Villain Retirement

"The only thing I could truly be sure of is that my adopted daughter is alive."

"You also have an adopted daughter!?"

If Liza was not aware that she was pregnant, she would have probably already flipped the table on everyone as she slammed her palms on it. But as soon as she saw that she spilled a little of Miss Pepondosovich's wine, she tried her best to calm herself and sit back down.

"You… have an adopted daughter…? Just how many half-siblings is our baby going to have, Zero?" Liza gently held her belly as she looked Riley in the eyes, "Wait…"

Liza then very slowly turned to look at Miss Pepondosovich and Esme as she thought of something, "Please don't tell me the two of you are pregnant."

"What? No," Miss Pepondosovich raised an eyebrow, "Riri's like a son to me or something, or maybe a younger brother I can't seem to get rid of."

"Unfortunately, Master has still not laid his hands on me, Miss Liza," Esme shook her head, "I am still waiting for it to happen ever since I was freed from my deathless shackle. Or maybe perhaps even before that since I vaguely remember wanting to eat his meat."

"Pft, Kh!" Miss Pepondosovich almost choked on the wine she was drinking, "Wait, wait… your species normally live for eternity, and you only give birth once in a thousand years…

…doesn't that mean all this immortality business is completely irrelevant to your kind?"

"That's actually been a topic several times in the community," Liza shrugged, "Themarians would have been completely unaffected by the change. Honestly, we owe a lot to the Themarians, it's just sad what happened to them."

"What… happened to them?" Miss Pepondosovich squinted as she glanced at Esme.

"...Right, I forgot I needed to treat you guys like you know nothing," Liza sighed, "The Themarians were the forefront of the war when the gods started killing each other. They… became the multiverse's superheroes, in a way. Now there's just like, less than a hundred thousand of you. Of course, like always, some forget what your people have done. Everything's just… different now. I actually find it weird that you three are here, of course… I appreciate it too. But the three of you are Class 7 Above, you could have been anywhere you wanted."

"I'm just stuck with Riri," Miss Pepondosovich shrugged, "Don't ask me why."

"Master is Master," Esme nodded, "I go where he goes."

"I've never met such weird people in my life," Liza sighed.

"You are the weirdest one here, Miss Liza," Miss Pepondosovich shook her head, "You seem to just take everything in stride as it is."

"Miss Liza has always been very easygoing." And to everyone's surprise, Riley spoke up, "Her variant belonged everywhere she went and usually lights up the room whenever she is around."

"Are… you sure you and my variant weren't together, Zero?" Liza took in a small gulp, "Because… because if you are, then I feel like I'm actually doing something wrong by stealing you from her. But then again… I've already been stealing everything from my variant. I'm here… while she's living in the Reserves."

"The Reserves…" Miss Pepondosovich's eyebrows started to lower as she heard that; taking in a big gulp of her wine before pointing at everyone, "...I hate that place. It reminds me of… my home planet. I understand it's there for a reason, but… it shouldn't be."

"There… are actually planning to allow them to leave now that time is moving forward again," a hint of a smile crawled on Liza's face, "I've actually met my variant several times and we get along. Is it okay if she works here if they dissolve the Reserves?"

"I see no problem with that, Miss Liza," Riley nodded, "Another pair of large breasts would prove to be an asset to the uniqueness of the restaurant."

"Wow, thanks," Liza rolled her eyes, "It would be good too, since I'm pregnant and all — she can work here while she adjusts. Wait, wait… let me call the Reserves now to see if I can expedite her release!"

Everyone then watched as Liza went away and started calling some people. And judging by the smile on her face, her previous employment seemed to have been useful — she did not even say another word before suddenly leaving the restaurant.

"What… just happened?" Miss Pepondosovich turned to look at Esme and Riley, "Where did she suddenly hop to and… why am I the only one drinking!?"

"Do you truly want me to drink, Miss Pepondosovich?" Esme asked.

"On second thought…" Miss Pepondosovich continued to look back and forth between Esme and Riley,

"...I think I will enjoy this wine by myself."

And enjoy Miss Pepondosovich did, and after she had her 4th bottle of wine, Liza returned with a huge smile on her face while carrying a large duffle bag.

"Ah, Miss Liza!" Miss Pepondosovich then quickly greeted her back while waving a bottle of wine, "Listen to this…

…Miss Esme here is a virgin!"

"I thought you were not going to share that, Miss Pepondosovich," Esme's monotonous tone slightly faltered as she looked at Miss Pepondosovich, feeling completely betrayed, "Master, I believe Miss Liza brought us another staff, maybe we could fire Miss Pepondosovich."

"Wh—wait, no!" Miss Pepondosovich then quickly leaped toward Riley, who was now playing the piano, "Riri, you're not going to fire me, right!?"

"Well…" Riley blinked a couple of times as he looked at their table, which was filled with empty bottles of wine, "...I might, Miss Pepondosovich."

"No!" And while Miss Pepondosovich was kneeling on the stage, Liza dropped her duffle bag before dragging someone from the outside.

"Come, come. Don't be shy! As you can see, they're a little weird, but they are good people."

"Uhm… okay then?"

Everyone then watched as a slightly more mature-looking version of Liza entered the restaurant; which was weird, since they were sure she was supposed to be a variant of the same age — perhaps a testament that their experiences before the Blink had not been the same.

"Everyone," Liza then breathed out as she took her variant to their table, "This is Katrina."

"H… hello, everyone!" Liza's variant seemed as friendly as her as she smiled at Esme and the others, "I… hope I'm not intruding, and wow…"

"Right!?" Liza nodded to herself as she saw Katrina's eyes stop at Riley, "I told you, they are very unique people."

"That… they are."

"B… be careful now," Liza breathed out nervously as she noticed Katrina still staring at Riley, "He's the father of my child."

"Right…" Katrina squinted her eyes, "...That's a variant of Riley Ross?"

"Oh… what? You've met a variant of him before?" Liza pointed back and forth between Riley and Katrina.

"Wait, no…" Katrina's breaths then started to turn heavy as she looked at Riley from head to toe, "...Riley Ross doesn't have a variant. You…

…It's you."

"Wait… wait…" Liza could not help but open her mouth, "Don't tell me the two of you are actually from the same universe? Because that will be totally crazy and scary if it is."

"Liza…" Katrina took in a small gulp as she grabbed Liza's hand,

"...That's Darkday."