I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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What is greatness?

If someone were to ask Lucas such a question, he would undoubtedly point to his mother.

To him, Adela Elmar symbolizes the epitome of greatness.

“I must… be perfect.”

However, if you were to ask his mother what she is, that would be a “weakness.”

An embarrassing defect that could not be hidden, a public disgrace laid bare for all to see.

It was his most vulnerable Achilles’ heel.

This was because his blood carried the unknown lineage of a mercenary.

“I must… definitely defeat Edgar Fix.”

Bastard child.

Lucas Elmar was the bastard who did not carry the Elmar surname.

He received the Elmar surname only when he was almost six years old, and until then, he had simply been referred to by his name.

Adela’s parents vehemently denied Lucas’s existence.

– That child must be erased immediately!

– A child of a mercenary, absolutely impossible!

At the tender age of eighteen.

Adela’s parents were highly concerned when their daughter returned home pregnant.

Worried that the fact of their daughter’s pregnancy might be discovered, they hastily pressured her to terminate the child.

– No. I can’t kill my child.

But Adela’s resolve was unwavering.

She insisted on giving birth to the child by any means necessary and ultimately gave birth to Lucas, who bore the blood of commoners.

However, Lucas’s grandparents still could not accept him.

– I promise to give you my utmost support! You will be able to see the child’s face at least once a month… so please… keep the child hidden…

Thus, Lucas’s grandparents suggested disguising him as the nurse’s child.

It was absolutely impossible to acknowledge the child of some lowly mercenary as a legitimate grandchild of the Grand Duke family.

Moreover, other Grand Duke families were forming powerful marital alliances to expand their influence.

They could not let the value of eighteen-year-old Adela fall to the ground.

– I understand my father’s intentions. As a member of the Elmar family, I must bear that responsibility. But I do not regret my choice. I loved the one who died for me, and I gave birth to this child by my own choice. So, please do not insult me and my child. I will take responsibility.

But Adela did not bend her will to the end.

After months of coaxing, reasoning, scolding, there was always just one answer.

In the end, Adela publically revealed Lucas as her child, cementing her status as an unwed mother.

– The flower of the East giving birth to a lowly mercenary’s child?

– Is this the end of the Elmar family’s fortune?

As a result, the feared situation unfolded.

Adela’s reputation fell into the ground, and the families that had been pushing for her marriage turned their backs on her.

Along with the label of a princess who gave herself to a commoner, all sorts of lewd rumors about her began to spread.

There were even rumors of disabilities regarding Lucas.

– Giving birth does not take away my talent.

But Adela did not mind at all.

She had overwhelming talent.

One of the Elmar family’s visions and one of the strongest spatial control spells.

She honed that talent and contributed to the imperial conquest wars, making a name for herself on countless battlefields.

As a result, she gradually shed the image of the “princess who acts recklessly” and acquired the title of “Empress of the East.”

She was recognized as the legitimate heir of the Eastern Grand Duke.

– I will bestow a title upon you. Stand beside the Emperor and demonstrate your valor. In the name of the Elmar family, elevate our honor.

From then on, Adela received her father’s recognition and became the head of the family.

She had achieved many exploits during the Grand War seven years ago, and the previous head, who was battling illness, smiled as he passed away, saying that his daughter had reclaimed her honor on her own.

– Lucas, I have something to say to you.

However, before passing away, the previous head left words of caution for Lucas.

He urged him to follow Adela’s will and grow into a fine heir for the family.

Additionally, he thoroughly explained the arduous life Adela had lived to protect Lucas, sharing details Lucas was unaware of.

At that time, Lucas was still young but had matured enough to understand the immense sacrifices his mother made for him.

“I must not be a burden.”

After that, Lucas endeavored to be perfect.

With no paternal lineage, he put even more effort into socializing and reputation.

Especially since he was a half-blood with commoners’ blood mixed in, he had to be reborn as the noblest of nobles.

– Nice to meet you. I am Lucas, the sole heir of the Elmar family.

From then on, Lucas worked hard to learn culture and etiquette, striving to become a model for others.

He studied various interpersonal skills such as rhetoric, social conduct, and diplomacy, and never neglected his training.

For his mother, who stood alone against the world, he did everything he could.

– Lucas, you are my pride.

– Lucas, I cannot express how happy I am to have you.

– Lucas, you can take it easy. I’m worried you might overexert yourself.

