The Survey Corps

The Yago Titan opened his mouth full of sharp teeth and bit savagely into the Abnormal Titan's neck. With a powerful wrench, he tore straight through it, and the Abnormal Titan collapsed helplessly.

The other two Titans seemed to sense the Yago Titan's terrifying strength and turned to flee.

But the Yago Titan clearly had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away. "ROAR!!" He charged at the two Titans faster than even the Abnormal Titan had moved, sweeping out a leg and kicking one fifteen-meter Titan clean in half at the waist.

Then he grabbed the other Titan, seized its head, and forcibly twisted it off.

With one stomp, he crushed the head of the struggling, severed Titan.

The Yago Titan threw back his head and roared. "ROAR!!!"

The Yago Titan approached the gravely wounded Vig step by step, his scarlet eyes fixed on him. Vig had lost a hand and a leg, and blood kept spilling from his mouth, yet his eyes remained clear and alert as he looked at the Yago Titan.

"Ya... go!" He forced out Yago's name. At the sound, the Yago Titan collapsed, his enormous body rapidly dissolving into steam to reveal the unconscious boy.

Some time later.

Bang! Bang! Bang! ... Jets of high-pressure gas sounded as several figures wearing the same green Wings of Freedom cloaks gazed at Vig's mangled body before them. Commander Erwin, with his short blond hair, looked at the veteran who had spent ten years in the Survey Corps, his eyes filled with grief and anguish.

Beside Erwin stood a short young man who radiated a chilling murderous aura. With dull, lifeless eyes, he asked, "Can he still be saved?"

Captain Mike silently shook his head.

Levi tightened his grip on his blade. Everyone nearby could clearly feel his killing intent intensify-killing intent directed at the Titans.

Section Commander Hange, who wore glasses and had her hair tied in a high ponytail, listened to Vig's final words.

"That... child... Shiganshina... orphan... Yago Norman... protect..." As he spoke his last words, the light faded from Vig's eyes. Even in death, Vig had never revealed that Yago could turn into a Titan. Had he run out of time, or had he deliberately kept it secret?

Hange stood and turned to Commander Erwin, her voice heavy. "The entire Vick Squad has been killed."

Then she looked behind her at Yago, who was being held by a Scout. He was still unconscious. Hange frowned. "Where did Vig find this child? We're outside the Walls, aren't we? And did Vig kill that Abnormal Titan and the other three Titans?"

Captain Levi spoke coldly. "Anything suspicious is better off eliminated."

The Scout holding Yago asked in surprise, "Huh? But he's just a child."

Commander Erwin waved a hand. "Enough. Vig's final words asked us to protect this child. Whatever the circumstances, we should keep him safe. Everything else can wait. Scott, look after him for now."

The Scout holding Yago replied, "Yes, Commander."

Three days later.

"Come on, little Yago, don't look so miserable all day. Smile a little! Here, let your big sister Hange pinch those cheeks!"

Yago nimbly dodged Hange's grasping hands, his little face scrunched into a frown.

When he learned that Uncle Vig had died, Yago fell completely silent, overwhelmed by guilt. It was all my fault. If I'd been brave enough to dodge back then, maybe Uncle Vig wouldn't have...

Watching the silent Yago, Hange could only sigh helplessly. This child blamed himself for Vig's death, but what could she do about it? Although Yago's origins were strange, if the veteran Vig had been willing to protect him with his life, then Yago was certainly a friend to the Survey Corps.

It was just a shame. The child was quite cute, with his tousled black hair and especially those beautiful eyes, but he always looked miserable. That was why Hange kept trying to make him smile.

Over the past few days, Yago had gained a general understanding of the Survey Corps. Originally, the regiment had numbered a little over three hundred, including several logistics squads, elite squads, enemy detection squads, and reconnaissance squads.

Yago had also gotten to know most of the senior officers. Commander Erwin was a very rigid blond gentleman-except in battle, of course. In battle, Erwin was more reckless than a madman.

There were also several section commanders. Levi was probably the short man Uncle Jiso had mentioned, and everything about him warned strangers to keep their distance. Section Commander Hange, the mischievous older woman who kept trying to make Yago smile, seemed particularly enthusiastic about researching Titans. Section Commander Mike looked like a very approachable older man. Then there was Scott, the logistics squad leader who had been looking after him all this time.

All in all, aside from their doubts about Yago's origins, the Scouts got along quite well with the little boy.

The tent flap opened, and Commander Erwin stepped inside, his blond hair cropped short. He looked at Yago and asked with some concern, "How are you doing, Yago? Have you remembered anything? Do you know where your parents are?"

After a moment of silence, Yago said, "I don't have any parents." That was the answer his subconscious gave him.

Erwin sighed. "An orphan, then?"

Suddenly, Yago raised his head and summoned his courage. "C-Commander, can I become a Scout someday? I want to join the Survey Corps! I want to avenge Uncle Vig!"

Erwin ruffled Yago's hair. "Of course you can! The Survey Corps welcomes young people like you, but you'll have to undergo some training first. Do you think you can do it?"

Yago replied, "Yes!"

After they left the tent, Hange asked, "The child's an orphan, so what do we do? We can't keep him with the Survey Corps and look after him forever, can we?"

Erwin was silent for a moment. "Squad Leader Vig's wife, Mrs. Lucia, doesn't seem to have any children. Perhaps we could... but we failed to bring Vig back."

Hange had no idea how to respond. Vig had been a veteran of the Survey Corps, with more years of service than even her. He had taken part in many expeditions outside the Walls. She had never expected this one to end like this...

Erwin said, "Now isn't the time to grieve. I believe that our Survey Corps will uncover the truth beyond the Walls!"

Inside the tent, Yago looked at his hands. After waking up for the second time, he had discovered that both his strength and his reaction speed had improved considerably.

He could even vaguely sense some strange power within his body, though he probably couldn't control it yet.

Lowering his hands, Yago looked at the somewhat tattered cloak beside his bed, bearing the intertwined blue and white Wings of Freedom. It was Uncle Vig's cloak, and Yago had asked to keep it. Uncle Vig had saved his life. Someday, he would join the Survey Corps too and become a Scout just like Uncle Vig!

A few days later, the other members of the Survey Corps gradually assembled. Judging by the oppressive atmosphere in camp, this expedition beyond the Walls did not seem to have gone well. Commander Erwin grew increasingly quiet, and even the usually exuberant Hange had been subdued lately.

In the end, of the Survey Corps' three hundred-odd members, over a hundred had remained at headquarters inside the Walls. Of the more than two hundred who had left, over half had died, leaving fewer than ninety to return within the Walls.

(Due to certain elements of the story's setting, this book's timeline will have some changes, but they should have little effect on the reading experience.)