Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Did they go out again?

Kirei Kotomine shook his head slightly, somewhat used to it.

Time flies, and a year has passed since Claudia was discharged from the hospital.

The demon who had threatened to live with them, though he had settled here, appeared and disappeared from time to time, and did not have much impact on their lives.

It was as if they were just spectators sitting in the audience, while their family was the actor.

To be honest, he neither liked nor disliked this feeling.

Because, since birth, he has been wearing different masks and earnestly playing different roles.

Sometimes he's the good student his father expects; sometimes he's a rule-abiding believer; sometimes he's a trustworthy priest...

Since he couldn't refuse to perform, all he could do was play his role as usual.

Everything is the same as before.

Kirei Kotomine pushed open the door and walked towards the town's church.

Because of this marriage, he voluntarily resigned from the seminary and gave up the path to becoming a full priest, but people always have to live.

The wife's follow-up treatment and the expenses of raising their daughter both require financial support.

Therefore, with his qualifications as a priest, he found a job preaching at the town's church to supplement his family's income.

As for that demon who also has the ability to work...

Okay, he eats very enthusiastically.

Just as Kirei Kotomine's emotions were slightly fluctuating, the approaching church bells interrupted his thoughts.

The young priest looked up at the bustling crowd of worshippers climbing the steps, straightened his clothes, tightened the Bible in his arms, politely greeted the people along the way, got up and entered the hall to begin his day's work.

Finally, as evening approached, the worshippers in the church, still reluctant to leave, dispersed in twos and threes.

Stepping out of the church, Kirei Kotomine got into his car, ripped off the cross necklace that felt a little tight around his neck, loosened his clothes, and expressionlessly tossed the Bible into the back seat, showing absolutely no piety towards his so-called faith.

The man turned to look at the majestic church, the merciful statue of the Virgin Mary, and the sacred murals under the setting sun. He slowly rolled up the car window, his brow furrowed, filled with a deep weariness and disgust, and murmured to himself.

Everything is meaningless and worthless.

That's right, that's his true thought and his real experience.

He was born while his father, Kotomine Rita, was on a pilgrimage. Because he was born late in life, his father had high hopes for his only son.

Therefore, the name "Kiri" contains an element of hope. The father named his child with the intention of both clarity and beauty.

I have not disappointed my father’s expectations and have worked hard to become a person with excellent character and ability.

To be honest, I am not a genius. The reason I have achieved success is simply because I am diligent enough.

At the age of 22, he entered the St. Ignatius Seminary in Manresa. That same year, he transitioned from a trainee to an agent capable of acting independently, and was baptized a second time as an agent. He skipped two grades at the seminary, graduating first in his class, a truly remarkable achievement.

But he couldn't settle into a position because he was confused about his own heart and was trying to find the path he truly wanted.

He knew early on that his heart couldn't see happiness in beautiful things like most people.

Therefore, from beginning to end, he had a strong sense of confusion—"What exactly is this clear and beautiful thing that my father spoke of?"

Devotion to the church is also a hope that the Lord can answer the confusion in one's heart.

He made many attempts to change his abnormality.

However, no matter how hard I try, my inherent nature remains unchanged; my desires, which run counter to morality, remain unfulfilled.

Therefore, whenever he was just one step away from completing his cultivation, he would turn to the next field without any hesitation, having seen through the uninteresting outcome.

His marriage to his wife Claudia was his last attempt to save himself.

To this day, more than a year has passed, and he still hasn't gotten the answer he wanted.

Gradually, I've stopped having any expectations for so-called faith or beautiful things.

And he gradually grew to despise everything he was currently experiencing.

"Honey, you're late again. Come and eat, the food's getting cold."

The knocking on the car window and the murmuring in his ear brought Kirei Kotomine back to his senses.

He didn't realize that he had driven the car to his doorstep without even noticing.

"Um……"

The priest was silent for a moment, then nodded, opened the car door, and, led by his wife, went into the house.

"Here comes the chicken soup!"

With a light call, the virtuous and beautiful wife, carrying a pot of warm chicken soup, smiled and placed it on the table, the rich aroma wafting gently.

"Why aren't you eating yet? The food's getting cold."

Seeing her husband sitting blankly in the chair, showing no intention of making a move, Claudia couldn't help but remind him.

"Never mind, wait a minute, I'll heat these up for you."

As soon as the woman got up, she seemed a little tired, her body swaying slightly. She paused for a moment while massaging her temples before picking up a few bowls and plates from the table and heading to the kitchen to heat up the food.

Kirei Kotomine snapped out of his daze, gazing at everything before him. His empty gaze gradually regained focus.

Warm lighting, steaming hot food, a gentle wife busy in the kitchen...

These things that ordinary people consider happiness, however, did not interest him in the slightest.

Especially when this figure gradually recovers from the torment of illness, his last remaining interest in observing pain and sighs vanishes.

Everything is meaningless.

Everything is worthless.

Since even this woman cannot fill the void in his own heart, then it's time to end this.

Kirei Kotomine slowly put down his chopsticks, stood up from his seat, walked into the kitchen, came up behind his busy wife, and raised his eyes with a deathly and desolate stillness, and spoke softly.

