Villain Retirement

"I apologize, Princess Esme."

"Please, just keep it down. We need to respect the rules of the college."

The No. 1 rule breaker, Princess Esme, said as she pushed both Riley and Jesse away. Jesse took a few steps back and almost tumbled, Riley, on the other hand, just slid from his spot. Everyone in the college knew Esme's insane strength, she was and is the strongest recorded student in the entire history of the school—and it wasn't even a contest.

"He… he killed Fionn!" Even then, Jesse still wanted to push things further; how could she not, when her beloved's killer was now right in front of her? If she did not try to take revenge, then that would only mean her love for Fionn was not as great as she thought.

"..." And as Princess Esme heard the distress in Jesse's voice, her head very slowly turned toward Riley, "You killed Fionn?" She then asked.

"Yes, princess Esme," Riley answered without any hesitation as he started patting his clothes clean; the lightswords in his hands, now completely gone.

"...Who is that?" Princess Esme then blinked a couple of times as she looked back and forth between Riley, Jesse, and occasionally Professor Keits.

"I suppose he is Miss Jesse's lover, Princess Esme."

"I see," Esme placed her hand on her chin and nodded. But after a few breaths, she once again looked back and forth between Riley, Jesse, and occasionally Professor Keits, "Who is Miss Jesse?"

"It's her," Riley pointed at Jesse, who could really only turn her hands into a fist as the two were clearly mocking and disregarding her—not knowing their interaction was completely natural for them.

"I see," Princess Esme then nodded as she faced Jesse, and without any hesitation, "I assume your lover died because he was weak—or she, it sounds like a feminine name."

"Wha—" She wanted to say something and even rush to the princess, but before she could do anything, her friends stopped.

"If you wish to take revenge, then do so some other time or some other way," Princess Esme then started walking away as she nodded and winked at Professor Keits, "Please respect the rules of the college. No unsanctioned violence in classes."

"..." And with those words, everyone watched as Princess Esme just casually walked out the door, seemingly nodding to herself and satisfied with her… princessly actions. Little did she know, however, is that Professor Keits was about to explode in anger and frustration.

Princess Esme, talking about rules? Princess Esme, amongst her other records, is also the themarian with the most number of violations in the college. Of course, she was exempted from all the penalties and punishments as she was a daughter of the throne—but the worst thing about all of this is that she seems to be completely unaware that she is the number one troublemaker in the college.

And now… she seems to have brought a competition for that title, Riley Ross.

"The princess is right, Professor Keits," Riley nodded as he approached the professor, "Miss Jesse has already disrupted the class, I believe we should start now."

"..." Jesse could really only once again grit her teeth as she heard Riley's words,

"You… you're the one who just said to us that you killed several themarians, including Fionn…" Jesse couldn't help it anymore as she shrugged away her friends and once again made her way to Riley; each of her steps, causing the entire class the tremble,

"...and I'm the one disrupting the class!?"

"Yes," Riley nodded, "You can ask Katherine, she was previously my instructor and has experience dealing with loud students."

"..." Katherine could really only just raise her eyebrows and let out a heavy breath as everyone suddenly looked at her. It didn't last long, however, as they once again focused on Riley. But before anyone else could react, Professor Keits stomped her foot on the floor again.

"That is enough!" Keits roared as he appeared between Jesse and Riley, "I do not know how it is in your world, Riley Ross. But on Theran, or any other planets I have been on—killing others unnecessarily has always been looked down upon…

…but if it is as you say and that Lord James's son truly attacked you first, then you had the right to defend yourself."

"...Professor Keits?" Jesse was nodding in agreement at first, but the smile on her face disappeared as she heard the professor's last words.

"As for the other people you have killed, they belong to the other kingdom," Professor Keits breathed out, "For now, let us proceed to class as normal."

"Of course, Professor Keits," Riley nodded, "Where do we sit?"

"Just… there's an empty seat at the front."

"Hm."

And so, the class proceeded as normal—with Professor Keits teaching several combat strategies on how to deal with certain races. But of course, none of the students really listened after what just happened, with Jesse's eyes even glowing red from time to time as she continued to glare at Riley's back.

