I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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“Show me what drift is!”

Lilith couldn’t comprehend the meaning of Edgar’s words.

What was this about being a reader of that wicked Hufi House, or a seasonal event?

However, considering the context, she could tell what he was trying to do.

The curse placed on the Graham family.

He had come here to break that curse.

【You are… ‘that’ one. The one who stands at the center of the world line.】

At that moment, she also realized who he truly was by sensing the hidden power within him.

A regressionist.

A being who had defied the flow of time for thousands of years to change the fate of this world heading towards extinction.

【…But that’s strange. You have never come here directly in any of the other world lines, have you?】

However, the actions he displayed this time were peculiar.

He had effectively threatened her, who was in a neutral position, by targeting only the Graham family.

“The situation has changed. There’s no problem in killing you and saving the Graham family.”

【………..】

Yet, this iteration of Edgar was nearly complete.

He now possessed the ability and power to save the Graham family, something he had never achieved in all his previous attempts.

【Pff! You think someone like you can save my children?】

But Lilith scoffed at Edgar’s declaration as if it were ridiculous.

【Hahaha─!】

And she unleashed a chilling roar that echoed through the cave.

For her, who had won hundreds of previous iterations, Edgar’s proclamation was laughably absurd.

【How amusing. Do you wish to expedite your own destruction? You cannot possibly be unaware of my power, can you? All the monsters living on a continent belong to me. Monsters that have completely undergone demonic transformation.】

At the northernmost edge of the Empire, in the vast, frigid land.

That land belonged to none other than Lilith.

She had formed her very own faction on a continent almost the size of the Empire itself.

【You think you can save Graham? What a hilarious notion. You should be grateful that I’m content with just Graham as a sacrifice. By offering a single family, your pitiful world could enjoy a brief period of peace.】

Lilith said this while glaring wide-eyed.

Then, the mana that burst forth from her body began to engulf Edgar and his companions.

【Hehe. There’s no need to be so wary. I just want to show you the power I possess.】

And the mana that enveloped them began to manifest a particular image.

A staggering army that filled the vast land.

She displayed millions of demonic monsters before their eyes.

【How long do you think it would take? For this army to cover the humanity you’re so eager to protect?】

“………..”

【One day. Just one day. This is a different level from the monster waves you’re familiar with.】

Monster waves.

The larger the scale, the more devastating the calamity could obliterate an entire continent.

But the monster wave Lilith showcased was beyond comparison to all previous waves.

Both in scale and in the sheer might of the monsters, it was on an entirely different level.

As Lilith had said, the image she demonstrated was of monster waves capable of leading humanity to extinction.

【So if you wish for my mercy, retreat now. As always, I wish to taste the pain and flesh of Graham.】

Finishing that statement, Lilith donned an enchanting smile.

It was a relaxed smile, as if the answer was predetermined.

However, her expression hardened when the next words escaped Edgar’s mouth.

“I don’t want to.”

【………..】

“I made it clear before. The story you want to see is over now. Graham will no longer be manipulated as you desire.”

【………..】

Lilith stared at Edgar with a face that showed she could not comprehend.

Eventually, she twisted her lips into a grotesque grin.

【Are you out of your mind? You’re saying you’d accept ruin just to save Graham?】

“I won’t let it come to ruin. I’ll stop it.”

【…Really? Then try to stop it.】

Boom!

No sooner had Lilith finished speaking than the ground trembled.

It was the result of the monster army moving in large numbers at her command.

【That’s just one-tenth of my forces. But it’s enough to wipe out the Empire’s north.】

To prove her words, Lilith unleashed mana and showcased an image.

An army of monsters moving in massive formation.

According to her, with that scale, it was enough to bring down not only Graham’s territory but all territories in the north.

【This is your last chance. Don’t disturb my meal time. Graham is mine.】

Lilith displayed a strong sense of possession over the incapacitated Adrian.

But Edgar regarded Lilith with a blank expression, as if he had no intention of negotiating.

Then Lilith’s expression twisted into a menacing grin, and her form began to change.

Her soft, supple skin transformed into a crustacean shell, and with a tear in her back, demonic wings emerged.

【It’s too late now. You’ve been too rude to hope for my mercy.】

Boom!

Mana erupted from her body in all directions.

Her once captivating and beautiful face and body grotesquely transformed into that of a demon.

Her true form had been revealed.

【Behold. The disaster you are to face.】

And she displayed a vast amount of mana like a screen, showcasing the northward advance of monsters.

Among them were powerful species mixed with the previously shown monsters that could not even be compared.

Ice goblins, ice trolls, and beyond the common types, true dragons, hydras, and liches blended in.

【There’s only one way to stop this disaster. To sacrifice Edgar Fix, who orchestrated all of this, and quietly retreat from here. Then I will hand you all the armies that will bring ruin to your world.】

Lilith’s forces were forming an incredible army, shaking the ground.

And Edgar’s companions, watching the scene, had hardened expressions.

Lilith twisted her lips upward as if amused at their stiff faces.

She anticipated their struggle between choosing the end of the world or sacrificing Edgar.

Surely, as influential families in the north began to fall one by one, they would have no choice but to seriously discuss sacrificing Edgar.

“Everyone, money is coming down.”

However, in that dire moment, an unexpected remark escaped Edgar’s mouth.

He likened Lilith’s massive demonic army, which she had seized with all her power, to ‘money.’

“Seems like there are some money-making kinds here. Really a gold mine.”

But Edgar continued his speech, ignoring Lilith’s incredulous expression.

Before his eyes floated several holograms.

“As previously explained, since I built the defense line and systems, I’ll take 50%, and the other 50% will depend on how well the various nations’ dispatched troops perform. If luck is on our side, we could make hundreds of billions.”

As if he were conducting business, Edgar continued to explain while observing the various faces appearing in the holograms.

Amid this, an elderly man in one of the holograms pointed at Lilith’s screen and spoke.

[Hmm. By the way, is that a true dragon? How much do they go for? Looks quite strong, but I haven’t received any data on that monster.]

The man in the hologram was curious about how much a true dragon would cost.

Edgar smiled and replied.

“A true dragon fetches quite the price. It belongs to the undead category and can unleash a powerful breath, making its mana core, which serves as its power source, extremely valuable. I’ll offer 800 million Orden for each.”

[Oh! 800 million each!]

[I’ll inform our dispatched troops!]

[Hahaha! Caught a good deal there. My Crocen mercenaries will take that on.]

The men in the hologram laughed heartily even with the emergence of true dragons.

That was because Edgar had set a ‘bounty’ to attract a large workforce for this massive monster wave.

In other words, Edgar, who had pushed engineering and processing to their limits, developed the business of processing monsters into profitable products and made a global announcement that he would pay for the monsters they hunted and provided as the raw materials.

【What… what nonsense are you talking about! Are you all not afraid of the end of the world!?】

However, Lilith, unaware of this, could only become furious at Edgar’s dismissive attitude.

A massive army of monsters nearing 8 million was descending, and yet he was casually talking about money.

“The end? Unfortunately, humanity is not going to face extinction while I’m around. The technology is on a whole different level now.”

As Edgar said this, he glanced at the hologram next to him.

In that hologram were a grenade launcher and a bazooka. And a Gryphon Rider loaded with white phosphorus rounds was charging towards the monster wave to earn money.