Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Although the store has its own rules, theoretically, whatever you make, the person across the street has to eat.

However, the customer is king, and in this business, you still need to have some service spirit.

Kirei Kotomine turned back dejectedly, listlessly slumped over the counter again, completely losing interest in cooking himself, and only called out to the kitchen with a wan expression.

"One serving of Mapo Ramen, number three."

"OK, just a second."

At the same time, a crisp, warm sound came from behind the curtain. A pair of pale, calloused hands lifted the pot lid, and the boiling red oil, along with the rising steam and ventilation ducts, spread in all directions.

Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!

For a time, loud coughs and sneezes rose and fell in the vicinity, one after another, without end.

Damn it, that devilish ramen shop is on fire again!

Amidst a chorus of curses and swears, cats and dogs howled and retreated, birds screamed and flapped their wings, and the sounds of windows closing and doors locking filled the air. Pedestrians on the street fled in panic.

In a short while, no other carbon-based life forms could be seen within a radius of several hundred meters.

Samael glanced at the chef's bulging eight-pack abs and tall, muscular physique, and roughly understood why the surrounding crowd suffered so much, and why this ramen shop could still stay open.

There's nothing we can do about it; they usually read martial arts manuals instead of recipes.

"Hey kid, your ramen!"

Just as the ancient snake was secretly grumbling to himself, accompanied by an impatient snort, a bowl of tonkotsu ramen, glistening with red oil and topped with mapo sauce, was thrown onto the table.

"Pfft~!"

Samael had just opened a can of beer and taken a sip when he heard the sound and looked down, only to vomit it all over himself.

"Goetia?!"

"Oh, you know me?"

At this moment, a young boy with white hair and red eyes, who was just taller than the table leg, looked up at the diner in front of him. He had an old-fashioned look on his face, but a bit of interest appeared in his eyes.

"Know each other? I guess so..."

Samael snapped out of his reverie, his tone meaningful, while his darting gaze drifted towards the busy figure behind the curtain, in front of the stove.

"That guy making ramen, could he be Solomon...?"

"Ahem, as your first customer this month, we're also giving you a complimentary soft-boiled egg. Thank you for your patronage."

However, before the ancient snake could finish speaking, a worker with a single ponytail and wearing an apron coughed and interrupted Samael. With a big smile, he presented the esteemed customer with a prepared soft-boiled egg, and also added a cup of hot water and swept up the beer stains left on the floor.

The service was exceptionally attentive.

After all, the customer is king.

"Hey you two, why did you run off to Dongmu?"

The city's here? And they've even started selling ramen..."

Samael stared at the two shop assistants, one big and one small, standing in front of him, looking so alike that they resembled father and son. His lips twitched slightly, and he had a bellyful of complaints, but he didn't know where to begin.

"There's no other way. Times have changed. Life is tough outside, so naturally I have to find a place I know well to make a living."

The former King Solomon, now Dr. Roman, blinked and gave a very sincere yet laid-back answer, also recounting how the three of them ended up together.

A few years ago, Roman, who had escaped from the First Temple, set off from the Dead Sea with his newly acquired "son," experiencing life in human society in a way that was half working and half traveling.

To raise money for their journey, they dug trenches for government troops, provided first aid to wounded anti-government soldiers, engaged in primitive trade with tribes along the way, and also took odd jobs and sold handicrafts. Like wandering gypsies, they stumbled and struggled their way to Fuyuki City with a pilgrimage mentality.

The origin of all change.

And so, after his exhaustion, he found a long-awaited peace and chose to stay there.

In contrast, Kirei Kotomine's account is much simpler and more credible.

Two days ago, on a whim, Kirei Kotomine decided to get up early and open the door to wreak havoc on the neighborhood. He found a father and son who were starving and about to faint from hunger in front of his door. After providing them with food (Mapo tofu and Mapo ramen), the church leader finally remembered his duty and said he was willing to take the father and son in.

Yes, meals and accommodation are included.

Thus, Kirei Kotomine's hellish meal successfully won over a Grand Magician and a Beast to work under his command.

A total profiteer.

As everyone chatted idly, the white-haired boy next to them, who was gathering information through the conversation, suddenly realized something and glared at the guy slurping noodles on the table with gritted teeth.

"You are the one who sealed me away!"

"To correct you, it should be 'blessing'."

Samael glanced at the juvenile beast, then patted the little guy's head with a mischievous grin and spoke jokingly.

"Also, when adults are talking, little kids shouldn't interrupt. Be good, okay? Uncle will buy you candy later."

I'm fucking...!

In an instant, old and new grudges surged into his heart. Goetia's forehead veins bulged, he clenched his fists, and assumed the stance of Jacob's Divine Fist, ready to rush forward and fight to the death with the culprit who had wronged him.

"Goetia, calm down, calm down!"

Sweating profusely, Roman quickly hugged the waving little boy and comforted him with a smile.

"No, not so much..."

With the culprit right in front of him, Getia, eager for revenge, struggled desperately, looking like he was filled with bitterness and hatred.

"Solomon, let me go! I'm going to fight this bastard to the death!"

