I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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After the announcement of the ‘Heat-Sensing Mosquito Net’ & ‘Chicken Guardian,’

Ed’s status soared to nearly stratospheric levels.

This was because an 18-year-old genius engineer had solved issues of heat and mosquitoes that no one had managed to tackle before.

However, Ed attributed all the credit to the Emperor.

Excessive status and influence inevitably attracted jealousy, and if the source of that jealousy was the royal family, things were bound to get complicated.

Thus, Ed placed the royal maker label on the new products as well.

With just that, he could inflate the price by 25%, so it was not like he was losing anything.

Who would dare question a product certified by the royal family?

“Everyone, please line up one by one!”

Therefore, in the main auditorium, a spectacular scene unfolded as noblemen from various parts of the Empire lined up one after another.

To sign a rental contract for the royal products, ‘Heat-Sensing Mosquito Net’ and ‘Chicken Guardian,’ they had to enter the contract room in order and sign one-on-one.

“Alright, only one person can enter at a time.”

Because of this, ‘Anthony’ was in charge of the proceedings at the contract room door.

Anthony was one of the club members from the ‘F*ck-Up Club’ and had placed second on the recent quiz, allowing him to take on the role of ‘Contract Guide.’

He wore an armband adorned with the royal insignia on his right arm!

If not now, when would the son of a baron dare line up counts and marquises?

Indeed, swearing loyalty to Edgar Fix was the best decision of his life.

Just showing that he was in the ‘Edgar Fix Line’ changed how the nobles looked at him and how his father’s expression changed.

When a noble standing right in front of the contract room asked, “Are you close with Edgar Fix?” it was Anthony, involuntarily puffing out his chest.

After all, he was Edgar Fix’s second loyal retainer.

“Well, we had a bit of a quarrel in the past, but now we’re practically best buddies, you could say!”

Thus Anthony boasted a bit.

He was saying he was Edgar Fix’s close friend.

Of course, given that he had disparaged Edgar Fix every day in the past, it did prick his conscience.

To be honest, he and Edgar Fix were more lord and vassal than friends.

“It’s okay. I just need to show loyalty moving forward! Long live Edgar Fix!”

However, he had repented for all his past sins.

From being worthless trash even below food waste, he had been reborn as Edgar’s second loyal retainer.

And so, the contracts were proceeding smoothly.

Until the Fourth Grand Duke of the Empire appeared.

“……”

The heavy pressure felt as if it could suffocate the area with just that momentum.

They all stared rigidly at Anthony with tense faces.

Receiving the gaze of the Grand Dukes, also known as Dukes of the Four Directions, Anthony felt an overwhelming sense of pressure, as if he were about to burst.

How could he dare to line up the kings of the Four Directions?

“Speak up. Who should go in first?”

At this moment, Anthony wanted to run away.

The royal armband that had made him feel invincible now felt useless.

“Uh… that, um…”

Anthony stammered, trembling as he looked at the lined-up grand dukes.

Grand Duke Adrian Graham from the North.

Grand Duke Ireya Cruel from the South.

Grand Duke Bjonson Bernhardt from the West.

Grand Duke Adela Elmar from the East.

All of them were rulers of each direction and equally formidable; how could he choose who should go in first?

“It’s fine. Don’t overthink it. I’ll go in first then.”

At that moment, Ireya stepped forward with a light smile.

Other dukes’ cold gazes focused on him, but he spoke without batting an eye.

“Ed and I already know each other. I was the first to set my sights on him as a son-in-law. I heard that he has been growing closer with my daughter lately and would like to talk a bit.”

The Sword Saint emphasized the word ‘son-in-law’ particularly strongly.

It seemed like a declaration that he was claiming the best bet, so others shouldn’t meddle.

In response, Adrian, the Grand Duke of the North, opened his mouth with an expressionless face.

