Attack on Titan: My System Says “Work Hard” and That’s It

"Have you heard? This time, the Deputy Commander of the Survey Corps is here to oversee the recruitment meeting. That's never happened before!"

"Survey Corps, huh... I heard their last expedition outside the Wall was a disaster. The casualty rate was insane. I'd rather go with the Military Police or the Garrison Regiment."

"You should focus on passing the recruitment meeting first before talking big. Our district only has three open slots this time!"

"Not necessarily. If you're good enough, even if the spots are limited, the Deputy Commander might expand the quota."

"Yeah, but you'd have to impress him. Think you can do that?"

"How would I know if I don't try?!"

Without joining the discussion, Ronan pushed his way to the front of the square using his exceptional strength. At last, he laid eyes on the person presiding over the meeting—Erwin Smith, the current Deputy Commander of the Survey Corps.

Seeing this unforgettable character from the original plot up close, Ronan felt a rush of excitement.

But when he noticed a smaller figure standing next to Erwin, wearing a cold expression, his eyes narrowed.

That person was none other than Levi Ackerman, the man who would eventually be known as humanity's strongest soldier.

At this point in time, Levi hadn't yet been promoted to Captain, but his cold and distant aura already made people wary of approaching him.

His perception was sharp too. As though he felt Ronan's stare, he glanced over almost immediately.

Ronan quickly averted his gaze, a strange feeling creeping up inside him—he realized Levi was actually shorter than him.

Yup. Captain "1.5 Meters"... confirmed.

At that same moment—

"Something wrong?" Erwin asked, glancing toward Levi.

Still wearing a blank expression, Levi replied coolly, "Nothing. Most of them are here. We can start."

"Hmm."

Looking out over the bustling crowd in the square, Erwin signaled to a waiting guard.

The guard rushed to the balcony and rang a bell.

BOOM... BOOM... BOOM...

The deep, resonant bell echoed across the square, cutting through the chatter. As Erwin stepped up to the platform, all conversation ceased. Every eye locked onto him in respectful silence.

The square, just moments ago filled with noise, now fell completely still.

After all, the man standing before them was the powerful Deputy Commander of the Survey Corps. Upsetting him would be unwise. And the stone-faced, deadly-looking man beside him? Even more so.

Seeing the crowd quiet, Erwin got straight to the point:

"I am Erwin Smith, Deputy Commander of the Survey Corps. I'll be overseeing this recruitment meeting in the Shiganshina District. Officially, we have three openings. However, if you can show me something exceptional—something that excites me—it's not impossible to expand that number."

A buzz of excitement swept through the crowd.

Every additional slot meant better odds for everyone.

Ronan, however, remained calm. As long as there were no backdoor deals and the evaluators weren't blind, he had absolute confidence he'd make it through with his current capabilities.

And Erwin had said it himself: the criteria for exceptional admission were clear—you needed to excite him.

Looking at Levi beside Erwin, Ronan didn't believe there was anyone else in the square—other than himself—who had the potential to meet that standard.

Before he could think further, Erwin spoke again.

"This selection will consist of three rounds. The first is a physical fitness test. Only the top 100 will advance. Everyone else will be eliminated."

A straightforward and brutal screening.

Soon, under the supervision of the officers, Ronan and the other candidates began a running test around the garrison perimeter.

Running—this was Ronan's bread and butter.

Without holding back, he took off at full speed right from the start, quickly establishing himself at the front of the pack. His blistering pace immediately drew attention.

"I don't even know how many laps we're doing, and that kid's already going all out. Typical rookie—just wants to show off."

"Good. One less rival to worry about."

"Not just him. Look at the others who followed his pace—they're gonna burn out fast. Still too young."

After a few moments, most observers turned their attention away from Ronan and those who had chased after him, instead focusing on maintaining their own steady rhythm.

Since it was clearly a test of endurance, burning out early would be fatal.

But the expected scene of Ronan collapsing never came. In fact, as the others slowed down or fell behind, Ronan's pace remained consistent, showing no signs of fatigue.

This unexpected outcome quickly drew Erwin's attention from the platform.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Ronan, now clearly pulling ahead, with a look of interest and scrutiny.

Ronan continued running at the front, widening the gap between himself and second place.

"Cal... Call..."

His months of daily training were paying off. His breathing was stable, his form perfect, and his expression composed. He didn't look like someone who had already run nearly 2,000 meters.

By the time the first lap was completed, Ronan had created a 300-meter lead over the runner-up.

It was a significant advantage.

Just as he prepared to begin his second lap, a soldier stepped in and stopped him...