Published at 4th of June 2024 7:02 pm

Chapter 1000 1000: The Father, The Son, The Two Other Sons, The Two Daughters, and the Holy Spirit

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"Dad…"

Karina promised herself that she wouldn't even feel anything when she saw Riley. After all, for as long as she could remember, Riley had never really been present in her life. Even not accounting for the 600 years, he was never around. Riley is nothing but the provider of the sperm that made her — he was supposed to be nothing for him.

And yet right now, as she sees him for the first time in what could be considered an eternity for her, the only thing she could do was awkwardly fidget around the sofa she was sitting on.

"Father, welcome back from your expedition."

Even as Renna stood up and welcomed her father with a bow, Karina remained motionless,

"Do you want something to eat, Father?" Renna respectfully spoke up as she looked her father in the eyes before turning toward the kitchen, where the others were enjoying their dessert, completely oblivious that Riley was home, "And as you may have already noticed, you have guests. Aunt Esme is also here with Enel."

"Hm," Riley only glanced at Esme and the others before focusing his attention on Karina, who was just completely frozen on the sofa, "It would seem you still remember who I am even though you have only met me when you were just a little girl, Kar—"

"I was never a little girl," Karina did not let Riley finish his words as she finally moved and stood up from her seat, "I was never a little girl, I didn't get to be that."

"No, I remember you being a little girl," Riley shook his head, "You—"

"Shut the fuck up," Karina then stomped her way toward Riley while pointing right at his face, "You don't get to tell me what I was, what I am, or whatever the fuck anything you want to say to me."

"Okay," Riley just shrugged before placing his attention back on Renna, "Why are you and your brother here, Renna?"

"We decided to go home for the weekend because of Arthas, Father," Renna pointed at Arthas, "He went to the Academy to try and meet us — unfortunately, he met Lucifer first, I am afraid he is already influencing him with his bad habits."

"Arthas…" Riley squinted his eyes as he looked at the tall muscular young man laughing and smiling with the others in the kitchen, "...He looks like a much more handsome version of Gary."

"That is what I thought so too, Father," Renna nodded in agreement, "Monarch is more buff, but Older Brother Arthas is much more aesthetically pleasing — no doubt your side of the genes."

"Hm."

"That's it!? You're not even going to say anything else to me!?"

Riley was about to walk toward the kitchen, but before he could do so, Karina could no longer help herself as she raised her voice and blocked his path; finally garnering the attention of the others in the kitchen,

"No," Riley shook his head, "You told me not to say anything to you, Karina."

"More than 600 years, and yet you haven't changed even a single bit," Karina's eyebrows began to furrow, "I thought you would be a better person now that you've become a father. I mean, my god… you have 5 children, Riley Ross — but you are still as I remember you, a lost little boy trying to destroy everything in its path."

"What the—Father has no bearing to whatever you call him as!" Lucy quickly moved in front of Karina, pushing her away before pointing at her face, "You dare act like you know our father, but the truth is, you know absolutely nothing of him at all — you are a memory, dear sister."

"Lucy! Why would you say that!?" Katrina was about to join the conversation, but Katherine grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Let them release what they want to release," Katherine sighed while shaking her head.

"Are… you sure?" Liza also watched as the siblings who were previously just getting along started screaming at each other, "Lucifer… has a way with his insults."

"Let them," Katherine just slightly giggled as she walked back to the counter, "With a family as dysfunctional as this, arguing might be the best ice breaker. Let's just talk about what's happening on this planet and return to Esme — the most they could do is try to kill each other."

"Right…" Katrina squinted her eyes, glancing at her son for a few more seconds before following Katherine back to the kitchen, "...You've really changed a lot, Miss Scarlet Mage."

"Wow, it's been a while since someone called me that," Katherine waved her hand, "You don't really have to worry, Arthas is there. And most importantly…

…Riley's there. So, how about you just share this recipe with me? I'm sure Karina would love it too. And also… What do you know about the gods living in New Theran?"

And while Katherine and the others started a new conversation all by themselves, the situation in the living room was becoming more and more chaotic with Karina and Lucy just exchanging some… unpleasant words with each other.

