Equestrian training.
Logistics march.
Combat techniques.
Military strategy courses.
Manual skills.
Three-Dimensional Maneuvering.
"They tried so hard, did so much..." Connie grips his head as we all watch the fire, paying our respects in our own way. "Was all of that... for nothing?"
Even with this victory, during the Battle of Trost:
Over 200 soldiers from the Cadet Corps and the Garrison Regiment lost their lives in combat. Approximately 20% of the 104th Training Corps cadets perished during the battle.
The crackling fire devours the bodies that will never walk among us again. Black smoke rises into the sky, carrying the remnants of those who were soldiers, friends, sons... disposable tools on the battlefield.
People are resources.
Their lives hold no inherent value.
The only thing that matters is the outcome.
That's the objective logic—the one that works in a hostile, competitive environment. In the White Room or here, none of this would have mattered. Emotions are irrelevant. Only efficiency and effectiveness count. Who lives and who dies... doesn't matter as long as the plan succeeds.
And yet, here there's something different.
"Was all of this for nothing?" That question echoes in my mind.
In the previous world, I would have responded without hesitation: "Of course not. As long as I win, it will always have been worth it."
But now...
I can't get Marco's face out of my mind. Nor the silent scream of soldiers trapped in a Titan's jaws. The bodies we lined up without ceremony, as if they were broken objects, spare parts for a disposable future.
I try to rationalize it. I try to convince myself that this is still just a simple equation. Sacrifice versus outcome. Net positive gain.
But something inside me starts to crack.
When did it start to matter? Has habit, this coexistence, softened me?
No, I'm certain it hasn't.
This body—irrational but incredibly powerful—is to blame.
"This doesn't matter," I murmur softly, as if saying it aloud could make it true.
...
"Oy, you guys..." Jean approaches with a broken voice. "Have you decided which legion you'll join yet?" He trembles visibly, clenching his fist. "I... I've made up my mind... I'm going to..."
"I'm going to...
...join the Scout Regiment."
...
...
-----------------------
"You're awake? How are you feeling, Mina?" I ask in the kindest tone I can manage, though it probably came out as indifferent as ever.
Her eyelids slowly lift; her tired, dark eyes barely reflect the effort it takes to focus on me. After a few seconds, her expression shifts, drawing a weak but genuine smile.
"Oh... Kiyotaka... I'm glad you came."
"I figured it was the least I could do after what happened." I sit at the edge of the bed without showing any emotion. "Did the doctors tell you anything?"
She nods slightly, though the movement seems to cost her some energy. "Yeah. Nothing permanent, luckily. Just minor injuries and a lot of exhaustion. Apparently, I'm one of the lucky ones."
"Lucky..." I echo aloud. "Curious concept, considering you were on the brink of death."
Mina averts her gaze to the white ceiling of the medical tent.
"What will you do now?"
The question takes her by surprise, but she doesn't hesitate to answer.
"Keep fighting, of course. I want to do something meaningful, something that helps humanity. I don't want my comrades' deaths to be in vain."
A noble ideal. Predictable, but empty.
Her words hang in the air like a declaration of naive intentions, and I feel a pang of irritation at her ignorance.
"Keep fighting?" I repeat coldly. "What's the point of that? What will change if you throw yourself back into the battlefield?"
Mina blinks, surprised. "What...?"
"You won't save anyone. The chances of you dying next time are even higher. The fact that you're alive now is pure coincidence, nothing more. There's no glorious fate waiting for soldiers. Only death, despair... and oblivion."
Her breathing grows heavier.
"Fighting for humanity, you say. Do you think your life holds so much value as to make a difference? Humanity isn't a conscious being that will applaud your sacrifice. You're just a number, a disposable tool. In the end, the only thing that matters is who survives, not who fights with more nobility."
The sparkle in her eyes flickers but doesn't go out. I expect her to yield, for that spark of determination to fade in the face of brutal reality.
But instead, she clenches her fists over the sheets and lifts her gaze toward me with renewed resolve.
"Maybe you're right, Kiyotaka," she says with a trembling but firm voice. "Maybe I'm no one special, and maybe I'll die tomorrow or in the next mission. But I'd rather that than live hiding while others fight for me. I want to do something, even if it's small."
Silence falls like a weight between us.
Finally, I stand up, looking down at her with the same cold, impassive expression as always.
"Do what you want," I say indifferently as I turn away. "I don't care."
I take a few steps toward the exit, but before crossing the tent's flap, I add without looking back:
"Just remember... next time I won't be there to save you."
She doesn't respond, but her determination lingers in the air, thick and palpable.
