Villain Retirement

"Please, the rest of you may go ahead and go to the living room — I will clean up."

"...I still have no idea who you are."

After their very uneventful but extremely scrumptious and delicious meal, Darkday immediately but gracefully removed the dishes and started washing them, while Riley and the rest were dutifully escorted by Edmund to the living room.

Although Miss Pepondosovich was still quite confused with whatever was going on; the taste of the carrot dishes lingering inside her mouth continued to tingle her… happy place, making her just go along with everything since she was in a very, very good mood.

After all, even if she was now considered a god; for her kind, food will always be the number one god. And so, she just willingly followed the others with a satisfied expression on her face. She was even the first one to make herself comfortable on the sofa as she sat and let herself just sink into it; letting out her breath as she held her bulging stomach.

"Everyone. To confirm, this is the person you wanted me to find. Correct?"

And as soon as Riley and Esme also took their seats, Edmund started opening all of his eyes. He then opened up his palm, releasing several patches of light that soon turned into a piece of paper — the exact same paper that contained Caroline's drawing.

"Yes," Riley quickly nodded, "It is hard to mistake that extremely horrendous sketch for something else."

"Master is right," Esme also nodded.

"Hm," while Miss Pepondosovich just nonchalantly waved her hand as the taste of carrots still lingered inside her mouth.

"Then my words are true," Father Edmund bowed as he closed his palm, erasing the painting in front of them, "I truly was able to find him, or at least a trace of him."

And as Edmund said that, he started walking around as his 6 wings protruded from his back; all of them emitting projections that completely changed the scenery in the room, turning it into the view of a city near the water.

"That's the harbor," Miss Pepondosovich squinted her eyes as she tried her best to sit straight up, but completely failing to do so.

"One of Manirosa's many harbors, correct," Edmund nodded as he slowly waved both his hands horizontally, shifting the scenery in front of them before it stopped in front of a man making his way to one of the large ships. And as soon as they saw the person hiding himself in a hood, Riley could not help but stand up from the sofa.

"It would seem I owe Caroline an apology," Riley started walking around the projection of the hooded man.

"That is true, Master," Esme nodded as she also stared at the face of the hooded man, "It would seem we were wrong about Caroline; his artistic skills are not weak at all. The sketch he provided us is almost identical to this person's face."

"Hm," Riley nodded as he returned to his seat, "It is not that her sketch is horrendous, but the person she is sketching is truly just horrendously terrifying."

"...Correct," Edmund cleared his throat; not knowing whether or not to wait for Riley and Esme to finish roasting the man, or just continue his explanation. But seeing as the two of them were now quiet, and Miss Pepondosovich did not seem interested in commenting anything, he just waved his hand and focused on the ship. And there, Riley and the others watched as the man boarded the ship.

"Where is that ship headed to, Father Edmund?" Riley asked.

"Back to where the other gods lie," Edmund closed his eyes as the scenery around them started to move quickly, until the ship sailed into a thick fog, completely disappearing from everyone's eyes.

"What happened?" Miss Pepondosovich's bunny ears twitched.

"I am afraid my eyes can no longer see through that fog," Edmund sighed as he lowered his head, "I am forbidden from watching the domain of the gods while I am here in the land of the mortals."

"Wait…" It took most of Miss Pepondosovich's strength to sit up, but she was finally able to do so, "...Are you saying that man, a mortal… was able to successfully venture into our territory?"

"Yes," Edmund nodded, "That means one of our kind let him in."

"...Or commissioned him to find a clue about a cosmic piece in the first place," Miss Pepondosovich breathed out as she glanced at Riley and Esme, "And they made sure not to give him a boon so that no one would be able to trace them from him."

"Does that mean we have our next destination, Miss Pepondosovich?" Esme tilted her head to the side.

"That is up to Riri," Miss Pepondosovich turned to look at Riley, "Do you want to keep exploring the mortal world, or return to our home?"

"There is no point in staying here, Miss Pepondosovich," Riley shook his head as he stood up from the sofa again, "Guide our way back."

"Okay," Miss Pepondosovich nodded, "Although I am not really interested in a cosmic piece — I can't really lie, I'm excited to see where all of this leads. Perhaps… do you guys think that…

…the cosmic piece might be the friends we've met along the way?"

"Who?"

"Huh?"

"Who are the friends you've met along the way, Miss Pepondosovich?" Riley tilted his head to the side, and Esme did the same as she looked at Miss Pepondosovich.

"Wh—You! The two of you!" Miss Pepondosovich violently pointed back and forth between Riley and Esme, "Wait… are you guys saying you don't consider me a friend!?"

"What is a friend, Miss Pepondosovich?" Esme blinked a couple of times.

"That… never mind," Miss Pepondosovich clumsily stood up from the sofa; struggling to do so as her stomach was getting out of the way,

"But I do consider the both of you my friends."

"You are very lucky to have the luxury, Miss Pepondosovich," Riley placed his hand on his face, "Not many could."

"...Something is very wrong with you."

Riley, Miss Pepondosovich, and Esme stayed for a few more hours in the city as they waited for Miss Pepondosovich's stomach to settle down. And as soon as she was done relieving herself, she came back completely back to her 'normal' human form — no.

Her thick legs have become even more muscular — and since her clothes were ripped by her bulging stomach, her abdomen was now exposed; revealing her extremely toned body.

"Let's go," Miss Pepondosovich placed her hand on her waist, "Back to where we belong!"

"Did you clean your hands, Miss Pepondosovich? I did not hear any water running."

"Why were you even listening, Riri!?" Miss Pepondosovich once again violently placed a finger on Riley's face.

"I will not be able to help it," Riley shook his head, "I know everything that is going on in every inch of this city."

"...Creep," Miss Pepondosovich quickly moved behind Esme, "Let's go, we're not safe here anymore."

"Hm. It is very impressive," Esme nodded as she allowed Miss Pepondosovich to start pushing her out of the house. As soon as they were outside, however, they were blocked by Darkday.

"What do you—"

"Something for the travel."

And before Miss Pepondosovich could express whatever it was she was trying to express, Darkday handed him a bag.

"Thin slices of carrots dry aged with anchovies, sugar, chili, broth, and Darkday's secret sauce."

"!!!" Miss Pepondosovich's nose started inflating and deflating as she inhaled the scent coming from the bag even though it was sealed.

"It is extremely umami, Miss Pepe."

"I know," Miss Pepondosovich quickly snatched the bag from Darkday's hands, "Miss Esme, let's go!"

Miss Pepondosovich grabbed Esme's wrist and dragged her away; afraid that she would truly start liking Darkday even though he was obviously extremely suspicious and… sinister. When she was thrown into the Domain of the Gods, Aulus told her that there is no such thing as an evil god…

…but she had the feeling that Darkway was one.

But of course, it doesn't change the fact that he cooks very well. Maybe she should get his contact inf—No!

Miss Pepondosovich started to violently shake her head, causing Esme to let out a sigh as she saw this.

"It would seem you also belong in this spectrum that Master has spoken of."

And while the two were making their way out of the city, they could not help but sense several eyes looking at them from the houses. Some of them, waving at them.

"The new residents of the city seem quite friendly, Miss Pepondosovich."

"They are not saying hi, Miss Esme." The tone of Miss Pepondosovich's voice suddenly turned deep as she glanced at the glowing eyes inside the houses,

"They are asking for help."

"Oh?" Esme blinked a couple of times.

"Are you not going to help them, Miss Pepondosovich?"

"And become one of them?" Miss Pepondosovich scoffed, "I am not blind, Miss Esme…

…Darkday is Riri's clone."