I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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Silence settled in the classroom once more.

Everyone stared blankly at the smooth, jet-black suit.

Even Gracia, who had hardly shown any expression before, looked surprised this time.

I continued my presentation calmly.

“Of course, you might think, ‘Isn’t it a bit excessive to fuss over just one suit?'”

Some of the crowd showed a guilty expression at my words.

Those who had disliked me before looked flustered upon having their thoughts laid bare.

So I activated the Plasma Mana Shield and continued speaking.

“But this suit is not an ordinary one. It’s a suit I spent a long time working on to solve my chronic issues. The drawback I mentioned earlier, where the mana capacity is dispersed too finely, making it difficult to use unique techniques, turns into an advantage the moment I put on this suit. I can control even the subtle functions of the suit.”

The Plasma Mana Shield spread in a circular formation around me.

The fact that the mana shield covered my entire body was because I possessed a tremendous amount of mana capacity.

If the mana capacity had not been finely dispersed, it would have been impossible to achieve such exquisite control.

“In addition, I’ve developed various features to compensate for my shortcomings. I’ve even created devices like this to enhance mobility.”

As I spoke, I flexed my wrist and fired the web shooter.

A black wire, combining carbon nanotubes and gossamer, shot into the air.

It looked just like a long, thin stream of mucus extracted from Venom’s body.

The visuals matched the concept of the ‘Devil Suit’ quite well.

“Although the space is limited, I can’t show it properly, but using this wire allows for guerrilla tactics by leveraging the environment. It can also be useful for capturing enemy movements! The tip of this wire has an astounding adhesive ability.”

I tried to pull the wire stuck to the ceiling.

The cadets nodded as they confirmed that no matter how much force I applied, the wire wouldn’t break.

“Aside from that, it obviously serves as armor as well. It has mana stones embedded in it, so the enhancement function works by default. Of course, I need to supply mana for it, but I have a vast amount of mana stored in my chest. I am perfectly suited to operate this suit.”

In other words, it meant I was a perfect human battery.

Of course, I had implanted mana stones in my body with this in mind, but to the cadets, it would likely appear as an idea that perfectly overcame weakness.

“…Well, that’s true. I can’t cast amazing spells nor employ unique swordsmanship. But I can continuously upgrade this suit. After all, I’m just the blacksmith Edgar Fix.”

Having introduced the features of the suit I had developed, I concluded my presentation with my identity.

Amidst the silence, Professor Gracia nodded and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Impressive, Edgar Fix. Not only have you perfectly compensated for your weaknesses, but you have also turned them into strengths. Yes. Being true to oneself is the path to becoming the strongest. Everyone should find what their ‘true self’ is like Edgar Fix. There will be a path there.”

Professor Gracia used my case as an example to impart a message to the cadets.

Then, expressing great expectations for me, he added if he could borrow the suit later.

Of course, that was out of the question.

“I’m joking. Please go ahead.”

However, reading my expression, Gracia chuckled and sent me off.

I stood back on Fix and waited until the suit disassembled.

Fix began to automatically unscrew and collect the suit’s components, storing them in his body one by one.

Thus, in reverse order of putting the suit on, only the boots of the Devil Suit were left. As I removed the boots, Fix transformed back into the shape of a yellow metal vault, completing the suit’s disassembly.

*Crackle!*

Finally, having put Fix and the gauntlet into the inventory, I returned to my group and took my seat.

But the gaze of my friends looking at me felt different somehow.

It was as if they were intense eyes of children with plenty of questions piled up inside, staring at me with glittering eyes.

I suppose I should definitely prepare for a barrage of questions when break time comes.

***

After the class ended, lunchtime arrived.

As everyone formed groups to head to the cafeteria, Charlotte slipped away from Edgar’s group.

After all, there were three ladies from the duke’s family, and she already had members with whom she would have lunch.

Those members were Pio and Taylor, who were on the same team during the first round.

“Ed! Long time no see!”

“Why is it so hard to see your face?”

Pio and Taylor greeted Edgar cheerfully as soon as they spotted him.

Ed reciprocated the greetings with them, his comrades from the first round.

During this exchange, Pio and Taylor felt a sense of superiority.

It was because Edgar Fix was happily acknowledging them.

They took pride in the fact that their friend was Edgar.

“Well then, enjoy your lunch!”

“Yeah. See you again.”

With that, Edgar and Charlotte’s group exchanged simple goodbyes and parted ways.

As soon as they disappeared, Isabella chuckled and spoke to Edgar.

“Commoner. Isn’t the food from the school cafeteria pretty awful? Our family’s exclusive chef has some decent skills. How about you come over and eat at our place? It won’t take long if you go through the exchange.”

Isabella recommended eating the duke’s family special dishes over the cafeteria food.

However, Enya glared at her sharply and replied.

