I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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The next day.

Ed rose early and gathered his companions.

Finally, today was the day to take down the followers of the Seven Deadly Sins, so he called everyone together to explain the plan.

“The operation is simple.”

And Ed’s plan was very straightforward.

As mentioned before, they would split into three teams and infiltrate each city to eliminate the followers of the Seven Deadly Sins.

However, to successfully complete the operation, a bit of finesse was required.

They had to identify the characteristics and weaknesses of the followers of the Seven Deadly Sins and concentrate their attacks accordingly.

Ed shared this point with his team.

“They grow stronger by feeding on human desires. In particular, the sins associated with pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust are prime prey for them. It’s highly likely that the entire city is saturated with these negative emotions.”

“…Hmm. I see. Then we need to cut off their power sources first.”

“Yes. Exactly. We must put the humans in the city to sleep and sever their power sources. However, to do this effectively, we need to lay the groundwork first. We must cut off the power source leading to the followers of the Seven Deadly Sins all at once, so we need to thoroughly install these ‘sleep induction devices’ as we move around the city.”

The Grand Dukes nodded their heads.

In essence, the crux of the operation was to install ‘sleep induction devices’ throughout the entire city, and to do that, they needed to create a perfect smokescreen to avoid detection.

This was crucial because there were henchmen of the Seven Deadly Sins surveilling the city.

“When we arrive on-site, we should be able to quickly gauge the atmosphere. Follow the humans there and install the sleep induction devices. You can follow the hologram for the installation locations.”

Ed said this as he handed out devices to the Grand Dukes.

The device had a mini-map of the city displaying red dots indicating where the sleep induction devices needed to be installed.

“…This is a very intuitive device. With this, even if they are not familiar with the city, they can easily install the sleep induction devices.”

Having grasped how to use the mini-map, the Grand Dukes gathered up all the devices Ed had provided.

They all possessed ‘Spacial Bags’ manufactured by the Department of Magical Engineering, so they could effortlessly store a large number of sleep induction devices and mini-map generators.

“Then let’s commence the operation. I wish you all good luck.”

Thus, Ed and his team split into three groups and moved out to their respective cities.

Ed moved to the sprawling city dominated by wrath, greed, and gluttony.

Isabella and Enya headed to the port city ruled by pride and envy.

Finally, Lucas and Claire went to the fortified city controlled by lust and sloth.

Even as they ventured to save the cities, they forgot the fact that the emotions of the Seven Deadly Sins swirled around them.

***

The port city.

On the outskirts, four figures bustled about.

The daughters of House Cruel and House Graham were surveying the city to find an opening to enter using a ‘drone.’

“Now’s the perfect time.”

While checking the interior of the city with the drone, the right opportunity had finally arisen.

People wandering about the castle grounds like zombies had started to pour out, creating a chance to infiltrate the city.

Ileia equipped her Infinimorphic gear and declared.

“Let’s breach now. I’ll lead the way.”

Saying this, Ileia leaped onto the ground.

With swift movements, she vaulted over the castle walls, rising to the very top.

Enya swiftly followed suit, mirroring her father’s agile movements to scale the walls.

Ileia gazed proudly at his daughter and said with a smile.

“Hehe, indeed my daughter. Quite impressive.”

Before long, Enya reached the threshold of Swordmaster training.

The sight of a growing child always thrilled a parent.

Although Ileia was frequently berated by Enya for being bumbling, he couldn’t hide his pride as he looked down at Adrian and Isabella, puffing up his shoulders.

How is it possible for our daughter to be so perfect?

Ileia, with his shoulders high, looked down at Adrian and Isabella and proclaimed.

“The Graham House has difficulty executing such advanced techniques, so I’ll lower a rope for you. Hold on tight.”

As he said this, Ileia pulled a rope from his Spacial Bag.

However, Adrian scoffed at Ileia and muttered.

“Showing off over something trivial. Is there really a need to exhaust ourselves climbing up like fools?”

In response, Isabella, with a deadpan expression, replied.

“Indeed. I think I have a good guess whose panic habit Enya inherited.”

Swoosh—

The two began to rise into the air simultaneously as if they had made a pact.

Gradually, the two floated silently above the castle walls and rose up high above the heads of the Cruel daughters.

Then, they flashed smiles at the two daughters.

“…!!”

An unmistakable expression of provocation.

However, the Graham daughters returned to their usual poker faces as if nothing had happened and landed lightly between the Cruel daughters.

Ileia cleared his throat awkwardly and took back the rope.

“Ahem. I intended to offer assistance now that you have lost your powers, but it seems you are still in good shape.”

“…Hmm. Such basic feats can surely be done without the use of powers.”

