I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy – Chapter 70

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

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
Eleven days.

A short time, yet a long one.

So, after eleven days, Ed and his party finally returned to the Empire.

Ed and his companions returned to the Empire, having flawlessly completed their mission.

Upon arrival, Ed was immediately summoned to the Imperial Palace to receive a reward from the Emperor for his meritorious service.

“Edgar Fix, hear this. You…”

An Imperial official unfurled a golden scroll and read the Emperor’s decree.

Ed knelt on one knee, listening attentively.

Seated above, the Princess, acting as the Emperor’s proxy, observed the scene with amusement.

The expressions of the assembled officials and nobles were intriguing.

‘I can practically hear their minds churning.’

The nobles and officials exchanged glances, their minds racing, calculating the implications.

The power dynamics of the Empire were shifting.

Edgar Fix, a small gust of wind, had become a raging typhoon.

“…For these achievements, which have greatly contributed to improving relations between our two nations, we bestow upon you a title befitting your accomplishments and abilities.”

The moment had arrived. The title conferment ceremony.

The first commoner to rise to the nobility through his own merit was about to be born.

‘I should have acted sooner!’

The Sword Saint regretted his earlier hesitation.

The memory of his offer to take Ed as Enya’s concubine made him cringe.

He should have claimed Ed as his son-in-law then and there.

‘But… I was the first to recognize his potential.’

He had been the first to approach Ed, making his intentions known. Ed hadn’t seemed offended.

It was an honor for a commoner to receive such an offer from a Duke. Of course, that applied to ordinary commoners.

“…For these reasons, while we intended to bestow upon you a new family name, having heard your entrance ceremony speech, we shall honor your wishes and preserve the name ‘Fix’.”

Ed was granted permission to retain his family name.

The nickname “Sir Fix,” once used playfully, had now become a real title.

“…We command you to uphold honor as a warrior, establish justice as a head of household, and protect your people as a lord. Do you swear this oath?”

The final step, the declaration.

Ed swore the oath and kissed the Princess’s ring, receiving the Imperial authority from the Emperor’s proxy.

“Count Fix, rise.”

Ed was granted the title of Count, an unprecedented honor for a commoner.

The nobles, who had expected a Barony at most, murmured in astonishment.

‘The Imperial Family intends to keep him close.’

The more perceptive nobles, like Eleiya, understood the implications.

The Imperial Family wanted Ed as their sword.

He was already connected to Elena and the Princess, and his diverse talents made him an invaluable asset.

The extravagant reward confirmed their intentions.

“…The truth you revealed has left vacant lands awaiting a new owner. Carefully consider and choose the land where your family will establish its roots…”

Things were getting interesting.

Ed was to rule one of the three territories formerly held by the executed families: Croto, Eguwa, and Arzier.

“However, we have concerns. While your abilities have been proven time and again, managing a territory requires practical wisdom gained through experience. Therefore…”

There was a condition. Ed had to choose a guardian, someone to guide him in managing his territory. It was a test of his judgment and political acumen.

‘This is…’

‘An opportunity!’

‘I must become his guardian!’

As the Imperial Family intended, the nobles’ eyes gleamed with ambition.

Some sought to strengthen their ties with Ed, others to exploit his inexperience, and some even aimed for a marriage alliance.

Each had their own motives, their gazes filled with greed.

They had to win Ed’s favor to ensure their family’s prosperity.

‘Son-in-law! Wait for me!’

A silent competition for Ed, the most eligible bachelor, unfolded among the nobles.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The reward was substantial: not only a Countship, but also a territory. Even Ed hadn’t anticipated such generosity from the Imperial Family.

“Hmm…”

Strangely, he felt no particular excitement.

Perhaps it was because he had lived as a noble for countless lifetimes in his previous playthroughs.

It felt like reclaiming something he had always taken for granted.

“Not much will change.”

His life wouldn’t change drastically. He was still a student at the academy, and that’s where he would spend most of his time.

Even with a territory, he wouldn’t be there often.

‘Except during breaks.’

The academy had long breaks.

They valued self-improvement over rigid instruction, granting students two months of personal training each quarter to prepare for the next term.

‘But…’

He now had a territory to manage, a responsibility that came with his elevated status.

“It’s not a loss.”

It wasn’t a burden.

It was simply another task, albeit one with significant influence and power.

Words carried different weight coming from a noble compared to a commoner.

In a world with a rigid class system, a higher status was always advantageous.

“The deadline… is about three months away.”

The Emperor had given him until the next break to choose his guardian (a proxy to manage his territory) and his territory. It was a test.

The Emperor wanted to see if his chosen “hound” was as capable as he seemed.

“I can see right through this.”

But Ed was a veteran of this game.

He already knew which guardian to choose and which territory to claim.

He wouldn’t rush his decision, though. He wanted to observe the nobles’ reactions and strategies.

‘Enya’s father, things will have to be different this time.’

If his stance remained the same as before, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“What?! Enya slept in a male student’s dorm room?”