“Well, it seems my daughter has grown closer to him. But she was the first to have our family name attached to the products he invented. Plus, if my daughter could naturally cast Ice Magic for him and named it after our family, it’s not an ordinary relationship.”

Crack-.

A small crack appeared on Ireya’s forehead.

Adrian’s words were irksome.

He had already received reports from his subordinates about Isabella and Ed’s unusual relationship, his biggest concern being the Grand Duchess of the North.

He could not hand over his son-in-law to that little demon girl.

“Ha ha ha ha. Looks like you’re getting old. You seem to care a lot about such nonsense.”

But then, the West’s Grand Duke, Bjonson, who had been quietly standing with his arms crossed, interjected.

The father of Claire, he needed to downplay rumors about Enya and Isabella for his daughter, who had not yet made any progress with Ed.

Only then could Claire stand a fair chance as a latecomer.

“Right. You all can fight to your heart’s content.”

Meanwhile, someone was quietly observing the three dukes’ psychological battle.

It was Grand Duke Adela, the head of the Elmar family in the East.

The reason she could leisurely watch the psychological battle of the three dukes was that a marriage alliance with Edgar Fix was impossible to begin with.

For her, she only had her only son, Lucas Elmar.

“If I can’t have him, then no one should have him.”

Thus, her best outcome was that none of the duke families could claim Edgar Fix.

If a duke family backed Edgar Fix, who was under the royal family’s protection and had influence throughout the Empire, it was obvious that a second-in-command of the Empire would be born.

That scenario must be prevented at all costs.

“Ha ha, rumors, you say? Those who know will understand that it’s a fact.”

“Ho ho. Usually, rumors can grow exaggerated and shapeless, right?”

“Rather, I think it’s you who is exaggerating. Aren’t you denying reality too much?”

Thus, Adela watched the dukes bicker quietly.

Cheering for their fight, she wished fervently for them to self-destruct by next year.

“Um…”

In the midst of that,

Anthony cautiously squeezed between the dukes.

Having been unable to decide who should go in first, he hurried to ask Ed for the order before delivering the news.

“I-I just asked Ed directly. Let me guide you regarding the order.”

With that, the dukes embroiled in their psychological battle focused on Anthony’s next words.

Now, with a treasure like ‘Edgar Fix’ they couldn’t afford to miss,

they were unwilling to concede anything even on trivial matters.

“The first person I’ll introduce is… Lady Adela of the Elmar Duke family. Ah, please do come inside…”

However, the result was unexpected.

Who would have thought the Elmar family, who had not had any ties with Ed until now, would be chosen?

Adela also seemed taken aback as she widened her eyes, pointing to herself.

“…? Is that right? Did you say I was the most desired first visitor?”

“…Yes. Ed clearly conveyed that intention.”

But even when confirming again, it was indeed Adela who had been chosen first.

A faint smile spread across Adela’s face.

“Ah, so, among the four duke families, it was my family that he most wanted to see first. As the rumors say, he seems to be quite knowledgeable and possesses both grace and humility—truly the Empire’s future.”

“Ha, haha… Yes.”

“Good, please lead the way. I want to see the future of the Empire.”

Thus Adela said as she stood in front of the contract room door.

Soon, Anthony bowed his head and opened the door, and Adela walked inside to meet Ed.

Watching Adela’s back in a daze, Ireya murmured in a defeated voice.

“Son-in-law…”

***

The next day.

Ed successfully signed contracts with most of the noble families in the Empire.

Now he could evenly distribute his products across the country.

‘Now I just need to deploy information sources.’

And Ed decided to actively utilize this point.

Just like someone would periodically come to check the water purifier installed in the house.

He planned to send out his informants under the pretext of checking the ‘Responsive Heat-Dispersing Mosquito Nets’ and ‘Chicken Guardians.’

That way, he could monitor the movements of the Demon Church spreading across each region.

‘Hiring Dream Guardians would be suitable.’

However, Ed had no intention of hiring just anyone as “Mosquito Net Managers.”

