Villain Retirement

"I mean no disrespect for this, Megawoman. But you weren't my friend, and you don't know me at all."

"Ooh…"

The diners' Oohs and Aahs filled the entire restaurant; a handful of them even ordering another batch of fries, completely racking up their bill just so they could watch the entire interview unfold. How could they not stay, when they were witnessing a pivotal part of their history repeat itself, but this time they had front-row tickets?

Future heroes, emerging from the crowd, and they were there to witness all of it. Truly, Zero's restaurant was the most godly of all restaurants, where the only thing comparable to the scrumptious delicious meals were the gut-wrenching and ridiculous dramas unfolding in it.

"I assure you…" Gary then opened his mouth again, making everybody else close theirs so they could hear every word he says, "...as the only surviving male variant of Gary Gray, I am completely different. Please, let me have the chance to prove it."

"I'm sorry," Silvie shook her head before taking a subtle glance at Riley, but he didn't seem to have any reaction at all, "But this isn't all about you, Gary."

"Please," Gary pleaded as he once again stared Silvie in the eyes, "Let me prove it. If you still think the same in the future, then I will voluntarily step down without any questions asked."

"..." Silvie returned Gary's gaze for a few seconds before just letting out a sigh and lowering her head, "...Your stubborn personality hasn't changed one bit. Fine — but when I say you quit, you quit. Riley?"

"Pass," Riley just shrugged.

"Yes, thank you!" Gary could really only raise his hands as the diners started cheering for him. As for Silvie, she was just squinting her eyes as Riley seemed to not even care about Gary at all.

"Next," Riley just gestured to Gary to get off the stage. The application continued, with more people still failing than there were passing — there wasn't really any drama anymore, and most of the people who passed just passed gracefully. And right when the most spiritually and financially invested diners thought they could finally get the check, the last applicant caused them to quickly lower their hands.

How could they not, when Silvie slammed her palms on the table and raised her voice for the first time while gesturing to the last applicant that she failed.

"Oh, how uncouth for someone so young. I feel like there should be a sense of camaraderie here somewhere, no? But then again, you're a special themarian – you might think me beneath you. But where are my manners…

…It is a pleasure to meet you again, Zero."

"Miss Anastasia."

It was Anastasia, the themarian who bought the Undead Themarian from Riley back in the auction.

"Fail!" Silvie once again waved her hand and gestured to Anastasia to leave.

"Why?" Anastasia, however, did not leave at all and sat down, even crossing her legs as a small smirk crawled on her face.

"You don't have the qualities of a hero," Silvie shook her head.

"I don't," Anastasia shrugged, "But I want to try, just for a few hundred years, who knows — I might like it."

"Y—"

And before Silvie could finish her words; this time, it was Riley who leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear.

"She sponsored most of the construction costs of the Academy, Silvie."

"W… what?" Silvie stuttered as she once again focused her attention on Anastasia, who only winked at her and clearly heard what Riley just said to her. The only thing Silvie could really do was let out a long and deep sigh before shaking her head and gesturing to Riley to just let her pass.

"You passed, Miss Anastasia."

"Yes!" Anastasia also raised her hand in victory as she got off the stage. And with that, Riley and Silvie finally got off their table; approaching the dozens out of the hundreds who were able to pass the interview. None of them minded waiting a long time… because they were provided free meals by the restaurant.

"Congratulations to all of you," Riley and Silvie both clapped along with the rest of the diners who were still there and the new ones,

"You have all passed the first part of the application process."

"Wh—there's more!?" The diners could not help but look at each other as soon as they heard Riley's words, "Is it… is it still in the restaurant!?"

"No," Riley only glanced at his customer before turning his focus back to the applicants.

"The last part of the application would happen a month from now," Silvie was the one to continue Riley's words as she raised her finger, "And the last test would be held…

…in the Academy itself."

Days passed, and the restaurant became even livelier and livelier as the applications went on — and as is the case with the first day, not even a quarter of those who have applied were allowed to proceed to the final part of the test.

And then, finally, several weeks later, the Hero Academy and Association finished construction and opened their doors to the applicants who passed the interview. And unfortunately for the diners of Riley's restaurant, the test was being held privately on campus grounds.

"This… is Mega Academy?" Gary could not help but comment as he looked around the campus while they were being escorted. And it is as he said, it was almost a replica of Mega Academy, except on a much smaller scale — there was also a tall building that towered over the others, no doubt the 'Association' in 'Academy and Association'.

There were probably around 500 of them there, being escorted to a wide open field somewhere East of the campus.

[Everyone, welcome to the Hero Academy and Association.] And there, Riley welcomed them all while wearing a fancy and luxurious suit. Silvie was also there, still wearing her Megawoman suit…

…and for some reason, Miss Pepondosovich, Esme, Liza, and Katrina were there too — all of them, lined up in front of the applicants.

[First of all, congratulations again in reaching this part,] Riley nodded as he started walking in front of the applicants before standing beside Silvie and the others, [And this part is actually quite simple, everybody. You just have to choose from the people standing before you…

…and fight them.]