I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy – Chapter 15

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“…Who are you?”

Ed had tried to approach her as amiably as possible, but Enya’s reaction was frosty.

She wasn’t one to easily accept a stranger’s kindness.

She immediately placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, her green eyes glinting sharply.

But Ed was a veteran who had played “El Pandor Runterra” countless times.

He was well aware of her prickly personality.

He spoke, a smile still playing on his face, “I couldn’t just walk past. A sword screaming in an ill-fitting scabbard.”

“…”

A sword screaming in an ill-fitting scabbard.

It was a somewhat cheesy analogy, but it was the kind of expression Enya loved.

His way of speaking was metaphorical, like something the protagonist of the manga “Quickdraw” would say.

Intrigued, Enya lowered her guard slightly and tested him.

“Well, I don’t think you’re knowledgeable enough about swords to hear this sword’s scream.”

She removed her hand from the hilt of her sword and continued, gesturing towards the family crest engraved on her scabbard,

“Rather, aren’t you interested in this crest? If that’s the case, I’ll decline in advance. Wouldn’t our relationship be better determined by the superiority of our skills rather than superficial pleasantries?”

Enya conveyed her meaning with polite, aristocratic language.

However, Ed interpreted her words as follows:

*You don’t know anything about this sword.*

*Aren’t you trying to latch onto my family’s prestige?*

*If you’re here for small talk, just leave. Let’s compete with our skills.*

…*A very Enya-like message,* Ed thought.

“You’re quite a skeptical person.”

But Ed wasn’t one to back down just because he was told to leave.

Enya was a key NPC who could have a significant impact on the future, and he needed to establish a relationship with her from the entrance ceremony.

Enya smirked.

“Skeptical? Let’s just say I’m not naive.”

“Haha, I don’t have any ulterior motives. I genuinely approached you because I was interested in that sword.”

The two exchanged words, engaging in a battle of nerves.

However, Enya’s curiosity was piqued once more by Ed’s last remark.

*He came because he was genuinely interested in the sword?*

“Do you know anything about this sword?”

Enya asked directly.

*Do you know anything about this sword?* [T/N: these are not repeat sentences]

A glint appeared in Ed’s eyes.

He knew this sword better than anyone.

*’How could I not know?’*

He had played this game dozens of times.

Every time he restarted the game, Enya always carried the same sword, at least during the entrance ceremony.

“I recognized it at a glance. Isn’t it the cursed blade, Muramasa?”

Muramasa.

At the mention of that name, Enya’s eyes widened.

The cherished sword wielded by the protagonist of the manga “Quickdraw.”

Ed had recognized it at a glance.

“H-how did you… Could it be?”

“Yes. I’ve read it too. ‘Quickdraw.’”

‘…He’s read Quickdraw?’

The furrow in Enya’s brow smoothed out.

Her wariness melted away, and a bright smile bloomed on her pale face.

“There’s someone else besides me who knows ‘Quickdraw’…! Have you read the side stories as well?”

“Of course. The side stories are where it truly begins.”

Enya’s face lit up.

She was convinced by Ed’s words, “The side stories are the real deal.”

Someone who understood her dream, her ideal of “quickdraw.”

The black-haired boy in front of her was just such a person.

“That’s right! The side stories are the real deal…! But honestly, I was a little hesitant. You know, the main story ended a bit ambiguously… So I was hesitant to read more, but the beginning of the side stories…!”

“The Jaken arc, right?.”

“…! Yes! The Jaken arc! That’s when I really got hooked.”

“Those who quit after reading only the main story are amateurs. The potential explodes from the Jaken arc.”

“Khuhu. You’re right.”

Enya was completely engrossed in her conversation with Ed, laughing and chatting.

Having never had anyone to discuss “Quickdraw” in depth with, Ed was a welcome conversational partner.

-*What? Enya can smile like that?*

-*Her energy is completely different.*

However, since she was known for her aloofness in social circles, the surrounding men watched their conversation with puzzled looks.

Hadn’t dozens of men been unable to even speak to her because of her cold gaze?

-*Who is that guy? I’ve never seen him before.*

-*I don’t know. I didn’t see him at the last social gathering.*

-*Is he perhaps a fallen noble?*

Naturally, attention was drawn to Ed, who had made Enya smile so brightly.

She usually had a sharp look in her eyes and kept her hand on the hilt of her sword whenever she spoke with someone.

Seeing her chatting animatedly while her eyes sparkled brightly , using both hands, was incredibly unfamiliar.

Just how had this black-haired boy managed to disarm Enya?

“…”

Max, the second son of the Sigmund family, shared the same question.

Two years ago, he had been smitten with her when she first appeared in social circles and asked her for a dance.

She had responded by humiliating him with a cold expression.

The shame he felt from that frosty reaction led him to challenge her to a duel, only to be brutally beaten.

