I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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Edgar Fix’s claim of being a ‘descendant of the stars.’

That statement once again sent shockwaves through the world.

While it empowered the existing ruling class, who were believed to be ‘descendants of heavenly beings,’ it also instilled the belief that anyone could become a ‘descendant of the stars’ if they put in effort.

Moreover, Ed proved his statement by ascending to the cosmic boundary and showcasing the blue atmosphere and vast universe.

In response, the public was completely captivated by the breathtaking view presented by Edgar.

An admiration for the distant alien planets, which modern spells and technology could hardly touch, blossomed at the sight of the outer space for the first time.

Above all, among the countless planets beyond the universe, wasn’t there a divine planet inhabited by the heavenly beings they regarded as gods?

“In a way, Lord Fix may be the closest person to a heavenly being,” they mused.

Thus, the public began to see Ed as ‘the one closest to being a descendant of the stars,’ who was rich with the ‘heart to benefit humanity’ that the original ‘heavenly beings’ sought to manifest, thinking he could reach the universe.

“He is the savior of this world!”

In this manner, Ed gradually began to be seen as a prophet.

Having spread the belief, ‘Anyone can become like me if they try,’ those enchanted by that dream and hope began to worship Edgar.

And among his worshippers, there were no distinctions of class.

Nobles or commoners alike were inspired by Ed, who reached out to the cosmos, craving to be taught.

“Build virtue. Do not commit evil, practice good deeds, and keep your heart pure.”

To that, Ed provided somewhat cliché yet proper teachings to guide this world in the right direction.

He preached not to commit evil and to offer kindness.

“Ed, I… have committed countless sins… I have caused many in my territory to suffer by going against the teachings of the heavenly beings… Is there no way for me to be saved…?”

And some sought redemption.

Primarily, it was the nobles who had drained their subjects dry with exorbitant taxes.

Ed’s words that “The more unvirtuous you are, the more it will impact your descendants” terrified them.

“It’s alright. Repentance is, after all, the beginning of virtue.”

Thus, Ed urged them to start building virtue from that moment onward.

The wealth accumulated from unvirtuous acts could backfire on them, but sharing it would convert it into virtue, ensuring that their unvirtue wouldn’t be passed down to future generations.

“Thank you…”

Thus, the concept of ‘noblesse oblige’ began to sprout among the nobility.

The belief spread that being born a noble did not grant you the right to be a true noble (descendant of the stars) unless you fulfilled your responsibilities and duties.

“I’ve served Lord Fix for over a year, and I understand well! If we are to stand tall, we must fulfill our responsibilities and duties!”

And those who spread such beliefs were none other than members of a certain club.

The very ones who had slandered and criticized Ed were now his devoted followers, spreading his words.

Thus, they came to be called the 17 Apostles, delivering Ed’s messages.

Their respective territories were evenly distributed across the Empire, making them perfect messengers of Ed.

“Mind training is essential. Do not be swayed by the voices of demons.”

Among Ed’s teachings was also a ‘warning against demons.’

He emphasized the need to be cautious of their voices, which provoke desires, to prevent people from falling into the Demon Church.

“Above all, upon discovering a demon, immediately report it to the authorities, or if possible, eliminate it on the spot.”

Furthermore, Ed stressed the need to reject demons.

Killing demons is an act that benefits humanity, so active extermination of demons was encouraged.

He highlighted that one could accumulate an extraordinary amount of virtue for each demon slain, making the killing of demons a desirable act.

“…What do you think, Master?”

Meanwhile, Vanessa sought guidance from Count Cromwell.

Having seen her advocated ‘overthrow of nobles and equality for all’ twisted skillfully by Ed, she turned to her mentor, Cromwell, asking what she should do.

Cromwell cleared his throat lightly before answering.

“The question is misplaced.”

“…? You say my question is misplaced?”

“Indeed. You should not be asking me how to handle Edgar Fix but rather how to protect the Liberty Republic.”

