I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

---

The next day, Edgar and his group attended a meeting.

It was to address the dwindling supply of emerald mana stones.

The mining supervisor explained the current issues in detail, and experts from various fields gathered to discuss solutions.

“Let’s try option one.”

Many proposals were raised, and they were attempted one by one.

The results, as expected, were failures.

If it were that easy, the dwarves would have solved it long ago.

“It’s not easy.”

Thus options two, three, and four also failed consecutively.

Unexpected variables kept arising, causing their calculations to fail.

“Wait a moment.”

At that moment, a thought flashed through Edgar’s mind.

He asked when the emerald mana stones were first discovered.

The mining supervisor said twenty years ago.

And it was none other than the place discovered by Dagran.

That is, the cave that only appears at a specific time due to a “magical anomaly”!

Because of that, Dagran must have been branded a liar.

“I think I know the secret.”

Finally, Edgar called everyone together.

He began to explain what he realized.

“This cave is a place that no dwarf has discovered until now. Until Dagran found it 47 years ago. But Dagran became a liar. This cave is affected by a ‘magical anomaly’ that exposes the terrain only at specific times.”

Dagran, wrongfully blamed because of a magical anomaly.

Edgar mentioned this fact to engrave it in everyone’s minds.

Then he brought up the most crucial point he wanted to convey.

“But what about now? Anyone can easily access this cave. The magical anomaly no longer affects it.”

Elena’s mouth slowly opened.

She had a look on her face as if she had realized something.

Then Edgar threw out a thought-provoking question.

“Isn’t it strange? I heard that the emerald mana stone deposits here were tremendous originally, but they’re being consumed way too fast compared to the mining rates. Why is that?”

“………Magical anomaly.”

“Yes. The only difference is that this cave is no longer affected by the magical anomaly.”

Everyone nodded.

It was indeed a reasonable deduction.

“Let’s come up with a new plan.”

Thus, Edgar’s group began to revise their plans.

They decided to reference past testimonies to recreate the magical anomaly.

Charlotte researched the cave’s attributes and informed Edgar, who discussed it with Elena and others.

They came to one conclusion.

“There has to be a magical inscription inside the cave.”

Magical inscription.

For this cave to be affected by the magical anomaly, an inscription had to be engraved.

A spell that allows external mana to spread throughout the entire cave.

So, Edgar’s group began searching for the inscription.

Day one, day two, day three, day four.

Everyone was putting their efforts into locating the inscription.

As a result.

“Y-yes, here!”

They finally found it.

The inscription engraved inside the cave.

“This is…”

Elena’s mouth slowly opened.

Her eyes skimmed the flow of bizarre yet profound geometric patterns.

It was an ancient inscription.

The very spell from the Black Empire that she had been studying for a long time.

The inscription that was said to have been lost when the Black Empire fell thousands of years ago!

“I think I’ve found the method!”

However, Elena was a genius with inscriptions.

Although the ancient spell was indecipherable to anyone else, she could reinterpret it in modern terms.

Thus, she was able to unravel the clue.

What kind of inscriptions were engraved in this cave, and how those inscriptions affected the entire cave.

“I… I think I’ve realized something too.”

And at that moment, Charlotte gained some insight as she listened to Elena’s explanation.

In other words, it was a method to create an environment where emerald mana stones can form naturally.

Having created small ecosystems while decorating her garden for a long time, she sensed a kind of insight that couldn’t be explained in words.

“Let’s get started.”

So, everyone united to recreate the magical anomaly.

As a result, Edgar’s group finally succeeded.

The ancient inscription had failed to function, causing the magical anomaly in the cave to disappear, but now it reappeared.

“As expected.”

And, the result was as anticipated.

Emerald mana stones were generated naturally.

“Edgar Fix, you truly are the blacksmith of salvation.”

Thus, Edgar completed all his missions.

He uncovered the truth about Dagran and Reina, and also managed to restore the relationship between the Dwarf Alliance Kingdom and the Empire.

Moreover, by providing the dwarves with real benefits, he secured grounds for a strong alliance.

Everything went according to plan.

“From now on, there will be no illegal export of dwarf weapons to other kingdoms. I promise you this!”

The Dwarf King assured that there would be no illegal export of weapons.

In reality, it wouldn’t be illegal but openly sold, yet he opened his heart to the Empire and vowed not to do so from now on.

“And the emerald mana stones will be offered to the Empire at the cheapest price.”

Additionally, they could now secure the ultra-rare resource of emerald mana stones at low prices.

Moreover, they even said they would provide Edgar with whatever he asked for, free of charge.

He had hit the jackpot with an amazing item.

“Hahaha! You are our dwarf friends! Enjoy the night to the fullest! Open the warehouse wide!”