-----------------------
At the core of the walls, chaos reigns, much like it did five years ago.
In Trost, the Colossal Titan appeared and destroyed the gate. The entire area was temporarily overrun by Titans, but despite facing death, the recovery strategy was a success, and the gate was blocked.
Currently, Titans are being cleared from the district's interior.
"They say they blocked the destroyed gate. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!"
"That's an official announcement from the royal government; obviously, it's a lie!"
"They're spreading lies to trick those of us living inside the walls!"
"Now everyone from behind the walls will come flocking to Wall Sina!!!"
"This is serious!!! Look at what's circulating from the trading house!!!"
"Trading house?? Can you believe information that lacks the royal seal??"
"Where's the reason to believe the official information is correct in the first place??"
"HEY, HEY!!! What's this... it says here..."
A Titan blocked the gate with a rock...
But something more important looms now. I remain seated calmly in my place, with Mikasa and Armin beside me, their fear plainly etched on their faces.
I can't share their feelings. This is nothing more than a pointless waste of time, and as long as the Scout Regiment plays its cards right, the resolution will be simple.
After long minutes, the door opens, and a woman with striking glasses and her hair tied in a ponytail enters—Hange Zoë—accompanied by a tall man with a prominent nose, Mike Zacharius, and a young man with unique green eyes, both hands shackled—Eren Yeager.
Upon reaching the center, they leave Eren bound in the middle of the room. He surveys the chamber nervously.
Seconds later, a burly man with silver hair takes a seat at the center of the front table—Darius Zackly, one of the most powerful figures within the walls and the judge for this case.
"Alright... let's begin..." he says with a rough, indifferent voice. "Eren Yeager, is it? You're a soldier who swore to offer your life for the common good, is that correct?"
"Yes..." Eren responds, maintaining his foolish tone.
"These are exceptional circumstances. This is a martial trial where ordinary laws don't apply..." He continues mechanically as he reviews some papers. "The right to verdict has been granted entirely to me... Your life and death are in my hands now. Any objections?"
Eren lowers his head and speaks in a firm but low voice, filled with thought.
"No, I have none."
"It's helpful that you're understanding. These are truly exceptional circumstances. Conflicting feelings are crammed within these walls... Some call you..."
A demon who will lead us to destruction.
And others...
A messiah who will guide us to hope.
"As expected, it was impossible to keep your existence hidden from the public... regardless of the stance you take publicly, it's inevitable that you will emerge as a threat different from the Titans..." He takes a breath, keeping his eyes on Eren. "What we'll decide this time is which group will be entrusted with your movements. Depending on that division, your treatment will be determined..."
"Will it be the Military Police?" Dissection and experimentation — in a way, something that intrigues me quite a bit. "Or the Scout Regiment?" Investigate his powers in action, take advantage of them, and attempt to master them for use against the Titans and eventually reclaim Shiganshina. "Then let's hear the Military Police's proposal..."
"I, General of the Military Police Division, Nile Dok, permit myself to suggest the following," a stern man with a dark face, mustache, and goatee speaks seriously. "After conducting a thorough investigation of Eren, the human, we believe that he should be disposed of without delay. This conclusion was reached by considering the gravity of the real damage caused by affirming his existence."
"In the capital, the influential figures in charge perceive him as a threat, including the royal family. They don't seem inclined to accept the circumstances from five years ago or the present ones. They adhere to a policy of non-intervention in matters outside the walls."
"However, the people welcomed this assault and see Eren as a hero. Mainly, it's the inhabitants inside Wall Rose and those associated with the Trade Guild who are growing in opposition... as a result, we face a situation in this territory that could lead to civil war."
"It's a fact that his Titan power repelled the attack this time... but it's equally true that his very existence poses a real threat, having become an extremely high political entity." His voice hardens. "Therefore, after extracting as much information as possible, he will become a soldier fallen in battle for us."
...
"There's no need for that," interrupts a priest. "This man is a mere insect who sneaked through the walls that are divine wisdom itself... we must kill him right now."
That man belongs to the religious organization that gained power rapidly after the attack five years ago—a mere cult leader with excessive authority.
"Priest Nick, I beg you to be silent," says the judge. "Next, we'll hear the Scout Regiment's proposal."
A man steps forward, exuding a distinct aura with his unique appearance—well-kept blond hair and thick eyebrows. "Sir, allow me, 13th Commander of the Scout Regiment, Erwin Smith, to express my reasons... We, the Scout Regiment, will accept Eren as an official member and recover Wall Maria by harnessing his Titan power... that's all." He closes quickly.
"Huh? That's all you'll say?" asks the judge.