“Yes. Our informant is certain.”

The Duke of Cruel’s office echoed with his furious roar.

He had just arrived, ready to rest, when he received the news.

How could his precious daughter, a Grand Duchess, commit such an indecent act?

“And she stayed at Edgar Fix’s dorm room.”

…Well then.

Good job, daughter!

“A-Ahem. I-Is that so? H-How could this…!”

The Duke feigned anger, but he couldn’t suppress the twitching of his lips.

He had already decided that Ed would be his son-in-law.

To let such a prodigious talent slip away would be foolish.

“I must reprimand Enya! Summon her to my office immediately!”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Gram, the Duke’s right-hand man, smiled faintly, observing his master’s poorly concealed delight.

It seemed the Duke intended to gauge Enya’s relationship with Ed rather than scold her.

‘He holds Edgar Fix in high regard.’

If Enya had stayed at any other male student’s dorm room, the situation would have been drastically different.

For a Grand Duchess to spend the night in a male student’s room was unacceptable.

If that student had touched her, the consequences would have been dire.

If it had been a noble from an insignificant family, their entire household would have been ruined, forced into silence to protect Enya’s reputation.

No one was allowed to even imagine that the grand duchess’s body had been “tainted.”

‘But if it’s Edgar Fix…’

It was permissible.

The Duke had already chosen him as his son-in-law. He might even use this as an opportunity to force a marriage.

‘But Edgar Fix isn’t that foolish.’

Ed wasn’t stupid enough to touch a Grand Duchess.

He was shrewd, perceptive, and politically astute. He was a master strategist—an old veteran’s soul trapped in an eighteen-year-old body.

The Duke likely knew this, which explained his barely contained glee. He trusted Ed not to overstep his boundaries.

Although, a little “accident” wouldn’t hurt.

‘Edgar Fix… he’s the rising star this year. The other families must be buzzing about his title.’

Gram realized that they weren’t the only ones preoccupied with Edgar Fix. The other noble families would be scrambling as well.

“What?! We should be befriending him, not antagonizing him!”

His prediction was correct.

The other nobles, having witnessed or heard about Ed’s title conferment, were taking swift action.

Some families, however, had consistently antagonized Ed – those insecure nobles who had nothing to boast about except their birthright.

“Why did you make an enemy of him?! Of all people, Edgar Fix!”

The anti-Ed faction, who had boosted their egos by belittling him, were now being reprimanded by their parents.

Antagonizing a rising star under the Imperial Family’s protection had put their families in a precarious position.

With Ed officially recognized as a Count, they had to mend their relationship with him.

“Apologize to him immediately! We can’t afford any further trouble!”

While some family heads struggled with the fallout of their children’s foolish actions, others rejoiced.

Charlotte’s family, House Verdian.

The ailing head of the house praised Charlotte for befriending Ed.

He predicted that Ed would play a crucial role in the upcoming “Continent Conquest” and advised her to remain close to him.

“Isabella, are you interested in him?”

In the far north, in the Duke of Graham’s office, a peculiar conversation was taking place. It wasn’t a typical father-daughter exchange.

“…Yes. He isn’t unpleasant. I feel… a sense of stability when I’m with him.”

“Hmm… It seems you’ve finally found him. Your match.”

“······”

“Take him. Just as I devoured your mother, you must devour him.”

The Duke of Graham exuded a black miasma, its oppressive presence filling the room.

“Then you will earn the right to become the head of the family. My successor.”

He smiled grotesquely.

Isabella stared at him, her eyes cold. A monster. A power-hungry monster who had killed his wife to become the Duke.

‘I hate you.’

She loathed him, this cursed power, this twisted fate.

“Isabella.”

Adrian, the Duke of Graham, addressed her in a stern voice, his body radiating the black miasma.

“You should practice hiding your expressions. Looking at your father with such eyes…”

-Bang!

The door burst open. The black miasma snaked out.

“I-I apologize! I was being disrespectful…!”

Isabella rose to her feet, sweating, her breath ragged. The black miasma receded, and Adrian’s gaze, curved into a crescent moon, fixed on her.

“Remember this, Isabella. Your sister’s life depends on your behavior.”

“…Yes.”

Isabella sat back down, her posture submissive. Adrian, pleased, continued.

“We must invite him to our family. We need to see if he’s a suitable sacrifice for you.”

“…Yes.”

“Act quickly. Such an opportunity may not come again… If you miss this chance and lose your position as a successor candidate… you will bear the consequences.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Isabella accepted her fate. And the victim of this fate would be none other than…

‘I’m sorry, commoner. I have no choice.’

…Edgar Fix, the man she had grown fond of. The ancient curse of House Graham had reached out to claim him.

Isabella clenched her fist, a grotesque smile twisting her lips, mirroring the man she loathed.

‘I’ll become just like him.’

She knew, in that moment, that she would become the monster she hated, devouring the ones she loved for the sake of power.

It was the fate of House Graham.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