Villain Retirement

"Damn it! How long have we been standing in this line!?"

"Approximately 7 hours, 6 minutes, and 23 seconds… 22… 21."

"I don't need you counting, Riri!"

"But you asked, Miss Pepondosovich."

And as Miss Pepondosovich said, she and the others have actually been standing in line for more than 7 hours… and yet they haven't moved at all from their spot, not even a single inch.

"Is it usually always like this, Miss Pepondosovich?" Esme could not help but ask — as she was the tallest among the three by more than several feet, she had a clear view of how long the line truly was — and Grandarena was still far off, a colossal and tall tower in the distance.

"Just how many gods are there in this place exactly?"

"No, no…" Miss Pepondosovich formed her arms into an X as she shook her head, "...Although the city of warriors is still probably the most popular city in this place, this is the first time I have ever seen it like this — And I have been here for more than a hundred thousand years."

"It would seem this is the limit of your knowledge of this place, Miss Pepondosovich," Riley let out a sigh as he also shook his head, "I wonder where we could hire a new one."

"You—I am the handiest and best guide you could ever have! You say that after you find another one better than me!" Miss Pepondosovich violently pointed her finger right at Riley's nose, "Stop lying! I am the best!"

"I can not really say for certain, Miss Pepondosovich," Riley shook his head, "You might be, but you are the only guide we have had, so saying that you are the best would be insulting to the actual best. But of course, you might actually be the best since your feet ultimately lead us to where we want to be."

"Can you just please compliment me without having to go through so many other loopholes?" Miss Pepondosovich sighed, "I, Miss Pepondosovich, am the greatest tour guide that has ever walked through the entirety of creation!"

"Pepondosovich?"

And all of a sudden, one of the organizers, or who they could only assume to be one of the organizers that has been walking back and forth beside the long line, suddenly stopped just beside them; his eyes, looking at Miss Pepondosovich from head to toe several times before they suddenly widened.

"Pepondosovich!?" The organizer pointed at Miss Pepondosovich, "The Miss Pepondosovich, winner of the 66688712415109232598…"

And soon, the organizer started reciting an absurd number; not even once, however, did he actually fumble with his words. And finally, after several more seconds…

"...97344th Champion of the Grandarena!?"

"I have no idea what you just said, but probably," Miss Pepondosovich pointed both her index fingers at the organizer, "There was a time when I became the champion for a short amount of time."

"You jest!" The organizer started gesturing to Miss Pepondosovich to step out of the line, "No one was able to take your title until you just voluntarily stepped down since you were tired of fighting only weak gods!"

"Shh. Enough, enough," Miss Pepondosovich cheekily shushed the organizer as she stepped out of the line, also gesturing to Riley and Esme to follow her, "People might get the wrong impression and think I'm some kind of big deal."

"But you are," the smile on the organizer's face was wide, "Well, were — someone already broke your record. Actually, you're no longer even in the top 100. But still, that's very impressive!"

"...You could have just stopped with the compliments," Miss Pepondosovich snarled as she looked blankly at the organizer.

"Why have you visited after all this time? Wait…" The organizer's eyes also turned wide as he looked Miss Pepondosovich in the eyes, "...Don't tell me you're also participating?"

"No, not really. We—"

"I suppose even someone like you is not immune to the allure of a clue to a cosmic piece," the organizer let out a hearty sigh as he looked at the very long line, "All of these people are also here just for a chance to even get a glimpse of it — of course, they don't actually have any chance of even passing the preliminary since there are actually other champions like yourself joining the battles."

"Wait, what did you just say?" Miss Pepondosovich could not help but blink a couple of times as she glanced back and forth between Riley and Esme.

"Oh, other champions are fighting in the arena."

"Before that," Miss Pepondosovich squinted her eyes.

"You are out of the top 100 and a has-been?"

"...I am this close to kicking you."

"Oh, you meant the thing about a cosmic piece?" The organizer let out another hearty chuckle as he looked at Miss Pepondosovich again, "Yes — they said the Grand Champion happened to have gotten a clue to the cosmic piece in his hands… again."

The organizer's voice sounded a little condescending and exhausted as he stuck out his tongue, "I don't even know how many times this has been, and not even once did the clue actually lead to anything close to a cosmic piece. But, this time, however…

…the Grand Champion seemed to be so sure about this one, that's why there are so many people here."

"Then I suppose you're right," Miss Pepondosovich puffed out her small chest as she placed her hands on her waist, "I am joining the arena."

"Really!?" The organizer clapped his hand, "Wonderful, wonderful. Follow me, you don't need to fall in line with the rest of these noobs."

"Alright. Riri, Miss Esme — let us—"

"Oh, no," the organizer quickly blocked Esme and Riley's path, "This benefit is only for a previous champion, you get to start at the 95th floor. I am afraid your friends have to go through all the processes and protocols."

"Process?" Esme blinked a couple of times as she looked at Miss Pepondosovich.

"That means you have to fight your way to the top," Miss Pepondosovich let out a somewhat cheeky chuckle as she started walking away, "See what happens when I just step away from the two of you for a couple of meters!?"

"Hm," Riley sighed and nodded.

"That's right! Lucky feet!" Miss Pepondosovich pointed at Esme and Riley as she continued to walk away with the organizer, "That is what you get for doubting me! I shall see you at the top!"

"If you could reach the top!" The organizer joined Miss Pepondosovich in egging the two, "You losers! You—"

Before the organizer could finish his words, however, his foot was lightly stomped by Miss Pepondosovich.

"What do you mean if they could reach the top?" Miss Pepondosovich snarled at the organizer, "Those are my friends, this arena better have more levels if you want to contain them!"

"R… right," the organizer could really only clear his throat, "Then, please. Follow me, Miss Pepondosovich."

And with that, Miss Pepondosovich stuck out her tongue as she just left Riley and Esme to fend for themselves. And now that she was thinking about it, this was probably the worst idea she had. But still, she just shrugged her shoulders — the two weren't children, they knew what not to do.

"Wait…" Miss Pepondosovich's eyes widened as she realized that the two were just babies. She quickly glanced back at them; but as soon as she saw them just returning to the line, she nodded to herself and finally let them be.

"What are we even supposed to do here, Master?" Esme asked as she once again looked at the long line.

"We wait like the rest of the people, Esme," Riley shrugged, "Cutting in line is immoral and looked down upon by others, it is wrong."

"I see," Esme nodded as she placed her hand on her chin, "Thank you for imparting your wisdom to me, Master."

And so, the two did just waited in line — not talking even after hours and hours had passed. The other gods did not even seem to mind the long line, however. After all, what is waiting an entire day for someone who has already lived hundreds of thousands of years, a million?

It was only Miss Pepondosovich who was weird… perhaps one of the disadvantages of spending time with Riley and Esme, everything should be moving fast. But finally, after a few more hours, the Grandarena was in front of them.

And now that they were directly in front of it, the two could not help but just let out a small breath as they looked at this monstrosity of an infrastructure. The entire Grandarena city was a tower; spanning perhaps more than a few kilometers wide and almost reaching the other land that served as the sky of the domain of the gods.

"Are the two of you together?"

And as soon as they reached the large gates of the tower city, they were quickly welcomed by a man even taller than Esme; a lot bigger too.

"Yes," both Esme and Riley nodded.

"Let me guess, first time?" The burly man chuckled.

"Yes."

"Ohoho…

…the two of you are going to have fun here."