A month passed quickly.
Bai Yu wore the cloak unique to the Survey Corps, the Wings of Freedom emblem fluttering on his back.
He walked out, yawning.
Seeing everyone already prepared before him, he waved.
"Morning."
The sky had yet to brighten fully. Seeing Bai Yu looking half-asleep, the Survey Corps soldiers around him frowned.
But Erwin merely nodded lightly.
The day before, Bai Yu had passed his assessment on the long-range scouting formation and all the other mission knowledge. His position would be at the very front of the entire formation, alone...
Bai Yu had no problem with that.
Looking at the brat before him, Levi turned to Erwin beside him. Though he disliked Bai Yu, he did not want him to die.
"Erwin, let me go with him. If something happens to him, it won't be good."
"Yes, that works."
No one spoke to Bai Yu; they simply ignored him. He knew he had left a poor impression on them, but he did not particularly care. As long as they did not disturb his daily naps, he was happy to be left alone.
But Levi walked over, the chill in his eyes almost tangible, making Bai Yu smile sheepishly.
"Hey, brat. Don't die."
Then he walked past him. As their shoulders brushed, Bai Yu smiled.
"Thanks."
"All Scouts, mount up! Prepare to depart!"
Bai Yu swung straight into the saddle and rode on Erwin's right, while Levi rode on his left. After all, Bai Yu would be the vanguard this time.
They left the Survey Corps headquarters and rode through the sparsely populated streets. The sky looked much as it did at dusk, but a few people still stood by the roadside, watching the Survey Corps advance.
Suddenly, Bai Yu seemed to spot something. Not far ahead, three children around his age stood beside the street.
Eren, huh...
Indeed, the three by the roadside were Eren, Mikasa, and Armin. When they saw Bai Yu riding at the very front, all three looked as though they had seen a ghost. Bai Yu casually waved.
But then Bai Yu seemed to notice something, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
The Survey Corps halted at the gate. Bai Yu glanced at Eren again. A cord hung around his neck, seemingly with something attached to it. Then Bai Yu turned his attention back to the front, because the gate was slowly opening.
Eren had wanted to say something, but the other two stopped him. After all, this clearly was not the time to talk to Bai Yu.
Erwin drew his long blade from its sheath and raised it high toward the sky, as though roaring for freedom.
"The twenty-seventh expedition beyond the walls-move out!"
The gate opened fully. Amid a thunder of hooves, every Scout charged beyond the walls. Only after quite some time had everyone departed, and the gate began to close.
Eren stared blankly at the Survey Corps' retreating figures. After a long while, he turned to Armin beside him in disbelief.
"That guy... he became a Scout?"
Armin was just as bewildered and answered uncertainly.
"P-probably..."
Outside the city, the Survey Corps did not spread into formation immediately. A large town lay along the road not far ahead. There were likely plenty of Titans inside, and the buildings would break up their formation.
They had to pass through that town first.
As they drew closer, they could vaguely make out several Titans wandering around.
"Cover squads!"
"Understood!"
Several squads broke away from the main force and charged ahead toward the town.
The cover squads were responsible for clearing the Titans from the town, ensuring that the main force could pass through safely.
But Bai Yu narrowed his eyes slightly.
A few Titans? No, there should be over a dozen. They stood blankly in the town, then began moving toward the Survey Corps as though sensing their approach, their smiles as unnerving as ever.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Several figures shot into the air, their cables anchoring into nearby houses as they hurtled toward the Titans.
Erwin raised his long blade high and shouted.
"Everyone, pick up speed!"
Bai Yu watched the cover squads nearby. Each squad had the standard five members, and there were five squads in total. His eyes swept over the area again. Twelve Titans. If they were careless, they could lose two people.
Even though all the cover squads were elite units.
Before the Titans could approach, the cover squads took them down one by one. Their roles were clearly divided between baiting, cutting the legs, and striking the nape, and their teamwork was seamless.
Watching from horseback, Bai Yu relaxed.
Pretty good teamwork...
The main force swiftly passed through the town. At Erwin's command, they deployed into the long-range scouting formation. The soldiers who had been riding together began spreading out, while Bai Yu charged into the lead. Levi glanced at Erwin, then followed Bai Yu forward.
Bai Yu looked at Levi beside him, somewhat surprised.
"Levi, why did you come along too?"
Levi gave him a cold glance.
"If your mistakes cost us soldiers, I'll kill you."
Bai Yu merely pursed his lips at the threat.
"Don't worry."
Before long, a Titan roughly seven meters tall appeared ahead, standing blankly in place. Sensing the distant Survey Corps, it began walking toward them.
Bai Yu twirled his blade.
"Just one. Let's take it down."
Levi merely glanced at him without speaking.
Bai Yu stood straight up on his horse's back, holding his long blade in a reverse grip. Levi's brow rose slightly at the stance. It was the same way he held his blade...
The horse beneath Bai Yu accelerated. Levi sped up as well, following behind him, but made no move to attack.
Bai Yu flung the blade from his hand. The spinning blade sliced through the air, and his cable shot out, anchoring into the Titan's shoulder. He hurtled toward the Titan through the air, and it reached out for him.
But before it could raise its hand, its leg gave way. It lost its balance and crashed to the ground. Bai Yu did not pause. Gas propelled him swiftly forward, leaving a semicircle of white vapor tracing his path through the air. The Titan had already stopped struggling on the ground, and a chunk of bright red flesh fell to the earth.
Bai Yu descended at just the right moment, using gas to cushion his landing on horseback.
He even turned toward Levi beside him, looking faintly smug.
"Well?"
"Not bad moves."
His expression softened a little, and Bai Yu caught the tiniest curve at the corner of Levi's mouth.
You're happy, aren't you, Levi? Happy that one of your comrades won't die so easily.
Before you continue