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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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After completing the collagen processing machine, Ed successfully produced pure collagen from the cod skins, securing the raw material for artificial skin.
He then applied the artificial skin to the decoy to test the mosquitoes’ reaction.
-Bzzzzzz~
“Ah.”
No reaction.
Despite his efforts, the mosquitoes remained indifferent.
“Is it not working at all?”
There was some progress.
While they had previously ignored the decoy completely, they were now hovering around it, albeit without landing or feeding.
“This is frustrating.”
Even mosquitoes were proving to be a challenge.
This explained why even the nobles struggled with them.
They had reportedly tried everything to repel the mosquitoes, but to no avail.
The mosquitoes’ cautious survival strategies were clearly a factor.
“Fine, let’s take this seriously.”
The artificial skin had piqued their interest, at least.
What if he used real skin?
“Let’s go with bio-ink.”
Bio-ink.
Extracting and processing human fat could create bio-ink.
By spraying and treating this bio-ink, he could create actual human skin.
He couldn’t quite recall why he knew this, but he knew the technique existed and had a rough idea of how to implement it.
“Fix, let’s build a bio-ink injection device.”
“Weeooong~!”
With the help of the hologram and Fix, he completed the device by 4 PM on Friday.
His level 3 “Engineering Mind” and “Dexterous Hands” were proving invaluable.
He wondered what level 4 would bring.
He then called for Elena, needing her telekinesis to extract fat from his abdomen by cutting it open.
“…Why do you always ask me for these things?”
“Hehe. Please, Master.”
“…Sigh.”
With Elena’s linked ability, he began cutting into his abdomen, just as he had when implanting the mana stone.
He used to feel nauseous looking at his internal organs, but he was numb to it now.
“Thank you, Master. You’re always a lifesaver.”
“Glad I could help.”
After extracting the fat and chemically processing it to remove the extracellular matrix, Elena excused herself, needing to return to her research on ancient formulas.
She had been busy lately with a new discovery.
-Whirr!
Ed loaded the bio-ink into the injection device and began bioprinting.
He then cultured dermal cells in a collagen gel, ensuring the epidermis was exposed to the air.
This created artificial skin nearly identical to real human skin.
‘Adding blood vessels, sweat glands, subcutaneous fat, and even fine hairs would increase the realism, but…’
The cost-benefit ratio was too high.
He needed to test this version first.
He attached the new artificial skin to the decoy.
-Bzzzzzz~~~~~ …!!!
Finally, a reaction.
A mosquito landed on the new skin. And then…
-Slurp… Slurp… Slurp…
…it began probing for blood vessels.
The combination of human temperature, carbon dioxide emissions, sweat scent, and realistic artificial skin had finally done the trick.
“Now… you’re dead.”
It was time for mosquito genocide.
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Ed also created a sensory mosquito net.
It would detect when a mosquito attempted to penetrate it and instantly apply intense heat to the area, inflicting fatal burns.
He had exploited their weakness to heat despite their durable exoskeletons.
“Now we just wait for the right moment.”
Having conquered the mana mosquitoes, Ed waited for the opportune time, the moment when the nobles’ frustration peaked.
He postponed the evaluation by a week, coinciding with the mosquitoes’ peak breeding season.
“This works out perfectly. I have a lot to do anyway.”
He used the extra time productively, testing the SIBALSAEGI members on their physics knowledge and administering repulsor beam punishments for those who failed to meet the average score.
“I studied so hard… I’m even losing hair…”
But they were really putting in the effort.
An average score of 55 wasn’t bad for students just starting physics.
“Work harder. I’ve prepared a good reward.”
Ed was a strict master.
He believed the promised reward would motivate them to endure the harsh training.
“A-Alright…”
As expected, the SIBALSAEGI members were obedient.
They had all received gauntlets from Ed.
However, these gauntlets were incomplete.
They transformed from bracelets, covering only the wrists, leaving the hands exposed.
They were purely cosmetic.
-If you pass the benchmark score, I’ll make them cover your hands.
Ed had dangled the carrot.
He promised to complete the gauntlets and even hinted at the possibility of them building their own suits someday.
Of course, that was a total lie.
Even if they mastered all the physics in the world, building a suit like his was out of the question.
At best, they would end up as fully-trained slaves.
‘But they’ll develop a passion for mechanical engineering.’
They might not build suits, but they would be able to create weapons and equipment.
They would eventually become self-motivated, driven by their newfound passion.
They might even start making engineering jokes.
Like this one:
1. Iron Man is Iron Man.
2. Man is Male, and Iron is Fe on the periodic table.
3. Therefore, Iron Man = Fe Male.
A chuckle-worthy joke.
‘That was fun.’
He recalled his time in the research lab, working late nights with his colleagues, their hair greasy from lack of showers, cracking jokes and sharing stories.
One memory, in particular, always made Ed smile—it was a horror joke.