“I don’t know. I’ve heard your family’s territory doesn’t have much in terms of culinary development, right? What specialties can there be in a frozen wasteland?”

Enya’s sharp critique based on facts.

To which Isabella calmly retorted with a smile.

“That’s why I said earlier, our chef will cook. Our family’s chef brings in fresh ingredients through the exchange.”

“Even so, it’s our family that’s renowned for cooking expertise. Since ancient times, the southern cuisine has been famous enough that even His Majesty the Emperor often seeks it out.”

“Hmm~ Really? But isn’t it a bit…weird to go there in this heat? In this weather, how refreshing and nice would it be to feel the northern breeze?”

The sweltering heat.

Summer had come to the Academy before anyone realized.

Spring was so short, and to provide service scenes for the key NPCs, summer had been intentionally prolonged.

“Commoner, don’t you think so too?”

Thus, Isabella used ice magic to send a cool breeze toward Edgar.

Ed’s bangs fluttered while the sweat on his forehead started to evaporate in the pleasant chill.

Even while sweating herself, Isabella infused coolness throughout her body in a bid to entice Edgar.

“Ugh…”

This made Enya fume.

The weather was already hot enough that sweat formed where their bodies touched.

There was hardly an enticing suggestion other than feeling the cool northern winds in such hot weather.

Even she found herself instinctively waving her arms around to cool the heat gathering in her body and lifting her hair to cool the nape of her neck.

So Enya decided to make a last effort.

“Then let’s all go together!”

“…Huh?”

“When we were kids, I often visited your house, remember? It’s been a while since we greeted Lord Graham. Plus, I want to see your sister again after such a long time.”

Enya proposed to go to the northern Graham territory together.

However, Isabella gazed at Enya with a blank expression.

Claire watched the standoff between the two with interest.

Finally, Isabella spoke.

“Huh. So what you said back then was just idle talk? You said you wouldn’t come again.”

“…I had my reasons back then.”

“Ha ha ha. Is that so? Being sensitive over just one prank.”

“…What?”

…A prank.

The moment Isabella uttered that word, a spark of anger flared in Enya’s eyes.

Yet, Isabella, undeterred, continued to provoke Enya with her gaze.

“You just killed one—”

“Shut up!”

But before she could finish her sentence, Enya bolted toward her at high speed.

Instinctively, Isabella’s eyes darkened, and she immediately cast a mental control spell on Enya.

“Ugh—! Uggh…”

“Quite impressive, aren’t you? To resist this much. I see you must be training under Lord Cruel.”

A powerful, negative mental control spell that could drive an ordinary cadet to self-harm.

However, Enya was fiercely resisting the mental control.

Having undergone various training since childhood, even without awakening her ‘Third Eye,’ she had immunity to most mental attacks.

“I don’t want to fight with you. Our values just differ. Besides, that dog was mine, wasn’t it?”

Yet, Isabella loosened the spell with those words.

The shadowy, oppressive aura pressing on Enya vanished in an instant.

However, Enya seized the opportunity and lunged at Isabella.

Her fist slammed into Isabella’s face, sending her sprawling to the ground.

“Haah… Haah… Haah…”

With an extremely angry face, Enya stared down at Isabella.

Yet, Isabella had a smile on her face, licking the blood at the corner of her lips.

As she stood up, shaking off the dust, she said.

“How simplistic. Just now, you broke the rules. It’s forbidden to inflict injury on a fellow cadet.”

“Haah… Haah… So what? What are you gonna do about it?”

“If reported, you’ll be immediately disciplined, you know?”

“Do it. I don’t care.”

“Heh. You won’t do that. I don’t dislike you. I’ll generously let it slide.”

Isabella said that with a crooked smile.

At the same time, a black mist began to swirl around her body.

Enya frowned at the sight and lowered her head.

“Again… you did that on purpose, didn’t you? Enough already.”

“Heh. Your anger was delicious♥”

Enya’s expression shifted into a complex mix.

Anger directed at Isabella, yet also a glimmer of pity.

However, the next words from Claire startled both Enya and Isabella.

“…Hey, guys. Edgar Fix just vanished!”

“…Huh?”

“Where did he go? He suddenly disappeared.”

***

While Isabella and Enya were bickering over where to eat, a black shadow appeared beneath my feet, and the space warped.

Out of nowhere, I was summoned into an unfamiliar room.

And in that room, an utterly unbelievable figure awaited me.

The head of the Cruel family, Enya’s father.

And the strongest swordsman of the Empire, known as ‘The Sword Saint,’ Illeya was present.

“Forgive my rudeness; I thought it would be easier to talk with you alone. There are just too many eyes here.”

“…”

“Should I introduce myself first? I am Illeya, the lord of the Cruel family. Nice to meet you, Edgar Fix.”