I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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It was news like a bolt from the blue.

Edgar Fix had already left.

No, why not at least vent out some grievances?

How could he leave so coolly like this?

‘What kind of person is this clean-cut?’

In fact, if I thought about it from his perspective, it was understandable to feel wronged.

From Edgar Fix’s point of view, wasn’t he just trying to do a good deed?

If it were me, I would have at least put up a minimal defense.

‘I only used the forge for this cat…’

At that moment, Edgar’s last words came to mind.

It also reminded me of how he had silenced his own mouth when he tried to protest.

Elena let out a deep sigh.

‘Still, if he just leaves like this…’

It was a disaster.

With someone of that caliber, it would have been a waste not to have him onboard.

Of course, the criteria for selecting an academy blacksmith were based on “how quickly one can churn out mass-produced equipment,” but someone with his skill could handle it.

After all, he was the one who had tailored Wyoyong’s prosthetic in just a few hours.

Without a doubt, Edgar Fix should have been the owner of the forge.

“I’ll revise the bidding plan.”

Thus, Elena decided to change the bidding plan.

She couldn’t let Edgar Fix slip away like this.

“Huh? Right now?”

However, several faculty members showed clear signs of confusion due to the sudden schedule change.

Originally, today was supposed to be the day to select the final bidder.

“Yes. I’ll be finalizing the bidders not today, but next Wednesday.”

Even so, Elena decided to push through the plan revisions, knowing it would cause some talk among the faculty.

At the very least, she wanted to give Edgar another chance to compete.

“Um… are you making changes because of the 27th alternate?”

“If that’s the case, I’m sorry. To delay the schedule for just one blacksmith doesn’t seem right.”

“I agree. Isn’t it just giving a spot to some peasant making training equipment? I’m concerned that too much manpower and effort are wasted on the lower ones.”

But of course, there were quite a few opposing voices.

Mostly from the old-timers who looked down on a half-blooded noble like himself.

Or those dissatisfied that the youngest among them was the head professor.

They were those who had been embroiled in friction before and were stirring up trouble this time as well.

Crack!

Thus, Elena decided to do what she did best.

Brute force.

The professors who had voiced their complaints were sweating profusely as they stared at the crushed chair caused by Elena’s telekinesis.

“How could you say ‘just’? Equipment is paramount for the safety of students. In case of accidents, equipment is what protects their safety.”

As she said that, Elena waved her hand once more.

Crack— Crack— Crack—

The chairs twisted into bizarre shapes.

“And, I’ll keep the schedule to a minimum. First, I’ll select the final two here, and then we will have the final evaluation with one person I will ‘specially’ invite from outside.”

Elena clenched her fist as she said this.

The steel chair went Bam! and exploded, scattering fragments everywhere.

The sound was like a grenade going off.

Yet, even though hundreds of steel shards had burst out, there was not a single casualty.

For Elena’s skills were monstrous enough to control hundreds of pieces of steel perfectly.

Soon, Elena’s soft voice echoed.

“Is there anyone with objections?”

“……”

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

***

In the rural village of ‘Greta.’

This is where James’s forge is located, and currently, it was in an uproar.

For the Great Mage who had reached peak proficiency, the Princess’s mentor, and the head professor of the Imperial Royal Academy, ‘Elena von Elide Rosario’ had personally visited this place.

“E-Eureka! Great Mage Elena has graced us with her presence!”

The village chief of Greta was pale as a sheet.

There were few who could remain composed in front of someone capable of single-handedly bringing down an entire kingdom.

However, Elena smiled gently.

“Thank you for the warm welcome. I didn’t intend to create such a stir, though. I seem to have caused unnecessary concern.”

Unintentionally making a commotion in the village, Elena.

The truth was, she had come to this village incognito.

She had removed all signs of her title and the symbols of nobility before entering.

“Not at all! Concern? Never! You are always welcome!”

However, Elena’s identity got exposed.

The chief of Greta recognized her at once.

Even with her face partially obscured by a hood.

“Do we happen to know each other?”

Elena couldn’t help but harbor a tiny doubt.

If someone recognized her just from her jawline, then they must have seen her at some point.

The chief’s response was, as expected, a confirmation.

“…Yes. In fact, I am a retired magician from the magic army. I met you seven years ago during the Great War, Lady Elena…”

The chief recalled those times with a trembling voice.

Fear.

The emotion felt back then was fear.

