In a world where humanity cowers behind three great walls, the Survey Corps stands as the last, desperate hope against the man-eating Titans beyond. Among them is Captain Rivai Akkaman—a short-tempered, obsessive neat freak from the underground slums, rumored to be humanity's strongest soldier. Three years ago, Commander Eruvin Sumisu descended into the darkness to offer him a hand, and Rivai has fought by his side ever since. But on the eve of the 57th expedition—the largest and most dangerous
The Vow Beyond the Walls - Showdown with the Mastermind — Ever Since Three Years Ago —
The morning of the third day since their return inside the walls was quietly breaking.
The corridors of the Survey Corps headquarters were still dim. The old smell of blood soaked into the stone walls mingled with the night's chill and stung at the nose. Rivai Akkaman walked those halls alone, his footsteps soundless.
The scrap of paper clenched in his right hand was damp with sweat.
(Lawrence. An alias. His real name is Gel Sanes. An assassin of the Central Military Police.)
The name written in the documents Hanji had handed him last night repeated itself over and over in his head.
Three years ago. Before Eruvin had yet taken the post of commander.
A certain man had come too close to the truth of the walls.
That man had been asked by his young son: "Why do the textbooks say humanity outside the walls was wiped out, when no one ever goes to check?"
The man had answered: perhaps the royal government is rewriting the people's memories.
Those words, the young son had repeated to the children of the town.
A few days later, the man was killed by the hands of the Central Military Police.
It was processed as an accident.
That man's name was Sumisu.
Eruvin's father.
Rivai stopped walking.
Before him was the heavy wooden door of the commander's office.
Before he could knock, a low voice came from beyond it.
"Come in."
Rivai's brow furrowed for an instant. He hadn't even knocked yet.
"You can tell by my presence?"
"Your footsteps are quieter than anyone else's. Which makes them all the easier to notice."
He opened the door.
Morning light was just beginning to seep into the office. Outside the window, the white light of dawn was slowly staining the rooftops of the Survey Corps headquarters.
Eruvin Sumisu stood before his desk.
His blond, slicked-back hair was neat, as always. Beneath thick brows, his blue eyes looked straight at Rivai. There was an old scar on his left arm. His right arm was still fixed in bandages.
The wound he'd taken on the expedition beyond the walls had not yet healed.
Even so, Eruvin's back was straight, as always.
"You. You're already up and moving?"
"No problem. The wound pains me, but it's not life-threatening."
"...Liar."
Rivai's gaze dropped to Eruvin's right arm.
How much pain was running beneath those bandages?
On the night of the expedition, Eruvin had shielded Rivai from a Titan's blow and had his right arm shattered deep. The bone had broken to splinters, the flesh torn open. The doctor had said he would never move it properly again.
And still, Eruvin stood here like this.
"I won't tell you not to push yourself. You're that kind of man."
"If you understand that much, this will be quick."
Eruvin picked up a single sheet of paper from his desk.
"I received Hanji's report. The analysis of the documents Gelgar left behind was completed last night."
"Yeah. That's why I was called in too."
"Did you hear the conclusion?"
Rivai placed the crumpled scrap he'd been clutching onto Eruvin's desk.
On the wrinkled paper, in Hanji's rough scrawl, was written:
'Mastermind confirmed. Central Military Police, Gel Sanes. Alias Lawrence. The man who killed Eruvin's father. Hiding place: Royal Capital underground district, Kirschstein east block, old waterway management office.'
Eruvin stared at the paper.
A long silence.
The morning light slowly brightened the room.
"...Rivai."
"What."
"I am going to capture this man."
It was a quiet voice.
But within it, the flame of a vengeance he had carried alone for three years burned, quietly.
"Whatever has become of my right arm doesn't matter. I will settle my father's grievance. And from that man's mouth, I will hear the truth of the walls."
Rivai said nothing.
He simply watched Eruvin's blue eyes.
(Stopping him would be pointless.)
(This is the kind of man he is.)
Since the day they'd met in the underground district three years ago, always.
"...You planning to go alone?"
"If you come, I'll be reassured."
"Of course I'm coming. Who'd let you go alone?"
Rivai spat it out short.
"Besides, I've got something I want to say to that bastard."
"...I see."
Eruvin gave a small nod.
Just then, the door flew open.
"Both of you! Listen! I've made an amazing discovery!"
Shaking her messy chestnut ponytail, Hanji Zoe came bursting in. Behind her glasses, her brown eyes glittered fiercely. On her right wrist was an old scar from a Titan's bite.
"Hanji. I've told you time and again to knock."
"Ah, sorry, sorry! But this isn't the time for that! The decryption of Gelgar's documents is completely finished!"
Hanji spread the bundle of papers in her arms across the desk.
"Look at this. A floor plan of Sanes's hideout. And a roster of the Military Police under his command. And this one's the most important—"
Hanji pointed at a single sheet.
"The report Sanes filed when he killed Eruvin's father. With his own signature. This guy recorded the names of everyone he killed, one by one. Talk about bad taste."
Eruvin stared hard at the paper.
His father's name was there.
"...No mistake about it."
His voice was calm.
But Rivai could tell.
Eruvin's left hand was gripping the edge of the desk. His fingertips had gone white.
"Sanes is still hiding in the capital's underground district. On paper, he was dispatched from Central Military Police headquarters on a mission to probe the Survey Corps' internal affairs. But in reality, he was working under royal government orders to destroy the Survey Corps."
"The royal government wants the Survey Corps destroyed...?"
"That's right. Because Eruvin's gotten too close to the truth of the walls. Same reason as his father — this time they're trying to erase Eruvin himself."
Hanji's voice turned serious for the first time.
