Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

After the screening, as the lights came on, the audience gradually left the theater.

In the empty screening room, Samael looked at Irisviel beside him, whose shoulders were trembling slightly and whose head was buried deep in her hands, and asked her with concern.

"Alice, what's wrong?"

“Samael, Edward and King have separated…”

Upon hearing this, the silver-haired beauty seemed to have her long-suppressed emotions unleashed, burying her face in Samael's arms, wailing mournfully and sobbing with tears streaming down her face.

"It's just a movie, it's just a movie."

Samael was both amused and exasperated, offering words of comfort and patiently explaining to Irisviel the difference between movies and reality.

Upon learning that this was a story written and directed by someone, Irisviel realized her lapse in composure, her pretty face flushing slightly, revealing a hint of embarrassment.

"Sorry, that went a bit too far."

"It's okay, I understand."

Samael gently stroked Irisviel's buried head, his deep gaze lingering on the devastated silver-haired beauty, and he sighed softly.

"But there's no way around it, not all fairy tales end with the prince and princess living happily ever after."

“I still don’t understand. Edward is kinder than anyone else, even though he has scissors in his hands. He just wants to be recognized. He has done so many good deeds. He just wants to live a peaceful life with the Kim family. Why do the residents of the town still reject and slander him and insist on driving him away?”

Even so, Irisviel, who felt sorry for the protagonists' tragic fate, still felt somewhat uneasy.

"Because that's human nature."

Samael looked quietly at Irisviel, who was speaking out for the male and female protagonists, and replied after a moment's thought.

"Humans always have a strange curiosity about the different, but at the same time they also have an implicit aversion; they have the beauty of kindness, humility and honesty, but they are not lacking in the malice of selfishness, arrogance and lies; therefore, they can drive Edward away because of suspicion and selfishness, because an untainted soul is incompatible with them."

That seemingly vibrant little town, however, was rife with intrigue and burgeoning evil, and in reality, it might not have been much warmer than Edward's somber castle.

Irisviel seemed to want to refute, but after several attempts, she finally pursed her lips and fell into deep thought.

Samael glanced at Irisviel, who looked somewhat lost and depressed, and shook his head inwardly.

He certainly understood why the Winter Saintess before him was so insistent on defending fictional stories and characters.

Perhaps it was because Irisviel saw a reflection of herself in Edward.

In fact, Edward in the movie and she have many similarities.

Both are artificial life forms, both live in seclusion in ancient castles, both harbor beautiful fantasies, and both attempt to make contact with humans and their world.

Edward's plight resonated strongly with Irisviel.

That road might even become her future.

The ancient snake sighed quietly, then gathered its thoughts, raised its hand to pull up the jade arm beside it, pointed to the audience members who were walking in from outside the door, and gently reminded them.

"Alice, we should go."

The silver-haired beauty snapped out of her daze, forced a smile, and silently followed Samael out of the movie theater.

At lunchtime, it was Artoria's turn to play on her home turf. Like a lion hunting for food, she almost emptied the meat rolls from the counter all by herself.

Two hours later, the boss, with an almost pleading look in his eyes, respectfully saw off the three people who had consumed enough for at least thirty people.

After a hearty meal, feeling utterly bored, Samael made a suggestion.

"Since we have plenty of time, why don't we go check out the amusement park?"

Upon hearing this, Irisviel was immediately moved, and the gloom that had been gathering between her brows was slightly dispelled.

"This one……"

"I heard there's a good yakitori restaurant there."

"Don't think I'm only good at..."

"There's also a food street."

"Great idea, I agree!"

Soon after, the upright Knight King also succumbed to the devil's temptations and completely fell for him, becoming his accomplice.

So, the three of them, having reached a consensus, drove the car to the amusement park.

After entering, Artori went straight to the food stalls, bought a bunch of snacks, and sat on a bench under the shade of a tree, keeping watch while enjoying her meal.

Irisviel, following Samael, a professional gamer, rides a roller coaster, experiencing the thrill of high-speed chases; takes a ride on a Ferris wheel, overlooking the city; boards a pirate ship, feeling the ebb and flow of the waves; and ventures into a haunted house, experiencing a series of bizarre and terrifying encounters…

Gradually, the pent-up frustration in Irisviel's heart from watching the film dissipated, and screams of excitement, shouts that reached the heavens, and hearty laughter continuously emanated from the girl's lips, her beautiful face radiating intense joy.

However, the city tour did not end there.

After leaving the amusement park, Samael, along with Irisviel who was equally still full of energy, visited the zoo, museum, and university campus... and finally, after many twists and turns, they arrived at the end of their journey, the seaside with its gentle waves.

Under the tranquil moonlight, Irisviel took off her boots, spread her arms wide, and excitedly strode across the beach, facing the moist sea breeze, like a butterfly taking flight.

"Samael seems to really like the sea."

The silver-haired beauty's crystal-clear jade feet rippled through the water as she stood on the beach, her hands behind her back, looking serenely at the shore. She gazed quietly at the sea, seemingly relaxed, as she asked the man with a smile.

Samael snapped out of his reverie, nodded, and a hint of reminiscence spread across his face.

"Yes, the ocean has a special meaning for me."

"Me too, it's my first time seeing the sea. It's so beautiful here, like a mirror reflecting the night sky."

Irisviel looked at the undulating blue sea, stood beside Samael, and smiled in admiration.

The ancient serpent turned slightly, looked at the elf under the moonlight, and asked with a soft laugh.

