I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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“Establishing a political marriage with Fix… It’s not that I hadn’t considered it.”

In the Imperial Princess’s state guest room.

Upon hearing Edgar’s proposal for a political marriage, the princess nodded while stroking her chin.

After all, the most powerful means to strengthen the imperial power is to embrace a noble family rich in future growth potential as part of the royal family.

She was only viewing Count Fix as a potential partner through the lens of political interests.

Her mother, the Empress, would have weighed these pros and cons and drawn Edgar Fix close as well.

“However, I cannot understand your intentions. Your power is already solidified enough that there is no need for a marriage alliance. Above all, I have heard through rumors that you seek only love matches.”

However, political marriages are pursued when mutual interests align.

If Edgar Fix, who could exert substantial influence without relying on the royal family, is courting mostly the children of Grand Dukes, it was as if he had already established a political foundation.

There’s no need for him to accept someone he doesn’t love as his legitimate wife when he could just choose one of the Grand Dukes’ daughters whom he loves as his legitimate partner.

“And, dare I say, it’s not out of fear of the royal family that he approaches me.”

Additionally, Edgar had no need to worry about retaliation from the royal family.

When a noble family strong enough to oppose the imperial family emerges, it’s a long-standing tradition in Orserk to either frame them with false charges and eliminate them or absorb them through marriage.

Edgar Fix was the only one who didn’t fall under that category.

He had grown too powerful to be eliminated now.

Above all, with the impending doom of humanity, there was no time for power struggles.

The royal family would need to keep Edgar Fix alive to preserve their own survival in this world.

…More than anything, Edgar Fix was immune to the power of the Demon Eye.

“Or perhaps, your Majesty persuaded him? I heard you have become quite close. Was it your order to arrange a marriage alliance for political stability?”

Thus, the princess concluded one thing.

Her mother had persuaded Edgar Fix.

If not, why would Edgar Fix, who didn’t particularly need a marriage alliance, propose one to her, especially a man devoid of even a hint of affection towards her?

“No, this is entirely my own will.”

But Edgar spoke unexpectedly.

He answered with a gaze that held not a trace of deceit, asserting it was his own will.

Curiosity piqued, the princess looked at Edgar with interest.

When she finally asked why he desired a marriage alliance, Edgar replied.

“Because I need Your Highness’s abilities.”

“My abilities?”

“Yes. The power of the Demon Eye that allows one to peer into human thoughts and desires.”

“…..”

The princess fell into momentary contemplation.

She had hoped for a moment that perhaps he didn’t see her as just a means, but of course, Edgar Fix viewed her as a tool.

While that fact left a scratch on her pride as a woman, she appreciated his straightforwardness over someone who would hide their intentions behind polished words.

“…Then I am curious. If you need the power of the Demon Eye enough to marry me, who do you intend to use it on?”

Thus, the only question left for the princess was this.

If he wanted her Demon Eye, who would he use it on, and how?

Edgar responded.

“I will use it on my people.”

“…..? What?”

“To be precise, on the managers or heads that sit in the central roles of my faction. I want to use it to manage them.”

Edgar began to explain to the princess why he needed her.

Though it was quite a lengthy explanation, the conclusion was that he needed someone to powerfully control the Fix family in his absence, and that suitable candidate would be the princess as his legitimate wife.

“…..I don’t quite understand. A Fix family without you?”

“…I have a mission that I must succeed in over the next few years. For that reason, I will need to be absent.”

However, Edgar offered a suitable excuse for his absence.

He could not reveal to anyone other than Eve or the Emperor that he would be sealed away by the Lord of Hell.

“……So the conclusion is that while you’re gone, I must unify the Fix faction well?”

“…Yes.”

After hearing Edgar’s entire explanation, the princess nodded.

Indeed, if Edgar Fix were absent, receiving power as his legitimate wife would allow her to maintain a stable regime.

Above all, the children of the Grand Dukes, whom he would take as concubines, would have no reason to quarrel over the position of legitimate wife.

‘Not bad at all. He intends to use me thoroughly as a tool.’

But as expected, Edgar had no selfish motives in this marriage.

It was merely a way to maintain the regime.

“…..Then what will I gain from this marriage? I believe you should have an answer to that as well.”

Thus, the princess posed the question she had to ask.

If she were to be his tool, there should be a suitable return from his end.

“I will give you the world—the world itself.”

“…..”

And once again, Edgar provided an unexpected answer.

He would give her the very world?

It was unclear whether he meant the literal world or was speaking metaphorically; either way, she didn’t understand.

She couldn’t peer into his mind with her Demon Eye, so his words felt like riddles.

‘This is interesting.’

However, because she couldn’t read him, her heart raced.

Everything in this world felt dreadfully mundane, like a short story where the conclusion was already known.

But because Elena and Edgar Fix were unknowable, they always intrigued her.

Eventually, pondering what Edgar meant by ‘world,’ the princess blurted out her answer.

“Are you saying the world you speak of is the future of the Fix family? The advanced world you envision?”