That painful history was a scar he would never forget.
He had worked tirelessly to improve his skills and reach this point, and yet, she was showing such a frivolous smile to some nobody.

It was a sight he couldn’t tolerate.

*’Enya…! Your smile was meant only for me!’*

Romantic feelings.

Max harbored romantic feelings for Enya.

As much as he felt anger and hatred towards her, he also admired her strength.

Thus, he had come here dreaming of subduing her.

He intended to inflict a humiliating defeat upon her and then win her heart by offering comfort to her wounded pride.

*’Enya, was your smile so cheap?’*

But Enya had opened her heart to some dandy-looking fellow who, at first glance, seemed like a novice who didn’t know the first thing about swordsmanship.

*Dong—!*

The bell of the clock tower installed at the academy’s main gate began to ring.

It signaled that only ten minutes remained until the entrance ceremony.

“Ah, time flies so quickly.”

Ed and Enya’s conversation came to an abrupt halt.

An awkward silence fell between them.

Then, Ed looked at Enya’s scabbard and said, “Shouldn’t we fix that scabbard first? It looks quite uncomfortable.”

“…It can’t be helped. The entrance ceremony is about to begin, and there’s no time.”

Enya sighed softly.

Only ten minutes remained until the start of the entrance ceremony.

There was no way to fix the scabbard in that time.

“Let me see it. I can fix it quickly.”

Ed extended his hand casually, then took out his “Equipment Maintenance Toolkit” from his inventory.

*Crackle!*

A rift appeared in the air, and the toolkit materialized.

Enya observed this process and naturally thought, *Equipment summoning? Does he use Trait-type formulas?*

Trait-type formulas.

These were formulas like Invisibility, Subspace, Transformation, and Camouflage, usable only by those who inherited special bloodlines.

Summoning equipment from thin air like that was likely a combination of “Subspace,” “Camouflage,” and “Invisibility” formulas.

In other words, he was a skilled individual who could handle rare formulas.

“Come on, there’s no time.”

Time was running short.

Enya put aside her thoughts and handed Ed her scabbard.

Only ten minutes remained.

Could he fix it in such a short time?

“Alright.”

Ed immediately took out tools from the toolkit and began working on Enya’s scabbard.

Thanks to his hidden skills, Dexterous Hands and Engineering Mind, he quickly adjusted the scabbard to fit the sword perfectly.

“Hmm. I think I can improve it a bit more.”

But this wasn’t enough for Ed, who always strived for perfection.

Could he further enhance the scabbard’s performance for quickdraw?

He took out a “Formula Storage Scroll” from his inventory and swiftly inscribed a combination of “Strengthening” and “Acceleration” formulas onto it.

Then, he infused it with mana.

*Crackle!*

The combined formula of “Strengthening” and “Acceleration” was stored in the Formula Storage Scroll.

The scroll was complete.

‘Fast. Incredibly fast…’

Enya, who had been observing the entire process, was inwardly impressed.

Not only did he fix the equipment, but he also created a scroll so quickly.

Even the Duke’s personal blacksmith couldn’t achieve such speed.

It demonstrated Ed’s exceptional understanding of formulas.

“Here, it’s done. See how it feels.”

His skill in applying the scroll to the equipment was also top-notch.

There was usually a significant chance of failure when using a scroll with two combined formulas, but Ed handled it with ease, as if it were a toy.

Enya, with a slightly dazed expression, received the scabbard from Ed and sheathed her beloved sword.

It fit perfectly, as if it had always been a set.

“…Amazing. You did all this in such a short time…”

“Haha. It’s what I usually do. Making and fixing equipment.”

“···?”

Making and fixing equipment?

Enya tried to recall if there were any noble families whose profession involved such things.

Was he perhaps from the Tigriel family, who had exclusive dealings with the dwarves?

But she had never heard of such a handsome man in the Tigriel family.

*Dong—!*

The clock tower bell rang again. Only five minutes remained until the entrance ceremony.

As if on cue, they looked at each other.

“…Shall we run?”

“Yes. Let’s!”

*Dash!*

They both kicked off the ground simultaneously.

They crossed the pink-hued path, passing through the main gate and past the clock tower in an instant.

Beyond the main gate, a long, marble-paved path stretched out before them.

At the end stood the academy’s main building, their final destination.

*Dash!*

They picked up the pace once more, passing the emperor’s statue and the fountain, then through the lush gardens.

As they ran, passing the scenery, Enya felt an unfamiliar thrill.

It was the first time she had run alongside someone like this.

Was this what it felt like to have a friend?

‘This seems fun.’

She felt a sense of anticipation.

She wanted to know more about this boy running beside her.
He was skilled enough to keep pace with her.

Would the day come when they would stand back-to-back, calling each other’s names?

Enya smiled, imagining that distant future.

A fluttering feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time welled up within her, just like the day she first read Quickdraw.

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