Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

The ideal king who built the chalk city of Camelot.

Trusted by everyone, loved by everyone.

More upright than anyone else, more radiant than anyone else.

Together with 12 Knights of the Round Table and numerous cavalry units, they forged many future kings with the holy lance in their hands.

...Really, it's excellent.

But also, he was very lonely.

I have never seen a creature like that before.

I don't want to get to know her, nor do I want anyone to tell me about her.

I can't do it. I don't want to believe it, nor do I want to agree with it.

----because.

They had no kindred spirits, nowhere to escape, no one who understood them, and no partner.

There are no rewards, no end, no rest, and not even a single failure is allowed.

Ahhh—I really don't think such a thing could happen.

Just how cruel does it have to be for everyone to smile and allow such a king to exist?

—That kind of life? Don't be ridiculous!

In the dimly lit cave, the girl suddenly opened her eyes.

In an instant, a dark figure darted to the bedside, tightly grasped the girl's soft hand, his eyes filled with tension, and launched into a barrage of questions.

"Artoria, you're awake. Where does it hurt? Can you speak? Are you alright?"

The man before her was displaying an unprecedented loss of composure and unease.

The girl blinked, raised her hand to rub her lower abdomen, and answered seriously.

"Teacher, I'm hungry..."

Samael paused for a moment, then flicked the girl's forehead with his finger and a smile bloomed on his face.

"Okay, it's good that you're hungry. What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you."

"Meat! Meat! I want to eat meat!"

Artoria slurped her saliva, excitedly waved her little fists, and showed a bright smile.

Chapter 114 A Gift for the Lion King (4.2k)

Hidden in the mountains, a simple magical barrier blocked out the light, while a burning campfire brought some warmth and brightness. Artoria squatted on a rock, gazing at the crackling dry branches in the fire and the heat scorching her fingers and palms. She seemed somewhat dazed, as if she were thinking of something.

"Artoria, dinner's ready!"

As the enchanting whispers echoed in her ears, and half a roasted rabbit, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, was handed to her, the girl instantly perked up, hurriedly took the food, and happily devoured it.

Her cherry-like lips moved swiftly as she swallowed most of the rabbit. Samael, standing beside her, raised the corners of his lips in a playful smile and handed her a second piece of roasted meat. He rested his chin on his hand, watching the girl eat with great interest and asking questions with a smile.

"Is it tasty?"

"Mmm, I never get tired of the food the teacher makes!"

Artoria nodded without hesitation, expressing her sincere admiration.

But after being stared at for a while, the prophetic child, who had gradually regained some of his sharpness from his confusion, couldn't help but feel a little uneasy and shrank his head slightly.

"Teacher, why are you looking at me like that?"

"looks good."

Samael winked with a smile, casually teasing, and gently wiped away a smear of sauce from the corner of Artoria's mouth with his raised finger.

The touch of skin sent a burning sensation through Mo Min's body, causing the girl's pretty face to flush. She subconsciously straightened her back, displaying a somewhat dignified eating posture, yet her speed did not slow down at all.

Samael looked at his charming and adorable disciple, his smile widening.

When Artoria was almost full, Samael casually poked at the dying embers of the fire and handed her a few wild mint leaves to clean her mouth.

At the same time, a slightly lowered murmur reached the girl's ears.

"Still thinking about what happened during the day?"

"Um……"

The girl, who was chewing mint leaves with her cheeks puffed out, suddenly paused. A familiar yet unfamiliar face and name appeared in her mind within the black flames. She nodded slightly, lowered her head, and let out a low, nasal sound, revealing a hint of sadness.

"Do you regret it?"

The fingers that gently stroked the back of Artoria's head brought a touch of warmth and tenderness.

"This world is rotten. In order to prevent it from dying completely, we must cut out the festering sores and save it. Sometimes we have to make choices."

Perhaps, the so-called prophetic child is someone who, in order to protect the people, kills the most people.

Since this is the fate I bear, then no matter how filthy or dirty the road ahead may be, I must walk it, and I must walk it.

Artoria shook her head slightly, a pure and clear smile appearing on her pretty face.

"But it's okay, don't worry about me."

As she spoke, the girl's delicate hand slipped into the teacher's palm, and she winked playfully.

"Because on this path, at least I still have you, teacher, to walk with me!"

Samael nodded, clenching his delicate fingers, his gaze deep and distant.

"So you absolutely have to win."

For everyone's future, and for yourself now...

After calming herself down, Artoria came to her senses and turned to look at the area with sparse firelight and shadowy figures not far away. She couldn't help but get up and drag the somewhat reluctant Samael to check it out.

Behind the strangely shaped, withered bushes, people with blank expressions and dull eyes sat haphazardly in the wilderness, like a group of soulless, wandering corpses.

At this moment, the blonde girl holding the magic wand walked through the deathly silent crowd, stopping at each place to chatter and interact with the people.

Whether rejected or met with indifference, the girl's sweet and pure smile remained unchanged, without the slightest impurity.

"Little sister, haven't you eaten yet? Look what I brought! Roasted focaccia, made by the teacher. It's filling, delicious, and even has a meaty flavor. Come and try some!"

"I don't want to eat! How can that be? We'll be on our way soon, and if we don't eat enough, we'll have serious problems!"

"Uncle, don't panic, let me see your foot injury."

"Well, thankfully no bones were broken. I'll treat you. As long as you don't do strenuous exercise, the swelling should go down in about two days. You need to take good care of yourself, okay?"