Thus, having achieved tremendous diplomatic success, Edgar’s group relaxed all their tensions and enjoyed the party on the final night.

That night, with her long hair down and glasses off, Charlotte caught everyone’s attention.

However, she committed the outrageous act of asking Edgar to teach her to “dance,” drawing intense glares from Isabella and Enya.

Still, Charlotte was neither intimidated nor dispirited.

As long as she wore the diamond ore necklace that Edgar gave her, she had nothing to fear in this world.

‘I, I received my first necklace as a gift from Edgar!’

With that kind of self-justification, Charlotte filled herself with pride.

“Um… Your Majesty the King.”

At that moment, while everyone was enjoying the party.

Clarice conveyed her business to the Dwarf King.

She was inquiring about her uncle’s whereabouts.

“Altalion, you say? It’s been about two months since that friend left.”

But as expected, her uncle was already gone.

He had returned to the elves’ kingdom, Eldar.

She must have received the news too late after joining the delegation that had recently heard he was staying in the Dwarf Kingdom.

‘………It can’t be helped.’

Thus, Clarice retreated with a gloomy face.

She thought it might be best to postpone seeing her mother for a bit longer.

There were probably many ways to see her mother that didn’t involve this method.

“Isn’t this… Ha ha…”

And in a corner of the party.

Edgar and Charlotte were awkwardly dancing.

Neither of them had ever danced before, causing them to confuse whether it was dancing or a comedy.

Isabella and Enya were sticking close to them, eager to proclaim that what they were doing was not a noble dance and offering to teach them.

“Ed!”

At that moment, Elena intervened.

Enya and Isabella shot daggers at Elena.

Their eyes seemed to say that no further competitors would be tolerated.

Elena approached Edgar, laughing in disbelief, and said.

“Why are they so tense? By the way, I have good news.”

Saying that, Elena took Edgar to a corner.

Then she relayed the news she had received to him.

“I just reported our recent achievements to the royal family.”

“Yes.”

“They’re preparing an enormous reward! Especially for you, they’re planning an even bigger reward.”

“Ah… Really? What kind of reward is it?”

“Well, I’m not sure what it is either.”

“Hehe, you’re making me anticipate for no reason.”

“You can expect it. Sephilia… no, Sephilia confidently said it would be a jaw-dropping reward.”

“Let’s look forward to it.”

An enormous reward prepared by the royal family.

I don’t know what it is, but Edgar smiled brightly.

There was no reason to refuse a reward.

“By the way, why is our disciple so exceptional?”

“…Huh?”

“Isn’t it? All the achievements brought forth in the Dwarf Kingdom this time came from your plans. I should be the one leading and guiding you, yet you’ve made your master embarrassed.”

“Haha… Well, I just got lucky.”

“Hehe. Don’t be humble if you don’t mean it.”

Elena said this and smiled widely.

Then, she took a sip of her cocktail, placed the empty glass on the collection table, and said.

“Well then, enjoy yourself. I have work to do.”

“…? More work to do?”

“Oh, just personal research. Don’t worry about it.”

With those final words, Elena left the party.

Loosening the tight party dress and tying her hair back with a string.

Having shown her face at the party once, it was time for her to do what she wanted.

It was time to study the ancient inscriptions.

***

Late into the night.

Elena, who was researching the ancient inscriptions, fell asleep.

And she was tossing and turning in her sleep.

Because she was having the same nightmare she always had.

A horrific dream of the Empire’s downfall.

The sky burned red, and the earth was filled with dense smoke.

Everywhere there were corpses, their rotting smell stinging the nose, and thousands of pairs of demonic wings flitted through the sky, overshadowing the sun.

And─

【Kill the last savior.】

The ancient evil, the master of all these demons, covering the sky.

The enemy of humanity that caused this dreadful calamity whispered a command.

To kill the last savior.

Then─.

Schiing────!

Thousands of demons charged forth.

She desperately resisted with all her magic, but ultimately, she couldn’t overcome their numbers and knelt down.

It was defeat.

【So this is the end. Die.】

And that was it.

With a piercing pain, red blood stained her vision.

Her head spun, and her body swayed.

Her consciousness was gradually fading away.

Her sight was engulfed in darkness.

······.

Thus, everything became distant.

All sense organs in her body ceased their functions.

The desolate scenery around her was no longer visible, the stench of rotting corpses no longer smelled, and the horrific roars of demons no longer echoed in her ears.

All five senses were starting to numb.

Thus, the world turned into complete insipid darkness.

──────Pow!

At that moment.

A sudden shining point of light emerged in the darkness.

A small square shape hung suspended in mid-air.

Surely, there were some words written on that square.

And the meaning of those words was as follows in the Empire’s language.

[Would you like to reset all memories and start again? (Y/N)]