“…”

Vanessa stood dumbfounded, as though struck by a hammer.

Cromwell spoke again.

“You’re no longer a revolutionary. Protect your people. If Ed’s ideology poses a threat to the Liberty Republic, then you must be cautious, but do you see it as a threat?”

“…”

Vanessa bitterly smiled and shook her head.

Holding the hand of the waning Count Cromwell, she said, “It seems your blood still boils. Perhaps the day you overthrew the Prance Kingdom and liberated the oppressed people is still vivid in your mind.”

“…Now’s the time to channel that energy toward prosperity. Edgar Fix may be a hypocrite, but there’s surely something to learn from him. Haven’t you learned anything during your time in his territory?”

“…I don’t want to admit it, but I have. He’s a fine lord. A remarkable figure indeed. I’ve never seen such an ideal territory.”

“Right, that’s it. Though you may not want to admit it, Edgar Fix is handsome, eloquent, skilled, charismatic, possesses excellent judgment, overwhelming charm, and is a knowledgeable leader of this era. A powerful enemy can make for a great teacher.”

“…”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

“Master!”

“…Ah, it’s alright. Anyway, the gist is to put aside emotions and observe the results that Edgar Fix has accomplished. A good leader is one who can accept diverse thoughts. Don’t you think you ought to try to understand him?”

Vanessa nodded.

And she contemplated Edgar Fix deeply.

What kind of person is he?

“He’s hypocritical.”

And so, he was hypocritical.

He moves for his own benefit but is excellent at disguising it as caring for others.

“He is very greedy.”

Moreover, he is very greedy.

“How much money does he extract from the nobles each year thanks to the inventions of the ‘Northeast Wind’ and ‘Mosquito Net’?”

More than anything, he is good at establishing connections.

He moves from one woman to another, not settling on one, trapping them in his harem.

In short, he has a scummy tendency, but he’s handsome and capable, making it quite irksome.

“In summary…”

One could say he excels at calculating personal gains.

He sucker-punches money out of people with his abilities while juggling women.

There’s even a rumor that among those women is Bianca, the Queen of Clendor.

Bianca has long become Edgar Fix’s plaything, obediently following his orders.

What a truly scummy fellow he is.

“But…”

He is kind to his own people.

Usually, people of that ilk are oblivious to anyone but themselves, yet he treats those women well.

Not only that, his ‘taking care of his people’ knows no gender or age.

If he thinks someone is useful, he will generously compensate them, and the benefits of that compensation are enormous.

He uses all his skills and resources to provide rewards that can fundamentally change their way of life.

At this point, it could be argued that what he gives isn’t merely compensation but rather ‘generosity’.

“But toward his enemies…”

He is ruthless.

He thoroughly punishes them so they cannot rise again.

For instance, there are Prince Leon and Prince Ian of Clendor, both of whom he smashed to pieces.

Leon’s political life has been severed, and Ian was killed off entirely.

Of course, Max, who dared to challenge him, met a miserable end as well.

Anyone who crossed a certain line to threaten him was dead.

“On the other hand, those who slandered Edgar Fix…”

Became his loyal followers.

They genuinely revered him and spread his greatness everywhere.

It was truly chilling.

If you fight him moderately, he brainwashes you into becoming one of his subordinates, but if you cross a line, you die.

“And recently…”

He’s been rampaging about, creating that nonsensical, insane battleship called ‘Dreadnought.’

He travels the world, forcefully opening ports with the proclamation, “Look, the big brother is here. Aren’t you going to greet him?”

Thus, the Empire was raking in massive profits.

And most of the exported goods are produced in Edgar Fix’s territory.

Thanks to that, both the Empire and his territory are enjoying an unprecedented era of peace.

Indeed, it’s beginning to make sense how he transitioned from a commoner to a Count, then to a professor, and now a prophet.

“…I must learn.”

Thus, Vanessa made a resolution.