“You young people must take good care of the elderly and children in the group and lead them south into the Nameless Forest, where they will be safe for the time being. The environment there is still sustainable, and the land there can still produce food. I came out from there, and many people along the way have already fled to the Nameless Forest to live.”

So please don't give up hope, and try your best to live on!

The girl was like a little angel fallen to earth, healing the pain in people's hearts, nourishing their parched souls, and awakening the hope that shone in their eyes.

Gradually, the deathly silent crowd began to stir, asking about the situation in the Nameless Forest and the escape route, filled with anticipation for a future where they could escape disaster and enter a stable life.

Samael, who had been forcibly brought here, initially didn't think much of the little girl's kindness. However, he couldn't help but be moved by the faces of those who were full of hope for their new lives.

However, having been a strategist and a deity for too long, he had become accustomed to considering human nature from a complex and dark perspective, but he had forgotten one thing.

The biting north wind only makes people bundle up, while the warm sunshine makes people willingly let their guard down.

Compared to the tangible and dazzling authority and power of deities, the kindness of the human heart is equally infectious, and it influences silently and subtly.

"Let's go. Once we've rested, we'll set off for the Nameless Forest. Trust me, the disaster will eventually end."

Under Artoria's repeated admonitions, the people, filled with hope, bid farewell to the little angel who had awakened their will to live, and set off on an unknown journey, seeking a last glimmer of life in this desolate world.

Seemingly infected by that pure kindness, the procession was quiet. People abandoned their bad habits, the elderly and women took care of the children, and the men picked up sharpened wooden sticks and weapons left behind by the executioners, and stood guard around them.

Before leaving, Samael, as if possessed, shared valuable wilderness survival tips with the leaders, such as how to find clean water and how to gather food. Only after confirming that they had memorized the lessons did he turn and leave.

It's absurd to waste time on things that don't even exist...

Samael shook his head self-deprecatingly, took one last look at the long, orderly line of people, and then turned to join Artoria.

At this moment, the girl stood on the high slope, gazing into the distance, and a hint of reluctance appeared on her face.

Embarking on this path does not necessarily mean a new beginning.

Some people are destined to live, and some will die.

"Teacher, let's go too..."

As she watched the last figure disappear into the dust, Artoria took a deep breath, her eyes filled with solemnity and determination.

"I'm ready to see her..."

"Don't rush. Since this is a formal meeting, I should at least dress up nicely and prepare a decent gift."

"what?"

Artoria scratched her head, looking a little confused.

"for example……"

Sama stroked his chin, his narrow eyes scrutinizing his young disciple for a moment. As if he had thought of something, he smiled meaningfully and then snapped his fingers crisply.

"so……"

In an instant, accompanied by a surge of light and a slight distortion in her vision, Artoria was startled to see a dignified knight in full armor standing before her, leaning on his sword.

At the same time, Artoria felt a weight on her hand, and her lowered eyes were startled to find that there were now black shackles on her wrists.

……

After a moment, Artoria, who was tightly bound, looked at herself and then at the "good teacher" who had led the warhorse. She finally understood what the so-called "gift" was.

In the present world, in Camelot, in the Lion King's bedroom.

"Hey, Bedivere, is it your shift today? Long time no see..."

On the steps, the two gatekeepers, who were being punished to stand guard, leaned against a pillar, yawning and greeting their colleagues who came to deliver food with a listless air.

"My king, how have you been lately?"

Bedivere set down the tray, bowed respectfully, and asked the questions as usual.

"What can we do? It's still the same old story. We eat and drink as usual."

Merlin answered casually, then rubbed his hands together and leaned in with a grin.

"Bedwell, did you bring any wine? Let me have a sip, just a tiny sip!"

Under the pitiful gaze of this great sage, Bedivere, unable to resist the persistent pestering, had no choice but to take out the wine pouch from his waist and hand it to Merlin.

The old dream demon couldn't wait to uncork the bottle, tilted his head back, and gulped it down, emptying the entire pot of wine in the blink of an eye.

"Ah, that feels so good! I'm saved! I'm saved! This is what living is all about!"

Having satisfied his craving for alcohol, a slightly tipsy Merlin burped contentedly, his face beaming with happiness. His cheerful words were full of the sighs of a seasoned drinker.

"Lord Merlin, please mind your duties. According to regulations, drinking alcohol while on duty is prohibited. Allowing you to drink is already a violation, and you've poured so much at once. Aren't you afraid of the King's wrath...?"

Bedivere took the mercilessly drained wine sac, frowned, and reminded him that he was quite troubled by this unruly great sage.

You old liar!

If I had known that "taking a sip" meant drinking the whole bottle in one go, I would never have handed this guy the wine jug.

"Haha, what's this? Artoria, no one knows better than me, it'll be fine."

The unrepentant old nightmare grinned and winked, slurring his words and sighing with a dazed look in his eyes.

"I'm not afraid to tell you, I used to hold her when she was little. She was much cuter back then, and she believed everything I said."

They told her that clouds were edible, and she foolishly climbed up the mountain to try them;

I told her that candy could grow by burying it in the soil, and she actually buried all the candy she had saved up in the designated spot. Hmm, speaking of which, those snacks tasted really good.

They told her that those born of dragon blood would grow tails, horns, and wings upon reaching adulthood, and that their skin would turn into scales. She actually believed them again. In the days leading up to her 18th birthday, she couldn't sleep at night and felt itchy all over...

So, as long as you don't say anything and I don't say anything, who would know about something as trivial as drinking?

To criticize His Majesty is disrespectful! Utterly disrespectful!

Bedivere's expression was stern, and he inwardly denounced the old, lewd dream demon before him, while solemnly pondering aloud.