On the way to the training camp, it took Daren a while to finally snap out of it.
So... it seems like I've just been officially ordered to go flirt with girls?
Is that what she meant?
Daren mulled over Toki's words, the smile at the corner of his lips slowly twisting.
"A virtuous wife at home, huh..."
His mood lifted instantly, and he even started whistling.
Although nothing had actually happened between him and Toki yet, how could he possibly let a duck that was already cooked and at his lips fly away?
It was just a matter of time.
Having a beauty like Toki by his side was like putting a tub of cream in front of a fat orange cat—don't expect the glutton not to lick it.
Of course, Daren had no intention of betraying Toki's feelings.
But soon, he noticed something strange.
Everyone he passed—both civilians and patrolling Marines—kept sneaking glances at him with bizarre expressions.
Their eyes were full of awe, admiration, curiosity... and a hard-to-describe trace of pity.
"What's going on... I've only been recovering at home for a couple of days…"
Daren instinctively perked up his ears, trying to catch their whispers.
"That's Commodore Daren, right? He's so handsome!"
"Of course! He wiped out the Beasts Pirates all by himself! Even Kaidou of the Beasts, that so-called 'strongest creature,' couldn't stand against him and ended up fleeing in defeat!"
"I heard he nearly wiped out the Whitebeard Pirates too!"
"He really is the 'monster' of headquarters!"
Daren: "…"
The more he listened, the more off it sounded. Black lines started creeping across his forehead.
How the hell did the story evolve into this version!?
When did I become that ridiculous?
Getting captured by Kaidou was a deliberate move to bait him, risking everything just to locate the Beasts Pirates' hideout?
Breaking out of prison solo and slaughtering nearly every member of the Beasts Pirates' thousands-strong crew?
And that test run with the Whitebeard Pirates—wasn't I the one who got forced to retreat?
Now suddenly it's me who almost wiped them out?
This is—
Wait!
He suddenly caught a few murmurs that made his face twitch.
It was a group of gossiping uncles and aunties, gathered together, pretending to read newspapers upside-down while constantly sneaking glances at him from the corner of their eyes.
"Such a tall, strapping young man…"
"What a shame…"
"I heard his body's not doing so well…"
"Cackle cackle… must've been drained dry…"
"Totally looks the part too. Look at how his face keeps getting darker…"
"Tsk, kids these days just can't cut it. Not like me—I'm still going strong at fifty!"
"Yeah right! Your wife said you can't even last a minute!"
"Still, what a waste… so young and already can't do it…"
"His body still looks pretty sturdy though…"
"…"
Without realizing it, Daren's face had gone pitch black, like the bottom of a pot. The veins on his forehead bulged, twitching wildly like they were about to burst.
Who the hell… spread this crap!!?
Daren's teeth ground audibly.
When the hell did I become 'not functional'!?
Damn it!!!
Under the barrage of weird stares, Daren instinctively picked up his pace, broke into a jog, and eventually burst into a full-on Soru.
Daren arrived at the gates of the military training camp at nearly top speed, letting out a long breath as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. With a wry smile, he muttered,
"Who the hell am I supposed to argue with about this…?"
It's not like he could go back and debate with those gossiping old folks. That would only make them even more enthusiastic.
"What a damn headache..."
Sighing, he stepped through the camp gates.
"Move it, all of you!! Yamakaji, you brat, smoking cigars during training again!? And you, Onigumo! What's with that sour face? You looking at me like I owe you millions!"
"Bunch of softies! When I was your age, I carried hundreds of kilos on my back and hacked my way from the entrance of the Grand Line across the Reverse Mountain into the New World—didn't even blink once!"
Hearing that all-too-familiar bellow, Daren's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He really wanted to go over and ask, "And your eyes didn't dry out back then?"
But thinking about the beating he'd probably get—likely a Black Arm-class thrashing—he wisely decided to keep that thought to himself.
As he walked into the training field, he spotted Zephyr-sensei, decked out in sunglasses, unloading a heavy machine gun—da-da-da-da—without pause.
(Don't doubt it. Pirates really have stuff like this. Zephyr's mechanical arm can spit out bullets like a damn minigun. The tech tree in this world is all kinds of weird.)
Students, each carrying heavy loads and panting as they ran laps around the field, were instantly sent into chaos by the hail of bullets. It was pure bedlam—chickens flying, dogs jumping, the works.
Daren didn't rush. He simply stood in the distance, quietly waiting for them to finish.
Ten minutes later...
Training wrapped up.
All the trainees were doubled over, hands on their knees, soaked in sweat and looking pale. Some who couldn't keep up physically were already hunched over, puking on the spot.
This training camp wasn't child's play. Zephyr's "Devil Instructor" title wasn't for show.
With his overwhelming strength and sharp eye for theory and practice, he could assess each trainee's condition precisely, pushing them past their limits without breaking them.
After all, everyone's body is different.
Not everyone could be like Daren—finishing Zephyr's hellish training plan and still bouncing around like he could go tow a warship afterward.
Daren smiled and stepped forward, raising his hand in salute.
"Third class cadet of the training camp, Marine Headquarters Commodore Rogers Daren—mission complete, requesting to rejoin the team!"
The voice immediately drew everyone's attention.
They turned in surprise toward the figure standing at the edge of the training field.
"Daren! You're back!"
Yamakaji's sweat-soaked face lit up with a grin as he waved.
"Dahaha! Daren, you're finally back! I've gotten stronger since you left—let's spar again soon!"
That was Kuzan, eyes shining, practically leaping from where he stood.
"Welcome back."
That came from Strawberry, Doberman, and Dalmatian.
The usually cold Onigumo simply gave Daren a silent nod.
Daren was well-liked at the training camp.
Strong, charismatic, good-looking, and eloquent. And on top of that, he was generous—always handing out good booze and quality smokes, often treating everyone to meals.
Who wouldn't welcome a classmate like that?
...Oh, right. Two people didn't.
Tokikake scoffed in annoyance.
Gion, on the other hand, stared coldly at Daren—her glare practically sharp enough to kill.