I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy – Chapter 18

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
‘This must be what it means to feel ten years older.’

He thought his heart was going to explode.

When the Princess called him to the podium, his heart pounded like crazy.

It was only because he had played “El Pandor Runterra” dozens of times that he was able to navigate the situation.

He knew the etiquette for addressing the Imperial Family, the history and characteristics of each noble family, how to win over the nobles – he knew all the game’s trivia and used it to his advantage.

As a result, he achieved an even better outcome than he had anticipated.

“Phew…”

Relieved, he descended from the podium, passed the nobles who now looked at him with trust, and sat in his assigned seat.

Elena then took the stage and began explaining the next part of the schedule.

The entrance ceremony was drawing to a close.

“E-excuse me…”

A girl sitting next to him, her face flushed, called out to him.

She complimented his speech and greeted him, saying she looked forward to getting to know him.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“…Yes. I-I’m Charlotte. I’m from the V-Verdian family.”

“The Verdian family. The May Garden is quite beautiful, I’ve heard. Even His Majesty, the previous Emperor, praised its beauty.”

“…Ah! You know about our garden! Hehe… E-Edgar… you s-seem very knowledgeable. Like a n-noble.”

…Charlotte Verdian.

A third-rate extra he’d never heard of, but he treated her kindly.

She seemed a bit nerdy, and her family wasn’t particularly prominent, but she had approached him with a favorable impression.

Constantly forming relationships with new characters and discovering new events or easter eggs was the true way to enjoy this game, so he conversed with her cheerfully.

Just then…

“Everyone, attention. I have an important announcement.”

Amidst the bustling atmosphere as the entrance ceremony ended, Elena called for everyone’s attention.

He paused his conversation and looked at her.

She announced that the Class Placement Competition had been postponed until tomorrow due to a rule change requiring adjustments.

This was fine with him.

An extra day to prepare for the competition was welcome.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

After the entrance ceremony, Ed gained a unique nickname: “Sir Fix.”

Sir Fix.

“Fix” and “Sir” were usually incompatible.

“Fix” was a common surname for blacksmiths, and “Sir” was an honorific for high-ranking officials or nobles.

Yet, the nobles had nicknamed him “Sir Fix,” a sign of their acknowledgement and acceptance.

“Acting all high and mighty for a commoner.”

Some, however, used it derisively – nobles who felt inferior to Ed, or those who disliked a commoner acting like a noble.

“Don’t get worked up. He’s just a commoner who’s awakened to mana. We’ll show him the difference in class during the Class Placement Competition.”

Those who harbored animosity towards Ed had already formed a group, preparing to take him down.

“Crippling him wouldn’t be a bad idea. He’s crossed a line he shouldn’t have.”

Max, the second son of the Sigmund family, not only refused to acknowledge Ed but also loathed him.

He was one of Enya’s admirers and resented Ed for making her smile.

Until then, his resentment hadn’t been so intense.

Ed was just an annoyance. Max believed he would eventually win Enya’s heart.

‘Fix, I will kill you.’

But after Ed’s speech, when he saw Enya’s blushing face as she looked at Ed, he was consumed by jealousy.

He had lost not only Enya’s smile but also her heart.

“So, what’s the plan?”

The five gathered around Max plotted against Ed.

The one who proposed the plan was Max.

“I heard about the Class Placement Competition from my father. It’s a five-person team battle.”

“…And?”

“Teams are assigned randomly, as are opponents. But I’m going to rig it. One of the supervisors is from our family. I’ve asked him to arrange things so we can crush Edgar.”

“Oh-ho. So, Sir Fix’s teammates will all be weaklings?”

“Yes. We’ll eliminate them quickly and then slowly torture him. We’ll carve pain into his body, one by one, so he can feel the fear amidst the shame of defeat.”

“Hmm… can we do that? I don’t think torture is allowed.”

“That’s why we’ll get rid of the video transmission orb first. We’ll ‘accidentally’ destroy it before we start. Then, only the supervisor in charge will be able to see what happens.”

“Oh-ho. And that supervisor is?”

“Yes, from our family. Meaning he’ll turn a blind eye to whatever we do.”

Max explained his plan, drawing his family heirloom sword, an artifact crafted by a Master Craftsman dwarf.

A sinister smile twisted his lips.

‘Edgar Fix, I will break you and make you my slave. With this sword, no one can defeat me.’*

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

When he returned to the forge after the entrance ceremony, James hugged him tearfully, having heard about his speech and calling him a blacksmith from heaven.

‘Sigh… here we go again.’

James’s over-the-top pride wasn’t a good sign.

He had hoped it was subsiding, but this seemed to have triggered a relapse.

“Who did you take after to be so amazing! Who did you take after to be so proud! You are the hero of the Fix family! Ed! This father has no regrets even if I die now!”

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Khahahaha! Right! I should live a long life! Of course! I have to witness my son making history for the Fix family!”

“Oh, please.”

He could already picture it.

James bragging about him to everyone.

And all the embarrassment would be his.

“Her Highness cheered and applauded enthusiastically, they say? And all the nobles chanted ‘Fix!’?”

And James always exaggerated.

Any praise was amplified by 200%.

-Buzz!

The communication orb in his pocket vibrated.

Elena was summoning him.

“Father, just a moment. The Chief Professor is calling for me.”

He showed James the vibrating orb.

James grinned and said,

“Alright! Go ahead! The professor who recommended you must be so proud.”

“…You’re incorrigible. I’ll be back.”

James patted his back, urging him to go.

