Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

The ancient serpent glanced at the slightly shy boy, lightly gripped the end of the handle, and with a slight exertion, drew out a few inches of its sharp edge.

Suddenly, a bright flash of light, like mercury spilling onto the ground, burst forth and came into view.

The blade beneath the beautiful wavy pattern exudes a chilling sharpness.

Samael flicked his finger lightly, and a clear, melodious, and chilling sound echoed in the alley. A faint, ripple-like pattern appeared in the transparent air around him.

The subtle change caused a hint of surprise to appear in the ancient snake's eyes.

According to Japanese history, the wakizashi was a self-defense weapon that ordinary people, citizens, merchants, and other non-samurai were permitted to carry. Therefore, in many ancient uprisings, the leading knights-errant used this weapon.

Large quantities also mean inconsistent quality.

The thing in his hand was no ordinary item; it seemed to possess some kind of spiritual essence.

After a brief observation, Samael sheathed the weapon and returned it to its owner, offering a smiling comment.

"A nice knife."

For a deity who has seen countless divine weapons, to use the word "not bad" to describe a mortal's weapon is already extremely high praise.

At this moment, the red-haired boy hung the wakizashi back on his waist, raised his hand and scratched his head, looking somewhat shy.

"You flatter me. It's just a little thing I made at home with whatever materials I had on hand."

Home... Ise City... Forging swords...

Suddenly, several keywords in Samael's mind came together, and he looked up at the red-haired boy in front of him in surprise, and a certain answer slipped out.

"You wouldn't happen to be surnamed Muramasa, would you?"

The red-haired boy scratched his head and smiled, nodding slightly. Although he seemed even more shy, he confirmed the outcome.

Damn, Shirou's name is Muramasa? Senko Muramasa? So that's how it is!

At that moment, Samael slapped his forehead, realizing what had happened.

Senji Muramasa was a swordsmith from Kuwana in Ise Province. During the Bunki era, his title was Uemon-no-jo (謝門謝). He is considered the first head of a family of swordsmiths capable of forging the sharpest and most outstanding swords during the Sengoku period.

During the Sengoku period, when swords were forged in large quantities, numerous swordsmiths throughout Japan owned their own workshops. They would sometimes accompany the army to repair swords damaged in battle.

Among them, Senji Muramasa, a swordsmith from Kuwana in Ise Province, was a renowned master craftsman, and it is said that the samurai of Mikawa Province especially admired the swords he forged.

In addition, there is Muramasa Ichimonji.

There is also a very famous legend about the story of forging the sword.

That is "Muramasa Demon Sword".

Legend has it that the swords forged by the Muramasa family are cursed swords, destined to harm the Tokugawa shogunate.

The swords used by Ieyasu's grandfather, Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, when he was beheaded; the sword used by his father, Hirotada, when he was wounded; the sword used by his eldest son, Matsudaira Nobuyasu, when he was seconded; and the sword that injured Ieyasu himself... It is said that the inscriptions on all these swords are "Muramasa".

It is both a famous sword and a cursed sword that killed Tokugawa. Various horrifying legends have endowed the Muramasa sword with a legendary and terrifying aura. As a result, not only does the Muramasa sword appear as a bloodstained cursed sword in various biographies and supernatural tales, but even the legendary swordsmith who forged it has acquired a somewhat mysterious and unpredictable air.

It is worth mentioning that the legendary swordsmith's hometown was in Ise Province, which is now Ise City, the hometown the red-haired boy mentioned.

Hailing from Ise, possessing exceptional sword-forging skills, she will one day become the vessel for Senji Muramasa himself…

Without a doubt, the red-haired youth before them was a descendant of that legendary swordsmith, and perhaps even his reincarnation.

No wonder, this kid's original attribute is [Sword], so he has this connection with Senji Muramasa!

As the analysis unfolded, the long-standing mystery surrounding the young man's background gradually dissipated.

In the world of magic, magicians who strongly express the concept of "origin" sometimes find that the origin itself becomes a magical attribute.

These magicians often display exceptional expert skills. Therefore, they are considered to reach a higher level than ordinary magicians.

Generally speaking, elements such as water, fire, earth, and air have relatively common origins and their future potential is also relatively ordinary.

In contrast, some origin attributes are quite rare.

For example, the magic characteristic passed down through generations of the Tohsaka family is "transformation," which is the accumulation, flow, and transformation of power. Rin Tohsaka is skilled in this, making her the perfect candidate to inherit the family's magic crest.