Fear felt toward the allied forces.

Wasn’t it every time Elena waved her hand that dozens of enemy heads burst apart?

Before such overwhelming power, the chief lost the will to fight.

It was closer to slaughter than an actual battle.

A fight he had no place in.

“Ah, seven years ago…”

Yet, Elena revealed a complex expression as she reminisced about that time.

While it was that war that had brought her to this position, it was unmistakably a dark chapter of her life she wanted to erase.

“Seven years ago, we were comrades. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my fellow comrade.”

Nevertheless, Elena smiled, dismissing her complicated feelings.

At the same time, she extended her hand, asking for a handshake.

“A-Ah, yes!”

The chief hurriedly wiped the sweat off his palms.

Bowing slightly, he grasped Elena’s hand.

Tremble tremble tremble…

The chief’s slightly trembling hand caught Elena’s attention.

She released his hand with a wry smile.

Clearing her throat, she changed the subject.

“Ahem, anyway, that was the past, and the reason I visited this village is to meet someone.”

She immediately brought up her purpose for visiting.

The chief nodded, asking whom she intended to meet.

When Elena mentioned she was looking for Edgar Fix, the chief responded with a faint smile.

“Oh, you mean Edgar? He went with James to the equipment bidding competition…”

Two days.

It had been two days since Edgar and James had gone for the bidding competition, and they still hadn’t returned.

They were enjoying their leisurely trip back.

“Oh, I see. Do you know when they might be back?”

“Hmm… they should be arriving tomorrow. They decided to resume ‘custom crafting’ from then on.”

Custom crafting?

Elena asked what that meant.

The chief then stood up to bring forth an item he had commissioned as a custom job.

“This is what I commissioned. Edgar made it himself.”

The chief smiled faintly as he presented the item Edgar crafted.

And before she knew it, his trembling had stopped.

Elena watched him with curious eyes.

Simply shifting the topic to ‘Edgar Fix’ had completely transformed the atmosphere.

“What is this? I’ve never seen this item before…”

“Hm… According to Edgar, it’s called a ‘keyboard’.”

“A keyboard?”

“Yes. It has keys with letters engraved on them. You insert a blank sheet into the keyboard, and when you press a key—”

Click.

“Just like this, letters get printed on the paper. It’s remarkable that a kid his age is coming up with something like this. Thanks to him, I can now write my short stories more easily.”

The chief exclaimed proudly while he repeatedly tapped the keyboard.

The phrase ‘What do you think? Isn’t it amazing?’ was quickly etched on the blank sheet.

Elena expressed interest and asked the chief.

“Can I try this too?”

“Of course! Here, have a seat and give it a try.”

The chief stood up, offering his chair to her.

Elena seated herself and wrote down whatever came to her mind.

[I am Elena von Elide Rosario. The Great Mage.]

The sentence was completed using the hunt-and-peck method.

Once she confirmed what she had written, Elena felt her face heat up.

Somehow, it felt like a self-promotion.

“C-Could I erase this?”

“Of course! That’s the backspace key. If you press that, the ink will be erased.”

Doing as the chief said, the sentence was indeed erased.

Elena, feeling excited, started typing a few more sentences.

But it felt like she would be exposed, so she deleted them immediately after writing.

“How fascinating. This item was made directly by Edgar Fix?”

“Yes, it’s a handmade item.”

Elena rested her chin on her hand.

It was truly a brilliant and exceptional item.

Above all, the arrangement of the keys was both scientific and ergonomic.

It was clear the user’s comfort had been thoroughly considered in its design.

A smile spread across Elena’s lips.

‘Edgar Fix…’

She found him likable.

He was a blacksmith who could genuinely understand the hearts of people.

A stark contrast to the greedy blacksmiths of the Empire.

“He’s truly a wonderful kid. Even with such talent, he doesn’t crave money at all. I feel sorry and want to give him more help. He barely charges the villagers, after all.”

The chief added that even those who initially received custom crafting for free later felt grateful for Edgar’s gear performances and managed to compensate him.

And the more praise she heard about Edgar, the more Elena felt guilty toward him.

‘Did I misunderstand such a kid? He probably fixed things out of pure goodwill.’

Edgar Fix.

The shadow cast on his handsome face surfaced in her mind.

A shadow born from her own misunderstandings.

She wanted to meet him soon and clear up those misunderstandings.

“Excuse me, but where’s the inn? I’ll stay overnight.”