“Haha, basic. Climbing a several dozen meter high wall requires quite a high level of finesse and skill. Then again, if one were to use shortcuts like you, perhaps it wouldn’t be so impressive.”

“…Heh. A shortcut, you say? So, is our family’s ‘affluence’ seen as a shortcut in your eyes? It might be unfair for you to feel aggrieved, considering you have to rely on your own body to climb.”

As they entered the port city, Ileia and Adrian began their strange rivalry.

In the midst of this, Enya grabbed Ileia’s arm.

She pointed toward the people inside and said.

“Dad. Look over there.”

…What? People?

Ileia turned his head to see where his daughter was pointing.

There, a group of people had gathered, glaring at each other with bloodshot eyes, bickering back and forth.

Seeing this scene, Enya said with a serious expression.

“…Ed said that once you enter the territory of the Seven Deadly Sins, you get influenced by the corresponding sin. If you’re not careful, you could be swept away by those emotions and become a slave to the Seven Deadly Sins.”

“…”

Ileia closed his eyes.

Then he recalled his earlier behavior.

He had intended to boast about his growing daughter.

That was an act of ‘pride.’

And he had lashed out at Adrian’s provocation, intending to belittle his abilities.

That was an act of ‘envy.’

Having spent merely a brief moment in the realm dominated by ‘pride’ and ‘envy,’ the influence was already beginning to manifest.

“…I’m sorry. I’m ashamed.”

Ileia quickly apologized.

He nearly ruined the operation due to his excessive affection for his daughter.

Isabella sighed and said to Enya.

“…I’m sorry. I also got swept up for a moment. We need to be careful.”

“…No. Honestly, I felt a little flustered too when you and Lord Graham provoked Dad. Thank goodness Ed’s advice came to mind.”

Isabella and Enya shared their honest feelings and resolved to avoid making mistakes.

Observing this, Ileia extended a hand toward Adrian and said.

“I showed a shameful side as a parent. I will be more cautious in the future.”

“…I too am an inept father who forced my daughter into unhappiness for too long. I have no position to belittle others on the basis of familial ability.”

Adrian said this as he shook Ileia’s outstretched hand.

Thus, the four of them, having steadied their hearts, began planning the operation so as not to be swept away by the emotions of despair.

“Let’s systematically tackle the outskirts first. Based on the red dot at 12 o’clock, we’ll make our way around the city in a clockwise direction, gradually moving inward.”

Their operation was quite simple.

To spiral around the city like a vortex, installing the sleep induction devices.

Simple yet the most efficient path to follow.

“Sounds good. However, if we act too ordinarily, we might catch the enemy’s eye, so the smokescreen is crucial. We need to appear as if we are captivated by pride and envy.”

Then they began to formulate their strategy on how to deceive the henchmen of the Seven Deadly Sins scattered throughout the city.

They needed to act as if they were under the influence of ‘pride’ and ‘envy’ to avoid drawing suspicion, thus requiring a suitable performance.

In response to this, Isabella came up with a sudden idea.

“…Have you heard of the ‘Of Course’ game? It was a game Ed mentioned before we set out…”

The ‘Of Course’ game taught by Ed.

No matter what question was asked, you had to respond with ‘Of course’ and then counterattack with a question that would put the other person in a difficult position.

If you failed to respond with ‘Of course’ or got angry during the process, you lost the game.

Isabella demonstrated the rules.

“It’s simple. Enya! You think of disgraceful thoughts every time you see Ed, right? We can attack each other with questions that will usually put the other in a difficult position. If this question cycle continues, we’ll probably seem to be under the influence of ‘pride’ and ‘envy.’”

“…Hmm.”

Ileia and Adrian nodded in agreement.

Indeed, playing such a game to stimulate each other’s emotions seemed like a plausible way to appear as if they were under the influence of pride and envy.

“…But Enya.”

However, at that moment.

As Ileia ruminated deeply, he seemed to have remembered something and turned to Enya.

He squinted and said.

“The thing Isabella asked earlier, it can’t possibly be true, right? That you have ‘disgraceful thoughts’ every time you see Lord Fix?”

“…Huh?”

With Ileia’s sudden inquiry, Enya’s face flushed crimson as she scowled.

Then she burst out vehemently.

“…M-Me!? Ha! Dad! There’s no way you actually believe what she said, right? I-I would never have such shameless thoughts! No way!”

“…”

Being caught right on target, Enya reacted with even more agitation.

Ileia gazed at his daughter’s flustered state blankly, before nodding slowly.

Indeed, the ‘Of Course’ game seemed an apt way to deceive their enemies.

Then, Ileia redirected his question toward Adrian.

“Lord Graham, I heard that when you were 11, you wet the bed and blamed the servants because water got in while you were sleeping. Is that true?”

