Villain Retirement

[State your name.]

"Zero."

[Your real name.]

"I was told it was Zero, then for all of you, it is Zero and nothing else."

[...Very well, Zero. We will ask you several questions, you just need to answer them to the very best of your abilities.]

Riley was currently sitting on a chair in front of several people who were trying to interrogate—no, interview him. How many times has he presented himself like this in front of people?

The very first one was perhaps his interview back in the Mega Academy, and then the next one was whenever he murdered someone in cold blood in front of other people. Right now, however, the interview seemed to be whether or not he would be allowed to go outside.

That means he needed to answer in a way that would allow him to go outside…

…and that means honesty.

[Do—]

"Yes, you are very ugly."

Riley did not even blink or hesitate as he looked the interviewer in the eyes. He then turned to his colleagues, who slightly flinched in their seats as he did so; quickly avoiding his eyes and pretending to look at something on their tablets. Some of them seemed to want to laugh, but just breathed in whatever they were feeling.

[That's… that's not what I was going to ask,] the interviewer could really only clear his throat as he too, examined Riley's stats and what little information they have on him.

"I apologize," Riley sighed, "But I answered to the best of my abilities."

[Right…] The interviewer sighed, [...What I was going to ask was, do you know how old you were during the Blink?]

[No,] Riley shook his head, [Sister is usually the one who celebrates my birthday and reminds me of how old I am. But I am afraid we… have been separated.]

[You do not remember how old you were?] The interviewer rubbed his chin as he looked at Riley's vital stats, [Does that mean you're one of the Long-lived races? Can you give us a ballpark on how old you think you were before the Blink?]

"When did the Blink happen?" Riley blinked a couple of times, "And what is the Blink?"

[Please, just answer our question.]

"I suppose I might have been 26 years old," Riley shrugged.

[...You're not one of the Long-lived Races, then?]

"I am a human from Earth," Riley looked at the interviewers one by one, "Perhaps you should have just asked me that if you wanted to find out what I am."

[Earth… Liza, you were from Earth, right?] All the interviewers then turned to look at the guard who was quietly standing next to the door; his entire body, covered in some sort of armor.

"Yes."

[Do you recognize Zero?]

"No," Liza turned to look at Riley; her helmet that covered her entire face, slightly unfolding to reveal her eyes, "You can't expect me to know everyone from all the Earths… RIP to all of them. And even if I do know him, it's been like what… 600 or something years? We humans aren't meant to have memories that span that long. We—"

[Okay, okay. That's enough. You're not the one we're interviewing.]

"Then you shouldn't ask stupid questions, fuck. And that one doesn't even look human."

[Okay, alright,] the interviewer could really only wave his hand to gesture to the guard to just keep quiet as they once again focused on Riley, [I apologize — you see, your kind can be a little… grumpy.]

"Try living for 600 years, you fuck. We are not meant to live that long."

[All of us are older than that,] the interviewer sighed as Liza once again spoke, [Zero, what do you plan to do once you are outside?]

Everyone once again focused on Riley. But Riley, however, was just looking down ever since he heard Liza's words.

The Blink — if Riley was right, then that event is probably what happened when he and the others were sent to the future. The guard seems to be a Super, but not really a strong one — and yet she had lived for 600 years, does that mean everyone stopped aging when Death disappeared?

Then… is it possible that Hannah was still alive? But what exactly does Liza mean by 'RIP to all of them' when she refers to the Earths?

[Zero, what do you plan to do once you are outside?]

"Search for my sister," Riley finally answered as he looked back at the interviewers.

[Where were you this entire time?]

"I was in the Domain of the Gods."

[Which god?]

"All of them?" Riley tilted his head to the side as he couldn't understand the question.

[All of them…? I suppose that is your way of saying you were not on anyone's side. Since you are a Human, we would assume that you are a Super since you were able to survive the war and were even found traveling through the Expanse — only a few of you could do that.]

"I suppose."

[In order for you to be able to live on the planet, you are to restrict your abilities to follow the Margrea Oath. Are you able to do that?]

"I suppose," Riley shrugged, "But I do not know what the Margrea Oath is."

[...Just how long have you been traveling in the dark?]

"...All my life."

[We will explain the Margrea Code before you leave anyway, so I will explain it now:

I will do no physical harm of any kind to my fellow men and myself. I will use my powers to help those who are physically injured to the best of my ability. I will treat myself, anyone, and everyone I see with gentleness and care. I will not produce instruments that would lead, no matter how small, to the harm of myself and anyone. If I gain thoughts of harm, I will immediately seek help and confess my thoughts to the nearest guardian. If I transgress and foreswear this oath, may I be sentenced to a life of loneliness for eternity.]

"I believe that's the Hippocratic Oath," Riley blinked a couple of times, "I suppose if I break it, I would be thrown back here?"

[No,] the interviewer shook his head, [You will be thrown in the Prison of Isolation until the warden believes that you have repented, and that could mean forever.]

"This is not a prison?" Riley tilted his head to the side.

[...No. Do you really think a prison would provide you with your own kitchen?] The interviewer chuckled, [Do you truly not know anything of what is going on here?]

[He must have already forgotten. Most humans tend to have very short memories, Liza is living proof of that.]

"Why the fuck am I involved in this again!?"

[He must have truly been traveling the expanse of space for a very long time. Perhaps he does not even have a memory of the war.]

"..." Riley squinted his eyes as he tried to analyze what they were saying. But he did not really need to — he could probably just search for articles of whatever happened here once he is outside… if he is allowed to go outside.

[Since you are a Class 7, which is very rare for humans, do note that a guardian will be following you for the first few weeks of your release.]

All the interviewers then stood up from their seats, causing Riley to do the same.

[You will now henceforth be known as Zero until you claim not to be. Please, follow Liza to get your ID.]

"Oh, I am free to go?" Riley blinked a couple of times, "Are you sure?"

[Yes. Please refrain from using your abilities, you are being watched by the gods at all times…

…May you treat all life with care, Zero.]

All the interviewers, and even Liza raised their palms as they repeated the words of their colleague.

"Well…" A hint of a smile crawled on Riley's face as he also raised his hand,

"...I'll try."

***

"Your companion, the small one — she chose to stay."

"Okay."

"...Are you not going to ask why?"

"Why?"

Riley's identification was now being processed and finalized; the door to the outside world, already only a few meters away from him. He was expecting Miss Pepondosovich and Esme to already be waiting for her, but they were not.

"Your other companion, the themarian, is an Esme variant," Liza, the guard from the interview room, was the one designated as Riley's so-called guardian, "She is not allowed to go outside and would be living here indefinitely, at least until the current Esme… dies, which I don't really see happening anytime soon."

"Then I suppose Miss Pepondosovich volunteered to stay here to accompany her?" Riley sighed.

"Yes," Liza nodded before showing Riley a tablet, "This tablet is for you — do not lose it. This will act as your personal smartphone, identification, as well as a tracker if ever you try to escape my side. And please, don't fucking cause me any trouble."

"You do not have to worry about me, Miss Liza," Riley shook his head as he grabbed the tablet and started walking to the exit,

"...I do not harm people."