I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy – Chapter 65

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Reina stood on the stage and her appearance was exactly as it had been when she was alive.

Of course, such an appearance was physically impossible.

After all, she had died 40 years ago and her body was ravaged by time and the elements.

‘It took some effort.’

But through combined efforts, they had succeeded in restoring Reina’s original form.

Elena’s inscriptions had reconstructed her physical form, while Isabella’s “Negation Devouring” had cleansed Reina’s spirit, removing the hatred and resentment, leaving only pure memories.

“You defiled the noble sacrifice of the border guards and condemned the families they swore to protect. Because of your selfish survival instincts, your betrayal of the knight’s code, countless lives were lost, suffering a humiliating death in the cold snow.”

Now, Reina stood before them, not as a vengeful spirit, but as her true self.

They had resurrected her, if only for this moment.

‘It’s not perfect, but…’

She wasn’t truly alive.

Once her vengeance was complete, her spirit would dissipate, and her restored body would revert to its decayed state.

She was a fleeting illusion, existing solely for this purpose.

‘But it’s enough.’

This single moment was enough.

To give her a dignified end, not as a madwoman, but as a representative of the unjustly slain victims, delivering justice with righteous purpose.

‘Things can change.’

The dwarves could finally move on from the nightmare of 40 years ago.

The human knight who had loved a dwarf would become their eternal muse, bridging the gap between the two races.

And this renewed bond would be a crucial factor in facing future threats.

“Damn it… H-How is she… here…?”

Arzier, one of Croto’s companions, stammered, looking around at the glaring dwarves.

“Th-This is a conspiracy! I am a noble knight who protected your kingdom! Revered by the Empire─!”

-Whoosh!

Reina’s sword flashed, its trajectory barely visible.

“Gah!?”

Arzier’s tongue flew through the air, followed by a spray of blood.

“Aaaaaaaaagh!!”

He clutched his mouth and screamed.

Reina stared at him, her eyes cold.

“That tongue… plunged my husband’s homeland into darkness.”

“Gah! Aaaaagh!”

“And─”

-Slice!

“Aaaaaaaaagh!!!”

“That filthy hand… struck down my husband’s comrades.”

Reina flicked her sword, scattering the blood.

“And─”

She wasn’t finished. This was just the beginning.

-Slice!

“Gah─Ugh…”

“Those legs, which should have stood firm on the defense line… ran towards safety, abandoning the weak.”

-Stab!

“Ugh! Agh… Gah…”

“And those vile eyes… watched as my husband’s friends and neighbors met their tragic end.”

Arzier, now limbless and blind, writhed in agony.

Croto and Egua wet themselves, the once-respected Imperial knights reduced to trembling, incontinent messes.

‘It’s my turn.’

I had to intervene.

Reina was about to finish them off before the main event.

“Reina-nim. Wait. There’s something I need to share with everyone.”

I stepped onto the stage, holding a magic sphere.

Reina nodded and lowered her sword. I activated the inscription on the sphere, projecting an image onto the large screen.

It displayed the face of the Imperial Princess..

“We greet Her Highness the Princess.”

We knelt, as if on cue, acknowledging the Princess on the screen.

The dwarves and Croto’s companions stared at the sudden appearance, dumbfounded.

[So, Edgar Fix. Have you completed the mission I entrusted to you?]

The Princess, with her red eyes glowing, asked in her usual blunt tone.

I remained kneeling and only raised my head slightly to answer.

“Yes. The criminals, Croto, Egua, and Arzier, have been apprehended, and preparations for their execution are complete.”

[…Well done. Then I presume His Majesty, the King of the Dwarven Allied Kingdom, is also present?]

“Yes.”

I stood up and angled the magic sphere to show King Magrian. The Princess bowed her head slightly.

[Greetings. I am Sephilia Ulysses Caindell von Orserc, Princess of the Orserc Empire.]

Sephilia, the Emperor’s only daughter, inheritor of the powerful Crimson Demon Eyes.

The stunned expression on King Magrian’s face vanished as he grasped the situation.

“Greetings, Princess Sephilia. I am Magrian Azag’hal, King of the Dwarven Allied Kingdom.”

He introduced himself and demanded an explanation.

The Princess smiled and began to explain.

[In truth, all of this began a month ago, when Edgar Fix… ]

Three weeks prior, I had uncovered the secret of the demonic sword and informed the Princess through Elena.

The Princess had used the Imperial “Shadow” unit to investigate Croto and his men, gathering evidence of their crimes to hold them accountable for damaging relations between the Empire and the dwarves.

[…We have confiscated 17 secret ledgers and seized illegal assets worth 27.5 billion Orden… ]

The extent of their corruption was staggering.

Their children had followed in their footsteps, engaging in various illicit activities.

They were con men, not knights, skilled in deception and manipulation, amassing fortunes through their schemes.

[Therefore, the Imperial Family has decided to strip them of all titles and assets. Their ill-gotten gains will be given to the Dwarven Allied Kingdom as compensation, and the Empire expresses its deepest regrets, promising further reparations.]

The Princess detailed the punishments awaiting Croto’s descendants.

The most guilty would be tortured for a month, their magic sealed, and then enslaved.

