I Became a Genius Mechanic at the Academy

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Five months later.

The accumulated problems in the shelter began to surface slowly.

To cram countless races and nations with various interests into one region always carries a risk of conflict.

Races begin to clash with each other.

Nations start fighting among themselves.

Cultures began to bicker with one another.

Moreover, as the demon invasions intensified and the ‘Panic Steam Evaporator’ was destroyed, it became even worse.

…Now, the remaining potable water for us is running low.

“It’s at the limit now. The water stored in the dam is almost gone.”

Just then, Eve reported that the water in the dam was nearly depleted.

I nodded while looking at the ‘15%’ figure displayed in the hologram.

At this rate, even if we conserve as much as possible, all the drinking water will run out within a month.

“It’s time to make a decision.”

“Yeah.”

So now, we really couldn’t afford to delay any longer.

If we couldn’t solve the water issue, this place, humanity’s last stronghold, would soon turn into hell.

Humans would start a conflict over the remaining water, walking the path of self-destruction.

“How’s the development progress on the Doom Buster?”

“100%. Just in case, I’m still upgrading it, though.”

However, I hadn’t just been sitting idle, having anticipated this situation long ago.

Knowing I would have to go out one day, I had been working on creating a giant mechanized soldier, what could be called the ‘ultimate weapon.’

“Having created Titans before was a huge help.”

The first giant mechanized soldier, the Titan.

The Titan was armed with a giant armored suit influenced by ‘Isloberthan,’ the king of golems raised by the World Tree, and had a record of defeating the Knight of Calamity, encapsulating all the essence of Lilith.

Of course, it was more accurate to say we won thanks to my unlimited power supply than the Titan’s own strength.

Anyway, having experienced developing the prototype made creating the Doom Buster much easier.

As a result, I was able to complete the ultimate weapon, refined after numerous upgrades.

“If I prepared this much… I guess it’s okay to deploy now.”

The completion of the Doom Buster had already been finished a month ago.

But up until the point where the potable water reached its limit, I hesitated to take action because I wanted to stay a little longer together with everyone.

Perhaps I wanted to enjoy this world a bit more, which could become the last.

“Eve, get ready. I’ve made up my mind.”

“…Okay.”

But now it was time to say farewell.

I decided to move forward toward my destined fate.

All that remained was for me to justify my decision.

***

“…Don’t say something ridiculous.”

As I conveyed my resolution, Isabella said that with a serious face.

It wasn’t just her; Enya, Charlotte, Adela, and Sephilia also had expressions that couldn’t accept my decision.

“That’s just saying you’re going to your death. To go outside the wall and fight alone means you’re just asking to die.”

…It was an undeniable fact.

Even defeating Baal required us to pool all our strength; saying I would take on a powerful Grand Duke of hell all at once was no different from declaring suicide.

They wouldn’t be able to comprehend it.

“I absolutely won’t let you go alone! If you go out, I’m going too! This place can’t survive without you! …Rather than watching it slowly wither away, I’d rather fight and die with you!”

Thus, Isabella glared at me with anger, declaring she would die with me.

Enya, Adela, and Charlotte looked at me with fiery eyes, agreeing with Isabella’s opinion.

Only Sephilia and Eve, who had already made promises with me, accepted it calmly.

“…That can’t be. At your level, …you wouldn’t last even a second. Remember how we caught Baal?”

But I wouldn’t allow them to go.

While I understood their feelings, their abilities were merely insignificant in front of the Grand Duke.

I cited our hard-fought battle against the ‘Doom Storm, Baal.’

If he had been able to exert his full power without getting caught in our trap, he could have been capable of annihilating the world.

Isabella replied.

“…That’s not the point. How can you tell me to just let you go outside the wall alone? Even if your sacrifice could ensure our safety… do you really think that’s what’s best for us? …How can we survive without you…? We all need you… everyone here needs you…”

“…”

“Please don’t do this. In this life, I wanted to live only for you…”

…It seems Isabella is recalling her past lives.

Countless tragedies she faced due to her wrong choices.

“…It’s alright. This life won’t end that way. I will definitely return.”

But the end of my plan isn’t my death.

It is living in this world with all the people I love together.

That’s the final chapter I envision.

I looked back at everyone with a gaze that bore no falsehood.

“I’ll say it again. I’m not going to die. I’ll definitely come back.”

“…”

The eyes that were burning with sorrow and anger calmed somewhat.

However, seeing Enya still looking at me anxiously, I felt I had to give her a bit more reassurance.

“…I’ve already foreseen that this situation would come. I prepared thoroughly, and I have been ready. So I will definitely return. I’ve planned for that as well.”

“…”

“And when I come back, I won’t be delivering unilateral notices like this anymore. I promise. Definitely.”

Having carried the mission of salvation, I had to handle everything on my own.

But if I can set down that mission after finishing everything, only then will I find peace.

Without informing my beloved ones about this unbearable farewell. Even the smallest issues will be solved together.

“Go and come back. No matter how long it takes, I know you’ll eventually return.”