And his mother supported him.

Even when he was teased by his peers as a child.

Even when he felt sad for not having a father like others.

Even when his grandparents looked at him with cold eyes.

She always told him she was happy to have him and that she loved him.

To Lucas, Adela was both father and mother, as well as the teacher of his life.

She was everything to him.

– Nice to meet you. I am Edgar Fix.

Thus, while he was becoming a son worthy of his mother’s reputation, a troublesome figure began to appear.

Edgar Fix.

Even as a complete commoner, he enrolled in the Academy and stole all the attention away.

Lucas, despite being the representative when he enrolled, began to feel uneasy as Edgar swept the spotlight.

When he first showcased his gauntlet, he spent the whole day simulating battles against him in his imagination.

“My victory is a sure thing.”

But that was as far as it went.

No matter how much he simulated, the result was always his overwhelming victory.

Even when the Max incident occurred, his thoughts remained unchanged.

He was confident in his skills, having worked hard for them.

– Mother, what do you think of Edgar Fix now that you’ve met him?

But then.

When he was dispatched to the Dwarf Alliance Kingdom and achieved tremendous diplomatic success.

And received a count’s title as recognition for that achievement.

Additionally, when he recently overwhelmed the appearing demon race with overwhelming force.

Lucas could feel it.

He was now falling short of him.

– He’s quite an impressive man. To possess such insight at such a young age…

Moreover, his mother’s answer was decisive.

She called him a remarkable “man.”

“Did she… acknowledge Edgar Fix as a man?”

In fact, Adela rarely acknowledged someone as a “man.”

Only when they passed her unique criteria would she finally refer to them as a “man” or “gentleman.”

Otherwise, she would simply call them a guy or a punk.

“Not just an amazing guy, but a remarkable man…”

His heart raced.

He couldn’t shake the image of his mother smiling as she imagined a conversation with Edgar.

Despite still being only 36, with her beauty intact, she did not even glance at other men.

Rising as the Empress of the East, countless suitors tried to win her heart, but she dismissed them all with precision.

– From now on, get close to that man. There will be much to learn from him.

Yet, seeing his mother laugh so carefree like that was strange.

The way she gazed into the void with a smile clearly reminded him of Edgar Fix.

At that moment, Lucas experienced his first wave of nausea.

He wanted to prove immediately that he was a greater man than Edgar Fix.

“Let the match… begin!”

And finally, that moment arrived.

The day when he would transcend Edgar Fix and stand tall.

Lucas charged straight toward Edgar.

***

While imagining the crispy, sizzling exterior of MacBeth pork, Lucas suddenly lunged at me.

The match had begun.

– Hah!

But I wasn’t just pondering the dinner menu without any preparation.

I immediately kicked off the ground, putting distance between us, and summoned my gauntlet.

A crack formed in the air, and the bracelet appeared—

– Whoosh!

However, it quickly vanished again.

Elmar’s spatial control spell had snatched my bracelet away.

“Just as expected, he’s different from those miscellaneous others.”

However, I did not panic over this unprecedented situation of not being able to wear the gauntlet.

I was actually welcoming this situation.

By the time I put on the suit, my victory was already a certainty, and the only thing I could gain from this duel was this improvisation.

So when I received a surprise attack before even putting on the suit.

To truly become a strong fighter, one must possess the ability to prepare for any situation.

Demons wouldn’t hold back just because I was pondering dinner or hadn’t put on my suit.

“Can you stop me without the gauntlet?”

At that moment, Lucas, who had closed the distance in an instant, threw a punch at me.

I hurriedly took a defensive stance, but Lucas’s punch suddenly vanished into thin air and reappeared behind me.

This too was the Elmar family’s advanced spatial manipulation technique.

“Guh!”

I felt an intense impact from behind.

If I hadn’t reinforced my whole body, that blow would have ended me.

I was able to withstand that recent blow due to my larger mana capacity compared to regular cadets.

“Just as I thought, you’re nothing without the suit.”

But that ferocious blow was just the beginning.

An unending barrage of unpredictable attacks began to rain down.

I had no choice but to be at his mercy.

“Emotions are involved here.”

However, there was indeed emotion behind his attacks.

He harbored personal feelings toward me.

I somewhat knew the reason behind it.

“You’re quite the mama’s boy, aren’t you?”

Thus, I provoked him.

