I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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Everything was going according to plan.

As expected, Lilith’s Grand Army chose to break through the defensive line with sheer numbers, and anticipating this, Edgar perfectly countered with the power of modern weaponry and chemistry.

While countless monsters fell, they achieved the remarkable feat of having not a single casualty on our side.

“Hahaha! At this rate, everyone will be rich!”

“I was unsure we could hold them off at first, but with Lord Fix’s constructed system, it’s a piece of cake!”

Thus, hope began to ignite in everyone’s hearts.

No, more than hope, they started dreaming their own dreams.

Dreams of amassing incredible wealth through this participation.

Of repaying debts, gaining wives, and taking care of starving families.

Each began to harbor expectations that they could resolve their desperate circumstances.

【The greater the hope, the more painful the despair that follows.】

However, at that moment when everyone was optimistic about the situation.

A sudden variable arose that Edgar had not foreseen.

The Lord of Hell.

The hellish king, who was supposed to appear a year later, made his presence known on the northern battlefield.

“…Did he take a risk?”

Yet, the twisting of the timeline by a year came with its own cost.

His appearance before fully regaining power meant that he wasn’t at his best.

“…Perhaps this could be an opportunity.”

Thus, Edgar judged that this situation could be an opportunity.

If luck was on their side, they could eliminate one more of the six hellish kings.

【Followers of Lilith, I will free your limits. Unite as one and annihilate the enemy.】

But such hopes were short-lived.

The Lord of Hell began to completely upset Edgar’s plans.

He initiated a ritual to unite the death knights that should have been taken down one by one.

【Realize your master’s will. Swallow the human world and spread the seeds of evil.】

Moreover, the Lord of Hell didn’t stop there.

He released ‘waves of evil’ to empower the demons within his domain.

And that number was the entirety of Lilith’s Grand Army.

In other words, it amounted to millions.

Simply put, the difficulty of the wave increased drastically compared to before.

“…This won’t be easy.”

As a result, Edgar’s expression couldn’t help but harden.

Not only did he unify the death knights that should have been taken down individually, but he also empowered the demons.

With this development, all previously considered plans needed a complete overhaul.

Edgar immediately tried to contact Eve.

“…Eve, are you watching?”

[Yes. The Lord of Hell, huh? The worst variable has occurred.]

“…What do you think? I feel like we need to scrap the existing plan.”

[I agree. Our win probability plummeted from 100% to 67%. We need to discard what needs to be discarded and keep what should be kept.]

“That means we have to accept sacrifices.”

[Yes. However, we have many cards left, so there’s no need to be too timid. Just for a perfect victory ─── ── …room, …ah… just…#$#Why!*&I··^$@…]

“…Eve?”

During the communication, there was a crackling noise, and Eve’s voice was completely distorted.

Edgar frowned and called out to her multiple times.

But only strange noises continued, and no response came.

In the midst of this, an unexpected voice intruded.

【Have you been hiding and spying like a little rat?】

Bam!

The screen forcibly switched.

It was the Lord of Hell.

Using some unknown means, he infiltrated Edgar’s communication network and began to manipulate it.

His jet-black pupils stared directly at Edgar.

【So you are Edgar Fix. How amusing. Do you think a new life starting with that name will be successful? No, in the end, you are doomed to fail. Everything you thought was an opportunity is just a vain hope.】

“…”

【I’m curious. How I will toy with you in your final moments. It wouldn’t be bad to break your spirit as always. You have never been able to resist my mental destruction magic.】

“…”

With a stern expression, Edgar glared at the Grand Duke.

It was frustrating, but it was a sharp point.

Edgar, who attempted to save the world with the strongest will, ultimately couldn’t stand against the Lord of Hell, ‘Azazel,’ known as the ‘Ruler of Nightmares.’

He was defeated, suffering from his own choices while lamenting his end.

【But you have always chosen to return. To seize opportunities like this one. But even that opportunity, which you thought would be the most successful, will ultimately turn to vapors. We will definitely make it so, and it will be realized.】

Bam!

As soon as Azazel finished speaking, a cursed aura emanated from the crystal.

Azazel’s mental destruction magic was transmitted to Edgar through the crystal.

【So behold. The despair we will realize for you. After clearly witnessing your final form, lament your foolishness and despair.】

The unpleasant sensation Edgar always felt at the end of each phase began to envelop him.