Sakura Tohsaka's attribute is [Imaginary Number], which is also rare, but it is not very compatible with the Tohsaka family's magic, which is why Tokiomi Tohsaka abandoned it.

As for the boy named "Shirou" in front of him, his origin is "sword", and his attribute as a magician has also become "sword". Although he is not good at the five elemental magics, he can project magic and use magic power to copy and reconstruct the concept of Noble Phantasms and weapons. He is simply a born "weapon master".

Samael quickly came to a conclusion, nodded firmly, and muttered to himself.

I knew it! How could an ordinary person possess such a rare origin attribute?

Moreover, this kid has 27 magic circuits, which is simply extraordinary for his age and status as a first-generation magician. It's completely unreasonable!

So, the most likely answer is that even if this kid's parents are ordinary people, his family has something extraordinary about them, or he has a hidden magician's talent in his bloodline.

Just as Samael's expression was shifting and his thoughts were racing, completely absorbed in the fun of solving the puzzle, Shirou, who had been standing there for a long time, awkwardly pulled out his wakizashi from his waist and offered it to him.

"Uh, sir, if you like it, this knife is yours."

"Ahem, thanks, but no thanks. Sorry, I was just thinking about something and got a little distracted."

The ancient snake snapped out of its daze, coughed repeatedly, and waved its hand, declining the red-haired youth's offer.

"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now?"

Shirou breathed a sigh of relief and pointed to the intersection that Samael had inadvertently blocked, giving him a careful reminder.

Upon hearing this, Samael instinctively turned his body to the side, trying to make way for the gap.

"and many more!"

But before the red-haired boy could even take a step, the ancient snake, looking at the boy with a gentle smile on his face, suddenly stopped, halting Shirou's attempt to leave. With a flash of insight, it spoke meaningfully.

"Young man, if I gave you a chance to become a champion of justice, to wield extraordinary power, and to have a more magnificent life, but at the cost of sacrificing your parents and loved ones, would you be willing?"

"Of course not!"

Upon hearing this, the red-haired youth's expression turned serious, and for the first time, a hint of anger and sternness appeared on his gentle face.

"If you have to sacrifice your parents and relatives for your own life, what kind of justice is that? It's utterly evil! Even if you get a different life in the end, what good will it do? It's meaningless!"

Immediately, Shirou frowned, looked intently at the strange man before him, and gave him a stern warning.

"Furthermore, sir, I feel I am already very happy and do not need to ask for more. Please do not make such jokes about my parents!"

After saying that, the red-haired boy tightened his backpack, charged forward with a hint of anger, pushed aside the strange man at the intersection, and headed towards the main road.

"Snapped……"

Just as Shirou was silently moving forward, a brocade pouch embroidered with mysterious patterns was tossed into his arms. The boy caught it instinctively and turned around in surprise.

"I have some forging materials that I have collected, as well as some sword blanks, which I think you will be interested in."

Samael blinked, offered a casual explanation, and then bowed slightly to express his apology.

"Young man, please accept this as compensation for my earlier offense."

The red-haired boy wanted to refuse, but before he could return the item to its rightful owner, Samael waved lightly in the alleyway, turned, and walked into the darkness, disappearing in an instant.

I saw a figure.

After searching everywhere to no avail, Shirou reluctantly gave up on the plan and could only stuff the gift from the unknown person into his backpack, scratching his head and muttering to himself.

What a strange guy.

Meanwhile, Samael, standing atop the eaves, watched the red-haired boy in the alleyway gradually disappear into the bustling crowd until he vanished without a trace. He then murmured leisurely.

Perhaps not becoming a partner of justice is the best outcome for you.

Farewell, Shirou Emiya...

The shadows in the sunlight paused for a moment, then looked up at the clear blue sky, a satisfied smile unconsciously appearing on their lips.

Yes, Fuyuki City, what a beautiful day.

A moment later, Shadow leaped into the air and merged into the surging crowd, going in the opposite direction from the boy named "Shirou," gradually disappearing into the distance.

Chapter 5: Everyone here is trash! (4.6k)

Pink cherry blossoms fluttered and filled the air with fragrance on the sidewalk outside the gate, while the setting sun painted the evening glow with fiery red.

Samael strolled through Fuyuki City, taking in the scenery with a gentle smile on his face. He breathed in the fresh air and took in the surrounding landscape. As he walked and stopped, he would sometimes childishly open his palm to catch the falling petals and gently hold them to his nose to smell them.

It's likely that few people have ever seen the mighty Demon King display such a childlike side.

Homurahara Academy?

