

"Hm. Then excluding the variables you just mentioned, if I kill a billion a day—how long would it take me to end all life in the Known Universe?"

[I am afraid that around a billion new births are registered to the Codex every day now and it is growing yearly, and that is already taking into account the number of deaths, it will take you a very long time, if not forever.]

"Hm…"

[I know this is not in my prerogative, but may I ask you a question so I could add more information about you in my memory, Riley Ross?]

"Go ahead, Ahor Zai."

[Based on the information I have about you, a number of your clones are already scattered around the Known Universe and are creating chaos.]

"Oh…" Riley squinted his eyes, "So, that is why my Outlaw rank keeps on increasing. How many are they killing each day?"

[Some of them stopped killing, and some are reported to be living with female humanoids.]

"...Oh," Riley blinked his eyes a couple of times; his face, clearly showing signs of confusion, "And what is the question you want to ask me, Ahor Zai?"

[You clearly have many humanoids around you, so why have you, the original, still not stopped killing?] The shape of the red goo started to resemble Ahor Zai,

[You are already surrounded by female humanoids.]

"Hm…" Riley covered his mouth, "...the clones you mentioned are already untethered from me. Their resolutions are different."

[Or is it perhaps because you have not yet met the right female humanoid?]

"I doubt that, Ahor Zai."

[I will leave this information blank for now. Do you have anything else you desire to know?]

"Oh…

…I have many questions, Ahor Zai."

***

"Riley? Where did you go!? I have been looking everywhere for you for like an hour!"

"I apologize, Aerith. Ahor Zai and I were chatting, we lost track of time."

[I apologize, Princess Aerith. Riley Ross's company distracted me from notifying you of his whereabouts.]

"Wh—you're even flirting with machines now?"

After a few hours, Riley was back inside the dome; its interior, back to the way it was—even the buffet table was back, making Riley nod as he could finally taste the food.

But alas, before he could even make his way there, Aerith pulled him away.

"You can eat later, you've been eating all day," Aerith said as she dragged Riley somewhere.

"...I haven't even tasted anything, Aerith."

"Stop acting like a child, let's go."

"...Where are we going, Aerith?"

"You're super wanted, right?" Aerith let go of Riley's arm as she looked him straight in the eyes.

"I suppose," Riley nodded, "Are you surrendering me to them, Aerith? Is that part of your deal?"

"What? No! The Elders aren't stupid, they know what kind of rampage you could cause if they try anything unprepared," Aerith rolled her eyes,

"I told them that you are my prisoner, and I can control you."

"..."

"Don't look at me like that, this is your fault for being an evil piece of… work," Aerith pinched the bridge of her nose,

"They are asking for proof. Proof that I can control you."

"Like a dog, Aerith?"

"What? No! What do you mean---No, actually...

...kind off?"