It is obviously not a pleasant experience to be talked about such ambiguous topics as life by a man late at night.
Even though he knew that Kotomine Kirei didn't have any special fetishes, Roland still felt his scalp tingling and he moved his feet unconsciously.
"Kotomine-kun, what do you mean by that?"
"I want to know the answer."
Facing Roland's perfunctory response, Kotomine Kirei remained as straightforward as ever.
"After these days of observation, I am sure, Roland, you are the one I am looking for."
Although he was uncertain at first, from his observations over the past few days, Roland's performance was very much to Kotomine Kirei's liking.
Extremely self-disciplined, he obviously has extraordinary abilities but he is content with a peaceful life, as if he has no pursuits. He is obviously one of his kind, an abnormal person who cannot be satisfied with the happiness of ordinary people, so why can he show such a happy and relaxed expression?
"I want to know what nature you are pursuing and what answer you found."
The priest in black cassock said solemnly and bowed deeply to Roland.
"I can give anything for this answer, please, please guide me."
It's broken, I'm golden.
Roland silently calculated the situation in front of him. Although he didn't know whether it was the so-called good luck that was at work, strictly speaking, Kira Yoshikage and Kotomine Kirei did have many similarities in their natures. However, one had already accepted his own desires, while the other would fall into perversion due to long-term repression and go to another extreme.
"Well, it's not something that can't be discussed. However, as you said, Kotomine-kun, I can only give you guidance. Only you know your true nature."
Kotomine Kirei raised his head in confusion; he wanted a more precise answer, not this vague chicken soup.
"But no matter how I practice, fill all the free time in my life with various classes and work, and pray devoutly every day, the emptiness in my heart still cannot be alleviated."
"That's because you're going in the wrong direction. Self-discipline is certainly meaningful. It not only shapes our personality, but also helps us control our desires. But in the final analysis, self-discipline is only a means, not an end. It is a painful process of suppressing our nature."
Roland asserted that since things had gotten quite out of control anyway, it would be fine for Kotomine Kirei to get the answer in advance.
"And since these processes are painful, then the nature we pursue will naturally bring us the opposite feeling. What do you think this feeling is?"
"Is it...pleasure?"
Kotomine Kirei gave the answer in a rather hesitant tone, but with a hint of forbidden anticipation, just like an elementary school student expecting to be praised by his teacher.
"Yes, it is pleasure. Everything that can make us feel happy is what our nature will pursue. No matter what means we use or how sinful the things we pursue are, human beings will continue to fall into the abyss for such things."
Roland subconsciously moved his fingers. While digesting the spirit, the spirit was also changing him. Although he still couldn't accept the hand fetish, Roland knew that some of his inner concepts had already been quietly changed, or in other words, released.
"This is not allowed. There is no redemption if you do this."
Roland laid out the most secret things in his heart, which made Kotomine Kirei immediately say no. However, his eyes were like a magnet, firmly locked on Roland.
"Of course you can't be redeemed, but the prerequisite for redemption is that you have to be a human being."
Roland's voice was as sweet as poppy, lingering in Kotomine Kirei's ears, and it was like the whisper of a devil.
"To suppress one's own nature and deny pleasure with pain is like having no ability to love a complete person, let alone love others. How can such an incomplete existence be worthy of redemption?"
"Even if the pleasure is malicious?"
As if seeking affirmation, Kotomine Kirei's voice became much louder, but Roland's tone remained calm.
"Even if this pleasure is malicious, I have said that before learning to love others, you should first love yourself."
"After becoming a complete self, even a born evil person is eligible for redemption and happiness. I am the best proof of this."
"ah..."
Kotomine Kirei agreed with Roland's words and nodded gently, sadness and joy seeping out of his heart at the same time. This was a feeling Kotomine Kirei had never experienced in his more than 30 years of life.
He was right. This man could definitely give him the right guidance.
He should have concealed it, he should have refused it, but Kotomine Kirei stretched out the hand with the Command Seal without hesitation, betraying the teachings of his master and father, and seeking Roland's affirmation and support.
"If you're still confused, can I come back to you?"
"Of course," Roland smiled and stretched out his hand, shaking hands with Kotomine Kirei, completing the ceremony of establishing friendship.
"After all, we are friends."
"Friend..." Kotomine Kirei chewed over this word which was very new to him and nodded solemnly.
"Yes, then, farewell, my friend, Roland."
After Kotomine Kirei left again, Roland frowned, thinking about an important thing.
"It seems that the guys who are inexplicably attached to me are all scum. Could it be that I am not a good person either?"
Roland was shocked. Even with the help of good luck, he was able to adapt so easily to Kira Yoshikage's spirit contract and become Kotomine Kirei's life mentor. It seemed that he had invisibly denied his own moral integrity.
After more than ten days in Fuyuki City, Roland finally gained some self-awareness.
"However," Roland walked out from behind the counter and looked at the night outside the window, "Although it is an inevitable result, the time has been advanced a lot. It seems that Tohsaka Tokiomi's bloody disaster is imminent."
——
Although it was already late at night, the lights in the basement workshop of the Tohsaka family were still on.
"Kirei, has the summoning been completed?"
"Yes, Master, I have confirmed that there are currently no monitoring familiars or items near the Tousaka family."
Kotomine Kirei, who was wearing a black cassock, reported respectfully to the middle-aged man who was wearing a valuable red suit and exuded the elegance of an aristocrat.
"After all, no one would have thought that the first person to be summoned would be Assassin, so, taking this opportunity, I will leave the task of gathering intelligence on other Masters to you."
"Yes, Master."
Kotomine Kirei was still very respectful, and then he issued an order in a calm tone to the motionless void beside him.
"Then I'll leave this matter to you, Assassin."
"As you command, Master."
A deep and eerie male voice came from the void, but Kotomine Kirei was not satisfied.
"There is no need to hide in front of the master. He is someone who does not require any defense."
Without any explanation, along with the surge of spirit particles, Assassin's full appearance was revealed to Tohsaka Tokiomi.
He looked very tall. Even with his body hunched, he was still taller than Kotomine Kirei, estimated to be at least two meters tall. He wore Hassan's iconic skull mask and was wrapped in a black robe. The most eye-catching thing was his right hand, which was also wrapped in a black bandage and looked extremely strong.
Tohsaka Tokiomi looked at his disciple with satisfaction. Not only did he summon the weakest assassin, but he also exposed the true identity of the Heroic Spirit without hesitation, giving up the assassin's greatest advantage. Even though he knew that he should not be proud, Tohsaka Tokiomi's heart was still filled with pride.
With such a perfect disciple as his helper, how could the Holy Grail not be in his pocket?
However, Tohsaka Tokiomi, who was in the midst of excitement, did not notice that, for the first time, a feeling similar to desire welled up in Kotomine Kirei's eyes as he looked at him.
If the evil that should not be pursued is his instinct, then can a betrayal that is delayed but happens at the critical moment satisfy his hungry heart?