"you sure?"

Samael crossed his arms, his eyes full of ill intent, clearly eager to try, showing no shame whatsoever for bullying the weak.

"As a third party, I can act as arbitrator and provide dueling venues at a low price."

A certain pleasure-seeker and habitual tax evader closed his Bible, not forgetting to fan the flames.

"Stop, Goetia, you can't beat him."

"..."

However, Solomon's dry cough beside his ear, and the ambiguous smile on the face of the culprit opposite him, were like a bucket of ice water poured over the little boy's head, instantly extinguishing the raging fire in his chest.

My gut feeling told me that the other side was waiting to beat him up.

"Once I lift the restriction, I'll definitely kill you all!"

Feeling somewhat embarrassed by Getia, he lowered his hands dejectedly and uttered a polite remark with a cold snort.

However, with that childlike height and face, uttering such words had absolutely no deterrent effect.

"Let's talk about it when you have the chance."

Samael smiled and, raising his right hand, pinched that amusing little face as a small act of revenge.

In response, the first beast, subservient to humans, could only roll its eyes in protest.

The ancient snake glanced at the little guy who, despite repeated provocations, had actually learned to lower his eyes and restrain himself, and a pleased smile appeared on its lips.

"It seems that you have gained quite a lot from your trip."

"Insight? I just want to spit on your world! How boring, how pathetic!"

Goetia sneered and interrupted him without any politeness.

Samael smiled slightly, asking with a playful expression.

"Oh, after everything you've been through, do you really still think that way?"

"Goetia!"

"Shut up! You incompetent king!"

Roman was about to speak up to stop him, but was disdainfully pushed away by his own unfilial son.

"The king, who was omnipotent and could have prevented all the tragedies in the world, simply sat on his throne and watched all the suffering with a smile."

The god, who is clearly powerful and capable of quelling all conflicts in the world, merely dwells high in heaven and coldly watches the battles of the mortal realm.

A life predicated on death is meaningless; how absurd is a life destined to end!

The white-haired, red-eyed boy glanced at the idle King of Wisdom beside him and the God of Gods slurping noodles at the table, and couldn't help but grit his teeth and scold him with disdain in his eyes.

"so what?"

Samael listened attentively to the assessment of the world, pulled out a tissue, wiped the red grease from his mouth, glanced up at the indignant First Beast, and spoke casually.

If you were given the chance,

You want to create a perfect world, an earthly paradise?

The people there are all immortal, living in harmony and love. Nothing can harm them, nothing can affect them, there are no problems to solve, no worries, no pain; only peaceful smiles, and everything goes smoothly for them.

"So what!"

Goetia's inherent arrogance meant he had no need to hide anything; he simply coldly revealed his purpose.

Samael nodded, neither confirming nor denying.

"Admittedly, many people would think that way, and there's nothing wrong with that. On the surface, this concept is a paradise. You could even say it's the ideal world that many people have fantasized about. But at the same time..."

The ancient serpent slightly raised its head and stared at the first beast before it, its tone suddenly changing and becoming more serious.

"...All of this will lose its meaning!"

"What do you mean?"

The first beast, not understanding, subconsciously frowned and asked.

Samael took a swig of beer and explained casually.

"Goetia, you are too certain of the good things, but you haven't thought about the meaning of the negative things. If everything a person can have is easily satisfied, then effort becomes meaningless and struggle becomes worthless."

Food, clothing, money, power, and women—there is no need to compete for any of these; external things cannot affect one's soul.

From that moment on, humans became no different from plants.

Once a person loses their soul, they become incapable of being dissatisfied with the status quo and have no need to think about solving problems; thus, they lose their infinite possibilities.

The future will stagnate, and prosperity and culture will fall into a standstill.

The reassuring smile may exist at first, but people will gradually forget the meaning of the smile and eventually discard it as a burden.

Until, the entire tribe lost its will to continue and turned into dust.

I gave them strong desires and the drive to keep moving forward; that is human nature.

I can solve specific problems, but I cannot change the nature they are born with.

The answers to all these questions are for them to find themselves.

Only through struggle can one complete the pilgrimage of life.

This is not a curse, but a blessing.

Because only through hardship can one truly appreciate the beauty of sweetness.

Only through loss can we learn to cherish.

Life is short, which is why we can unleash amazing colors and creativity within that limited time...

Sometimes, overly presumptuous comments and unwarranted interference are actually a disrespect for life.

The ancient serpent looked at the young beast, still somewhat bewildered and struggling, who was immersed in the discussion, and chuckled.

Sure enough, he's still just a child, seeing only a black-and-white world.

But in reality, how can a beautiful flower bloom without the nourishment of hardship?

life.

civilization.

This is true.

"To stand in the light, one must know what darkness is..."

Samael murmured something meaningful and solemnly patted the little guy on the shoulder.

“Goetia, compassion is not a sin, but if you want to live in this world in the manner of humans and put this love into practice, you still have much to learn, such as…”

After finishing a can of beer, Gu She casually tossed the empty can aside and turned his gaze to a certain unscrupulous ramen shop owner.