“…..No. I’m talking about a world other than this one.”

“…..?”

The princess’s eyes widened in astonishment.

So Edgar Fix’s words meant he was offering her another world?

“You certainly have startled me, Your Highness. Are you saying you will give me another world, not as a metaphor? Could it possibly be another world altogether?”

“Yes. Another world.”

“…..Huh?”

“To explain it simply, we could consider it the homeland of Heavenly Beings.”

“Homeland of Heavenly Beings?”

“Yes. The great Empire of Orserk’s first emperor, the first head of the Grand Duke family, and even my faraway previous life. They all came from that other world. What I wish to offer you is that world.”

“…..”

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

The princess’s heart began to race wildly.

This thrilling feeling was indeed the first since she was seven years old.

It felt akin to the excitement she felt when encountering Elena for the first time, someone entirely impervious to her Demon Eye.

That mixture of confusion and elation stirred the princess once again.

“In that world, Your Highness’s Demon Eye will not work. It’s a world that lacks mana. Instead, Your Highness will finally be able to be ordinary. Everything will be curious, everything will be new, and everything will feel genuine.”

…The princess’s shoulders began to tremble with excitement.

Edgar’s offer of a ‘world that feels genuine’ was, in fact, her long-held wish.

“A world where the Demon Eye doesn’t work?”

“Yes. A world without mana and spells. Instead, the technology is far more advanced. Just like the territory I establish.”

“…So all your technological prowess is derived from that world?”

“Yes. While there are many independently developed technologies that merge with the technologies of this world, most of the ideas came from that world.”

“…Tell me more about that world! What kinds of things are there?”

“Hmm… A representative technology would be something called a ‘smartphone.’ It’s a little rectangular device that contains almost every function.”

“Oh really… What kind of functions does it have?”

“I mainly used it to watch videos.”

“Videos?”

“So essentially, it means I can watch movies that are showing at the theater from that device. Lying comfortably at home.”

“…..Oh. So it’s like a magical sphere for video transmission contained within.”

“You could think of it that way. Would you like to see it? The culture of that world.”

With that, Edgar took out a device he had prepared in advance.

It wasn’t a smartphone, but it was a device capable of playing videos.

And within that device were plenty of YouTube videos that the princess would find delightful.

Through Eve’s ‘Memory Exploration’ ability, Edgar replicated and stored the YouTube videos he had seen from his world.

“Excuse me, I will get a little closer to you.”

With that, Edgar sought consent from the princess and approached her side.

Then placing the device in front of her, he began to play the video.

The princess immediately showed interest in the new culture.

Since it was a video extracted entirely from Edgar’s memory, even her Demon Eye couldn’t comprehend what the video was about.

“Hmm… It’s quite ludicrous. Although the food looks rather sumptuous, why would anyone want to watch someone devour this much food?”

However, mukbangs were not the princess’s style.

Edgar quickly skipped to the next video.

“How interesting. So they’re competing with each other as chefs based on the food inside that freezer.”

She seemed to find humor in a relatively easy-to-understand show like ‘Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.’

No, no—it wasn’t just that; she was positively beaming with excitement.

“…..Hmm. That person seems quite unique, even to me, someone who is unfamiliar with this world’s culture. And having the number 84 attached to the name isn’t ordinary either.”

Edgar showed her several more videos.

“I Live Alone.”

“My Precious Child.”

“Running Man.”

“Gwaqtube.”

And many other popular videos that he briefly introduced.

Yet, having no prior knowledge of that world, the princess sincerely liked the intuitive content.

Hence, Edgar sought out videos she would find intriguing, even without fully grasping modern culture.

Then by coincidence, when he played an idol music video…

“Ah….?”

The princess’s face turned bright red.

Upon witnessing the cute and charming dance moves of a popular girl group, she found herself involuntarily captivated.

“That girl… is, very cute… The rhythm and expressions are so lively…”

“….Would you like to see more of that girl’s videos?”

“…..Um. I suppose I’ll watch just a bit more.”

Edgar then played videos featuring the visual center of the girl group that the princess seemed to like.

Her face turned red, and a wicked grin began to form.

-Slap.

But at that moment, Edgar turned off the device.

When the princess looked at him with a face that said, “What are you doing?”

Edgar, while putting the device back into his inventory, said:

“If you accept my proposal, I will let you cross over to that world. Of course, before that can happen, we’ll have to deal with the crisis facing this world. Until then, let’s have dinner every evening and explore the culture of that world together. What do you think?”

“……”

The princess looked at Edgar.

Having dinner with Edgar, whom she had always felt fondly towards, while exploring the culture of another world…

It certainly wasn’t a bad proposal.

Even if it felt a bit contemptuous to be used as a tool for the Fix family, to stabilize the regime and promote the royal family’s interests, marriage with the Fix family was ultimately the answer.

“Ahem, come find me tomorrow at 6 PM with that device.”

And so began the regular dates between Edgar and the princess.