In a matter of seconds, Smoker got his thoughts in order and was just about to explain that he wasn't Wood's lackey and that they'd only met today when a fist as big as a cooking pot slammed straight into his face, sending him flying several meters...
"Wait! Listen to me! This person and I... This senior and I really just met! If you have a problem with him, go talk to him yourselves..."
Smoker had been about to explain that he had nothing to do with Wood, but when the words reached his lips, he realized he didn't even know Wood's name yet.
Before he could finish speaking, another fist as big as a cooking pot came flying at him.
At the Marine Academy, Wood had always been a nobody. He wasn't exactly antisocial, but he always acted alone, and nobody had ever seen him get particularly close to anyone.
Smoker had eaten with Wood earlier and had even generously treated him to a meal. The two of them were clearly quite familiar with each other.
Naturally, these three old-fashioned Marines didn't believe Smoker when he claimed he'd only just met Wood.
They were already quite unhappy with Wood, and he'd just called them extras. Now they would prove whether they really were extras.
First, they'd knock Wood's rookie lackey flat, then they'd settle things with Wood himself and prove they were the recruits who deserved to stay.
Faced with their misunderstanding, Smoker could only cast a pleading look at Wood, hoping he would clear things up and then openly defeat all the challengers in front of them.
Unfortunately, Smoker overestimated the character of a certain someone. That shameless bastard ignored his pleading look and taunted the others even more brazenly...
Smoker might become one of the Navy's finest someday, but right now, he was still just an ordinary person. After facing three grown men taking turns beating him up, his youthful face was soon swollen and bruised.
The other side was fairly decent about it. They said that if Smoker admitted defeat, they'd let him go.
But Smoker was stubborn, too. He bluntly said that he was willing to take a beating, but he wouldn't admit defeat!
Smoker was knocked down again and again, only to struggle back to his feet each time. Even as the three Marines beating him were gasping for breath, he swayed unsteadily before getting up once more.
"What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger!" He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and spat a bloody glob onto the ground.
Smoker struck a pose, and the sheer force of his presence even left the trio in front of him stunned.
With his ability to take a beating and his textbook tough-guy line, Smoker would have been a perfect protagonist in any other hot-blooded anime.
By the usual formula, Smoker should have entered a life-flashing-before-his-eyes phase next, then powered up and beaten the villains in front of him senseless.
Unfortunately, Smoker wasn't the protagonist chosen by fate, and he was genuinely weak right now. Even if he powered up, it wouldn't make a bit of difference.
The trio of extras had been intimidated by Smoker's aura at first, but the next second, they had him pinned down and rubbing his face into the dirt again.
"Make you stronger, huh? Then go on, get stronger right now. Let's see it!"
As it turned out, if you weren't the actual protagonist, you shouldn't go around acting tough.
Smoker's failed power-up: Our morale +10, our combat strength +1, enemy anger +100, own injuries +100...
"What are you doing?! Do you know what the consequences will be for beating up a new recruit like this?"
Seeing that Smoker was about to be beaten badly enough to leave him disfigured, Wood was just about to step in when someone beat him to it.
The Marine Academy didn't forbid students from competing with one another. After all, competition was the only way to grow.
But their competition had to be healthy. Ganging up on someone like the trio of extras had, especially when their target was a new recruit like Smoker, was clearly against the rules.
The person who stepped in to stop the trio was a tall, beautiful young woman.
She left a blur in the air. The three extras, who had been standing there just a moment earlier, were sent flying.
When they lifted their heads, they found a sheathed katana pressed against their throats.
Facing a woman whose presence and strength were both overwhelming, the trio of extras didn't even dare to argue. They were struck on the backs of their necks and promptly knocked unconscious.
"I did help you out, after all. Even if you don't thank me, leaving without so much as saying hello is pretty rude."
The tall beauty had easily subdued the three extra Marines. When she turned around, she saw Wood helping Smoker up and preparing to leave. Her tone immediately turned somewhat unfriendly.
"Hahahaha, what a coincidence, Gion. I just happened to be passing by. I was going to help the rookie, too.
"But I'm not strong enough, and I was worried I'd get beaten up if I jumped in too soon, so I was waiting for the right moment. Then you showed up.
"As expected of the No. 1 in our class. You're already this strong without even going through advanced training. After a year at the Marine Academy, you'll probably graduate with at least the rank of sergeant."
Wood had been planning to slip away unnoticed. Hearing the voice behind him, he wore a helpless expression, then had no choice but to turn around and greet her.
"You watched this boy get bullied by those three because you were afraid of getting beaten up?
"Pathetic. Hina thought all the Marines chosen for advanced training would be the most outstanding and exemplary of the Navy's elite."
Gion reacted to Wood's flattery with obvious distaste, while the pink-haired girl beside her bluntly called him pathetic.
That's right—not just Gion had shown up. Standing beside her was a pink-haired girl who looked about the same age as Smoker.
Judging by her clothes, the pink-haired girl was also a new recruit at the Marine Academy, just like Smoker.
"Hina, don't believe a word he says. This guy's best skill is lying.
"Don't let his timid, fearful act fool you. He's much stronger than you think.
"Even if I hadn't stepped in, that rookie would've been fine. Those three don't stand a chance against him."
Seeing the pink-haired girl beside her looking down on Wood and even preparing to teach him a lesson herself, Gion hurriedly spoke up to warn her.
A year had passed, and Wood's disguise was quite convincing. But while he could fool everyone else, he couldn't fool Gion.
Before you continue