She would thoroughly benchmark Edgar Fix.

Even though he might seem like a scummy fellow who only woos women, he is undoubtedly a blessing to the Empire.

There is no one better as a ruler and leader.

***

Recently, the Liberty Republic has begun to rise.

Due to Count Cromwell’s knowledge being passed on to the members of the former revolutionary faction, industries have begun to spring up, leading to a transition into mass production and the dawn of modernization.

As a result, the kingdoms surrounding the Liberty Republic started to sense a threat.

Though the commoners’ rebellions quieted down thanks to Edgar Fix’s speech that ‘Anyone can become a descendant of the stars,’ they were still unable to evade the military threat posed by the Liberty Republic.

“I have come to meet the true ‘descendant of the stars’ in Lord Fix.”

Thus, the kings of various countries began sending envoys to the Empire.

And the primary aim of their missions was to meet Edgar Fix.

They wished to request armored vehicles so that their own commoners could arm themselves.

“There’s nothing we can’t do.”

And Ed readily accepted their requests.

Preparing the nations against the demons’ invasion while also selling weapons to reap a fortune was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“I have great news! This month’s performance bonus is 600%!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

Ed’s territory was filled with a festive atmosphere.

A flood of requests from various countries for tank production poured in.

The majority of those profits began to flow into Edgar’s territory.

Moreover, more than half of those benefits returned directly to Ed’s residents.

By taking care of their performance bonuses and strengthening the city’s infrastructure, their quality of life significantly improved.

“Ha ha ha ha ha! I knew you were an extraordinary person! A descendant of the stars! But you are also the blacksmith of salvation!”

Meanwhile, the Dwarf Alliance Kingdom was also entering a boom.

This was largely due to the shocking defeat of the Prance Kingdom, which highlighted the importance of ‘equipment.’

Indeed, nobles who relied solely on mana and charged into battle were mostly slain, while those equipped with even the bare minimum of gear managed to survive.

“Long time no see, Your Majesty. How have you been?”

“Ha ha ha! I’m doing well, of course! Come on in!”

It was for that reason that Dwarf King Magran invited Ed as a state guest to seek his counsel.

He wished to gain knowledge of modern weaponry from one who had genuinely become the best blacksmith.

“I assure you I’ll take care of the technology licensing fees!”

Furthermore, the Dwarf King promised Ed ‘licensing fees.’

This was due to the Dwarves’ strong obsession and pride in ‘the things they create,’ which cultivated a culture of ‘technology licensing,’ leading to the promise of ‘licensing fees’ for Ed.

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Of course, we will assist you!”

With the inflow of funds, Ed beamed brightly, sincerely explaining the characteristics, weaknesses, and countermeasures of modern weaponry.

The Dwarves began to develop armor and weapons based on that knowledge, which soon began to fly off the shelves in various kingdoms.

Not only modern weaponry but magical weaponry was also experiencing rapid advancements.

“This is going according to plan.”

All these phenomena were included in Ed’s scheme.

By shifting paradigms, he brought about transformations in the world, guiding the direction of those transformations to naturally arm each nation.

“Now, shall we move onto the next stage?”

Thus, Ed decided to transition to the next stage.

It meant fortifying his territory.

Indeed, if he successfully halted Phase 1 of the Demon Invasion, ‘the division of the human world,’ the real ‘defense game’ would begin after that.

To fend off the endless influx of demons, fortification was essential.

So, Ed recalled the Sea Wall and the Imperial Palace.

At the very least, to protect humanity from the demons’ invasion, defenses of that scale and capability were necessary.

However, the two fortresses above were built with players’ ‘powers.’

They were constructed using abilities that could even defy the laws of physics, which is why they could stand as absurd fortifications.

“But I have money.”

However, Ed has money.

He had the funds that allowed him to exhibit abilities comparable to divine powers.

Thus, Ed was confident that he could build a fortress city himself.

He would raise a fortress not through powers, but through money.