Villain Retirement

Chapter 1167: Chapter 1167: Who Are You?

"Fuck..."

Louis stood still, his head tilted up as he watched Riley ascend into the sky. His white silhouette looked almost holy against the blood-red aurora that covered the city. It was ironic.

Riley was the devil reincarnated, and yet he looked heavenly ascending like that into the heavens. Louis could complain, but the only thing he could really do was clench his fists.

His second life had already been set. He knew the rules, knew his path. A badass life as the underestimated seventh son of a noble family—that was the plan. His life would have been filled with figuratively slapping people’s faces, marrying his fiance, and then marrying another one.

And now, just like before, Riley had ruined everything.

Louis exhaled sharply before turning away. He wasn’t about to stay and watch whatever insanity was about to unfold. He needed to warn the Warde family. If a fight broke out, this entire city might not exist by the end of it.

And so, without looking back, Louis sprinted toward the estate.

Meanwhile, Riley ascended into the sky to fly toward the silhouettes waiting for him there. The Church’s soldiers, clad in gold and silver armor, flew to block his path, their wings fluttering as they maintained formation. None of them spoke.

Behind them, an old man observed Riley. His robes, decorated with golden embroidery, hinted at his status—possibly a bishop. His face was stern, unreadable. He reminded Riley of the god with many eyes he had met in the Domain of the Gods—unfortunately, he had forgotten his name.

The bishop looked at Riley from head to toe, observing every strand of hair on his body. But like his soldiers, he did not say anything at all.

And then, the bishop waved his hand. Riley did not react, as he already knew that action wasn’t for him at all. And soon, a sound echoed from below.

Riley watched as something shot up from the manor, shattering the roof as it continued to fly toward them and only stopping right in front of the bishop.

It was the corpse of the emissary, broken and bloodied. The bishop placed his hand on the body, running his fingers over the torn flesh as if inspecting it.

He did this for several seconds before his gaze returned to Riley.

"You will come with us."

The moment the words left his lips, light filled the air. A divine radiance, expanding outward, engulfing everything.

But before anything could happen—

Riley was suddenly behind the bishop, his hand already placed firmly on the old man’s shoulder.

For the first time since this encounter began, the bishop’s expression shifted. A flicker of shock.

The soldiers reacted immediately, their weapons gleaming as they prepared to strike. But before they could move, the bishop raised his hand, ordering them to stand down.

Riley’s grip on his shoulder remained firm. "I will come with you, Holy Man," he said, his voice calm as ever, "but I will be bringing someone with me."

The bishop slowly turned his head, he didn’t and only stared at Riley.

Riley raised his other hand, waving it in a similar way as the bishop did it.

The same noise from earlier echoed once again from the Warde’s estate, and another figure shot up from the roof again—Louis.

Louis, who had barely made it halfway to the Warde estate, suddenly found himself soaring through the air against his will.

"No! No, no, no!" he yelled, flailing his arms as he was dragged through the sky, only to stop right beside Riley.

Riley glanced at him. "I will be bringing him."

Louis clutched his chest, breathing heavily. He slowly turned to glare at Riley. "I hate you. I fucking hate you."

The bishop merely scoffed before raising his hand again. Light surrounded them once more, and this time, it fully engulfed them.

And then—The light faded.

Riley blinked as he found himself standing inside an enormous cathedral. The walls stretched so high that the ceiling was lost in the shadows, and golden chandeliers floated without any visible chains. Stained glass windows lined the sides, depicting scenes of divine judgment. The air was thick with the scent of incense.

But one thing caught Riley’s attention immediately.

A cross.

A massive, luxurious cross stood at the center of the church, its golden surface polished to perfection.

Riley had seen many alternate universes. Different timelines, universes, different civilizations, different gods. But this was the first time he had ever seen an actual cross appear in one of them.

"Interesting," he muttered.

Before he could step forward to inspect it, rustling filled the air.

Hundreds—no, thousands—of people emerged from the sides of the church, forming a perfect circle around him and Louis. Their eyes locked onto Riley, unblinking, as if they were marionettes.

"You are to be judged," the bishop’s voice echoed through the cathedral as he stepped forward from the crowd. "Stand before her goddess, Fate."

Louis was immediately grabbed by several robed figures and pulled to the side. He didn’t even resist, just letting out a long, exhausted sigh as he watched Riley become the center of attention again.

"Of course." He muttered. This time, however, he didn’t mind at all. Something bad was about to happen here, and he wanted to be as far away from Riley as possible. Sadly, he was still quite close to him, but this would do.

As for Riley, he remained where he was, his eyes scanning the crowd before falling back onto the bishop.

The old man gestured toward the cross.

"Touch it."

Riley glanced at the massive object before shrugging. He stepped forward, raised his hand, and placed it on the feet of the cross.

The moment his fingers made contact—

The entire cathedral trembled.

"Oh?" Riley tilted his head to the side as he watched the chandeliers above swing violently. The crowd that surrounded him like marionettes, now gasping as they all kneeled at the same time.

Even Louis was forced to kneel.

And soon, the entire church was covered in a blinding light. And then, a voice whispered into Riley’s ear—gentle, warm... extremely powerful.

An existence at the same level as the Primordials.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in my world?"