"...In a sense, it's not much different."
Lawson No. 1 managed a bitter smile. "In this new world, there are ten Administrators with 'Authority' scattered across the globe. Some are entities like me; others are humans who have awakened to 'Special Classes' like yourself. But compared to humans with infinite potential, we NPCs are merely low-level employees working under the 'Unique Existence.'"
"Wait, Special Classes?" Lawson caught the keyword, looking bewildered.
"Esther swore up and down I was the only 'Armor Smith' in the world. Now they're popping up like wholesale goods? I was planning to flex that 'Unique' title everywhere..."
"In the domain of 'Architecting,' you are indeed one-of-a-kind," Lawson No. 1 explained.
"But do not forget, the game was more than just a blacksmith shop. Among the Administrators in charge of facilities, some awakened as 'God-tier Chefs,' others as 'Weapon Masters'... even the Vault Master, Master of Medicine and Master Warrior Trainer, —every module has its corresponding Soul-Awakened. It all depends on which facility the human soul resonates with."
"Holy crap, this world-building is insane. What kind of logical genius dreamed this up?" Lawson rubbed his temples, his voice shifting into full sarcasm mode.
"Could it be... some 'Unique Existence' hiding behind a screen, pounding a keyboard just to meet a daily word count for his paycheck?"
Lawson No. 1 could only offer a helpless, wry smile at the eccentric remark.
"I truly do not know. That Great One has never shown his true form. Even the few chosen humans have never glimpsed his face."
At this, the golden glow in his eyes dimmed, and his voice carried a lingering sorrow:
"Under this cold, underlying logic, the sole purpose of 'NPC-type Administrators' is to guide and protect. The moment the human we nurture achieves Soul Awakening, we must hand over all authority and retire... and then, dissolve into the original data stream to return to the so-called 'Pure Land'."
The words hit Lawson like a sledgehammer to the chest. He stood frozen, his mind a total blank.
"Achieve Awakening...? You're saying... that [Reconstruction] power I just used... was exchanged for your life?"
A surge of grief tore through Lawson's chest. Forgetting the sanctity of the temple, he screamed hysterically:
"Are you kidding me?! That 'Unique Existence' is a goddamn demon! By what right does he strip someone of their existence? So what if you're an NPC? To a player, you are living, irreplaceable partners! I won't let you vanish, do you hear me?!"
Facing the spiraling Lawson, Lawson No. 1 remained silent for a moment. He stepped forward, his broad palm firm on Lawson's trembling shoulder.
His gaze was gentle and calm, like a sage who had long since looked past life and death.
"My Master, please. Compose yourself. Ultimately, this reality belongs to humanity. We, constructed from code and illusory data, are merely products of human wisdom. When the calamity struck and our worlds overlapped, we became more like 'parasites' usurping the laws of reality. Perhaps... our disappearance is the gentlest salvation this world can receive."
As the last word fell, Lawson No. 1 flashed a smile more dashing and free than any he had shown before.
His slender fingers flicked the void, and the golden portal bloomed once more with a soft, radiant brilliance.
In this final moment of parting, he extended his broad, gentle hand to Lawson one last time.
His voice was as steady as the earth:
"Allow me to see you off one last time, my Master. From this moment forth, this world shall be constructed by your own hands. It is no longer anyone's plaything."
Lawson could no longer suppress the grief surging within him.
Scalding tears fell like broken beads, drenching his collar.
The crushing weight of this parting made it nearly impossible to breathe—it felt as if the most vital piece of his life was being forcibly ripped away.
"You're leaving... just like that? I haven't even thanked you... I still have so much to say... WAAAAHHHH!"
He broke down, wailing without a shred of dignity, like a child who had lost his most cherished toy.
"Do not wear such an expression, my Master," Lawson No. 1 comforted him softly, his form beginning to dissolve into specks of light.
"As data, under the laws of 'That Great One,' we can be reforged infinitely. Perhaps one day, I will reappear as a guide on a path you must take, or even a clumsy pet you stumble upon by the roadside. As long as our threads of destiny remain unbroken, we will meet again in another form."
His voice grew increasingly ethereal, as if drifting from a distant heaven:
"Please... you must complete this game called 'Reality.' The ultimate truth of your identity awaits you ahead. Step across it, and walk the path that belongs solely to you—The Path to Creator!"
Lawson let out a sharp, ragged sob. He wiped his face violently, and before that shimmering figure vanished completely, he reached out with every ounce of strength he possessed to grasp the hand of his partner of many years.
As a gentle yet irresistible force pushed him through the portal, Lawson let out a roar like a cornered beast in his heart:
"You hateful 'Unique Existence,' you better wash your neck and wait for me! One day, I will personally beat some sense into that twisted head of yours! Because I... am the only one in this world who has ever beaten this game. I am the STRONGEST PLAYER!"
As Lawson stumbled back through the portal, the crisp, cold air of the workshop rushed into his lungs.
Before he could even find his footing, Lawson No. 1's voice—playful yet laced with a haunting finality—drifted once more from the cracks in the void:
"My Master, the countdown for the reset has begun. Before that happens, I shall sweep away all the 'uncertainties' on the path ahead... consider it my final gift to you."
The voice grew fainter, like a mist about to be scattered by the wind.
"Everything that happened tonight... please, keep it a secret. Especially for little Esther—if she knew the truth, she'd cry her heart out... I wish you victory in battle, my proudest player."
"'Uncertainties'? Hey! Make yourself clear!" An alarm blared in Lawson's mind.
He roared at the empty air, "You bastard, you're not planning to go head-to-head against that 'Unique Existence' alone, are you? That's a suicide mission!"
However, there was no echo from the void.
The sacred golden light had extinguished completely; Lawson No. 1 had vanished without a trace at the edge of the world's laws.
The workshop returned to a deathly silence, save for the scattered mechanical parts glinting coldly under the moonlight.
Lawson let out a low, bitter chuckle, the corners of his eyes still damp with lingering tears.
"Unbelievable... Even as a 'System Master,' your stubborn, self-righteous streak hasn't changed a bit. Even I can't control you, can I?"
He took a deep breath, steadying his turbulent emotions.
His gaze sharpened once more, becoming cold and profound.
"But... at least keeping a secret is something I can manage. I may not believe in that 'Unique Existence,' but this time..." Lawson clenched his fist, whispering to the void, "I hope your crazy plan actually works, my partner."