The viscous magic emitted from the crystal began to infiltrate Edgar’s suit.

In comparison to Graham’s negativity, it was incomparable.

The very essence of negativity, akin to the source of all evils, started to consume Edgar.

– Ding.

But at that moment.

A clear notification sound rang in Edgar’s eardrum.

And the following message appeared on Edgar’s helmet display.

[Malicious code detected in the system. Do you wish to remove the virus?]

Edgar’s system recognized Azazel’s ‘mental destruction’ magic as malicious code and inquired about its removal.

Because mental destruction magic contained specific frequencies of ‘impure information.’

Edgar’s system detected harmful frequencies and codes to the user and asked for a decision on their removal.

“Uh. Please remove it. Hit the IP Ben.”

[Beginning malicious code removal.]

Thus, the impure visuals, texts, and audio poured forth by Azazel were blocked.

The expression filled with triumph on Azazel’s face gradually hardened.

Edgar smirked, teasing Azazel.

“What now? To use mental destruction magic at this stage must have required some effort, yet it got classified as spam?”

【You…】

“And by the way. Isn’t it too obvious? How scared must you be to show up and threaten us before even regaining your strength? I must be quite intimidating this time, huh?”

【Such foolish talk. I am simply─]

[Sucks for you.]

But at that moment, a clear voice interjected before Azazel could finish.

It was Eve.

On the screen, she appeared with a nonchalant expression and spoke next.

[Analysis indicates that Azazel has consumed a significant amount of power for this ‘mental destruction’ magic. He has put in quite an effort. However, since it’s been blocked before transmission… ]

“It’s like a proper ban on feeding (preventing a fool from getting into trouble).”

[That’s right.]

Edgar and Eve dismissed the Lord of Hell as if he were just a nuisance invading their communication network.

Azazel shouted in furious indignation.

【How ridiculous! Do you think I would expend effort on mental destruction magic towards a mere annoyance like you? To break you down is simply─!】

“By the way, Eve. What should we have for dinner? Already feeling hungry thanks to this interruption.”

[How about cheese tonkatsu and spicy pork?]

“Excellent choice.”

However, Edgar and Eve did not feed Azazel any more lines.

Azazel gritted his teeth and spat out.

【…Do you dare to ignore me, a mere inferior being…?! The price will be beyond the annihilation of this world─!】

[Pfft. If the world gets destroyed, so what.]

“Are you an idiot?”

【…! Ignoring the consequences of dismissing me, the Lord of Hell and Ruler of Nightmares, Azazel, will not go lightly!】

[Oh, what a joke. Ruler of Nightmares, you say? Did you come up with that yourself? Naming sense is a little cringy.]

“Sounds like the author’s creativity only goes that far.”

【Don’t interrupt! Listen to me! I shall declare here and now! I, Azazel, the king of hell and Ruler of Nightmares─】

[Eww. Third-person narrative? Totally disgusting.]

“I, Commander, am disappointed in you all.”

【Shut up and let me finish!】

“Truly, the ban is the answer for fools.”

With that last remark, Edgar muted Azazel.

No, it wasn’t a complete ban, just a mute state.

【■■■■! ■■■■■■ ■■■■!!!!! ■■ ■■■■■!!!!! ■■■!!!】

After that, Azazel continued to rant vigorously, but in a muted state, nothing could be heard.

When he failed to achieve anything, Azazel exited the channel with an enraged expression, and Edgar curled his lips, observing Azazel’s situation.

For a while, unable to quell his anger, he dissipated his form and vanished.

He had not genuinely come here but had briefly opened his strength and form just to break Edgar’s mental state.

“That was one-sidedly disadvantageous.”

However, Azazel failed to achieve his desired outcomes.

Instead of breaking Edgar’s spirit, he had been humiliated and forced to quit hastily.

[…But time will tell. The judgment will depend on how well we withstand the monster wave.]

Nevertheless, Azazel strengthened the monsters here by a significant amount.

Furthermore, he created a monster equivalent to the Grand Duke by merging 12 death knights into one.

If they couldn’t effectively contain them, it would ultimately result in Edgar’s defeat.

“…I know that well. I must do my best to render their numbers useless.”

Thus, Edgar steeled his expression and turned off the crystal.

Now was the time to act rather than just watch the situation unfold.

He spoke to Eve.

“Eve, I will deactivate the Devil Suit and change into the Doom Suit. It’s time for all-out war.”