He left the forge, leaving behind James’s hearty laughter.

He crossed the academy grounds, where the sun was setting, and entered the building housing Elena’s office.

He climbed the stairs, stood in front of her office, and was about to knock when he heard…

“Aaaaaah! Unniiiii~~~”

A woman’s voice, thick with nasal tones.

And Elena’s annoyed voice.

“Sigh. I told you not to act impulsively. I’m not letting this slide.”

“Aaaaaah~~ Sorry, sorry. Really! I’m truly reflecting!”

“Reflecting? Reflecting on what? I’m really angry this time.”

“…Sniff… Sniff… Waaaaah…”

“I’m not falling for it.”

“Aaaaaah~~ Unniiiii~ I’m begging you. Okay? Pretty please. See? I’m begging.”

“This isn’t the first or second time.”

“Noooo~ I was so happy to see you after so long! I really didn’t mean to! I was just so curious about the guy you’re supporting… I just wanted to test him a little…”

“…Sephi. It might be a joke to you, but he… Sigh. Forget it.”

…It was Elena and the Princess.

Their relationship was more like sisters than teacher and disciple, since Elena had become the Princess’s tutor 13 years prior, when Elena was fourteen and the Princess was five.

“So, you’re not going to hug me now? Not going to pat my head?”

“…Sephi. You’re 18 now. How long are you going to keep clinging to me?”

…He waited for a lull in the conversation, but it seemed to be continuing. So, he knocked.

*Knock. Knock.*

“Huh! Waaaaah…?”

The Princess abruptly stopped her fake crying.

Regardless, he announced his presence.

“It’s Ed. You summoned me.”

“…”

A brief silence.

Then, Elena replied, “Uh- just a moment.”

He heard hurried footsteps and rustling sounds.

Then, Elena said, “Come in.”

He opened the door and saw the Princess demurely holding a teacup, and Elena.

The Princess sat in the seat of honor, and Elena sat next to her.

However, the hastily switched places were obvious.

Elena’s coat was still hanging on the back of the seat of honor.

“Your Highness.”

He bowed, feigning ignorance.

He knelt on his left knee, placed his right hand on his left chest, and awaited the Princess’s command.

The Princess, after taking a sip of black tea, spoke in a dignified voice, “Yes. Raise your head.”

He raised his head, maintaining his posture.

He saw the empire’s most beautiful woman looking down at him with a haughty expression.

Her pastel-textured, cloud-like silver hair naturally caught his eye, and he briefly entertained the delusion that he could fall asleep within five minutes if he lay down on her fluffy-looking hair.

“…”

However, looking at the Princess’s eyes beneath her curly hair, such thoughts vanished instantly.

Her crimson eyes, bearing the symbol of the Imperial Family and the empire’s strongest bloodline, were fixed on him.

She truly was the empire’s most beautiful woman.

Her high nose bridge, red lips, and flawless porcelain skin, which perfectly framed her beautiful features, were mesmerizing.

If he didn’t focus, he might be caught staring, which would be rude.

She possessed an inexplicable magnetism that made people nervous just by being in her presence.

“Edgar Fix.”

She called his name.

He looked at her face, trying not to meet her gaze directly.

“Did you… hear everything?”

“…”

‘…Hear everything?’

Of course, he had.

The sounds of their bickering from outside the door, the traces of their hasty rearrangement of the furniture – she didn’t think he wouldn’t notice, did she?

“Yes.”

He answered succinctly. The Princess’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“I see,” she murmured softly.

*Sip.*

The Princess took a sip of black tea.

Then, *Pfft—!* she sputtered.

She choked, coughing and laughing.

Elena looked at her with exasperation and sighed deeply.

“Sigh…”

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The reason Elena had summoned him was simple.

She had acquired the minerals he requested.

“Orichalcum ore with a purity of over 85%. This is it, right?”

“Yes, Chief Professor. Thank you very much.”

He immediately took the orichalcum from Elena.

The Princess, clinging to Elena’s side, smirked and said, “That was actually acquired by my command. Six lives were sacrificed to obtain that mineral.”

“Uh- no. Ed, don’t mind her. She likes to joke like this.”

“Ah, Unniiiii~ Play along~”

As in the game, the Princess was an unpredictable character.

Even as a veteran player, he hadn’t properly cleared the Princess route.

“Go on now, before you get caught up with her. You have the Class Placement Competition tomorrow.”

“…Yes. Thank you for your concern. For everything.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s my duty as your sponsor.”

Elena smiled faintly at him.

The Princess glared at him and said, “Edgar Fix. How dare you try to steal the Princess’s teacher? You shall be punished by poison.”

“It’ll take some getting used to. You’ll be seeing this often, so just bear with it.”

“Ahem! Accept your punishment!”

“You should accept your punishment.”

Elena smacked the Princess’s thigh.

The Princess pretended to cry, and Elena shooed him away.

He bowed politely to the Princess and left the office.

He chuckled, thinking about Elena, who, despite her appearance, was a softie who indulged the Princess’s every whim.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Orichalcum ore.

The reason he needed it was simple.

A week ago, while crafting the “Plasma Beam Titanium Alloy Gauntlets,” the highest-tier equipment from the Mechanic Blueprints, his Dexterous Hands skill level had increased.

And at the same time, he had obtained another piece of the Mechanic Blueprints.

…And today, it was time to create the intermediate formula materials for these blueprints, in preparation for the Class Placement Competition tomorrow.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[T/N: Unnie = Sister, affectionate term for calling sister used by females]

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