—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Synchronization of passion and profession.
A recently coined term referring to the alignment of one’s hobbies and career.
Thankfully, this term perfectly described me.
Obsessed with mecha from a young age, I pursued mechanical engineering, and even after entering the world of my beloved game, I could still work with machines.
Working with machines was a joy. The entire process was fun for me—from drawing blueprints for specific functions to fine-tuning the machines to ensure 100% performance—everything related to machines brought me happiness.
“Meow!”
In that sense, creating a new prosthetic leg for this cat was also enjoyable. It was a task I undertook out of pure goodwill and personal desire.
‘Hmm… It needs to be made of a highly elastic material.’
However, I wasn’t going to be careless. I couldn’t tolerate flaws in anything I created.
‘I should use high-tensile steel. Regular steel would be too much of a burden for the cat.’
In that context, the cat’s existing prosthetic was truly unsatisfactory.
Made of heavy steel for mere durability, it created an imbalance in the cat’s movements.
Its excessive rigidity also meant greater impact on the leg when landing or jumping.
A material that compensated for these flaws was necessary.
‘Shape-memory alloy.’
The first material that came to mind was shape-memory alloy.
This steel had a strong tendency to retain its original shape, making it both resilient and durable.
‘I should also reduce the volume compared to the previous one.’
To reduce the weight, I decided to thin the core wire.
My calculations showed that reducing the volume by 38.5% would make it similar in weight to the cat’s bones.
‘And if I wrap the core wire with rubber…!’
The rubber would act as a substitute for skin, absorbing the impact upon landing.
‘I’ll replace the cartilage with a spring, place screws here to maintain the shape…’
Having chosen the materials, I began the engineering design, connecting the wires in a way that best suited the cat’s leg movements.
Since cats walk on their toes, the prosthetic needed good flexibility in the forefoot and heel, requiring multiple joints in those areas.
‘Lastly, if I inscribe a ‘Heat Preservation Scroll’ on the connecting part that attaches to the cat’s amputation site, it’ll be complete.’
The Heat Preservation Scroll.
This was necessary because directly connecting the cold metal to the cat’s amputated leg would damage the tissue.
Therefore, the connecting part needed heat preservation treatment to maintain the same temperature as the cat’s body.
“Alright. Let’s begin.”
Having finalized the plan, I took out the ‘Incomplete Creator’s Hammer.’ I lit the forge and retrieved the materials from my inventory.
*Clang!*
It was time to replace that terrible prosthetic.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Using ‘Mana Tracking,’ Elena located Wayongi and went straight to the forge.
Along the way, she detected Ed’s mana and felt relieved that he was with Wayongi. His mana was calm and gentle.
“Wayongi!”
Arriving at the forge, Elena found Wayongi sitting near the cooling furnace, purring.
“Hmm?”
Ed, working on equipment, turned around. Elena noticed the scorch marks on his skin and realized he had used the forge without permission.
“···?”
Then, her gaze fell upon Wayongi’s new prosthetic leg. It was completely different.
“Excuse me, did you replace Wayongi’s prosthetic leg?”
She was grateful he had looked after Wayongi.
However, replacing the prosthetic without permission was unacceptable.
“…Are you the cat’s owner?”
“Yes.”
“The previous one didn’t fit the cat. Honestly, it was garbage.”
“What did you say?”
His response was outrageous. He had called the expensive prosthetic garbage. Elena, unaware that she’d been overcharged for a low-quality prosthetic, was offended.
“Uh…? Are you, by any chance, Chief Professor Elena?”
Ed recognized her. Elena frowned, surprised he knew her new position.
“Who are you? How did you know I was appointed as a professor?”
“Ah, well…”
Ed searched for an excuse. Calling her ‘Chief Professor’ was a slip of the tongue.
“Were you deliberately keeping Wayongi? To lure me here?”
“Ah, well, that is…”
Ed was flustered. Elena, suspicious, released her mana, her hair rising.
Ed quickly said, “Wait. It’s not what you think. I’m just a blacksmith.”
“···A blacksmith?”
“Yes. The academy equipment bidding competition. I had a waiting ticket… number 27, and a lot of free time.”
“···So?”
“I went for a walk and found her.”
“······.”
“I knew you were a professor because the previous participant said you were evaluating the competition, from the seat of honor. So I assumed you were the Chief Professor… Are you really the Chief Professor?”
Ed pleaded his alibi. Elena, finding it plausible, nodded.
“···Sigh.”
Elena calmed her mana.
“I’ll overlook you knowing my position. But how do you explain using the forge without permission?”
“···I have no excuse for that.”
Ed admitted his fault. He began to explain that he’d used the forge to help Wayongi.
“But, I’ve cleaned everything up. I used the forge for this cat…”
“···Stop. That’s enough.”
Elena was displeased. She suspected he’d used the forge to gain an unfair advantage in the competition.
“Breaking the rules is breaking the rules. Number 27, right?”
“······.”
“What’s your name?”
“······.”
“What’s your name?”
Ed saw Elena’s hardened expression.
“Edgar Fix.”
“···Waiting number 27, Edgar Fix. You’re disqualified.”
Elena disqualified Ed and picked up Wayongi.
“Fix… a commoner. I’d know if there were a skilled blacksmith among the commoners, and you’re not one.”
“······.”
“Live up to your name, Edgar Fix. This academy is for elites. Meddling with someone else’s belongings without the skill isn’t kindness; it’s recklessness.”
“······.”
“Don’t be discouraged. A life lesson. Don’t touch a noble’s belongings without permission.”
Elena turned and left. The sound of her heels faded.
“···I’m screwed.”
To Ed, it sounded like a departing train of salvation, leaving him behind.
“···Should I dig a route through the sewers?”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Meow!”
Wayongi, usually restless, was purring contentedly in Elena’s arms.
“······.”
Elena’s smile was tinged with sadness. She was worried about the cost of a new prosthetic.
“Sigh… I’m broke.”
Millions of Orden was a burden. She was paying off her adoptive parents’ debts. It felt strange lecturing someone about their station when she was a commoner turned noble.
“Live up to your name…”
Why had she said that? How could she casually utter the words that had caused her so much pain? Perhaps it was because she understood the hardships of being a commoner among nobles, and she wanted to warn him. Or perhaps she had changed.
“Meooow!”
Wayongi jumped down. Elena was startled, expecting her to fall.
Wayongi, who always limped, started running. No, it was more like sprinting.
The sheer liberation in her movement was palpable.
“H-How…?”
How was this possible?
The Empire’s most skilled blacksmith had told her that even walking would be a miracle.
He had explained that only by perfectly understanding a cat’s leg structure and mechanics, and then assembling a prosthetic with absolute precision, could a cat *barely* run.
That would require dissecting a cat’s leg, analyzing it for months, and then designing the appropriate materials and blueprints.
‘But no blacksmith would go to such lengths!’
‘And even if they did, the cost would be astronomical! If you triple the current price, I might consider it. Hahahaha!’
The conversation with the Imperial blacksmith suddenly came to mind.
Elena clutched her head, recalling their exchange.
If what he said was true, then she had just uttered utter nonsense to Edgar Fix, who had accomplished this incredible feat.
‘Live up to your name, Edgar Fix. This academy is for elites. Meddling with someone else’s belongings without the skill to do so isn’t kindness; it’s recklessness.’
“Uwaaaah!”
Uncharacteristically, she screamed like a child and stomped her feet.
She was mortified while recalling her condescending lecture.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
