I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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It was indeed not an easy task to grasp Fix.

Somehow I managed to open him up and examine his internal structure, but the circuits were too complex, making it difficult to understand their layout and principles.

So, I decided to use the ‘Engineering Thinking’ cheat skill to analyze him.

This skill is ridiculously overpowered as it allows one to comprehend engineering knowledge just by observing with the eyes.

However, perhaps due to a lack of levels, that too was ineffective.

With my level 3 ‘Engineering Thinking’, I couldn’t understand Fix’s complex CPU.

“Let’s take it slow.”

Thus, I decided to put off studying Fix for now.

First, I would gather money for the air conditioner subscription fee and plan to obtain the ‘Emerald Mana Stone’ mined from the Dwarf Alliance Kingdom.

If I could steadily develop a primitive computer with that, I might just find the answers.

This was because, upon cracking open Fix’s head, I discovered that his CPU was made from materials different from Earth’s CPU.

As expected, it utilized Emerald Mana Stones.

So, why was the CPU in this world made from Emerald Mana Stones?

The reason is that, unlike regular Mana Stones, Emerald Mana Stones can be miniaturized down to the nanoscale.

In other words, while regular Mana Stones lose their properties when broken down too finely, Emerald Mana Stones can still hold Mana even when ground to almost a powder.

This means equipment can be miniaturized.

Just a tiny amount of Mana Stone would suffice to allow Mana to flow.

“And this isn’t the end.”

Moreover, when Emerald Mana Stones undergo special processing, the amount of Mana they can hold can be adjusted.

In other words, if processed to hold 50, they can hold exactly that much Mana.

So, what would happen if it were adjusted to hold only 1 Mana?

Then it would be 1 when filled with Mana and 0 when empty.

This means that the presence or absence of Mana could express binary code.

With this, Emerald Mana Stones could be used like ‘transistors’ to switch between 0 and 1.

And if multiple such transistors were gathered to perform specific operations, that would be a ‘logic circuit.’

This would allow for the creation of the arithmetic logic unit that forms the foundation of a CPU.

“Well, it’s not an easy task.”

The problem is, a CPU contains billions of devices capable of switching 0s and 1s, that is, transistors.

Thus, to replicate a modern CPU, Emerald Mana Stones need to be split smaller than fine dust and processed to hold only 1 Mana.

Only when such components are gathered in the size of my fingernail can a modern CPU be born.

I can only marvel at the technology of the nuts and bolts that create such insane semiconductors.

“This seems like a long-term project.”

As a result, my grand plan to create a ‘computer’ requires long-term foresight.

The reason is that what I’ve been contemplating thus far is merely the hardware design of the CPU; I haven’t even thought about the software design yet.

For instance, various kinds of registers that assist the CPU’s arithmetic.

Or perhaps the cache memory and RAM to store the commands processed by the CPU, the compiler to convert coded languages into assembly languages, and the assembler to change assembly language into machine language consisting of 0s and 1s.

There’s plenty to consider on the software side too.

“…So, does this mean I need to level up?”

To comprehend and create such a complex structure, I must raise the level of ‘Engineering Thinking.’

The higher the level of Engineering Thinking, the more advanced structures I can understand.

“What will happen if my manual skill level goes up…?”

But what if my manual skill level increases?

I got Fix the moment my manual skill reached level 3.

So, does that mean if it reaches level 4, I might get another Fix-like robot?

Perhaps Fix might even upgrade.

Right now it’s in the form of a robotic arm, but could it evolve into a humanoid robot at level 4?

Well, ultimately, only time will tell.

For now, I’ll gather enough money to buy the Emerald Mana Stone and continue upgrading the suit.

Eventually, as I go about my tasks, my hand skill and engineering thinking levels will naturally rise.

***

“Ugh…”

Wednesday, 3rd period.

Enya was glaring at me, her face filled with frustration.

Indeed, it was because she wasn’t picked as my partner for the practical class.

“Hehe, commoner. Randomly drawing partners and it turns out we’re paired; it feels kinda fateful, doesn’t it?”

And, as luck would have it, Isabella was chosen as my partner.

That’s why Enya had that annoyed expression glaring at us.

“Now, we will conduct the sleep induction method. As announced earlier, if you can put your partner to sleep within 15 minutes, you pass.”

At that moment, the instructor notified us of the instructions, grabbing everyone’s attention.

Even Enya, who had been looking bitterly, and Isabella, who had been smiling at me, focused on the instructor’s words.

Soon, the instructor began explaining.

“If you’ve been paying attention, you should be able to succeed smoothly, but since this is your first practical, let’s go over the key points once more. First, sound blocking. You don’t need complex spell casting; just turn on the device provided to you, and sounds within a 2m radius will be blocked.”

Sound blocking.

In other words, it meant blocking noise to put your partner to sleep.

The class the instructor was teaching was all about helping someone sleep peacefully in the midst of war.

“When you block the sound, the next step is the image association method…”

The next step is image association.

As the name suggests, it’s about evoking an image.

Mainly with static images that can bring peace of mind.

For example, the gently lapping waves on a pristine white sandy beach.

Or it could be following a leaf fluttering in a light breeze or gazing at slowly drifting clouds.

Regardless of what is chosen, you only need to help your partner visualize the most static images possible to lower their heart rate and breathing frequency.

“And next is…”

The following step is ‘Mana absorption.’

In other words, relaxing the tense muscles using Mana Embodiment.

Continuously engaging in conversation to help evoke images while using the ‘Mana Absorption Device’ to draw the Mana embedded in the muscles.

This is to ensure the body is completely relaxed.

“Now, I will start the timer. The time limit is 15 minutes. If you can put your partner to sleep within that, you pass. Start!”

With that, the instructor pressed the timer button to signal the beginning.

