"Time really flies. Five years passed just like that. Yago, you've already become an excellent soldier," Erwin said with emotion.
Yago smiled and said, "Commander, I didn't expect you to still remember me."
Erwin suddenly grew serious and placed his hand on Yago's shoulder.
"Vige was an outstanding soldier. We remember every great soldier who gave their life for humanity."
Yago also put away his smile.
"Understood, Commander. I am willing to dedicate my heart to humanity!"
Erwin nodded. After chatting casually for a few more moments, Yago bade Erwin farewell.
Gradually, Yago's figure disappeared at the end of their line of sight.
"So? Any problems with that kid?" Levi came over beside Erwin with his trademark dead-fish eyes.
Erwin clasped his hands behind his back.
"That soldier has secrets in his heart. He may be hiding something. I only hope that Vige's sacrifice back then was not in vain."
Levi said, "Then why did you reveal Eren's secret today?"
Erwin's gaze grew deep as he spoke slowly.
"The moment I learned that humans can become Titans, Titans ceased to be the most terrifying existence. Levi, do you understand?"
Levi's pupils shrank, as if he suddenly realized something.
"So… many soldiers will be sacrificed?"
"If Eren's basement truly contains secrets about the Titans that humanity has not known for a hundred years, then it is absolutely worth it!" Commander Erwin said with unwavering conviction. The light bursting from his eyes even made Levi pause slightly.
"Go back. Eren's supervision still needs you. Don't let Hange get too close to Eren—you know what Hange is like."
"Tch. Got it." Levi turned and left briskly.
...
Knock, knock, knock. The crisp sound of knocking echoed. Lucia was puzzled that someone would knock so late at night. She cautiously looked out through the window, then in the next instant opened the door in delight.
"Yago! You're back?"
"Yes, Mom, I'm back." Yago and Lucia embraced tightly. The tension that had been stretched tight in his heart finally eased.
These past days, Yago had been under immense pressure—the secret of Titan power, the pressure of being vaguely suspected, and knowing the secret that his comrades killed Titans.
Lucia immediately busied herself, preparing dinner for Yago. Even though Yago said he was already full, Lucia ignored him completely and even stewed a small piece of meat.
"Yago?" Just as Yago was struggling to stuff his already full stomach under Lucia's loving gaze—
Carla came downstairs. Seeing Yago naturally made her think of her own child, and she wondered how Eren was doing now.
Yago hurriedly comforted Aunt Carla.
"I've also joined the Survey Corps. Eren is in the Survey Corps too. Mikasa and Armin have joined as well. Don't worry, Aunt Carla—I ranked first in our class. I'll take good care of them."
Carla nodded, but her face was still full of worry. From the newspaper, Lucia had also learned that the soldier who could turn into a Titan and helped humanity win back Trost District was Eren. She took Carla's hand and comforted her for a while.
Though a bit embarrassed, Yago still asked the somewhat presumptuous question.
"Aunt Carla, do you know what's in Doctor Grisha's basement?"
Carla shook her head. A few days earlier, the Survey Corps had already come to ask about this.
"Grisha's basement—only he could go in. I don't know. And I don't know either why Eren would…"
Yago didn't know what to say. Lucia said,
"It's fine. Yago said it too—Eren is a hero who helped humanity. The Survey Corps values Eren greatly. Don't worry."
Then she looked at Yago with concern.
"Yago, have you really decided to join the Survey Corps?" She had already lost her husband and didn't want Yago to follow the same path, but Yago's willingness to carry out Vige's will from back then also comforted her deeply.
"Don't worry, Mom. Twenty Titans have already fallen to my blades in Trost District. I will become humanity's strongest!" Yago said confidently.
"Yago is amazing!"
Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking came again from outside. Yago went to open the door—it was Armin and Mikasa who had returned. Eren stayed with the Survey Corps, so of course he couldn't come back.
Seeing Armin and Mikasa, Carla felt another wave of sorrow. The two comforted her. Armin was Mikasa's best friend, and Mikasa was Eren's childhood companion—of course they could understand Carla's feelings.
Lucia also prepared a lavish dinner for Mikasa and Armin.
After Yago carried the tableware into the kitchen, he noticed a hole in the window and frowned. Turning back to ask, Lucia explained with a somewhat forced smile.
Yago's face darkened as he roughly understood what had happened. After learning Eren's identity, the people within the Walls naturally had differing attitudes—those who liked him and those who hated him.
The hole in the kitchen window had been smashed with a stone by someone who somehow learned that Carla was Eren's mother.
Fortunately, the Garrison soldiers responsible for security in this area arrived in time; otherwise, who knew what might have happened.
Yago realized that while he fought Titans in bloody battles, he also had to protect his family.
He immediately suggested that Lucia and Carla move to the capital.
Armin agreed. With the Military Police maintaining order in the capital, it was indeed very safe. But entering the capital would likely not be easy. Yago thought of Lisa Wald, whom he had once saved. The Wald family was a renowned great noble house. Lisa had promised to repay him. Though Yago disliked relying on favors, when it came to his family, he could only try.
He instructed Lucia to first contact the Wald family. If possible, they should move into the capital. If not, they should at least move near the capital. After all, the areas around the capital were also under the Military Police's jurisdiction and should be much safer than here.
That very night, Yago wrote a letter to Lisa. Looking at the letter in his hand, Yago sighed, hoping that the gentle-looking young lady was not a hypocritical noble.
...
At night, Yago lay on his bed, eyes open, unable to sleep. His mind was chaotic and swollen.
Soon he would bid farewell to his life as a trainee and join the Survey Corps. Yago still felt a trace of unease.
He sat up on the bed and looked out the window. It was already deep night. Cold moonlight streamed into the room through the window.
Yago quietly opened the window, grabbed the window frame with both hands, and nimbly leapt up, flipping onto the roof. Now Yago's agility could be described as extremely flexible.
Sitting on the rooftop, he let the night breeze brush against his face, calming his previously jumbled thoughts.
He raised his head and looked at the sky. The clear, bright moon hung high, emitting a faint glow that looked especially beautiful. For a moment, Yago was so captivated that he forgot himself.
In a daze, Yago seemed to see a radiant road formed of light appear before him, drawing him in. Without realizing it, he lay back on the roof and fell asleep.
...
Morning sunlight shone on Yago's face. He opened his eyes, his eyelashes covered in dew.
Only then did Yago realize that he had actually slept on the roof all night. Thankfully, his physique was extraordinary; otherwise, he would surely have fallen ill.
He quietly returned to his room, waited for Lucia to call him to get up, ate breakfast together with Mikasa and Armin, and then bade farewell to Lucia and Carla.
Yago slung his pack over his back, took off the trainee uniform with the crossed twin blades, and walked toward an entirely new journey.
The Survey Corps would be a brand-new starting point.