The ancient snake stopped by the sidewalk, its gaze falling on the name on the signboard ahead and the childish voice coming from the other side of the wall. It suddenly realized that it had wandered all the way to the school where its adopted daughter, Ilya, was located.

At this time, Ilya is in class, so how about... a surprise inspection?

Samael's eyes lit up, and his playful side was aroused. He crouched down and crept over the gate and into the school, ready to do what the parents loved most.

However, as a gentle breeze blew through the pink cherry blossom grove, a strange, bright golden flash caused Samael's pupils to constrict. His expression hardened instinctively, and he melted into the air, quietly approaching the pink cherry blossom grove. Unexpectedly, he reached out and pulled out the suspicious person hiding in the bushes at the edge.

"Jill?"

The ancient snake stared in astonishment at the blond boy it had caught red-handed in its hand.

"Why are you here?"

"Well, I guess I kind of yearn for modern campus life."

The 1.4-meter-tall blond boy, wearing brown-green camouflage shorts and a white children's hoodie, with a few green leaves on his head, smiled broadly and glanced behind him with his ruby-like eyes, giving a somewhat insincere answer.

Samael followed the gaze of the young hero-king and looked into the distance, where several middle school girls from the track and field club were doing leg stretches and leg presses in the shade of the trees on the playground. A cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Do you yearn for campus life, or for the pretty girls on campus, Gil?"

"Haha, a beautiful girl is also part of a wonderful campus life."

The blond boy, who was being interrogated by being grabbed by the collar, was quite straightforward and frankly confessed his wicked intentions.

Samael remained noncommittal, glancing wistfully at the edge of the track where a brown-haired, brown-eyed girl with a gentle demeanor and a touch of timidity was recording track and field data, her gaze carrying a profound meaning.

"Yukika Saegusa? If I remember correctly, isn't this the child who took you in a few years ago?"

Yukika Saegusa is a second-year student in Class A at Homurahara Academy and the manager of the track and field club. Although she is not particularly beautiful, her lovely smile can make those around her feel warm and at ease.

She is humane, patient, and mature.

Her smile was healing to those around her, and her adorable, rabbit-like "okay, okay" sounds evoked a protective instinct in people.

In Class A, where most girls are honest, she becomes even more honest. She is good friends with her classmates Makiji Kaede and Himuro Kanade, who are also in the track and field club. They are the legendary trio mascots of Hoguraen Academy.

In addition, Yukika Saegusa comes from a poor family, but she is very responsible and has a maternal nature. As the eldest daughter in the family, she has several younger brothers to take care of, so she became independent at an early age. She is quite good at housework and occasionally works part-time to help support the family.

Several years ago, Yukika Saegusa, who was working away from home, happened to find a homeless little boy on her way home on a rainy day. She took him home, gave him food and a change of clothes, and completed the initial feeding.

Of course, the blond boy wandering the streets of Fuyuki was none other than Gilgamesh, the Hero King, who was summoned to the world from the remnants of Ainsworth's magic workshop using Archer class cards as a medium.

Perhaps due to the limitations of the card itself, or the influence of the Fuyuki Barrier, this Hero King could only return to the surface in his juvenile form.

Being unfamiliar with the area, she wandered around until she was picked up by Yukika Saegusa, who happened to be passing by.

From then on, the young Gilgamesh simply stayed at Yukika Saegusa's house and became a regular visitor.

Afterwards, Samael reconnected with his old friend and intended to buy him a place to live, but the friend refused.

Now it seems that this kid is definitely up to no good.

"How dare you stalk and spy on that young girl? Shameful! And, more broadly speaking, she's your savior!"

The ancient snake rolled its eyes, its gaze filled with disdain.

Please don't look at me with your filthy eyes.

"Look at my behavior. I'm just an ordinary child who admires beauty and likes to appreciate the flowers blooming in the fields. Isn't that a normal thing?"

Young Gil showed no shame in the face of his friend's complaints, and instead retorted with eloquence.

"Compassionate towards the weak, gentle yet resolute, with a heart as beautiful as brocade—don't you think this kind of girl is very worthy of admiration?"

Please do not make excuses for your stalking and spying.

Samael sneered as he corrected him, inadvertently revealing the true intentions of the blond boy.

"Besides, what you're experiencing isn't appreciation, that's called an Oedipus complex, a result of a lack of love in childhood..."

"You disrespectful fellow to the Mother Goddess, you have no right to talk to me like that, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Young Gil chuckled and spoke softly.

"..."

"..."