"Eruvin. This is no longer a matter of personal revenge. The survival of the entire Survey Corps is at stake."
"I know."
Eruvin nodded slowly.
"That is precisely why I go. I will capture Sanes and expose the royal government's corruption. That is the only way to restore the honor of the Survey Corps."
"But, Commander. Your body..."
A quiet voice came from beyond the door.
He turned. Petora Raru stood there. Her orange-brown short hair shone softly in the morning light. A small silver earring on her left ear glinted.
"Petora. You came too."
"Yes. I heard the outline of the operation from Squad Leader Hanji. Please, let me come as well."
Petora's amber eyes were steady.
"Your wound hasn't closed yet, has it."
"It's fine now. Yesterday the doctor told me light duty would be no problem. Besides..."
Petora looked at Eruvin.
"This is a battle to avenge the Commander. I can't just stand by and watch."
Eruvin looked at Petora steadily.
"...You've come to resemble Rivai."
"Eh?"
"The stubborn part."
Petora blinked for a moment, then gave a small laugh.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Very well. Petora Raru. I permit your participation."
"Thank you, sir!"
Petora saluted happily.
Rivai watched her and clicked his tongue softly.
"...Tch. Don't you die."
"Yes! Same to you, Captain Rivai."
"I'm not gonna die."
"Yes. I know."
Petora laughed again.
Hanji clapped her hands together.
"All right! Then let's begin the strategy meeting! Sanes's hideout is in the east block of the underground district. A place called the old waterway management office — and it's a real maze in there. There may be traps. And he's got at least ten Military Police under him."
"Ten. Not much of a number."
"Well, from your perspective, no. But the fight'll be in tight quarters. We can't use the omni-directional mobility gear."
"Then we go on foot."
"Exactly. I'll be swinging a sword for the first time in a while too. Though not like you."
Hanji grinned.
"And one last confirmation. Sanes is one of the Central Military Police's most skilled killers. A professional at fighting people. Let your guard down and you die."
"I know."
"If you know, then fine."
Eruvin pointed at the map.
"The operation is a surprise attack before dawn. We strike when the underground's watch is thinnest. Rivai goes first and neutralizes the guards. After that, Hanji, Petora, and I storm in."
"The Commander is going to the front line?"
"If I don't go, there's no point. Sanes is after me. I'll be the decoy."
"A decoy..."
"Don't worry. I won't be going alone. Rivai will be there."
Eruvin looked at Rivai.
"Rivai. I entrust my back to you."
Rivai stared into Eruvin's blue eyes for a while.
"...Of course. Guarding your back has always been my job."
At those words, Eruvin's mouth softened, just slightly.
"Yes. I'm counting on you."
Hanji looked back and forth between the two of them, grinning.
"Yes, yes, could you two not go off into your own world? I'm continuing the briefing."
"Who's going off into their own world?"
"It's written all over your face. 'I'll protect him.'"
"...Shut up, glasses."
Petora watched the exchange and smiled faintly.
(Captain Rivai really does care about the Commander.)
(I have to protect them both too.)
Petora quietly clenched her fist.
———
That night.
The four of them rode hard toward the royal capital, Mitras.
From the Survey Corps headquarters to the capital was about half a day by horse. The plan was to move under cover of night and infiltrate the underground district before dawn.
A thin moon floated in the sky.
The night wind stirred their hair and cloaks.
"Rivai. Nervous?"
Riding abreast, Hanji called out to him.
"Not at all."
"Liar. You've been touching the same spot over and over. The hilt of your blade. That's the third time you've checked it."
"...Shut it."
"Well, no wonder. It's Eruvin's revenge. When it comes to that man, you get hot-headed right away."
"I'm not hot-headed."
"Yes, yes. But let me say one thing. Don't you dare do anything reckless. Sanes might try to use your anger. If you lose your cool, you lose."
Hanji's voice was unusually serious.
Rivai was silent for a while.
"...I know."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'll stay calm, to protect Eruvin."
"...Then fine."
Hanji let out a small breath.
Up ahead, Eruvin rode alone. Petora quietly watched his back.
———
It was past midnight when they reached the royal capital, Mitras.
The four dismounted and headed for the entrance to the underground district of Kirschstein.
The underground district was a slum sprawling beneath the capital. Population around fifty thousand. No sunlight reached it, and it had its own economy. It was also where Rivai had been born.
The entrance was an old stone staircase at the edge of the capital.
"From here on, it's Central Military Police territory. There may be lookouts. Stay sharp."
"Understood."
"Yes."
Eruvin nodded without a word.
The four descended the stairs.
The air of the underground was utterly different from above.
Damp air. The smell of mold and sewage. Water dripping from the walls. Somewhere far off, someone's scream.
Rivai knew this smell.
(I wouldn't call it nostalgic.)
(Tch... filthy.)
The alleys of the underground twisted like a maze.
With Rivai in the lead, the four advanced toward the east block.
"Rivai. This is your hometown, right? You know the way?"
"Yeah. I could walk it with my eyes closed."
"Reassuring."
At last they stood before the old waterway management office.
An old stone building. Every window boarded shut. Two men stood before the gate.
They wore the Central Military Police uniform.
"Lookouts."
"I'll go."
"Wait. I'll handle this."
Rivai melted into the darkness without a sound.
Seconds later.
Thud. Thud.
The two lookouts collapsed without a cry.
"...Amazing, as always."
"Let's go."
The four passed through the gate.
Inside was pitch black.
The damp air clung coldly to their skin.
"Shall I make a light?"
"No. We go as we are. Eyes adjusted to the dark go wild with a light."
"Understood."
The four advanced down the dark corridor.
Then.
"—I've been wa
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