"Entropy increase?" Having never heard the term before, the Red-Robed Barbarian Mage looked utterly baffled.
"Yes, entropy increase. It is a natural phenomenon, and even more so, an ultimate law of evolution."
Only then did Igg slowly turn toward this old friend he had known for more than half a century, becoming unusually talkative:
"For instance, if a laboratory is not tidied up, it will become messy. If a Tower Spirit does not adjust its logic at regular intervals, problems will arise. If a kingdom's organizational structure stops being reformed, it will grow bloated. Noble officials will become corrupt and bureaucratic. Hot water left unattended will slowly turn cold. The sun above our heads will keep burning and decaying, until everything returns to silent extinction.
"All of these phenomena can be explained by the law of entropy increase, because all things invariably develop toward greater entropy—toward irregularity, toward disorder and chaos. If you wish to stop them, you must act against entropy increase. And that process will be exceedingly painful, and contrary to human nature.
"For life and individuals alike, self-discipline is always harder than laziness. Giving up is always easier than persevering. Becoming worse is always easier than becoming better.
"All living beings live by instinct first, and intelligent beings all have desires: the desire to eat, the desire to mate, the desire for knowledge, and the desire to control everything.
"Actions that obey instinct and desire are always easy and comfortable. I believe you understand this deeply, Fischer."
As he said this, Igg's gaze could not help drifting to Fischer's protruding belly. The latter, his old face flushing red, hurriedly covered it with both hands—but how could two hands possibly conceal something of that size?
Looking back over the past few decades, he truly had indulged himself too