Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

"I'm just going to keep an appointment. Last time during the Battle of Ainsworth, she abandoned the Holy Grail and chose to stand on our side, risking her life to help us. Shouldn't we express our gratitude? It's just a cup of tea, no need to make such a fuss..."

"Huh? Didn't you also have plans for a buffet?"

"Ereshkigal..."

"..."

The goddess of the underworld, who had subconsciously corrected him, was stunned for a moment. Under the resentful gaze from the other side, she realized that she had let something slip. Her pretty face flushed slightly, and her eyes turned away guiltily.

"Dangdangdangdang..."

Finally, the melodious midnight chimes rang out. Samael coughed slightly, pointed upstairs, and broke the silence and awkwardness in the living room.

"Sakura should be waking up soon, I'll go check on her!"

Immediately, the ancient snake jumped up from the sofa and rushed upstairs to the bar without saying a word.

That guy, he got away really fast!

Rin Tohsaka watched as the perpetrator, sensing the danger, fled the scene with great anger, her teeth itching with rage.

Then, the Goddess of Heaven, frustrated and with nowhere to vent her anger, looked at Ereshkigal, who was sitting near the stairs, and began to scold her in an annoyed manner.

"Hey, he's trying to run away, why didn't you stop him!"

"Don't rush, it's just a date, what's the big deal?"

Ai Lei answered casually, calmly and composedly.

"Aren't you in a hurry? Didn't you see the way that woman looked at Samael? She looked like she wanted to devour him whole! If you don't hurry, your pet might get kidnapped by someone else!"

Looking at her usually passive older sister, Rin Tohsaka had a look of disappointment on her face.

However, Ellie remained unmoved by her sister's disdain and spoke meaningfully.

"It's just a date, they didn't say we can't go..."

Yup!

Rin Tohsaka's eyes lit up as she suddenly realized what was going on.

But soon, new questions and worries also welled up in the goddess's mind.

"But didn't the letter say that Samael should invite her alone?"

"Idiot! We can just avoid that table!"

Ai Lei gave a light snort and reminded him in an annoyed tone.

With her mind opened, Rin Tohsaka's eyes sparkled, and she couldn't help but sit back down on the sofa to join the discussion.

"Isn't it too conspicuous for just the two of us?"

“If Samael can treat us, so can we. The Satiao family helped us, and she wasn’t the only one.”

"You mean, Ayaka Sajou?"

"Anyway, there's no progress at the moment, so let's just relax a bit. If we don't have enough people, we can bring Attila along to cause trouble; she's a professional at it!"

"You're right!"

"Oh, right, add Sakura too! We've invited everyone from the Sajō family, so we should naturally include the Servants as well!"

"good idea!"

After whispering in each other's ears, Rin Tohsaka gave her older sister Ereshkigal a heartfelt thumbs-up.

Faced with the admiring gaze from her twin sister, even the melancholy Ereshkigal couldn't help but raise her chin, feeling a rare sense of intellectual superiority.

Immediately afterwards, the two sisters, united by their shared hatred of the enemy, huddled together in a harmonious atmosphere to further refine the details and finalize each step.

Meanwhile, upstairs.

"Ah!"

Samael, who had just quietly pushed open the door, suddenly felt an itch on his nose and sneezed loudly for some reason.

However, before the ancient snake could think further, a pair of bewildered eyes that opened in the darkness caught his attention.

As her gaze focused, Sakura Tohsaka noticed the figure in the room and was suddenly startled.

"Ah, Uncle Arthur..."

“Samael… call me Samael, that’s my real name.”

However, before the bewildered little girl on the bed could speak, Samael, who had raised his hand to silence her, smiled and opened his lips. The gentleness flowing from his face and eyes was like a spring breeze to everyone.

“Samael…”

Sakura Tohsaka moved her lips nervously and excitedly, uttering the somewhat unfamiliar name. Her brain was working at high speed, repeating the pronunciation over and over again, trying to familiarize herself with the word as quickly as possible.

Revealing their real names signifies that their relationship has taken another step forward.

I want to be able to receive the same amount of attention as my sister, and no longer be an isolated outsider.

Samael bent down and sat on the edge of the bed, winking playfully and smiling slightly.

"Don't tell Tokiomi, okay? This is a secret we all share."

"Ok!"

Sakura Tohsaka nodded emphatically, her heart overflowing with joy, sweeping away her past resentment, and even faintly gaining a sense of satisfaction from revenge.

She learned a secret that even her father, Tokiomi Tohsaka, as her Master, didn't know.

Samael was quite pleased to see that the once gloomy and depressed little face gradually regain its radiance under his guidance.

Throughout history, the fastest way to build trust is to distinguish between "we," "you," and "them."

This is one of the valuable lessons Samael has learned from the ups and downs of life over the centuries.

This set of tricks is especially effective in charming innocent children and building closer relationships with them.

Therefore, it's no surprise that the ancient snake was so effective.

Of course, taking shortcuts always comes at a price.

And Tokiomi was the "price" paid for it.

Since Sakura has already vaguely seen the possibility that her parents' choices will lead to a tragic fate, it is unlikely that the resentment in her heart will be eradicated in a short period of time.

Instead of going to great lengths to force a reconciliation between father and daughter, it would be better to use Tokiomi as a target to encourage him and Sakura to rebuild a close and trusting relationship.

Excuse me, Tokiomi, it was all for your daughter's good, so you should take the blame.

If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes.

The cunning snake muttered to itself for a while, then sold its master without any psychological pressure. Afterwards, it put its hands behind its back and leaned against the headboard next to Sakura Tohsaka. After a moment's thought, it made a suggestion with a smile.