Lucas’s face twisted as he attacked in a frenzy.

For someone who always wore a smile reminiscent of a shoujo manga prince, it was the first time I saw such a demonic expression.

“How dare you!”

And when emotions take over, openings are bound to emerge.

While he was consumed by rage, I swiftly summoned my web shooter and attached it.

Then, I shot genetically modified webbing at his face—

– Whoosh!

But it came right back to me.

The spatial control had reversed my web.

– Fwoosh!

I shot another web to nullify the returning web.

Two webs entwined in the air, crashing to the ground.

“Were you trying to provoke me? Not bad.”

Eventually, the more composed Lucas began launching attacks on me again.

Now, even summoning weapons increased the intensity of the tension.

– Whoosh!

While this was happening, a dagger lodged itself into the top of my foot.

A lack of mana transfer allowed the attack to breach.

– Chiiiiiik!

I immediately administered first aid.

I pulled out the dagger, switched my web shooter mode, and shot healing web onto my foot.

As the bleeding wound stopped, the pain began to subside.

“Submitting quickly will be less painful.”

At that moment, cracks appeared in the air, and Lucas’s weapon began to appear.

Dozens of daggers floated in the air.

This would later be known as the early version of the “Igeor Sword,” which would slaughter thousands of demons.

Now, those dozens of daggers would distort space and target me from all directions.

“I should start getting tense.”

His expression was serious.

Could it be that my mama’s boy jab had truly hit home?

Before he unleashed his barrage, I pulled a smoke bomb from my pocket.

The moment I activated the smoke bomb, the entire area began to fill with smoke.

“Cough. Do you think you can hide with that? Not a chance, Edgar Fix.”

However, even in the black smoke, his eyes glimmered a piercing blue.

He was opening his third eye, gazing directly at me.

– Whoosh! Hoo! Whoosh!

Still, the accuracy of his attacks definitely decreased.

Dozens of daggers rained down, but they were surprisingly dodgeable.

As I evaded his chaotic attacks, I finally spotted the location of my bracelet.

It had been thrown into that corner.

– Hah!

I reached out for the bracelet.

As if it were Thor’s hammer, it flew to me, wrapping around my wrist.

A beautiful sound of metal precisely locking into place began to resonate.

– Bang!

Then, mana burst forth, dispersing the smoke in an instant.

Upon wearing the bracelet, Lucas, feeling a sudden urge of anxiety, dispelled the smoke.

– Kiiiiiiinnnng!

But I wasn’t the only one protected from the smoke.

I immediately shot a repulsor beam at the now visible Lucas.

Then I followed up by firing my web shooter at his left foot.

– Hoo!

However, the first repulsor beam vanished due to his spatial control.

“Guh!”

Then, it lodged itself back into me.

A strong impact followed, along with the smell of burning flesh.

“One hit landed.”

It seemed he couldn’t defend against the webbing.

I saw his left foot ensnared by my genetic webbing.

“…How could something so trivial work!”

But as he concentrated mana at his toes, the genetic web began to rip apart, several strands snapping off.

And I wasn’t foolish enough to just stand there and watch that unfold.

Concentrating mana at his toes was a clear sign of him being vulnerable.

I swiftly took the chance to summon the suit’s boots and slipped my feet in—

– Hoo!

—At least, I thought I did, but they vanished again.

Clearly, his spells were extraordinarily tricky.

I desperately needed that nanosuit.

“This isn’t good.”

At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to complete the suit.

I needed a way to buy more time.

Thus, I transformed the gauntlet into a different form, pulling out a plasma blade.

Then I charged at the ensnared Lucas.

As I did so, countless daggers rained down to stop me, but they weren’t very threatening.

Most of his mana was focused at his toes.

– Pudu!

Just as Lucas tore through the web, my plasma blade penetrated his side.

He smirked as if waiting for my strike and distorted my attack.

“May you pierce yourself with your own blade!”

Just when I thought I had pierced his abdomen, a bizarre sensation of weightlessness struck me.

My hand was met with an odd sight—my back was aimed at him.

“I knew it.”

But I was already aware that Lucas frequently enjoyed using this sort of counterattack.

My plasma blade was just a feint; this was my real strike.

– Fwooosh!

I shot a ‘hallucination powder’ at his face.

It was a precious sample I obtained while assisting Charlotte earlier.

“Guh!”

Lucas’s face twisted horrendously.