Since he had caused Dream Guardians to lose their jobs with his products, he planned to preferentially hire them for the sake of their livelihoods.

To gather information on the Demon Church, he would need someone who could use at least a certain amount of mana, and these individuals would be those who could risk being bitten by mosquitoes for pay and were also mana users.

‘The results are quite good.’

In this way, Ed was able to reap various benefits from this venture.

He gained a valid justification to send his informants throughout the country and made several connections during the contract process.

‘To build bonds with the heads of the duke families so quickly.’

In particular, the most notable achievement was the connection with the four duke families.

As a result of various conversations during the contract signing, all four duke families wanted to build constructive relationships with him.

With this, Ed successfully laid the groundwork for the “House Quest” he must clear at some point.

If he maintained good relations by exchanging contacts, the day would surely come when he could intervene actively with the duke families and complete the quest.

He could accelerate clearing the “House Quest,” which typically could only be completed around graduation time.

***

In a dark room with not a single light.

Charlotte was curled up with her legs, lost in thought.

Her mind was troubled because of the public notice posted on the bulletin board.

[Announcement]

“Seeking a manager to oversee the ‘Responsive Heat-Dispersing Mosquito Net.’

Preferred qualification: Dream Guardian.”

A short notice written in just two lines.

However, Charlotte knew well what intention was woven into this announcement.

It was saying that they would support the Dream Guardians who lost their jobs because of Ed’s invention.

That’s why it was written without any special conditions, just ‘preferred: Dream Guardian.’

‘But…’

Yet Charlotte was still not applying for this great job.

She couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Her pride wouldn’t allow it.

“…”

Of course, if someone were to see her like this, they might scoff.

What right does she have to be prideful?

Ed was offering an easy way to make money, so why was she sitting around like a fool, unable to take advantage of it?

They might throw such sharp criticisms at her.

‘I don’t want to show this side of me…’

However, Charlotte didn’t want to show this pathetic side to the person she liked.

She didn’t want to become a foolish version of herself who would humbly ask to ride for free on the rails he laid out for her.

As a fellow academy student who liked Ed, she wanted to stand before Ed confidently and equally like Enya or Isabella, who were always pretty and self-assured.

‘…Ultimately, I will end up relying on Ed again.’

Charlotte had a feeling that if this dilemma continued, she would again find herself in front of Ed, bowing and saying she needed money.

That pathetic and destitute girl was always her identity, and her life seemed to be designed to become just that.

– Clench…

Nevertheless, Charlotte held the necklace tightly.

The raw gem that had not yet become a diamond.

Charlotte vividly recalled the day Ed had gifted her that stone.

No, it was more than vivid; it was a life-changing event for her.

Wasn’t that gem a token of her potential to become beautiful and to be reborn?

Thus, Charlotte wanted to become a diamond.

Even if it looked like a mere stone now, she wanted to shine as a sparkling diamond and stand before Ed one day.

Wasn’t that why she had jumped into becoming a Dream Guardian, risking her fears?

– Swipe.

So, Charlotte wiped her rising tears away.

Clutching the necklace that Ed had gifted her, she vowed to stand up on her own.

After all, she had always relied on Ed for help until now.

If she took the easy route again, stepping onto the rail Ed had laid out for her, she felt like she would never become an equal to him.

No matter what, she had to overcome this crisis on her own.

– Goooooo…

Finally, Charlotte began to gather mana.

Blue mana bloomed in the dark room, creating beautiful flowers.

It was a nature creation technique that only the Verdiane family could perform.

“Flowers! I’ll sell flowers!”

The only way she knew to make money as a humble being.

That was to bloom and sell flowers.

Thus, Charlotte began to hold the beautifully bloomed flowers, contemplating how to sell them.

Eventually, Charlotte set the flowers down and closed her eyes.

To become a product, she had to create something more special than this.

Something that everyone needed and wanted, just like Ed’s creations.

“……”

Charlotte’s night grew deeper.