"Time to work overtime."
It was a vile phrase, powerful enough to make most people instinctively feel physically ill upon hearing it.
Especially under the present circumstances, where even death was not the end, and after "waking up," one still had to face this work that could never be finished.
Yet when Byrne heard those words, he relaxed all at once.
His previously uncontrollable emotions finally found a suitable outlet. He gripped the pen in his hand tightly and nodded solemnly.
Because, from Byrne's perspective, death was nothing to fear. His only regret was that he could no longer contribute to Order.
Now, that regret had been remedied.
Byrne and Pavaro were, in fact, the same kind of person.
Their choices and perseverance often seemed incomprehensible to outsiders, who thought them absurd, laughable, and foolish.
But this world had never lacked those buzzing flies. With brains scarcely larger than pinheads, they always picked apart everything beautiful and noble, believing that everything in this world was filthy, foul, and false.
The pitiful thing was that they could only spend their lives circling rotten flesh, sinking into selfishness, narrow-mindedness, and clammy darkness;
Meanwhile, those they mocked had long since beheld true vistas in the realm of the spirit that those flies could never reach in their entire lives.
There was also Taixisen, who, after losing the struggle, chose before his death to accompany the High Priest in acting out this peaceful conclusion;
And Pilo and those other retired old men, who developed overloaded formations solely so they could use them twice, once before death and once after; the Knight Order's retired old officers, afraid that they were too old and their bodily functions had deteriorated too badly, chose to end their lives sooner so they could contribute more strength upon their future