"Your wide mouth has probably had things enter inside it that we can't even begin to explain!"

"Excuse me!? If anything, between the two of us, you're the one who's eaten dick, you sissy-looking bastard!"

"The only thing that enters my mouth is father's cooking — but I apologize if you do not know that because your taste buds have never had the pleasure of indulging themselves with father's food because he was not there for you! You are the bastard between us!"

"Ho…? Ho? Really? At least I am not the one showing parentless behavior."

"You are already fatherless, Big Sister — it would be too brutal if you—"

"Lucifer, enough."

Renna finally could not take the exchange anymore as she stood between the two. Arthas also stood between the two; her and Renna, just looking back and forth.

"Karina, you told me you weren't going to make a scene," Arthas could really only let out a sigh as he looked at their eldest sister, "You're making a scene right now."

"Agh, tell that to the Shakespearean freak," Karina just let out a scoff before turning around and then pointing at Riley, "This is your fault, you know? All of this is your fucking fault."

"It is," Riley just nodded before walking away.

"And what? You're just gonna walk away just like—" And before Karina could even finish her words, Riley suddenly wrapped his arms around her and patted the back of her head.

"I apologize for not being there with you, Karina," Riley whispered, "But not being there for you was probably the best thing I could have ever given you."

"You…" Karina's cheeks started to tremble as she showed her teeth; almost growling while she rolled her hands into fists. She wanted to say a lot of things, but very soon, almost as if all the strength in her arms just faded away… the only thing she could do was just fall and rest in Riley's embrace,

"...Why… why didn't you just come and find us? I trusted you, Dad. You've done some fucked up shit, but the truth is when a threat happens, you're the first person that would pop up in my mind — I start to think that 'if dad was here, this wouldn't have happened'. Everyone was panicking and dreading King's existence all those years ago, but you ended him within an hour. You… you were the universe's villain but for me…

…you were my hero, Dad. For me, you're the hero who saved the universe… But you weren't there."

"..." Riley did not really say anything anymore and just let Karina lash out at him.

"...Did she just say Father saved the universe hundreds of years ago?" Lucy, who was still feeling all sorts of negative emotions, leaned closer to Renna and whispered.

"Did you just ignore that she said he was also the universe's villain, Lucifer?" Renna, on the other hand, was not as subtle as she looked at their father from head to toe, "...I believe this requires further investigation. Do you agree with me, Lucifer?"

"Uh ha, hm…" Lucy squinted his eyes as he then looked at Arthas. Arthas, however, was probably more confused than anyone here — he was just here because he wanted to see his siblings and father, but now an entire drama was unfolding and he couldn't even talk to Riley.

Fortunately for him, he noticed that Riley was actually looking at him.

"Dad…" Arthas took in a small gulp as he very slowly took a step toward Riley; in his 3rd step, however, he suddenly stopped.

It wasn't only him, all of his siblings, even Karina who was busy pouring her heart out, quickly released herself from Riley's embrace as she and her siblings looked at the terrace. And there…

…an old man with a beard reaching down his ankles was watching them from the other side. The old man seemed ethereal, like a spirit of some sort.

"I sense people…" The old man grumbled weakly,

"...people that should not be here."

***VERY IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTES***

I didn't think it was possible, but here it is --- 1000 chapters. Honestly, and I know I am not the only one thinking this, but this story should have ended 600 chapters ago, but here we are...

...and all I can really say is thank you for those who are still here. I mean, seriously, thank you.

This started out as a passion project, and then it became about money, and when I wasn't earning with it anymore, I was actually about to drop it. But when I noticed that there were still readers who were there since Day 1 still reading the story, I decided to just continue it and it once again just became a passion project. So, if you want someone to thank, thank them and yourselves for still reading.

I know how this story will end, but I don't know when I'm ready to end it. The story had its ups and downs, mostly downs since I keep jumping from plot to plot, but I do believe Villain Retirement is good. I do believe that because you guys are still here. We've literally watched everyone grow as a character, even the Riley Ross himself... And we're going to watch them grow further. So...

...Thank you.

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