In fact, the only one that looked like he was actively listening was Riley Ross himself.

"...Riley," Katherine whispered as she too, couldn't focus on what the professor was saying, "What are we even doing here?"

"We are studying how to kill other races, Katherine."

"No, I mean what are we even doing here?" Katherine leaned closer to Riley, "I get that you made a deal with that Princess Esme, so why are we just sitting normally in class? Shouldn't you be observing her?"

"I did," Riley subtly nodded, "Did you not see her obnoxiously showing her strength earlier? She was probably waiting for the chance to do so."

"..."

"She is strong, Katherine," Riley nodded, "Not as strong as mother and Aerith, but definitely stronger than everyone I have faced so far."

"..." Katherine then blinked a couple of times as she saw a growing smile on Riley's face; she would've just considered it as any other sinister smile, but Riley's heart was fluctuating. There… is something wrong with Riley's emotions—no, that wasn't exactly right.

Perhaps for the first time in his entire life, his emotions were actually… right. Is Riley finally learning… how to be human?

If so, for the sake of every living thing in the universe…

…is this not the best thing that could happen? Was it actually possible for Riley to become a normal human? Was it possible…

…that she, Riley, and their daughter could actually live and have a normal family?

"..." Katherine stared at Riley's face for a few more seconds, before a small smile also started to crawl on her face.

And so, after a few more hours of Professor Keits telling a lecture that only one person was actually listening to—the class ended.

"Review what I said today. We will run a simulation soon, and if anyone performs inadequately, you have to repeat another year," Professor Keits said as the holograms surrounding him all disappeared. He didn't even look at anyone as he stepped out of the lecture hall, almost as if he just disregarded what happened in his class just earlier.

Unbeknownst to his students, however, Keits was actually rushing out to talk about what happened to the other professors. Unbeknownst to Keits, however, is that the others already know about what happened since one of his students recorded everything.

"..."

"..."

And now, even after minutes passed that Keits disappeared from the lecture hall, not one of the students got up. They were all just busy looking at each other, waiting for something to happen.

Themarians are very passive creatures, but when the time comes for them to act—they will… and act she will.

Jesse was the first to get up from her seat, as she once again made her way down the hall and it was clear that she was approaching Riley. Before she even got halfway there, however, Riley and Katherine also stood up and started leaving the hall.

"...Where do you think you're going!?" Jesse quickly blocked the door as she pointed at Riley's face, "I, Jesse'Jenn, challenge you to a sanctioned duel!"

"I refuse."

"..." And so, everyone just watched as Riley and his companion moved past Jesse, opening the door and just gently closing it and leaving Jesse with her hand still raised.

"..."

"..."

After letting the awkward silence go on for a few more seconds, Jesse's eye started to twitch. She then quickly lowered her hand, before turning around and slamming the door open,

"Come back here, Riley Ross!"

"Yes?"

And to Jesse's shock, Riley Ross did come back.

"Did you want something else from me, Miss Jesse?" Riley said as he once again entered the room.

"That…" Jesse could really only back away as she looked at her friends, who just all looked away as soon as she did so. She only wanted to scream and vent out her rage, she didn't actually expect Riley to come back.

"If you are requesting a sanctioned duel, Miss Jesse. Then my answer is still no," Riley shook his head, "I prefer all my kills on Theran to be indiscriminate. So, if that is all, then I will take my leave, classmates."

And so, once again, Riley left the class.

"Jesse.." One of Jesse's female friends approached her, "Why didn't you tell him we still have another class?"

"Why are you thinking of classes right now!?" Jesse once again let out a burst of emotions as she waved her hands, before retrieving a spherical device from her pocket, "He… he will pay for what he did. Lord James…

…I will tell Lord James that the person who killed his son is here!"

***NEW BOOK***

Author here, I just came from the future to announce that I have a new book called 'Frankenstein Untold'. It's probably the last book i'll be writing in a while if it doesn't work out. Do give it a try if you have time!