Winter gave way to spring, and a year passed. Yago had spent that year training in the Training Corps, growing considerably taller and making tremendous strides in strength.
The change in Yago after the winter training was like night and day. Before, his physical abilities had surpassed those of most adults, making him stand out among a group of half-grown children.
Now, almost every part of Yago's body, right down to his cells, seemed to have been transformed. The power hidden beneath his skin was terrifying, even without the titan power he possessed.
Previously, Yago could instantly take down four fully armed bandits caught off guard. Now, he was confident he could face dozens of armed elite soldiers head-on without using his titan power-provided they weren't aiming muskets at him from dozens of meters away, of course. In that situation, anyone would die.
On a rare day off, Yago had planned to continue studying the damaged Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, but Lucia stopped him and dragged him out to buy groceries. Eren and the others had also gone out with Carla.
Fourteen-year-old Yago stood beside Lucia, already no shorter than she was, watching in boredom as she discussed this year's vegetable prices with a vendor.
Just then, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind him. "Are you... little Yago?"
Yago turned around, pleasantly surprised. Standing before him was an old acquaintance from his time with the Survey Corps: Scott, the logistics squad leader.
Scott, who had still looked young four years ago, now had a thin layer of stubble and looked much more mature. He wore the Survey Corps uniform, with a green cloak bearing the Wings of Freedom draped around him.
"Uncle Scott! Long time no see!" Yago greeted him enthusiastically, while glancing at the wagon behind Scott. Two other Survey Corps soldiers sat on horseback beside it, though he had no idea what was inside.
Scott rubbed his head and sighed with feeling. "I never imagined that little kid from back then would grow so much. What are you doing these days? Did you really join the Training Corps?"
Lucia chimed in. "Our little Yago is the top cadet in his class now." Her voice was full of pride in her child.
"Ms. Lucia, it's an honor to see you." Scott saluted her. As Squad Leader Vick's widow, Lucia deserved the respect of the Survey Corps soldiers. The two mounted soldiers nodded to her as well.
Yago jumped up and slung an arm around Scott's neck as though they were old pals. "Say, Uncle Scott, where are you headed? What's in the wagon?"
Startled by Yago's gesture, Scott thought the boy certainly made himself at home. "Oh, nothing much. The wagon's carrying some damaged or malfunctioning Omni-Directional Mobility Gear from our soldiers. I'm taking it inside Wall Sina for repairs or replacement."
Yago's eyes lit up. "Wall Sina? Omni-Directional Mobility Gear repairs?" Both were exactly the sort of things that interested him.
Yago turned to Lucia and asked excitedly, "Mom, I want to go to Wall Sina with Uncle Scott! Can I?"
Lucia hesitated. "But they have a mission to carry out."
Scott smiled. "Ms. Lucia, don't worry. If Yago really wants to have a look inside Wall Sina, we'll take good care of him."
One of the soldiers behind him looked puzzled. "Squad Leader, but..." Before he could finish, a glare from Scott silenced him.
"All right, then. It'll be good for him to see more of the world. I'll leave Yago in your care." Lucia agreed to Yago's request.
Scott said, "Rest assured!"
Yago said, "Great!"
Yago promptly clambered onto Scott's wagon. After saying goodbye to Lucia, they set off for Wall Sina.
Yago crawled into the back to examine the damaged and malfunctioning Omni-Directional Mobility Gear. As Scott drove the wagon, the soldier whose words had been cut short rode up beside him.
"Squad Leader, why are we bringing this little kid along?" the soldier asked in confusion.
Scott smiled. "We're just giving him a ride. This is the child Squad Leader Vick gave his life to save. He once said he wanted to join our Survey Corps, too. He's the top cadet in his class. It'd be good to have him if he really wants to join."
The soldier understood. Scott had a point. Few cadets ever wanted to join the Survey Corps because its missions were simply too dangerous. They had to venture beyond the walls and fight Titans to the death. By comparison, everyone naturally preferred the Military Police Brigade, with its generous benefits and easy, comfortable life.
Of course, only the top ten cadets in each class could choose to join the Military Police Brigade. Still, even those who failed to make the top ten were better off joining the stable Garrison Regiment than throwing their lives away beyond the walls with the lunatics in the Survey Corps.
Since Titans had destroyed Wall Maria a few years earlier, hatred toward them had surged among the people inside the walls, bringing the Survey Corps considerably more recruits. But high-quality soldiers remained scarce, and almost none of the top ten cadets in each class were willing to join.
Now they had a top-ranking cadet right here. If they could win him over and bring him into the Survey Corps, it would be a real boost to morale.
And so, Yago, Scott, and the two soldiers chatted happily along the way.
At noon, Yago ate some of the Survey Corps' rations. After a brief rest, they continued on their way.
On the road, Yago asked, "Uncle Scott, I heard humanity's strongest soldier, Levi, is in the Survey Corps. Is that short guy really so strong?"
All three men's expressions changed at once. Scott glanced around nervously and warned Yago in a cautious voice, "Yago, remember this: never mention the captain's height in front of him!"
Yago was baffled. Looks like I really underestimated that five-foot-three guy. He's got quite a reputation.
Scott then told Yago about Captain Levi's achievements: how he had single-handedly slain an eighteen-meter-class Abnormal Titan on his first expedition beyond the walls, and how his unique, powerful spinning combat technique had allowed him to take down more than twenty Titans without suffering a scratch...
Those spectacular achievements shocked Yago, but they also made him eager to try his hand and stirred his desire to challenge Levi. His strength had given him that confidence.
Once I join the Survey Corps, I'm going to surpass that short guy! Of course, Yago only said this in his head. He didn't dare say it aloud. What if some five-foot-three fellow suddenly appeared and slashed the back of his neck? After all, Captain Levi's achievements sounded pretty astonishing.
At the Survey Corps headquarters, Levi was wearing a mask and diligently cleaning when he suddenly sneezed without warning. "Captain, what's wrong? Have you caught a cold?" His little fangirl Petra immediately asked with concern.
"It's nothing. There's probably just too much dust. Petra, get the others over here. This room still isn't clean enough. It needs to be cleaned again!" Levi said with a frown.
Petra immediately agreed, leaving the other members of the Levi Squad with no choice but to miserably clean the room they had already cleaned twice.
Before you continue