I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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El Pandor Runtera.

Thinking back, I must have regarded this world as a “development game with added dating sim elements.”

I approached all the female characters here as if they were “targets to pursue.”

However, no matter how much I tried, there was one heroine candidate who wouldn’t budge.

That was Claire.

No matter what route I tried to contact her through, there was no progress in our relationship, and I always ended up settling for Isabella or Enya.

‘…I guess she was never someone I could have from the start.’

And I could understand the reason as I watched Lukas and Claire awkwardly blush and look away from each other.

This world is not a dating sim.

The thought that I could monopolize all the women was just arrogance.

After all, human hearts aren’t like mathematical formulas, and there are feelings that can’t be possessed no matter how talented one is.

And that is exactly Claire’s heart directed towards Lukas.

‘Claire’s awakening will ultimately be… thanks to Lukas being the key.’

Bernhardt, one of the four grand duke houses.

I hadn’t paid much attention to them as there hadn’t been any particular reason to, but Bernhardt is also one of the direct descendant families of the Heavenly Beings.

In fact, since they are specialized in “buffs” and “aura,” they might even have a larger role to play.

So, if the relationship with Lukas becomes the key to awakening Claire, there’s no reason not to support it.

Having organized my thoughts this way, I conveyed my plan to Eve.

After a while, Eve, who had finished her analysis, spoke.

“…Then, how about pushing them into an extreme situation?”

“…Huh? An extreme situation?”

“Yes. By putting Lukas in a crisis situation, we’ll induce Claire’s awakening. It’s a situation so dire that Lukas might die if Claire doesn’t awaken.”

…Indeed.

I nodded.

Isn’t a dramatic emotional change generally a prerequisite for “awakening”?

There are clear representatives like Lukas, Enya, and Isabella.

Enya regained her faith in herself through my encouragement and learned sword techniques.

Isabella shed her negativity when she discovered my past devotion.

Lukas has also started to confront his complex regarding his father and entered the beginning stages of awakening.

In other words, for Claire to awaken, an event of that magnitude is necessary.

She needs an opportunity to unleash her potential in order to save Lukas, who has been her long-time crush, when he faces a crisis.

“Alright. Let’s push forward. How long do you think it’ll take?”

“…Hmm. About three weeks? If we only get help from Elena and the Emperor, three weeks should be sufficient.”

The help from Elena and the Emperor.

This means creating a space for those two to awaken by utilizing Elena’s ancient rituals and the Emperor’s “inventory.”

However, Eve added something unexpected afterward.

“And on top of that, there’s something you’ll need to do, brother.”

Her expression was serious as she said I needed to do something.

When I asked what it was, she replied.

“NTR.”

“…What?”

“You need to take Claire away from Lukas. That’s what you’ll be doing for the next three weeks.”

…NTR?

Could it possibly be what I’m thinking?

At that moment, Eve nodded and said.

“Yes. It’s exactly what you think it is.”

“…”

…I was dumbfounded.

As I stared at Eve in disbelief at her absurd suggestion, she smirked and said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make thorough preparations. You just need to play your part well.”

…It seems that this matter might not be something ordinary.

***

A week passed.

During that time, I focused on leveling up the kids from the four grand duke houses.

I carried out missions while traveling through various towns and cities plagued by demon cultists and demons.

“That… Claire. Your buffs during the battle this time… were really good. Haha… Thanks to you, it was an easy clear.”

“N-no… It was thanks to you doing well.”

And during that process, Lukas and Claire were able to grow closer.

It was inevitable since I had paired them together.

To anyone watching, it was apparent that they were at the stage just before developing into lovers.

[Brother. It’s time to make our move.]

In the midst of this pink atmosphere surrounding them, Eve gave a cruel command.

To steal Claire away from Lukas, to carry out such a wicked act.

‘…It can’t be helped.’

However, if it’s for everyone’s happiness, I had no choice but to take on the role of the villain.

After all, to fix Lukas’s unstable psychological foundation, I’d have to push him into an extreme situation.

“…What do you mean? Are you saying I should trick Lukas into thinking I’m dating you?”

So I approached Claire and conveyed my intention.

Naturally, Claire frowned in disbelief, asking what that was supposed to mean.

I took out the answer I had prepared.

“…Remember that time? When you all fell into the desires ruled by the Seven Deadly Sins of ‘Sloth’ and ‘Lust’ in the city?”

“…Ugh.”

Claire’s expression stiffened.

I brought up a part of her past she would rather forget, causing her to look away.

Then she flushed and asked reproachfully.

“W-why? What are you trying to say?”

“…As you know, demons corrupt humans by stimulating their desires. Specifically, by amplifying their deficiencies or fears to provoke their desires.”

Claire nodded.

It was something I had emphasized several times, so she understood well.

However, I didn’t plan to end the lesson there.

“So to avoid falling for the temptations of demons, it’s important to face your fears properly. You need to confront the thing you fear the most. You should directly face the desires born from that fear and overcome them.”

“…”

Claire looked down with a pensive expression.

As if she were searching for the fears she possessed.

She stared blankly into the void for a while with deeply sunk eyes.

Then, raising her head again, she spoke.

“So, are you saying my fears are related to Lukas? And to overcome them, I need to deceive Lukas?”

“…Hmm. The context is similar, but it’s the opposite. I’m trying to help Lukas face his fears right now. So I’m trying to separate you from him for the time being.”

“…”

Claire looked at me with a perplexed expression.

Seeing her demand for an explanation, I added.