“Claudia, I actually…”

"Dangdang!"

However, the moment the man opened his mouth, the crisp sound of the plate shattering abruptly interrupted his words.

That frail figure suddenly collapsed in front of the man without warning, falling headfirst to the ground.

"Claudia!"

Kirei Kotomine's expression changed instinctively, and he reached out to catch his falling wife.

At that moment, he was shocked to find that his wife's face was as pale as paper, and her organs showed signs of failure. Her heartbeat and pulse were almost nonexistent.

Damn!

The sudden turn of events caused Kirei Kotomine to feel an unusual sense of tension. He immediately laid his wife flat on the ground and searched around for the medicine box that was always kept at home, preparing to take emergency measures.

However, everything is in vain.

Despite the emergency medication, Claudia's condition, which was rapidly deteriorating, showed no improvement whatsoever.

Just as Kirei Kotomine was at a loss, the light flickered, and a tall, slender figure walked out of the darkness and stopped in front of the kitchen door.

"Why is this happening! Didn't you already heal her?!"

The priest suddenly turned around and confronted the demon in the light.

"Heal? When did we ever say I healed her?"

Leaning against the door, the ancient snake, seemingly enjoying the joys and sorrows of human life, raised an eyebrow, covered half of its face with its hand, and couldn't help but sneer.

"I am a demon!"

Upon hearing this, Kirei Kotomine was stunned, his heart sinking to the bottom.

Yes, he never made any promises; it was all just wishful thinking on his part.

But a sliver of hope gradually sprouted in the priest's heart, and he couldn't help but turn to the devil and demand an answer.

"So, over the past year..."

"It's just an illusion created by overdrawing on the body's functions!"

Samael shattered Kirei Kotomine's fantasy, glanced at Claudia on the ground, shook his head slightly, and murmured with amusement.

“This woman said that you have always taken care of her, and she wants a year to fulfill her duties as a wife so that you don’t have to work so hard, so I granted her request.”

The ancient snake paused, then a pleased smile appeared on its lips.

"As a price, after her death, her soul belonged to hell."

She did this for...me?

Kirei Kotomine stared in disbelief at the bloodless face in his arms.

Scenes I had never paid attention to over the past year suddenly came to mind.

Warm meals, clean clothes, a tidy yard, a daughter peacefully asleep, and the Bible and preaching materials within easy reach every morning upon waking...

All of this, which seems so simple and ordinary, actually came at such a terrible price.

How...stupid!

Kirei Kotomine felt a sudden surge of anger for no reason. He took several deep breaths to suppress his irritation and turned to look at the demon under the light.

"Tell me, what do you want in return for saving her?"

“Kiri, saving her is not difficult for me.”

The ancient snake stepped forward, leaned close to the priest's ear, and whispered something eerily. Its narrowed, vertical pupils exuded a strong sense of wicked pleasure.

"But is this really what you desire?"

Kirei Kotomine trembled and looked up in astonishment.

Instantly, those serpentine eyes looking down, piercing through the disguise to the bone, penetrated the darkness of his soul, and a seductive whisper echoed in the priest's ears.

"Look, your wife who gave everything for you, Claudia who loves you deeply, is lying here. Her life is coming to an end. She was going to die sooner or later. Since she's going to die anyway, why can't you do it yourself?"

Kirei Kotomine was stunned for a moment, and a hint of life flickered in his empty eyes.

That's the color of blood...

Why suppress your true nature? For you, it is the misfortunes of others that bring joy; witnessing the withering of life that reveals the true beauty of the world.

The ancient serpent, lurking in the shadows behind, raised its hand and placed it on Kirei Kotomine's shoulder. The demon's eerie murmur pierced through the man's layers of hypocritical facade, gradually awakening the twisted nature deep within his soul.

"Such a beautiful thing, such a beloved person, to be able to let her life pass away in your own hands, what a wonderful experience that would be. If you couldn't enjoy her death at all, that would make you sad, wouldn't it?"

Gazing at the pale, delicate face on the ground, Kirei Kotomine gradually became lost in thought, his body trembling violently.

But it wasn't out of grief over his wife's impending death, but rather excitement...

And, the desire to personally extinguish this beautiful longing.

"Hahahaha!"

The twitching, contorted corners of his mouth finally burst into a hearty, unrestrained laugh.

"This is... my wish?"

Exactly. If this feeling that fills the emptiness in my heart can be called "satisfaction" at this moment.

"Can destruction and sighs bring me pleasure?"

Exactly. If the emotions surging within me right now can be called "joy".

Then, seduced by the devil, Kirei Kotomine finally understood the true nature of his own soul. The collapse of all things is so beautiful. The suffering of people is so endearing. The screams of life are so gratifying.

The more one sighs, the more sorrowful, the more beautiful it is.

So that's what I thought.

"……Ha ha."

Unable to contain his emotions which had reached a boiling point, Kirei Kotomine laughed desperately.

What a terrible sin this is! How cruel a devil I am!

This world, rejected by God, is surprisingly filled with vibrant joy.

Qili, Qili, beautiful things.