"How was it? Are you satisfied with today's trip?"

"It's really enjoyable to be accompanied by a man while traveling in an unfamiliar city and visiting all sorts of interesting places."

Irisviel's face lit up with a radiant smile, a smile so bright that even Samael was momentarily stunned.

Just as the ancient snake was in a daze, the warm touch on his forehead and the faint fragrance that entered his nostrils startled Samael awake.

"Thank you for giving me the best day of my life."

Under the moonlight, Irisviel, with her back to the shimmering sea, gently covered her cherry lips and winked with a smile.

"...This is a return gift, something I just learned."

Samael raised his hand to touch the remaining mark on his forehead, shook his head helplessly, and muttered to himself.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have taken you to the movies."

Then, their eyes met, they smiled at each other, and strolled on the beach under the moonlight.

Reaching the end of the bay, Irisviel stopped, turned around, looked solemnly at the man before her, extended her glistening fingers, and formally extended an invitation with expectant eyes.

"Samael, will you be my knight? Join me in winning this Holy Grail War."

It's time to come, it's coming.

Samael sighed, slowly raised his head to look at the elf under the moonlight, and instead of answering directly, he opened his lips to ask seriously.

Why do you want the Holy Grail?

"This is the Einzbern family's long-cherished wish, and it is also my mission. The Holy Grail can..."

The ideas instilled in her over a long period of time made Irisviel respond subconsciously.

"I'm asking about your own thoughts, not instructions imposed on you by others."

Samael slightly raised his hand, interrupting Irisviel's narration. His dark eyes gazed intently at the bewildered girl before him, and he asked again.

Why do we need the Holy Grail?

Irisviel paused for a moment, then pondered for a while before her gaze returned to its firm and holy state.

"I need to use the Holy Grail to complete the Third Law and save all mankind."

"You mean, using the principle of materializing the soul, to mold everyone into immortal beings?"

Upon hearing this, Samael shook his head slightly and looked at Irisviel, who was determined to sacrifice herself for the sake of saving others, with a mocking expression.

Do you think that eternal life is what they call salvation?

"..."

Irisviel looked completely bewildered, because no one had ever asked her that question before.

However, the silver-haired beauty pondered for a moment, then looked up and gave her answer.

"Having immortal life and more resources means that humanity doesn't have to fight and cheat for survival; they can enjoy the beauty of the world in peace..."

"It also means that they can keep making mistakes and unleash evil without restraint..."

Samael spoke softly, interrupting Irisviel's fairytale-like reverie.

"No, humans are..."

Irisviel shook her head and pursed her lips in rebuttal, but just as she was about to explain, she couldn't help but recall the colorful and beautiful town in the movie, and the evil of humanity shown to "Edward".

Human beings are neither purely good nor absolutely evil.

Therefore, no one can be sure whether obtaining eternal life is good or bad for this group, or whether it can be considered a form of salvation.

Could it be that the Third Law and the Einzbern family's long-cherished wish were wrong from the very beginning?

Irisviel was confused and looked up at the figure in front of her.

“Alice, even if human hands can create things that transcend humanity, they cannot create things that can redeem humanity. This is a fact that the Einzbern family should have accepted long ago.”

Samael spoke softly, his words carrying a profound meaning.

"Humans don't need the salvation of others; what they truly need is... to save themselves!"

Save yourself...?

The resounding answer left Irisviel standing there, seemingly enlightened, yet even more confused.

"What about me?"

“Life comes into the world not merely to be used as a tool for a purpose. Besides, when has humanity ever said that your sacrifice is needed? If you really intend to contribute to your people, at least let the people of Einzbernburg do it themselves!”

The ancient serpent turned and gazed towards the direction of the Black Forest, shaking its head and chuckling. Then, it looked helplessly at Irisviel, who was still lost in confusion, and shook its head slightly.

"These are merely the demands of others, not your desires. It seems I cannot be your knight for the time being and fight alongside you for the Holy Grail, for I will not draw my sword for the idle ideas of a bunch of old men."

Upon hearing this, Irisviel's face darkened.

"However, as compensation, I will do my best to grant you one request,"

Just as the silver-haired beauty was feeling down, Samael walked up with a smile and gently placed something in Irisviel's palm.

"Please accept this; it's a gift that's just for you."

Irisviel lowered her head, and a jet-black scale came into view, causing her to instinctively clench her fists.

"I……"

"Shh..."

The ancient snake gently raised its index finger and sealed Irisviel's half-open lips with its mouth, then whispered in her ear.

"Don't rush to speak. Wait until you've thought it through before making a decision."

Under the moonlight, Samael waved and walked away into the distance.

On the beach, Irisviel gazed at the dark scales lying quietly in her palm and fell into deep thought.

Chapter 141 Tokiomi Tohsaka: Playing with a snake?

Yuanzang Mountain, in a large cave.

Before the altar, Samael carefully embedded a rune into the end of the array.

call……

With the last stroke completed, the ancient snake stepped back slightly, breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed its tense nerves, and snapped its fingers.

hum!

Instantly, accompanied by the rhythm of ether, one after another, the shimmering runes lit up, and streams of dark red light spread from the altar in all directions, like spreading blood vessels and veins.

Samael, standing in the corner, gazed intently and was startled to see the outline of a blood-red human figure with outstretched arms, which was gradually becoming brighter and clearer as the earth's magical energy flowed.