Villain Retirement

"We are heading for the future — and you can be the people who protect it. Now, join us…

…dial 69-8455246 for more information."

"And… cut!"

There was a silence after Riley was done recording the video for their endorsement of the Zero Hero Academy, with the only noise being Miss Pepondosovich leaping off of Esme's shoulder and reviewing the footage.

But after a few seconds, there was a round of applause that filled the entire air as more than a dozen people clapped for Riley — all of those who clapped, diners of his restaurant… because Riley decided to record the video right at the center of the restaurant, on the stage just right beside where his piano was.

The frequent diners of Riley's restaurant were no longer there just for food. Of course, his food was probably the best they had ever tasted in their entire lives, but they weren't just there for the taste — the owner of the restaurant was highly entertaining.

They come for the food, and they stay for the company and in hopes of the restaurant owner sitting with them as they eat. And now, they could not help but be proud that they were a part of whatever it was that Riley was doing.

And as he was done with his presentation and speech, all of them stood up from their seats and just cheered for Riley. And while all of them were celebrating something they had no idea what, Silvie was practically staring at Riley's back; a glare enough to melt him down if she could.

But as soon as Riley was done greeting their customers, she quickly pulled Riley away to the kitchen to talk to him; Riley's chef clones, all just staring at the two of them with shocked expressions on their faces. But with a wave of Riley's hand, they all just continued their work.

"Academy…!?" Silvie then raised her voice as she looked Riley in the eyes, "I thought we were building the association, Riley! Why are you building a school!?"

"We are also building the association, Silvie," Riley just let out a small sigh as he shook his head, "Our full registered name is Zero's Hero Academy and Association."

"But the people need heroes now!" Silvie said as she waved her hand toward nowhere in particular, "The villains are gathering and appearing en masse as we know it, we don't need unprepared heroes facing them!"

"That is exactly why, Silvie," Riley nodded as he just started walking away from Silvie and checking in on his cooks, "The more people there are willing to be superheroes the better, but there is a deadly difference between being willing and actually being ready — if these people wanted to fight Darkday…

…how many do you think would even survive?"

"That…" Silvie did not really have an answer for Riley—no. She had an answer, it was a very obvious one. But she could not let herself say it, however, as it was admitting that they were helpless against him, "...But who will ever be ready for you? Your existence is not fair, Riley. If you're supposed to be a god, then stop playing mortal here and just join your peers up there."

"But it is unfair, Silvie," Riley said before tasting the soup his clone made and adding a little piece of star anise to it, "It has always been when it came to our world — there will always be certain levels to this. All of the supervillains were helpless against Megawoman, and all the superheroes were helpless against Darkday; that is how it has always been."

"But Megawoman isn't here!" Silvie raised her voice, causing all the kitchen clones to look at her.

"You're Megawoman, Silvie," Riley said as he looked at Silvie from head to toe.

"This—"

"You are willing and you are ready, Silvie," Riley let out a small sigh as he approached Silvie, "But as it stands, I believe the average supervillain now would be stronger than they were back in the Old World — I do not want more meaningless deaths."

"Riley…?" Silvie could really only look Riley in the eyes as she heard the last parts of her words, "Are you… actually showing kindness?"

"From now on, if someone dies…" Riley shook his head, "...I want it to be because of me, that is the only way it would have meaning, Silvie."

"Right… what was I even thinking?" Silvie let out a small sigh as she took a step back, "And so…

…what exactly is your plan for this Academy?"

"We are only going to accept and train people who might have a chance to wound me, Silvie," a small smile crawled on Riley's face as he started making his way out of the kitchen, "If they can do that, then that means they are ready — even better if they can kill me."

"But…

…you're immortal, Riley."

***

"Fail."

"But I haven't even taken a seat yet!"

"Yes, and we could already see that you are a failure to this society, Applicant 52. Next."

"W—"

"Next."

Several weeks passed, and while the campus was being built somewhere, Riley and Silvie were currently interviewing people… once again right in the center of the restaurant where there were people watching. The applicants were being asked to go up on the stage while Riley and Silvie judged them at the tables like it was some sort of talent show.

Some of the applicants were wearing masks to hide their identities, but most seemed to not care at all if their identities were revealed — it was a different time now than before, all of them were Supers.

And so far, the diners watched all the applicants fail without even having the chance to sit down in front of everyone, some of the applicants could not even take a single step up to the stage before being failed.

"Hello, my name is—"

"Fail, next."

"Everyone, please wait!" And as Riley failed another applicant, Silvie decided to pause the applications before pulling Riley away to the bar, "Why do you keep failing everyone, Riley!?"

"I am not failing anyone, Silvie…" Riley tilted his head to the side as he looked Silvie in the eyes, "...You are. Everyone is failing because of you."

"...What?" Silvie could really only chuckle at Riley's words, "How is this even my fault!? You haven't even let me ask them any questions!"

"You do not need to, Silvie," Riley shook his head, "Themarians can detect energy, and I can detect what you are feeling just by looking at you."

"Wh—Supers do not emit any distinguishable energy like other species!" Silvie reasoned, "Themarians can't distinguish—"

"But you can," Riley once again tilted his head to the side,

"How do you think you found me so easily once you realized I was back, Silvie?"