It happened when one of his colleagues, after months of grueling work, finally got a machine he’d been developing to function.
He was out there, proudly announcing his success to anyone who’d listen, bragging about it to the whole neighborhood.
“It’s done!! Finally, it’s done!! See? I told you I’d make it work!”
His colleague laughed boisterously, celebrating his triumph.
Ed, however, looked at him with a bewildered expression and said,
“Work? Really?”
“…?”
“Isn’t this yours? I think you forgot this.”
He held out a crucial component.
His colleague’s face paled.
“But… why is it working…?”
“……”
Silence filled the lab.
Only the whirring of the machine could be heard.
Suddenly, Ed burst out laughing, revealing that he had taken the component from his colleague’s own workbench.
“What are you talking about? I asked to borrow that component earlier. It wasn’t at your workbench.”
Another colleague spoke, his words laced with suspicion.
He had already borrowed the component from Ed’s workbench.
So, what was Ed holding?
Everyone froze.
‘It was a double prank.’
Ed had planned it with the other colleague.
‘It was tough, but my colleagues kept me going. Engineers understand each other.’
The research lab held many memories.
Experts from various fields had gathered there, working together on a massive project.
And he had──────────────────────────────────────────────────
“……?”
What was it?
A sudden headache erased the memory.
He wondered why he, a university student, was even in a research lab.
Had he gone to graduate school?
He remembered spending his days playing computer games after graduation, obsessed with completing “El Pandor Runterra”.
‘Am I confusing it with a group project?’
He scratched his head.
He must have confused his dream with memories of group projects.
“Ahem. Keep studying. I’m going back to the lab.”
He dismissed the distracting thoughts and returned to his research lab.
He had no time for such distractions. He had too much to do.
‘The Demonic Cult…’
The Demonic Cult was on his mind.
A demon had appeared during the outdoor class, a sign of their imminent arrival.
In every playthrough, the appearance of a demon heralded the emergence of the Demonic Cult.
Just as Ed’s actions were accelerating the world’s timeline, the demons might be adapting as well.
‘I have to find them and eliminate them.’
He had to eradicate the cult, the first to betray humanity, the collaborators who would aid the demons’ invasion.
If left unchecked, they would spread like cancer, consuming the Empire from within.
‘I need to find their base of operations.’
The timing and location of their activities were random.
“El Pandor Runterra” was a game with high variability, making it difficult to predict even with his foreknowledge.
‘But it’s not impossible.’
They frequented certain areas, and there were telltale signs of their activity.
While he couldn’t prevent their actions entirely, he could nip them in the bud.
‘I need manpower.’
He needed people stationed throughout the Empire to monitor these signs.
He couldn’t personally surveil every corner of the country.
So, he began formulating a plan.
Just then, an idea came to mind.
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A week later.
Mosquitoes were the bane of the Empire.
The mana mosquitoes, having evolved by feeding on mana-rich blood, were now targeting nobles for their breeding season.
-I’ll leave it to you tonight.
Nobles were scrambling to hire Dream Guardians.
Poorer families took turns acting as Dream Guardians for each other, but the demand far outstripped the supply.
The Mana Transformation Disease outbreak thirteen years ago had decimated the ranks of Dream Guardians.
Inexperienced Dream Guardians had become mana-disabled after being bitten repeatedly, spreading fear throughout the profession.
The fear of losing their mana outweighed the lure of money.
Now, only the desperate or the highly skilled veterans remained.
“Today’s the day. I’m going to see my future son-in-law.”
“Yes, Master.”
Finally, the day of Ed’s evaluation arrived.
It coincided perfectly with the peak of mosquito season.
The nobles lined up to attend, eager to witness his latest creation.
The four Grand Dukes, Marquises, Counts, Barons – all were vying to connect with Ed.
The grand hall was filled with prominent figures.
“I wonder what he’ll show us this time. I’m excited.”
“Oh, it’s starting.”
The lights dimmed, focusing solely on the stage.
Everyone waited for Ed’s appearance.
-Thump…Thump…
A hush fell over the hall.
Footsteps echoed from backstage.
A figure emerged from the shadows and ascended the stairs.
As he stepped into the light, a handsome young man’s face was revealed.
Gasps rippled through the audience.
“My future son-in-law…!”
Ed stepped onto the stage.
The nobles gazed at the unprecedented genius who had earned a Countship through his own merit.
He exuded confidence and composure.
Anticipation filled the air.
“Greetings. I am Edgar Fix.”
His voice, imbued with a strange charisma, sent shivers down their spines.
They all knew the value of the name “Edgar Fix.”
He now commanded respect and anticipation with his mere presence.
“Without further ado, I’ll present my creation.”
He was concise and confident, wasting no time on formalities.
Their hearts pounded with excitement.
The black curtain rose, revealing an object covered in a black cloth.
Ed smiled and removed the cloth.
The nobles’ eyes widened.
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So the question of what actually happened on earth is still brewing.