I Became Spider-Man's Cousin in Anime Crossover

Chapter 531 Reunion with an Old Friend

Of course, Riley wasn't in a hurry to open the portal back because he figured he might as well see an old acquaintance while he was already there.

So, after seeing his father off, Riley did not leave the temple with him, but turned around and walked deeper into the temple.

"You've arrived, Mr. Spider-Man... Please come this way, the master has been waiting for a long time."

After turning a corner, a young man in a suit emerged from the shadows. He greeted Riley respectfully and then walked ahead to lead the way.

Before long, the two arrived at the door of a side hall, where the young man stopped. After opening the sliding door, he stood sideways outside, acting as a guard.

Looking through the door of the side hall, you'll see a dim oil lamp.

Under the flickering light of the oil lamp, a hunched and thin figure was kneeling shakily on a futon, with a pot of tea and two teacups in front of him.

The figure looked very old, with only a few sparse hairs left, and wrinkles on his face that looked as if they had been carved by a knife. His breath was so weak that one worried that the old man might suddenly pass away.

But those eyes revealed a wisdom honed by the passage of time, carrying the clarity and composure of a mature leader.

"Long time no see, Kirito."

Although Riley had considered how much the person in front of him would look different if they had the chance to meet again in the future when he left the Infinity Castle for the final battle.

But when Riley saw with his own eyes the little guy he remembered who had endured his grief and tried his best to lead the Demon Slayer Corps in battle, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

After a brief silence and composing himself, Riley, who had already removed his nanotech suit and revealed his true form, stepped into the room and called out in a complex tone.

"Lord Riley... it really is you..."

After he finished speaking, the old man's body trembled slightly.

He looked up at the young man walking slowly towards him.

That face was exactly the same as it had been decades ago, unchanged. It was as if time had stood still for him.

The long-awaited reunion brought tears to the eyes of Teruya Ubuyashiki, who, despite his long lifespan, had witnessed the passing of many familiar faces and felt a profound loneliness.

He responded cautiously to Riley's call, his voice trembling slightly as he worried it was just a fleeting dream. He even braced himself on the ground, trying to stand up and bow to Riley as he had done before.

But Riley quickly stepped forward, placed his hand on his shoulder, and shook his head with a smile.

"That's right, it's me... Given our relationship, there's no need to be so polite."

Hui Lizai paused for a moment, then nodded and sat back down on the futon.

Riley then walked to the futon opposite Huilizai, sat down cross-legged, and stared at Huilizai for a few seconds.

"I always thought that Spider-Man, who has only recently become active, was your chosen successor, but I never imagined it would be you..."

Hui Lizai's gaze lingered on Riley's face for a long time before he murmured something, his tone quite emotional.

"After all these years, Lord Riley is still the same as he was back then, unchanged at all. He truly is incredibly powerful..."

Riley sat down opposite him, picked up the tea that Hirizai had already poured, and took a small sip.

He could tell that when Kiriya said those words, he was genuinely happy that he could see a familiar figure again in his lifetime.

His gaze was incredibly clear, devoid of even the slightest greed or scheming.

This means Riley doesn't have to worry that Felix will be like that ingrate who betrayed Wolverine, coveting Riley's ability to "stay young" and turning against him.

The corners of his mouth curved upwards, and he joked in a serious tone.

"You've aged quite a bit, but your height doesn't seem to have changed much; you still look like a little bean sprout~"

"Haha, well, I'm just an ordinary person. I can't withstand the erosion of time like Lord Riley... But I'm already content to see Lord Riley one last time before I'm buried."

Upon hearing this, Kiriya laughed, a smile carrying a sense of nostalgia for the past.

"Since we parted ways back then, I've never received any information about Lord Riley. I thought that Lord Riley's 'goodbye' was just a comforting word... But I never expected that after so many years, I would be able to see my comrades who fought alongside me to defeat the Demon King Muzan. It's truly wonderful."

As he spoke, his gaze became distant, and before Riley could ask any questions, he began to speak to Riley on his own.

"After Muzan's death, the mission that our family had carried for generations was finally completed. So, after the victory celebration, my father disbanded the Demon Slayer Corps, allowing everyone to stay away from battle and return to normal life according to their own wishes."

"Of course, we all remember what you specifically told us before you left. So after that, Father led his people to settle on this land."

He looked up at Riley, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Hiroshima and Nagasaki... You specifically instructed us back then not to settle in those two places, and all the Demon Slayer Corps members did as you said... At first, we didn't quite understand, but when this country committed unforgivable sins and became more vicious than vengeful demons, ultimately attracting the punishment of heavenly fire, we finally understood what you meant."

"Those two cities, hundreds of thousands of people, in an instant... If we hadn't listened to you back then, the Demon Slayer Corps' bloodline would probably have been wiped out long ago."

At this point, Kiriya couldn't help but shudder.

Even if they had followed Riley's advice, they would have been able to avoid the devastation of the two atomic bombs.

But when he thought about the terrifying destructive power of a nuclear strike, Kiriya couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.

Riley remained silent and did not respond.

He knew very well that at this moment, all he needed to do was be a quiet listener.

He was even more worried that if he opened his mouth...

You can't help but applaud the "human tragedy" in Teruya's eyes.

Hui Lizai took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and solemnly bowed his head, kneeling to thank Riley.

"So, Lord Riley, you've saved us twice now..." The Ubuyashiki family will never forget this kindness, generation after generation.

Riley put down his teacup at that moment and accepted the greeting without hesitation. Then, he used his telekinesis to gently help Kiriya up, responding in a gentle tone.

"To be precise, it was your own choice that saved your lives. I was just offering a suggestion... Also, if it's convenient, there's something I'd like you to do."

Upon hearing this, Kirito's expression immediately turned serious. He straightened his back and solemnly replied.

"No problem, Lord Riley, please give your orders. Whatever you require of us, even if it means replacing the leader of this country, the Demon Slayer Corps will do everything in our power to fulfill your wish!"

The latter part of his statement was a slightly exaggerated statement made by Kiriya to prove his determination.

But I don't know why...

He suddenly realized that after saying those words...

Riley, sitting across from him, seemed to be laughing even more heartily...?

It's that smile...

It gives off a strange, creepy feeling, even though it looks exceptionally "kind"...