I then looked at Isabella, who was lying on the bed gazing at me.

I wondered if this sleep method would work on her.

As if reading my thoughts, Isabella smirked and said, “Seems like you’ve caught on. I don’t fall for stuff like that.”

“…”

Of course, that would be the case.

Isabella can’t sleep using conventional methods.

For, after all, Isabella controls ‘negative emotions.’

And she fights by processing that into a curse to inflict psychological harm on others.

Thus, if she fails to control those negative emotions, she herself becomes affected.

She must live acknowledging that there’s a bomb in her head.

“Well. But I still have to give it a shot.”

With that, I pressed the device to block sound within a 2m radius.

Instantly, we were separated from the outside noise, giving an illusion that only the two of us existed in the world.

“I’m quite good at putting people to sleep.”

I already had experience with putting Isabella to sleep.

Around the time the retry count in El Pandor Runtera exceeded 60.

When I reached the later stages of the game on Isabella’s route, I repeatedly shared the bed with her.

And each time, Isabella begged me to help her sleep.

Thanks to that, I already knew how to put her to sleep.

“This is interesting. I’m looking forward to it.”

Maybe that’s why, as I looked at Isabella lying down, her face suddenly overlapped with how she appeared back then.

Her face, sadly smiling as she looked at me.

Suddenly, her lines from that time flickered before my eyes.

‘It’s okay. You can kill me.’

“…Move over.”

Maybe that’s why I unconsciously took spontaneous action.

I asked for her to make space on the bed.

Isabella replied, looking flustered.

“W-what? You want to lie down too?”

“……”

In that moment, numerous thoughts rushed through my mind.

Isabella from back then and Isabella now are completely different people; why did I blurt that out?

As soon as I said it, I regretted it.

“Yes. I want to lie down too.”

But I couldn’t pick up the spilled water.

I only had to try my best to manage the situation.

“Y-you want to lie down? Together?”

Isabella had a surprisingly bashful expression.

I supposed no one would have wanted to share a bed with someone like her, so it made sense.

Moreover, lying on the same bed with a guy of the same age would carry significant implications.

So, I calmly opened my mouth as if it were no big deal.

“…Yes. There’s research indicating that primates feel more secure with a trustworthy fellow species beside them.”

Of course, that was a lie.

It was something I had improvised on the spot.

But fortunately, it seemed Isabella was willing to let it slide.

Her eyes narrowed as she laughed lightly.

“Pfft… Is that so? You really are entertaining. To talk so casually about sleeping with a Grand Duchess. A different guy would have been torn apart by now.”

“……”

That was probably true.

Isabella is extremely averse to others trying to make contact with her.

“But you seem fine. Honestly, you’ve got some looks. And you seem fun too.”

Isabella said that while smoothly shifting over.

I patted the spot where I was about to lie, and spoke up.

“I’m curious to see if you can actually put me to sleep.”

Isabella’s face brimmed with mischief.

Her violet eyes sparkled with fascination as she looked at me.

-Swoosh.

I took a deep breath internally and then climbed onto the bed.

Before long, we were so close that we could hear each other’s breathing.

I could reach out and touch her face.

‘Don’t fall in love with me.’

But once again, memories from previous rounds flooded back.

The Isabella route that always culminated in her death.

Why did those feelings from back then keep rushing back?

Those memories that I had only experienced through a game felt as vivid as reality.

“…Commoner?”

At that moment, she called me.

The past memories scattered in an instant, and her present face filled my sight.

“Are you… worried about something? You look serious.”

Perhaps it was because I kept superimposing her past self onto her present.

I seemed to have let my expression slip.

I chuckled and replied to her.

“Yeah. I’m worried about not passing the practical.”

“Pfft. Is that what this is about?”

Isabella chuckled softly as she took my joke.

She then asked.

“So, what’s your plan now?”

“…Um. I’m thinking.”

I’ve taken the plunge, but now that I was about to do it, I hesitated.

To effectively put Isabella to sleep, physical contact was unavoidable.

We hadn’t yet built a proper emotional connection like the previous rounds, and would she allow our bodies to touch at this stage?

…Could this end up in disaster if I said something wrong?

“Uh, there might be a bit of physical contact; is that okay?”

But what does worrying accomplish?

I just decided to go for it.

I held my breath in anticipation, waiting for Isabella’s reaction.

“…Will you be able to put me to sleep like that?”

Fortunately, her demeanor seemed a bit lax this time.

I smiled subtly in response.

“Perhaps.”

“……”

Isabella’s eyes seemed lost in thought.

Then suddenly, her cheeks flushed red.

Then she spoke to me.

“Um, how much physical contact are we talking about?”

“……”

This was a refreshing experience.

Isabella, of all people, appeared to be shy.

Perhaps being early into the game, she still had some innocence about her.

“Well… it’s just a hug from behind. But don’t think of it as anything weird. You can see it as part of a treatment for sleep imbalance.”

“…Hmm.”

Part of a treatment.

At that mention, Isabella nodded.

Then she swiftly turned her back and said,

“I heard about you from Butler Wilson. Because of your cooling wind incident… you’ve inspired the development of ‘Graham’s North Wind.’ So you should be fine. Our family plans to invite you… and I personally liked you… Just think of it as having a teddy bear behind you.”

While she spoke as if unaffected, I could distinctly perceive her trembling voice.

She was a girl who was attaching a multitude of reasons to a simple hug.

Her blushing cheeks appeared particularly cute.

“Ahem. Then, let’s begin.”

Nonetheless, I was equally trembling.

Holding her for the first time was a new experience for me too.

-Swoosh.

But my movements were sure and steady.

Like an old habit, I nestled behind Isabella and wrapped one arm around her waist.

In that instant, Isabella flinched, responding unexpectedly.

“Haah!”