"Yes. If we can use his Titan power, we can reclaim Wall Maria. We've made it clear that this must be prioritized."
"I see... By the way, from which point do you intend to launch the next extramural expedition? Pixis, the wall at Trost District was completely sealed, right?"
"Ah, we can't reopen and close it again," says Pixis.
"We want to depart from Caranes District in the east. We have to find a new route to Shiganshina from scratch."
"WAIT A MINUTE!!!" interrupts a fat man. "Weren't you going to seal the gates completely this time?!!! What the Colossal Titan destroys is only the gate section of the walls!!! If that's hardened, we wouldn't be attacked anymore, and even so... you!!! How much do you desire land?! YOU MERCHANT DOGS!!!" He keeps shouting for a few more seconds until—
"You sure talk a lot, disgusting pig," interrupts a voice filled with clear disdain, coming from a small-statured man, Levi Ackerman. "What guarantee do we have that the Titans will wait until the gates harden after repairing them... what you're saying about us—you're speaking for your friends who protect you so you can keep fattening yourselves, right? Hungry people don't fit into your vision as pigs, do they?"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!! I'm just saying it would help a lot if the gates were blocked!!!" continues the fat man but is interrupted by the priest.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, INSOLENT!!!" the priest yells uncontrollably. "ARE YOU SAYING A MERE HUMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO LAY HANDS ON THE WALLS CREATED BY THE GODS?" He keeps yelling for a few more seconds.
------------------
"Ahem... now let's continue... Eren, I have a question for you. It seems you want to join the Scout Regiment. As before, can you use your Titan power to help humanity as a soldier?"
...
"Y-yes... I can do it!!!" he responds with determination in the end.
"Really? According to this report by young Kiyotaka, right after your transformation... you attacked Mikasa Ackerman three times."
"...!!!" His eyes widen in terror.
Just as I expected, he doesn't remember anything from when he's out of control. After those words from the judge, Riko, a few meters away, gives me a confused and irritated look, wondering why I didn't lie in the report.
"Who is Mikasa Ackerman?" asks the judge.
Mikasa stands up, insecure and nervous, so I say in an indifferent tone, "Tell the truth... I have everything under control." She and Armin visibly relax.
She bows her head before the judge and says, "Yes... it's true..." Whispers fill the hall, but she continues. "But before that, he saved me twice... when I ran out of gas and when he saved us from cannon fire... I hope these facts will be considered as well."
"And what about that?" interrupts General Nile. "It was written in your report, but... since there are several opinions of yours with certain desires, I judge it to be a document lacking objective value... Unlike your brother, you don't seem capable of separating relationships from duty..." He reviews some papers. "I also know the reasons you defend him. When investigating his background, we found this record of a case from six years ago..."
"To our surprise... Eren Jaeger and your brother stabbed three adult robbers to death to save you... their motives can be understood as self-defense, but fundamentally, I have human doubts."
"Should we entrust the future of humanity to him, along with its human and economic resources, based on the love of a girl?" The place fills with murmurs again.
"It's true... there's no doubt he's a Titan infiltrator!!!"
"Fortunately, his brutality can't be hidden."
"Hey... is this the place to discuss calmly? That one over there is a powder keg we don't know when will explode, those handcuffs are pointless!!!" shouts the fat man.
"AND THOSE TWO AS WELL!!! WE CAN'T KNOW IF THEY'RE REALLY HUMAN!!!"
"IT'S TRUE!! WE SHOULD DISSECT ALL THREE!!!"
"You're wrong... I may be a monster, but they have nothing to do with it," Eren, filled with despair, begins to speak as he clenches his teeth. "They're innocent. Besides, by doing this, you're just talking about convenient assumptions while separating yourselves from reality without accomplishing anything worthwhile!!"
"Almost... almost all of you have never seen a Titan in your lives. What are you so afraid of?"
"What will happen if the strong don't fight?? If you say you're afraid to fight to live, then lend me your strength..."
"You cowards... JUST SHUT UP AND INVEST EVERYTHING IN ME!!!!!"
The civilians' gazes fill with fear. "Uh..." and the Military Police prepare, aiming their firearms, but it all ends abruptly...
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Levi, with a brutal kick to Eren's face, sends one of his teeth flying. Before he can recover, Levi knees him in the stomach, grabs his head, and knees him again in the neck.
When Mikasa is about to leap, I grab her head firmly from behind. She keeps struggling, but I force her to lower her head and look at the high-ranking members of the Scout Regiment. They remain firm in their places as if this was planned, so she finally calms down.
"This is just my opinion, but... for discipline, I think pain is the most effective," says Levi with a leg pressing Eren's head against the floor.