Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

What did you just say?

"I've heard that dogs with a spiritual nature taste really good when cooked."

Samael stroked his chin, muttering to himself, his face showing eagerness.

"You dare kill my dog?!"

Artoria looked on in disbelief, her eyes seeming as if she were looking at a demon in human skin.

Of course, strictly speaking, her feeling was correct.

The demon glared at the furious knight princess and argued vehemently.

"Anyway, you don't have any motivation to live, you're going to die anyway, why bother with so much? I'm too lazy to keep a dog, so I'll just send it down to see you, so you can be reunited, isn't that great?"

"We rescued it together, and you even fed it!"

"It tastes even better when it's fattened up."

"Didn't you say you like dogs too?"

"Yes, the only difference is that you like raw food and I like cooked food. If you round it up, we're the same."

"..."

Upon hearing such outrageous values, the dog lover's teeth chattered, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged out like earthworms, and the murderous impulse in his heart was unprecedented.

Meanwhile, Artoria, gritting her teeth, racked her brains to come up with the most vicious comments in her mind, venting her anger and contempt.

"Beast!"

Samael's expression turned serious. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment before speaking softly.

"To correct you, actually, I'm classified as a reptile..."

"..."

In an instant, the knight king, who had seen many big and small scenes, was rendered speechless.

If looks could kill, the bastard in front of me could probably be riddled with holes in an instant, and his corpse could be whipped a thousand times over!

A thousand times!

Seeing that his valued client seemed to be wavering, Samael immediately offered a "kind" reminder.

"So, when do you plan to set off?"

"Go to hell!"

Artoria was instantly enraged, her fierce gaze filled with a desire to strangle the shameless bastard who kept provoking her.

Unfortunately, the biggest problem is that they can't beat them.

Restrained by reason, the Knight King took a deep breath and calmed himself down after a long while. He then looked coldly at Samael, who stood beside him with an air of superiority.

As a heroic spirit with the potential to become a king, she is naturally not stupid.

Currently, Irisviel is unconscious due to the backflow of magical energy. The death of any Heroic Spirit would have a severe impact on the Holy Grail Guardians, who are barely maintaining their balance.

Samael, who, during the Battle of Ainsworth, preferred to let the tiger return to the mountain rather than allow the war to end by force, could not possibly have been unaware of this principle.

Therefore, the so-called "sending her on her way" is nothing but nonsense.

But the lingering anger still added a sharp edge to Artoria's cold snort.

Is this how you usually advise people?

"It depends on the timing..."

Samael thought for a moment and then answered leisurely.

Upon hearing this, the Knight King was puzzled and subconsciously frowned and asked.

"When?"

"When I'm unhappy and need to find some fun."

"..."

Artoria's breath hitched, and she slowly drew her greatsword inch by inch from the magic circle that had taken shape.

I'm fucking...!

What a thousand-year bond! What a temporary Master! What a peaceful coexistence! What a mutual support! Bullshit!

She had only one thought in her mind right now, and that was...

With one sword strike, I cleaved the opponent's dog head in two!

"boom!"

Without hesitation, the converging red and black ethereal light, carrying boundless rage, plowed through the layers of flooring and surged forward.

However, the powerful sword light could not advance an inch under the descending silver-white light band, and was gradually extinguished by the starlight projected by the holy spear.

"Saber-chan, don't be impulsive. You wouldn't want to see your Master left without anyone to take care of her, would you?"

"..."

Meanwhile, the series of "well-intentioned reminders" made Artoria's lips twitch, and she gritted her teeth as she looked at the treacherous demon in the light and shadow, offering her sincere assessment.

"You're such a scumbag...!"

"Thank you for the compliment, I can handle it, please have more!"

"..."

That unexpected answer was overflowing with sincerity, and the calm expression on his face seemed to even carry a hint of satisfaction, as if the scolding just now was not a punishment, but a... reward?

Damn it, how did it turn into a reward?

Why should we reward him?!

Artoria was suddenly thrown into a daze, her chaotic thoughts making her feel somewhat bewildered.

In contrast, Samael was in a much better mood, stretching and asking with a smile.

"How about it? You don't want to kill yourself now, do you? That's good, no need to thank me."

"I'm thinking about how to kill you without affecting Alice's subsequent treatment."

Artoria's eyes flickered with a chilling light, her gaze filled with murderous intent; the desire to kill someone was impossible to hide.

"Oh dear, we've known each other for a while now. If you think like this, I'll be very sad."

Samael pretended to put one hand on his chest, sighed with a melancholy look, then took out a red recharge card from his pocket, examined it in the moonlight, and looked regretful.

"I was originally planning to give you this KFC gift card."

"That's it? Don't even think about bribing me!"

A cold smile crept across the Knight King's face; he remained unmoved, though his throat moved slightly as he spoke.

"Tomorrow is Crazy Thursday! Special offers available..."

"..."

