If death was merely wounds and blood flowing out, then this was his purpose of existence.
The only true death for him was accepting that his existence meant continuously dying – submitting to the device’s arrangements, abandoning his self-awareness, and existing as an obedient component, playing the role of a Demon King.
He had once been terrified by such an end. Like a drowning man, he struggled to find an anchor. He had thought he found one – she was his only light, making darkness retreat, giving him the first feeling of truly breathing and living.
But in the end, he let this light return to her origin.
Light returns to light, dust to dust, earth to earth, darkness returns to darkness.
The world’s madness and despair had nothing to do with her.
He wanted to possess her, yet couldn’t let her fall into the hands of those madmen. One person destroyed by the device was enough; he couldn’t let her walk the same path. So previous attempts, despair, and joy could only be abandoned. But after she left, continuing to live alone lost all meaning.
So he let her kill him with that black dagger.
The blade born of the device piercing his heart would also make Karl’s self cease to exist.
He thought this was a perfect ending.
She was the most beautiful dream he ever had. Now that the moment of awakening has finally arrived, he opens his eyes and embraces the endless darkness with the embers of the dream.
So in the end, he says to her: “Naily, thank you.”
“I cannot simply let go of everything and go home,” Naily gave a bitter smile: “I’m not interested in being the observer you speak of, but…”
Her fingertips dug deep into her palm, her voice calm: “The meaning is that the life of the dead must be carried by him alone, which is too sad and too painful.”
Kalsas seemed to understand something and shouted sharply: “Naily!”
Naily looked at him, her eyes lifting at the corners: “I’m willing to be part of the switch, and I’ll accompany you on the rest of the way.”
