Year 847. South of Wall Rose. Cadet Corps Training Grounds.
The sun hung high in a windless sky. The valley was suffocatingly hot.
"The enlistment ceremony for the 104th Cadet Corps begins now!"
A nearly two-meter-tall middle-aged instructor with a shaved head and hollow, browless face stood before the neatly assembled recruits.
"I am Keith Shadis. Unfortunately for you, I have been assigned as your head instructor."
His booming voice carried across the entire field, reaching every one of the three hundred-plus recruits.
"Trash is not welcome here. Right now, you are nothing but livestock fit to be devoured by Titans—no, you are worse than livestock!"
"You useless brats are about to waste three years of our time. We must hammer every bit of experience and every method for fighting Titans into those empty skulls of yours!"
Keith raised three fingers.
"Three years from now, when you stand before a Titan, will you become its meal… defenders of the King's honorable walls… or proud warriors who drive the Titans from this world—"
"—that will be decided by how you perform in the next three years!"
…
Keith strode toward a recruit in the front row, a blond boy much shorter than himself. He leaned in until their faces were nearly touching.
"What is your name?!"
The boy snapped to attention and saluted.
"Sir! Armin Arlert, from Shiganshina District!"
"That name sounds ridiculous! Who gave it to you? Your dead parents?"
Keith had already reviewed every recruit's file. He knew the boy was an orphan.
Armin's expression did not waver.
"Sir! My grandfather gave it to me!"
Keith bent down, staring straight into his eyes.
"Alert! Why are you here?!"
Armin shut his eyes tightly and shouted, "Sir! I want to contribute to humanity's victory!"
…
"And you?!"
"Sir! Thomas Wagner, from Trost District!"
"Too quiet! Haven't you eaten?!"
"SIR!! Thomas Wagner, FROM Trost District!!"
…
"You! Speak!"
"Sir! Mina Carolina, from Karanes District!"
…
"What is your name?!"
"Sir! Jean Kirschtein, from Trost District!"
"Why are you here?!"
"Sir! To join the Military Police Brigade and live in the interior!"
…
"Sir! Marco Bott, from Jinae Street in southern Wall Rose!"
"I am here to join the Military Police and serve the King!"
…
"Sir! Connie Springer, from Ragako Village in southern Wall Rose!"
Keith grabbed Connie by his closely cropped hair and lifted him slightly off the ground.
"You've got it backward, recruit. Didn't I teach you the meaning of that salute in your first lesson?"
"To dedicate your heart to the King and the people! Is your heart located on the right side?"
"Well?! Answer me!"
…
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
"I'm talking to you! Who do you think you are?!"
The red-haired girl with a ponytail hurriedly swallowed the sweet potato she had been chewing and snapped into a salute.
"Sir! Sasha Blouse, from Dauper Village in southern Wall Rose!"
"Sasha Blouse. What is that in your right hand?"
…
Standing among them in the same cadet uniform, Lock's lips curved faintly.
Everything unfolded almost exactly as he remembered.
Even the lines were nearly identical.
That was good.
It meant the world had not diverged too far from what he knew. Confirming this had been one of his reasons for joining the Cadet Corps.
Of course, reality differed from memory.
Without hearing their names, it was difficult to immediately recognize everyone.
Even Moblit—he had only realized who he was after checking later.
While Lock was thinking, Keith's shadow fell over him.
A furious face loomed close.
"What is your name?!"
Lock snapped to attention and matched the instructor's volume.
"Sir! Lock Leon, from the inner district in southern Wall Rose!"
"Oh? Leon? As in the famous Lion family?"
"Is your father Ash Leon? The former councilor of Mitras?"
Mockery flickered across Keith's face.
Lock frowned inwardly.
Hadn't he asked his father to ensure his background wouldn't be casually exposed?
Did Keith hold a grudge against the Leon family?
Lock was about to deny it—
Then he noticed three familiar figures glancing his way.
Reiner. Bertholdt. Annie.
His eyes sharpened slightly.
He changed his mind instantly.
"Sir! That is indeed my father!"
A ripple moved through the surrounding recruits.
Keith leaned closer, voice lowering.
"Lock Leon. Why are you here?"
Lock roared without hesitation.
"To restore my family's honor! To become the King's right hand!"
Keith's expression darkened further.
He leaned into Lock's ear, voice turning grim.
"So you used your family's influence to enter the military."
"Brat of the Leon family, this is not a playground."
"I will not favor you because of your father."
"In fact, I would gladly witness the look on that dying old man Ash's face when he receives the mangled corpse of his only son, torn apart by a Titan."
"Do you understand, Lock Leon?!"
"Yes, sir!"
Keith straightened and moved on.
Feeling the lingering stares around him, Lock allowed himself a small, self-mocking smile.
Old man… you've truly made this harder for me.
"Everyone! Twenty laps around the field in formation! Anyone who collapses or quits can pack up and leave!"
"Do you understand?!"
"We understand!"
"Sasha Blouse! Lock Leon! After those twenty laps, you will continue running! Do not stop until I give the order—or until you collapse!"
…
By sunset, the cadets who had finished running and stripped off their jackets to rest watched the two figures still circling the field.
Connie wiped sweat from his brow.
"That's insane. They've been running for five hours."
Mina stared at Lock, who ran slightly ahead of Sasha.
"That noble boy is impressive. He doesn't even look tired."
Eren frowned slightly.
"…Yeah. I thought nobles were all the same."
Nearby, Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie were also watching.
Their attention, however, was mostly fixed on Lock.
Reiner lowered his voice.
"We should try making contact. Even if he doesn't know anything, he might prove useful."
Annie glanced at him coldly.
"Go ahead. Aren't you the best at talking? Maybe you can become friends with that young noble."
She turned and walked away.
Bertholdt watched her retreating figure in silence.
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