Artoria gripped her holy sword, her face cold, adhering to her principles, yet a suspicious slurping sound came from between her half-open lips.

"Not satisfied? Then I'll give you two more gas cards and fill up two tanks of gas in your Yamaha free of charge."

Samael raised two fingers, increasing the stakes again, but then, remembering his own little savings that even mice would weep over, he couldn't help but add a word of advice.

“…That’s about enough.”

However, this action enraged Artoria, and the indignant knight princess uttered angry words.

"Even if I were willing to forgive you, King Cavaz II would never forgive you..."

"I understand, two bags of dog food and one pet massage are really the most I can ask for..."

"make a deal!"

At that moment, the Knight King, who had just looked bitter and resentful, snatched the three cards before Samael could finish speaking and stuffed them into his pocket without any hesitation.

"I forgive you on behalf of King Cavax II, temporarily!"

So, this is how you forgive your dog?

Samael stared at his empty right hand, belatedly realizing what was happening. He couldn't help but marvel at the other person's quick reaction, while secretly criticizing a certain knight king who exploited his beloved dog for personal gain, a knight who was hardly kind either.

Seeing that a certain cunning old fox had finally suffered a setback at her hands and turned the tables, Artoria couldn't help but feel a surge of smugness, and the corners of her lips curled up in a pleased smile.

Indeed, when you're unhappy, finding amusement in other people's lives can make you feel much better.

"It seems you really like this world."

Samael glanced at Artoria, who was in a great mood because of a couple of KFC meals and a few prepaid cards, smiled slightly, and murmured meaningfully.

However, upon hearing this, Artoria, pulled back to reality, froze with a smile, and a trace of gloom returned to her brows. The satisfaction she had just felt suddenly became rather tasteless.

"So what? I don't belong here after all, it's all meaningless..."

"Life itself has no inherent meaning; the key lies in what meaning you want to give it, and how you seek that meaning."

Samael looked up at the cool moonlight and spoke softly.

Is the meaning of life found in the search for meaning?

The philosophical answer made Artoria, who was standing at the crossroads looking lost, pause for a moment and seem to be deep in thought.

"Actually, not having a past isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Samael glanced at the Knight King, who seemed to have gained some insight, and pondered leisurely.

"At least, you can completely break free from the false shell of national restoration and hatred, and from now on you no longer need to live burdened by the past. You are free!"

"free?"

Artoria murmured the new and unfamiliar word to herself, staring blankly at her hands, still somewhat bewildered.

Samael turned his head and smiled, his eyes clear.

"Yes, so why not look at it from a different perspective and treat tonight as your rebirth?"

"I have never truly lived, so how can I talk about rebirth?"

However, at this moment, Artoria was still immersed in the dejection and confusion of her collapsing worldview, and she scoffed and shook her head in denial at Samael's advice.

"Indeed, you once had nothing—no country, no people, not even a name. But now, after all this time, do you still say you were just a non-existent bubble?"

Samael rolled his eyes at the Knight King beside him, who couldn't get over this hurdle for the time being, and his cold snort was deafening.

"Liselit and Sera are waiting for you to coordinate and command, Kavas II is waiting for you to feed him, and Alice is still waiting for you to protect her. Which of these can you abandon?"

"I……"

Artoria's sharp question left her stunned and speechless.

"Don't you understand? Compared to the illusory past, you are fortunate enough to be reborn in this world, in this era. Only here can you truly be alive. There are truly many things here worth exploring, feeling, experiencing, and cherishing!"

Samael yawned, his deep gaze fixed on the stars and moon shining brightly against the night sky, lost in thought.

"Cherish it while you can, don't wait until it's too late to regret it..."

"You're right!"

Finally, his earnest and patient persuasion deeply moved the already strong-willed King of Storms, who suddenly understood and swept away his gloom and weakness.

"I am who I am! I don't need anyone to define me! If I have no past, then I'll seize the present and create the future! If I have no land, no people, then I can certainly create my own glory in this era, in this more interesting world!"

Once he opened his mind, the King of Storms became more and more excited as he spoke, clenching his right fist and displaying high fighting spirit.

Upon seeing this, Samael smiled broadly and nodded in satisfaction.

"That's right, that's more like it! This is the kind of aura a King of Knights should have in my mind!"

"Hmph, no matter how much you try to please me, I will not easily give up the Holy Grail! It belongs to me and Alice!"

But when faced with Samael, who had just resolved his inner conflict, Artoria showed no mercy, acting like a confident and domineering lioness patrolling her territory.

Immediately, King Storm, who was conceiving a blueprint for the nation in his mind, seemed to have thought of something. His golden eyes turned to Samael beside him, and he raised his smooth chin and gave a self-satisfied hum.

"However, considering your eloquence, after I restore my body with the Holy Grail and rebuild Britain, I may consider appointing you as a close advisor."

Upon hearing this offer, Samael raised an eyebrow, narrowed his eyes, and uttered two words.

"Ha ha……"