“…Um??”

Adrian’s expression became stiff as a statue.

***

【Shhhhhhh…】

In the alley of the port city.

A ghostly figure draped in a black cloak glided around the city, emanating a sinister aura.

Having been assigned the task of ‘surveillance’ by the followers of the Seven Deadly Sins, they stirred up human negative emotions to provide more power to their master.

It was precisely like this.

【Fill your innermost being with malice… Let it overflow with deprivation and loss… Tear down and envy your loved ones… Then our master will… set you free…】

The ghostly figure whispered these words as it emitted its dark energy toward a dazed woman.

Suddenly, the woman, as if possessed by an evil spirit, began to tremble and convulse.

Then, with a face contorted by rage, she started berating her family.

“Yeah! This is all my sister’s fault! That worthless girl! Just because she got noticed by a noble! It’s ridiculous that she, with a lesser face and lesser talents, gets to go first! That wretched girl!”

The woman began to spit and unleash her built-up inferiority complex.

Her innermost ‘pride’ and ‘envy’ emotions were spewing forth, revealing the ugly side of humanity.

The ‘watcher’ looked on with satisfaction before moving on to the next alley.

【Shhhh…?】

With a slight tilt of its head, it noticed a particular spot.

The group of exotic-looking men and women, clearly out of place in this port city, caught its attention.

“During your first expedition, did you scream and flee from a troll!?”

“Th-That’s! Let me explain─”

“Did you!?”

“See, what happened was─”

“Did you!?”

“Let me explain in detail─”

“Did you!?”

“Ugh! Yes, I did! But you are the one who spent your youth living in the shadows pretending to be a brooding, cool teenager so as not to reveal the rumors of being a bed-wetter and crybaby!”

“That’s an exaggeration─”

“Oh—Of course! Admit it!”

“No, my daughter saw─”

“Admit it!”

“So, what I mean is─”

“Admit it!”

“Such a thing never happened─”

“Admit it!”

Two middle-aged men, having long passed their youth, ungracefully bickered over their childhood stories.

The watcher glared at them with suspicion but then shrugged and turned away.

This time, it arrived at the location of Isabella and Enya.

“Among the remaining 49 days, all sorts of middle school vibes will come out while also being told to do well for Ed. I caught wind of you sneaking in some… substances, now find a way to explain.”

“What? Crazy—what nonsense─”

“Of course, you must say it.”

“If I say that nonsense─”

“Of course, you must say it.”

“I would be crazy to say that─”

“Of course, you must say it.”

“I would never admit something like that─”

“Of course, you must say it.”

“Hah. Fine. Sure, let’s say it.”

“It’s not so much about agreeing but that it’s a fact.”

“Fine, let’s say it. You too, snuck into Ed’s room, tucked a pillow between your legs, and did all those lewd things, and I have definite proof of that, so go ahead. Counter me.”

“Th-That, that’s!”

“Counter me.”

“People make mistakes sometimes─”

“Mistakes? Miiiiistakes?—”

“Aaaaaah! That could happen!!”

“Something like that could happen too—?”

The watcher turned away.

Two women engaged in a sordid spat over one man.

No need to observe further.

They were indeed people engulfed in the emotions of ‘pride’ and ‘envy.’

The watcher clicked its tongue as it moved on to the next area.

***

“Please, oh God.”

Bjørnson Bernhardt, having arrived at the fortress city, pressed his forehead as he gazed at the cityscape.

This city was ruled by the sins of lust and sloth.

The entire city was trapped in a sex party.

Bjørnson cautiously glanced at Adela.

“…? What? G-Get away.”

But Adela, with a look of disgust, covered her chest.

With a long sigh, Bjørnson looked toward the direction of his territory.

His wife’s face floated before him.

***

Shooosh—Thud!

I landed in the center of the sprawling city dominated by wrath, greed, and gluttony.

Dressed like this, landing directly into the lair of the followers of the Seven Deadly Sins, I silently glared at the three Sins rising from their thrones.

At last, they stood up and smirked wickedly.

【How reckless. Are you really challenging us, three against 100,000 humans in this city?】

…They’re right, even if they’re my enemies.

True to their claim, I should put all the humans here to sleep first and then take down the Sins.

That way, I’d at least boost my chances of winning.

【The tougher the punching bag, the better.】

But that’s a mindset for the weak.

Since I’m capable of becoming the strongest ‘within the limits of demons,’ it’s not a consideration.

Whatever nonsense they spout, I’ll simply trample them with force.

【Don’t die too soon; I have many tests to run and quite a few functions I want to try out.】

Thus, I pressed the suit transformation button on my chest.

It was finally time to unveil the ‘Nano Suit’ I had developed.