The severity of the punishment varied, but all would be reduced to slavery, paying the price for their parents’ crimes.

[I apologize for taking up so much of your valuable time. The details of the sentencing will be sent to you later. Now, if you’ll excuse me.]

The Princess ended the communication.

The dwarves, having heard the Princess’s decree, looked at Croto and his men with less anger.

Their enemies had lost everything.

“Aaaaagh… Aaaaagh… Aaaaaaaaagh…”

Croto and his companions wept, clutching their chests, their faces streaked with tears, just as Reina had wept for her lost husband 40 years ago.

“…These are the crimes you committed against me, against my husband’s friends and neighbors. Your vile actions tore apart thousands of hearts.”

“Aaaaagh… N-No… This can’t be happening… Aaaaagh…”

Reina stood before Croto and Egua.

Arzier, limbless and blind, was receiving just enough healing from Elena to keep him alive.

“P-Please… Spare my son… My son… He’s…”

“I-I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please… Please forgive me…”

They groveled at Reina’s feet, clutching her steel boots.

Reina chuckled and said,

“Isn’t it despairing? To watch your loved ones die while you’re powerless to save them.”

“Aaaaagh… Aaaaagh…”

“Feel the same despair. Die with their names on your lips.”

Reina sliced off Croto and Egua’s hands, then their legs.

“Feel the slow approach of death.”

She tied their torsos to wooden planks and placed them on heat-preserving inscriptions, leaving them to burn alive.

“Aaaaaaaaagh! Aaaaagh!”

Their screams echoed through the hall.

A magic sphere displayed images of their children being tortured, punished for the sins inherited from their parents.

“Gah… Ugh…”

Croto and his men died a gruesome death.

Reina and the dwarves watched in silence and the long-held resentment finally dissolved.

-Thud!

Reina stumbled and fell to her knees.

Her purpose, her reason for existing… revenge, was fulfilled.

Her memories and emotions began to dissipate.

“Reina.”

Magrian, Dagran’s brother, the dwarven king, rushed to her side and helped her up.

Reina looked at him with her eyes half-closed.

“…I’m… sorry… I couldn’t… protect… Dagran…”

She struggled to speak and her breath became ragged.

Magrian’s eyes were filled with tears.

Then he shook his head and said,

“No. You did your best. Your heart… reached us.”

“……”

Reina nodded weakly, then raised her head.

“Then… please… bury me… next to my husband… The world without him… was too… cold…”

A tear rolled down Magrian’s cheek.

He nodded quietly, promising to fulfill her wish.

Reina smiled brightly and murmured her final words:

“Dagran… I’m… finally… coming home…”

And with that, she collapsed.

Her lingering thoughts, having fulfilled their purpose, dispersed into nothingness.

—Swish.

Magrian gently lifted Reina’s body.

Then he turned around and addressed the dwarves who were watching him silently.

“A state funeral… will be held. Dagran… wants to see his wife… soon…”

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A grand funeral was held.

Countless dwarves lined the streets and bowed their heads as Reina’s coffin passed by.

They could finally mourn her, free from the false accusation of being a madwoman who had slaughtered her own people.

But they weren’t just mourning.

They were also celebrating, their pride and faith restored.

Dagran, the hero, was not the coward.

Reina, the holy knight, was not the madwoman.

The couple they had loved had finally been vindicated.

“…I’m curious. Who orchestrated all of this, restoring our pride? Was it the Princess?”

After Reina was laid to rest beside Dagran, Magrian looked at her tombstone and asked Elena.

Elena, also looking at the tombstone, replied,

“…It was Edgar Fix. Restoring the holy sword, bringing Reina back, destroying those criminals’ families… it all came from him.”

“……”

Magrian nodded thoughtfully.

Then, he looked up.

“This exhibition…”

“…?”

“Technically, Edgar Fix’s ‘Returned Honor’ doesn’t qualify for judging. It was my brother, Dagran, who created the sword.”

Elena was taken aback by the sudden change of topic.

“…Yes, I know. He didn’t submit it for an award. So, it’s disqualified?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Elena slightly raised her eyebrows in mild disappointment and pursed her lips.

She nodded vaguely and looked back at the tombstone, but Magrian continued,

“But… the drama, the narrative Edgar Fix presented… that in itself is a masterpiece.”

“……”

“So, I want to award him a special prize and a title. Like his name suggests – Fix – he mended our broken hearts.”

The Dwarven King looked at Elena as he said this.

Seeing the boundless goodwill reflected in his eyes, Elena smiled softly and nodded gently.

“The title of ‘Salvation.’ His work wasn’t about the superiority of craftsmanship, but about saving
our souls. I will grant him the title of ‘Salvation.’”

“‘Blacksmith of Salvation’… That sounds wonderful. It suits Ed very well.”

“You think so? That’s a relief.”

The Dwarven King smiled faintly as he replied.

But the title wasn’t the only reward he had in mind.

“But every title comes with certain honors and privileges. Since the title of ‘Salvation’ is new, I will grant Edgar Fix these benefits…”

As the Dwarven King began listing these privileges, Elena’s eyes widened in astonishment.

If these privileges were truly real, Ed would be treated almost as a state guest.

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