“…Lukas has a strong desire for ‘recognition.’ Due to his complex regarding his commoner father, he has always been haunted by the obsession to become a perfect noble. …Moreover, due to his father’s absence, his attachment and need for recognition from his mother are stronger than others.”

Claire nodded.

And she looked at me as if to encourage me to continue.

“…So, I plan to help him break free from that chronic desire. Lukas is excessively dependent on others’ recognition and his mother’s affection.”

Claire’s expression subtly twisted as she calmly listened to my words.

It seemed that something I said made her uncomfortable.

As expected, she responded with a blunt tone.

“I don’t think that’s true. If he hears rumors about you and Lady Adela, it’s bound to confuse Lukas, right? If I were in that situation, I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I found out that Enya or Isabella had a strange relationship with my father.”

“…”

…That’s a sharp observation.

If a friend has that kind of relationship with his mother, it would naturally be uncomfortable.

But—

“So, is there a reason it can’t be done?”

That’s a story from the real world.

In this medieval fantasy background, it shouldn’t be a problem.

In reality, it’s quite common in this world for a widow to take a young husband to satisfy her desires, or for a young man to marry an older widow for power.

Most of the younger generation from noble families accept that without any issue.

Noble marriages generally happen through agreements between the elders of the families, leaving almost no choice for the individuals involved.

In fact, cases of love marriages like Adela and Ileyah are rare exceptions.

“…Regardless of what my relationship with Lady Adela is, that’s a matter for the heads of the families. What’s strange about joining forces for mutual benefit?”

“…I understand that, but…”

Claire pressed her forehead with a troubled expression.

She too understood that I was not wrong, as a member of the noble ecosystem.

However, the grand duke family, including Claire, grew up in an environment that differs from regular nobles.

Ileyah, Biyonsun, and Adrian all grew up harmoniously by marrying whoever they fancied.

Adela, too, incredibly took on the role of husband to a commoner whom she loved.

“…But you still feel uncomfortable? Then it’s probably because you’re all only children in the grand duke household. With no need for sibling rivalry or inheritance disputes, you’ve never considered political calculations.”

Additionally, excluding Isabella, they are all only children.

Even Isabella, having completely fallen out of the line of succession with her older sister, is practically as good as an only child.

Therefore, these four have never stressed about what they inherit or engaged in political maneuvering.

Unlike regular nobles, they’ve grown up with their heads lost in a flower garden.

“But you know this much, right? If you can’t respond to shifts in power in the noble world, you won’t survive.”

Thus, I pounded their love-struck mindset in a world that required maturity.

At 19 in this world, you’re already six years into the social scene, sensitive to the power dynamics between families, and worried about your position, yet these kids have grown up being revered by others just because they belong to the grand duke family, entirely without such worries.

As a result, they remain emotionally dependent on their parents while getting lost in their own feelings.

“Claire. Although I’m your academy classmate and friend, I am also the Emperor’s representative and the head of the Fix family. If it benefits my family, marrying Lady Adela could also be an option for me.”

“…”

“So think carefully. Is it normal for you facing an unwanted situation to just whine and comfort your wounded hearts?”

“…”

Claire’s expression hardened.

She even took a step back, shrinking away.

Seeing my mood shift must have surprised her quite a bit.

“I-I’m just Lukas’s friend—”

“Claire.”

“—Uh, yes?”

“That kind of approach won’t solve anything. You need to either use your family’s power to pressure me, or create a situation where my marriage to Lady Adela would be detrimental for me, or else negotiate.”

“…”

“Of course, all the moves you can make, I can crush with power. If I want to, I can do anything.”

With that, Claire’s resolve completely crumbled.

She was breathing heavily, her shoulders tense.

How much power I hold.

How significant my position is in this empire—only in the absence of the ‘friend’ facade does it truly become clear.

“…Heads of families are like that. For the sake of the family’s benefit, they can do anything. In fact, it’s quite easy to exclude their emotions.”

“…”

“There are many times when one must do all sorts of dirty work. Those who try to bite off my neck. Those who smile in front of me but betray me behind my back. Or those who have already betrayed me. Or little rat-like subordinates who gnaw away at my honor and property. Making appropriate justifications to handle such people is pretty common.”

The reason I was able to become the second-in-command in the empire.

It’s not just because of my abilities but because I’ve continuously eliminated my enemies.

What seems glamorous on the surface is soaked in the blood of my numerous opponents lurking in the shadows.

“However, Claire.”

Still, I didn’t come here as the head of a family.

I simply wanted to help Claire and Lukas.

I approached her and spoke in a gentle voice.

“The reason I called you here is that I want to help you as a ‘friend.’ …I don’t know how my relationship with Lady Adela will turn out, but I want to support Lukas so he won’t waver in the meantime.”

…Upon my heartfelt words, Claire’s gaze changed.

The fear she had of me faded, replaced by curiosity towards my words.

Finally, she nodded and said.

“…Thinking about it, I think you’re right. We’re still too young… We only think about our own feelings…”

“…”

“…I’ll give it a try. If it’s for Lukas’s growth, what’s there I can’t do? So, what do we need to do?”

After a long persuasive talk, Claire finally accepted my proposal.

I smiled and told her the first step that Eve had briefed me on.

“First, we need to go to a love-exclusive inn together.”

A love-exclusive inn.

To put it in contemporary terms, it’s like a love hotel.

“…Huh?”

Just then, Claire’s expression crumpled as if she had seen a cockroach.

Still, I continued with a smile, unabashed.

“And, Lukas will catch us entering together.”

“…”

“…Holding hands.”

…Claire’s face turned crimson in shock.