At that moment, Adela said with a sad smile.

Though very different from ‘Jack,’ I had returned to her as Edgar Fix.

She showed strong faith in my claim that I would return.

…Then Isabella spoke up.

“…If it’s true, really, truly true what you say. If everything has been perfectly planned even down to your return…”

“…”

“…You must come back before it’s too late… If you’re too late, the negativity I worked hard to purge… might resurface. I don’t know what will happen to me… You have to come and stop it… Understand?”

I nodded.

After hugging her, who was barely holding back tears, I gently patted her back.

Who would have thought Isabella would become such a spoiled one? Life sure is amusing.

“Don’t worry, everyone. I will certainly return.”

Thus, I embraced all the heroines gathered here.

Charlotte, Adela. And even Sephilia, who had recently become my official wife.

We exchanged words of encouragement.

However, Eve’s reaction was a bit different.

“You don’t need to get all sentimental. We’ve simulated this countless times. Statistically, the chances of return are pretty good.”

“…”

“So, fight hard. Hitting the enemy is key to increasing the probabilities, so don’t hold back.”

Eve, calmly wishing for my victory.

I smiled.

Having relied on Eve through my days as a mechanical robot Fix and now as an android AI assistant, I realized how much I depended on her, even now.

Could I have come this far without her?

“I’ll be back.”

I hugged Eve, who had been my pillar of support.

Eve startled for a moment but then embraced me back, nodding her head.

-Soft steps…

After saying my goodbyes to everyone, I moved toward the underground tunnel.

To board the Doom Buster I had developed over a long time.

I entered a concealed space, accessible only to me and a few officials, and deactivated the security system to open the entrance.

Whiiir— As the door opened, the gigantic optic filled my view.

In there, various parts of the ultimate weapon, ‘Doom Buster,’ I had developed long ago occupied the space.

“Phew. Finally, it’s time to wear this.”

Starting from the initial model of the Devil Suit all the way to the Doom Suit genealogy.

But indeed, the pinnacle of mechanics can be said to be the ‘giant mechanized soldier.’

Not a clunky mechanic with giant stone golems draped in mechanical parts.

But a true ‘giant mechanized soldier,’ made entirely of pure machinery.

-Crackle!

And the operation method of the giant mechanized soldier, ‘Doom Buster,’ goes like this.

As a fissure appears in the air and various parts burst out, they cling to my body.

Before long, the parts connect to each other, completing the ‘Doom Buster-specific suit.’

With every step I take, my whole body is enveloped in pitch-black titanium alloy.

As the helmet is placed, the form of the specific suit is completed.

-Kiiiiing───! Vroom! Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!

As the specific suit finished, the blue mana reactor in the center of the chest activates, making blue light spin rapidly.

Then the synchronized ‘giant mechanized soldier Doom Buster’ chest suit activates and ignites the engine.

As the power turns on, blue light fills the black parts.

-Clickity-click…

Soon, the huge parts, divided into hundreds, began to combine.

As if each part had a consciousness, they rose into the air and found their places in an orderly fashion.

And as the combining continued, the form became sharper.

The thousands of parts piled high in the vast hall combined to stand as a giant.

-Bang!

Finally, I jumped into the heart of the giant mechanized soldier.

There was a space just the right size for a human to fit.

I settled my body there, completing the combination of the giant mechanized soldier.

One could say it was like inserting a battery into an assembled machine.

-Kooooom… Whiiing…

But I wasn’t a typical battery.

A high-value battery capable of running on every emotional energy from countless experiences.

This giant mechanized soldier, which couldn’t even operate on ordinary energy, could be completely handled by me.

With all my skills and knowledge condensed in it, I could unleash this giant mechanized soldier, which could be considered the ‘God of War.’

-Kiiiiing─ Gurururururururu!!

Thus, I scattered the energy generated from the emotional experiences of hundreds and thousands into the entire body of the giant mechanized soldier.

The 87m tall giant let out a heavy mechanical sound as it rose.

Various jet engines mounted on its back burned, preparing for flight.

-Gururururururu!!! Whoooosh!!!

Thus, the 87m tall giant mechanized soldier Doom Buster soared into the sky.

And the spectacle of the giant soaring into the heavens could be seen by everyone in my shelter.

Just the propulsion alone shook the ground, and the noise from that process resonated everywhere.

People all poured out into the streets, looking up at me flying in the sky.

And at that moment, my communication with Eve connected, and her face appeared in hologram form.

-Beep.

[Broadcasting ready. The sight of the Doom Buster will be visible in all shelters.]

Eve said, displaying the screens installed throughout the shelter lighting up.

I nodded and told Eve.

“Good job. Then finally, let’s go all out without regrets.”

[Okay. That’s what I hoped for.]

Using every financial and human resource I had to create the Doom Buster.

From now on, with Eve’s assistance, I will take down the Grand Duke of Hell using money and technology.

I will show everyone a fireworks display worth billions per shot.

And with that, I would become a symbol.

A tremendous symbol capable of uniting all humanity across races, nations, and religions.