Night fell. This night was destined to be a sleepless one for the 104th Training Corps recruits. Tomorrow night, the three major military branches would come here to recruit new soldiers, and former companions would go their separate ways.
...
At dawn the next day, Yago went to receive his assignment as usual. It wasn't as if graduating tonight meant there would be no more tasks—there was still work to do on the final day.
Yago's assignment was to go to the Garrison Regiment to inventory training equipment. Some of the equipment normally used by the Training Corps—such as Titan models and aerial balance simulation devices—was stored with the Garrison Regiment. Now that this class of trainees was about to graduate, recruitment for the next class was imminent, so these items needed to be checked and reported.
This task was fairly easy. Only Ilse accompanied Yago. Most others had much heavier assignments—for example, Eren and the others were responsible for maintaining the fixed cannons on the walls. Ever since Wall Maria was breached by the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan, the Garrison Regiment had carried out comprehensive upgrades to the wall-mounted cannons.
Both the density and power of the artillery had been greatly increased—there was almost a cannon every ten or so meters, with unprecedented firepower. This also meant that a huge number of personnel were needed for maintenance. Normally, maintaining the cannons was the Garrison Regiment's responsibility, but now they often had to pull in the Training Corps to finish the work in time.
Yago and Ilse chatted as they walked. Suddenly, someone blocked their path. Yago looked up and saw that it was Annie.
"What's wrong, Annie? What's up?" Yago asked. Annie's expression didn't look good, her eyes darting slightly. She hesitated before asking, "Yago, what's your assignment?"
Yago was puzzled, a bit at a loss as to why she was asking.
"My assignment is to go with Ilse to the Garrison Regiment to inventory training equipment. Why? Annie, do you want to switch assignments?"
When she heard that Yago's task was inventorying equipment rather than maintaining the fixed cannons on the wall, Annie seemed to relax.
"It's nothing. I—I just wanted to ask." With that, she left, leaving Yago standing there completely confused.
Ilse laughed. "Yago, I really admire you—actually liking a cold girl like Annie."
Yago: "Ahem, ahem. Say no more. By the way, Ilse, I remember you once said you wanted to be a great chef. You still haven't told me why you came here to be a soldier."
Ilse's expression changed. After a moment, she sighed.
"It's nothing, really. My cooking was taught to me by my father. Three years ago, he—" At this point, a hint of killing intent flashed in Ilse's eyes.
Yago sensed something was wrong and didn't press her, but Ilse continued on her own.
"My father worked for a minor noble. While escorting a shipment of grain, refugees stole the food, and then the noble…"
By this point, it was clear what had happened next.
"So you joined the Training Corps in order to…?"
Ilse: "At first, it was for revenge. But now, it's no longer necessary. Two years ago, I got news that the minor noble's household was looted by bandits—no survivors. Serves him right, for all the evil things he did." A trace of satisfaction appeared on Ilse's face.
Yago: "Then what do you plan to do in the future, Ilse?"
Ilse showed a hint of uncertainty.
"I don't know. My father was my only family. Maybe I'll join the Garrison Regiment, then find a wife and live out my life like that."
Yago didn't know what to say, so he could only offer some words of comfort. Fortunately, Ilse soon recovered and stopped dwelling on painful memories. The two continued chatting as they headed toward the Garrison Regiment's base.
...
When they reached a certain district, many citizens were gathered along both sides of the street. After asking around, they learned that the Survey Corps was about to carry out its 56th expedition beyond the walls. As the sound of approaching carriages grew nearer, Yago and Ilse saw them—the many Survey Corps soldiers cloaked in the Wings of Freedom.
Mounted on tall horses, their faces were serious yet proud, their eyes full of hope—clearly different from the Garrison soldiers who usually muddled through their days.
"They're amazing. The morale of the Survey Corps is much stronger than it used to be!" Yago sighed with emotion. Back then, it was the Survey Corps that had brought him back from outside the walls. At that time, their morale was very low, and public opinion about them was extreme—people thought they were just wasting lives and resources.
But now, ever since the Titans breached the walls, the Survey Corps had drawn increasing attention. They were like a beam of light bringing hope in the darkness, because they dared to fight the Titans. People now placed great expectations on them. Most importantly, over the past five years, every expedition beyond the walls had yielded significant results—many small outposts had been established outside the walls, and many achievements had been made.
From the cheers and praise of the crowd, it was obvious how popular the Survey Corps had become.
"Commander Erwin! Drive out those damn Titans!"
"The Survey Corps—so cool!"
"Look! Captain Levi—that's humanity's strongest soldier! Everyone, look!"
Yago immediately spotted the short man he had once overlooked—Levi. Even while mounted among many tall soldiers, Levi still looked small. With those dead-fish eyes and an indifferent expression, it was hard to imagine that this was humanity's strongest soldier. It was said that Levi alone could match an entire brigade of elite troops.
A brigade—over four hundred people. That showed just how strong Levi was. Besides Levi, Yago also saw many familiar faces: at the very front, the resolute Commander Erwin; behind him, the bespectacled and overly enthusiastic-about-Titans Squad Leader Hange; the steady and calm Squad Leader Mike; and, following behind the carriage, the logistics Squad Leader Scott.
Standing in the crowd, Yago felt a surge of emotion. In just a few days, he too would become one of them.
The long procession of the Survey Corps gradually departed. Yago and Ilse hurried on toward the Garrison Regiment's base—they still had a task to complete.
By chance, the Garrison Regiment officer responsible for coordinating with them was an old acquaintance of Yago's—Hannes. He was the Garrison soldier who had once saved Eren and Mikasa, and was now the commander of the Garrison Engineers in Trost District.
Hannes was happy to see Yago. He had just run into Eren and the others on the street and chatted with them, wondering why he hadn't seen Yago—only to meet him now. Back then, out of fear of Titans, Hannes hadn't dared to fight and had only rescued Eren and Mikasa, failing to save Eren's mother. This had weighed heavily on him for a long time. Fortunately, Carla was later rescued; otherwise, Hannes wouldn't have known how to face Eren and the others.
He had even gone to Carla's home to apologize, but she clearly didn't mind and instead thanked him for saving the children.
The inventory task was completed quickly and easily. After bidding farewell to Hannes, Yago and Ilse left the Garrison base with their records.
...
Meanwhile, atop the wall, Reiner's face was slightly twisted.
"Bertolt! Now's the chance! The Survey Corps—the strongest force—has already left. This is the best time to act! Hurry, Bertolt!"
Bertolt turned to look once more at Trost District. Though there was reluctance in his eyes, he still turned away. Pulling a dagger from his pocket, he leaped from the wall under the gaze of Reiner and Annie.
Boom! A blinding yellow bolt of lightning erupted outside the wall!