Ryo Carter was not happy about the idea of being sent behind the Wall of Sina.
Sure, he would be safe there, but it would also mean losing the opportunity to fight Titans and gain valuable combat experience. Without those encounters, how was he supposed to grow stronger and achieve his goals?
The farther back one was stationed, the less opportunity there was to train effectively. The experience needed for him to "level up" far exceeded what he could gain in a passive role. If he wanted to grow, he had to remain on the frontlines, where danger—and Titans—were constant.
Ryo couldn't bear the thought of being trapped behind Sina's walls, where the only chance of seeing Titans would be if they broke through the defenses.
As for becoming a bodyguard for senior officials? That was an even less appealing option.
Ryo had little patience for dealing with pompous nobles who were used to giving orders. He wasn't about to let himself be bossed around by self-important figures who contributed nothing to the fight against the Titans. That lifestyle didn't align with his goals.
If Ryo wanted to gain combat experience, staying on the frontlines was the only logical path. Joining the Scout Regiment or even the Garrison Regiment was feasible, but there was one option he outright rejected: the Military Police.
There was another reason driving Ryo's decision. Krista's abilities were lacking in comparison to the top recruits. Despite her relentless efforts, she hadn't made it into the top ten. If she couldn't join the Military Police Regiment, there was no reason for him to consider it either.
If Krista were sent to the frontlines without protection and fell to the Titans, Ryo wouldn't forgive himself. He'd resolved from the start to stay by her side, ensuring her safety. Until the day her true identity was revealed and she became the queen, Ryo had no intention of leaving her unprotected.
Without hesitation, Ryo rejected Instructor Keith's proposal.
"Instructor, I want to stay on the frontlines. I don't want to go behind the Wall of Sina," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Instructor Keith didn't seem surprised by his decision. He smiled knowingly and nodded.
"Understood. You should return to the team," Keith said.
Ryo wasn't sure what he meant by "return to the team." Was Keith referring to rejoining the training corps or resuming the special training they had arranged for him?
"Instructor, am I going back to..."
"Straight to camp," Keith interrupted with a smirk. "Someone has been asking about you a lot. Seems like they care quite a bit."
The comment struck a chord with Ryo. Keith's words hinted at something deeper, and a certain silly, kindhearted girl immediately came to mind.
Krista must have been worried about him. She had likely been checking on him every day, asking the instructors for updates about his whereabouts.
Ryo's heart swelled at the thought of her concern.
"Thank you, Instructor. I'll take my leave now!" Ryo saluted sharply before dashing off, eager to see Krista again.
Keith watched him go, shaking his head slightly at the young man's enthusiasm. Turning back to his desk, Keith opened a document containing an evaluation report of Ryo's progress.
The report was the result of the month-long special training sessions arranged for Ryo by elite personnel.
The evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. The assessors unanimously agreed that Ryo had immense potential and had already demonstrated remarkable strength. Despite being only thirteen years old, he displayed skills rivaling those of seasoned Survey Corps veterans.
Every Survey Corps veteran was considered elite, but Ryo's talent put him in a league of his own.
The evaluators believed Ryo could one day surpass humanity's strongest soldier, Captain Levi. While Levi's reputation as the "strongest" was undisputed, there were others in his caliber—such as an aging Ackerman bodyguard stationed behind the Wall of Sina. Although this individual wasn't as famous as Levi, their strength was said to be comparable.
The issue was time. The Ackerman bodyguard was growing older and would soon be unable to fulfill their duties. The military police were already scouting for a successor, someone with unparalleled potential to assume the role.
Initially, Levi had been considered. However, his age—he was already thirty—meant he wasn't ideal for long-term training. Furthermore, his history as an underground thug in the royal capital made the higher-ups question his loyalty.
When the scouts learned about Ryo, they became intrigued, likening him to a diamond in the rough. His performance in the battle against the Titan had only solidified their interest. Over the past month, they had tailored a specialized training regimen to gauge his potential.
The results spoke volumes: Ryo was everything they were looking for in a successor.
Now, an evaluation report sat on Keith's desk, awaiting his signature. Signing it would greenlight Ryo's transfer to the Wall of Sina for advanced training as a bodyguard to high-ranking officials.
However, Keith hesitated.
He thought back to Ryo's conviction—the fire in his eyes as he rejected the proposal.
Keith put down the pen and, after a moment of deliberation, wrote a negative assessment of Ryo's loyalty.
No matter how much potential Ryo had, Keith wouldn't force him into a role he didn't want.
If Ryo wanted to stay on the frontlines, that's exactly where he would remain.