CHAPTER 3 — The Tutor's Past, and My First Real Fight
Shells Town was usually quiet in the mornings.
But today?
Today the whole Marine base felt… tense.
Marines whispered.
Servants rushed around.
Even Helmeppo walked faster than usual, which for him meant "slightly above snail speed."
I stretched lazily and cracked my neck.
"Something's happening," I muttered.
But before I could investigate, Master Retsu appeared beside me like a ghost.
"You're late."
I jumped.
"You're early."
"I've been waiting thirty minutes."
"I was spiritually preparing."
He smacked my head with his staff.
"Training. Now."
"Yes, sensei…"
Retsu's Serious Mood
We went to the courtyard as usual, but Retsu looked… different today. He wore a serious expression, eyes sharp.
"Stand," he ordered.
I took my stance.
"Good. Now attack me."
I blinked.
"Huh?"
"Attack. With intent. No hesitation."
"Are you sure? You're old."
Smack.
He hit my knee with his staff.
"Don't underestimate your elders."
"Okay, okay," I sighed. "I'll try not to break your bones."
He inhaled deeply like he was counting to ten.
"Stop talking. Fight."
I dashed in.
Fast.
Straight jab.
Retsu tilted his head slightly—
just enough for my fist to miss by a hair.
Then he swept my leg.
I jumped.
He spun the staff.
I ducked.
I punched.
He blocked with his wrist.
His wrist.
"What the hell—?"
He tapped my ribs with the staff—gentle, but I still felt the shock.
"You're reckless," he said calmly. "Again."
We clashed again.
And again.
And again.
He didn't overpower me with strength—
he buried me in experience.
Every time I thought I had him, he redirected my momentum.
Every time I went for a strike, he punished the opening.
Every time I relaxed even a little—
Smack.
"Focus," he said.
"I am focused!"
"No. You are excited."
"…Fair."
Our spar lasted longer than usual. Sweat streamed down my face, my long hair sticking to my neck.
Finally, I stepped back, panting.
"You're better than yesterday," he said.
"You say that every day."
"Because you improve every day."
He wiped sweat from his brow.
"You may surpass me sooner than you think."
"Sooner than you think," I smirked.
His eye twitched.
He raised the staff again.
"…Retsu, let me rest—"
Smack.
"No."
The Old Man's Past
After training, we sat under a tree outside the mansion. Retsu drank tea; I drank water like a dehydrated hippo.
"Master," I asked, "why are you taking this seriously? You're retired. You could just take Morgan's money and relax."
He sipped his tea quietly.
"When I was young," he said slowly, "I trained Marines. Some became officers. Some died. Some betrayed us."
He clenched his fists.
"But there was one… one I failed."
I looked at him seriously.
"What happened?"
"A student of mine was killed in the line of duty… because he was weak. Because I did not train him well enough."
His voice trembled slightly.
"So I trained harder. Became better. But I was already old. My body eventually gave up."
He closed his eyes.
"When Morgan asked for a tutor, I expected another spoiled brat. But you…"
He looked at me with a rare smile.
"You want to fight. You want to grow. You listen, even when you pretend not to."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
"Don't get sentimental on me, old man."
He chuckled.
"Brat."
The Trouble Arrives
Before Retsu could stand, a Marine ran up to us, panting.
"M-Master Damian! Sensei Retsu! We have a problem!"
Retsu raised an eyebrow.
"Calm down, boy. Speak."
"A group of thugs from the Grey Rat Gang just entered the town! They're harassing civilians near the market! Captain Morgan is… uh… busy."
Busy.
Translation:
Praising himself in the mirror again.
Retsu sighed deeply.
"Why doesn't Morgan ever deal with problems himself?"
"Because he's Morgan," I said.
The Marine gulped.
"Should… should we evacuate?"
"No," I said, standing.
My muscles still burned, but my excitement rose.
"I'll handle it."
The Marine looked horrified.
"B-but young master! They're dangerous! Armed!"
I cracked my knuckles.
"Armed people are more interesting."
Retsu grabbed his staff.
"I'm coming too. Someone has to stop you from doing something stupid."
"Have a little faith in me."
"I do. That's why I'm coming."
Fair.
The Market Scene
The market area was chaotic.
Stalls overturned.
Merchants hiding behind crates.
Civilians running.
And in the center—
Six thugs in leather jackets, weapons drawn.
Grey Rat Gang.
Their leader, a scarred man with jagged teeth, laughed while pushing a vendor to the ground.
"Where's your money, old man?! Pay up, or—"
Tap.
He turned around.
I had poked his shoulder.
"Hi."
He blinked.
"Who the hell—?"
He didn't finish the sentence.
I kicked him in the stomach—
clean, precise, powerful.
He flew backward into a cabbage stall, knocking vegetables everywhere.
The market went silent.
One of the thugs shook.
"B-boss?!"
Another pointed at me.
"You brat! Who do you think you are?!"
"Just a bored guy," I said. "So please entertain me."
They roared and rushed me.
Big mistake.
First Real Fight
One came with a knife—
I side-stepped, grabbed his wrist, twisted.
Crack.
He screamed and dropped.
Another swung a club—
I ducked low and swept his legs.
He hit the ground face-first.
Two more charged together—
I jumped, planted my foot on one's shoulder, flipped, and landed behind them.
They crashed into each other.
Retsu watched from the side, arms crossed.
"Don't kill anyone," he said.
"Trying."
The last thug swung wildly at my head.
I leaned back, grabbed his shirt, and kneed him in the chin.
He collapsed instantly.
The entire fight lasted maybe… thirty seconds?
I stretched.
"That was decent," I said. "But too short."
People whispered.
"Is that Morgan's kid?"
"He took them out alone…"
"No way… that wasn't normal…"
Retsu stepped beside me.
"You held back well."
"I did?"
"You didn't break anyone's spine. That counts."
"Ah. True."
Morgan's "Praise"
Minutes later, Morgan arrived with his Marine squad, cape flapping dramatically.
He surveyed the beaten thugs, then glared at me.
"Damian!"
"Yo."
"I told you to stop acting without orders!"
"You were busy."
He puffed up like a puffer fish.
"I wasn't busy! I was—"
"Fixing your hair again?" I asked.
He froze.
Marines behind him tried not to laugh.
Morgan coughed loudly.
"A-Anyway! You acted recklessly… but efficiently."
He looked away.
"…Good work."
I grinned.
"That hurt you to say, didn't it?"
"Shut up."
Night Thoughts
Later that night, I lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Today felt different.
Today, I used my strength for real.
Not training.
Not drills.
Not sparring.
A real fight.
A real enemy.
Real consequences.
And I wanted more.
Not violence—
excitement.
This world was full of challenges.
And I could feel myself getting closer.
Closer to becoming the strongest.
One day at a time.
I closed my eyes with a lazy smile.
"Bring the next challenge."