"You've slept for so long, you shouldn't be sleepy yet, right? How about I tell you some stories from my past?"

"Yes, I want to hear it!"

Upon hearing this, Sakura Tohsaka's eyes lit up, and she nodded emphatically.

In order not to be isolated or abandoned, she desperately wanted to know everything about the person in front of her.

At least, at least I can break through that barrier and integrate into his world and his life.

"There are too many stories, where should I begin?"

In an atmosphere of eager anticipation, the ancient snake stroked its chin, thought seriously for a moment, then relaxed its brows and a smile appeared on its face.

"Hmm, I've got it! Let's start with a pot of snake soup..."

With its engaging opening, Sakura Tohsaka was immediately captivated, her thoughts gradually drifting back to the distant past as Samael narrated, allowing her to listen up close to this magnificent epic.

The Three Storms of Mesopotamia, the War of the Greek Gods, Ragnarok in Norse mythology, the Roman Empire's mad and perpetual empire...

The Battle of the World Tree, the Division of the Old and New Covenants, the Convergence of the British Ages, the Tragedy of the French Saintess...

Wait... wait...

Until modern times, the Holy Grail War began, and Athena was reborn. After wandering for thousands of years and going through countless hardships, the gods finally found their old friends.

At this moment, Sakura Tohsaka finally understood why her two older sisters had an unspoken understanding and familiarity with the person in front of her.

That is the intimacy and trust accumulated over thousands of years.

Although deep down, I am still unwilling and frustrated.

But envy has long outweighed jealousy.

To guard the tombs of the gods, to guide the heroes, and to enlighten humanity.

He was embraced by countless lives, relied upon by countless names, and gave his all to save countless lives.

Such a person must be very reliable and trustworthy.

If only I had met him sooner.

Sakura Tohsaka felt a pang of disappointment, but then her clear, calm eyes looked down gently, and her slender, white fingertips lightly traced the outline of the sleeping face in front of her. A sweet, shy smile spread across her fair face.

However, it's not too late.

The delicate fingertips brushed against the nose, causing a slight tickle. The sleeping man snuggled closer to the little girl, but the stray strands of his hair brushed against Samael's face as the little head nodded slightly.

Instantly, the facial muscles, stimulated, twitched slightly, and a stream of moist air, which could no longer be controlled, gushed out from the nasal cavity.

"Ah!"

——————Plot Break——————

"Ah!"

In a quiet corner by the window in the buffet restaurant, Aika Sajou, with blonde hair and blue eyes, dressed in a princess dress, pulled a tissue from a wooden box and handed it to her date across from her, who was rubbing her nose, asking her with concern.

"Are you okay?"

"Cough cough, it's alright, but the weather is getting colder, so we should pay more attention to keeping warm. How about some mutton?"

Samael took the tissue and gave it a perfunctory reply. Sajou Aika smiled and nodded, then immediately stood up, fulfilling all the requests of her date.

As Sajō Ayaka got up to go to the food section to get her meal, the ancient snake looked around, its eerie gaze sweeping over the nearby tables filled with people. Watching the chaotic scene, its stiff face twitched incessantly.

"Wow! Candy, cookies, rolled cakes, candy canes! How civilized!"

In the dessert section, a slender and tall "Santa Claus" with a white mustache and a red velvet robe leaned against the glass window, his eyes shining as he looked at a pile of colorful candies.

At a two-person table, a junior student with long, cherry-red hair tied in a striking red ribbon and wearing a wide-sleeved black school dress was holding a computer screen full of code, humbly seeking guidance.

"Senior, is this code written correctly?"

"Oh yes, yes, yes! You have a lot of talent!"

The senior student opposite me, wearing sunglasses and a scarf tightly wrapped around her head, with faint traces of her golden twin ponytails, nodded repeatedly in praise while straightening the overturned computer.

Meanwhile, two students dressed in the style of the Moon Sea Academy uniform were also interacting.

A mature and dignified young woman with long, straight black hair, wearing black-rimmed glasses and pigtails, was recommending dishes in a dry and uninspired manner.

"Here, try this, it's delicious! And this too!"

"Thank you... thank you, senior, but I can't eat this much..."

Across from her, the short-haired blonde girl who kept seemingly touching the bridge of her nose stammered in response, looking troubled.

Eat, eat, eat! What's the point of eating anymore?!

Attila, Sakura, Ereshkigal, Rin, and Ayaka, don't think I won't recognize you just because you're wearing disguises!

At this moment, Samael, who had been observing the entire scene, had a face as black as the bottom of a pot, and was filled with complaints in his heart.

Immediately afterwards, Gu She's gaze shifted to the Irish master and apprentice raising their glasses in a toast at the bar, the ramen enthusiast slurping noodles at the barbecue restaurant, and a certain seductive fox spirit who had just finished touching up her makeup and walked out of the restroom. He was already speechless with disgust.

And you all!

Do you really think I'm blind? Can't you at least give me some face and pretend a little?!

Realizing that the date had become common knowledge, Samael, surrounded by people, waited for Sajou Aika to come over with a tray, glanced around, and coughed as he offered his suggestion.

"It's too noisy here, how about we find somewhere else to eat?"

"No need, I think this place is fine."

However, the princess who had previously been so obedient to him now smiled and politely refused. Without saying another word, she sat down next to Samael, picked up a few pieces of fatty lamb rolls that were grilled on the hot plate, dipped them in the carefully prepared sauce, and put them into the mouth of the ancient serpent.

"Here you go, Pretender, try this and see how it tastes."