The first thing Haruya did after loading the Checkpoint was to reset his mindset and correct the mistakes he had made earlier.
It was easy to understand... after he made a verbal mistake, Mikasa happened to catch it, leading to the unexpected outcome.
Most people don't have the chance to start over, which is where the saying "there's no medicine for regret" comes from.
However, Haruya was an exception...
Correcting mistakes was actually quite simple, provided you had the chance to start over...
The moon hung high in the sky, and the faint breeze carried the scent of grass.
The training camp was still brightly lit, with trainees and senior officers frequently appearing in his line of sight.
Following the same path as before, Haruya once again passed by Eren and the others, but this time he walked past them quickly.
He averted his gaze, looking elsewhere.
They were indeed the protagonists of this world, but interacting with them now held no meaning.
"I'm joining the Survey Corps."
Just like before, the conversation between the three hadn't changed.
"Hey, are you really joining the Survey Corps?"
"Eren, I've already decided. I don't want to be a burden to everyone." Armin's voice sounded firm.
For them, the walls were like a prison. Even though they could look up at the sky, they were far from free.
In fact, this wasn't much different from modern society. Even in the vastness of society, Haruya found it hard to find a place he truly loved.
The land wasn't just about cities or countries, it was about finding a place where you wanted to stay for the rest of your life.
Haruya considered himself someone with few interests, most of which were tied to the world of anime and manga.
This wasn't about escaping reality, as Haruya also enjoyed making friends in real life, even if it was just through a few conversations.
The reason he invested so much in the world of anime and manga was that he found it easier to relax there.
He didn't crave a life full of excitement, nor did he long for a world full of endless fun. He simply wanted to break free from the monotony of life.
Reaching a corner, Haruya glanced at the three of them. What they sought wasn't just freedom...
"What a frustrating world..."
Whether in reality or in the world of anime and manga, there were many things that didn't go as one wished. The key was to adapt.
Here, the Titans weren't just enemies, they were obstacles.
If humanity wanted to move forward, they had to overcome these obstacles.
Although Haruya hadn't 'studied' the 'Attack on Titan' manga as obsessively as some fans, he believed that most of humanity's disasters were caused by humans themselves.
Misfortune, happiness... it was all the same.
Haruya didn't dwell on this further...
After passing through a small square, he finally arrived at the place the two recruits had told him about.
The building was shaped like a round tower, with two torches at the entrance. The wooden door wasn't locked.
Looking around, he saw that he was alone. He walked toward the door.
Through the crack, he could see the flickering light of a fire inside, along with the sound of footsteps.
"Hey, just do a quick check. We'll be back soon anyway, right?"
"The senior officers seem to be offering free drinks."
"Should we go check it out and then come back to finish the inspection?"
"Let's do that."
The footsteps grew closer to the door, and Haruya quickly stepped to the side.
The door opened, and one of the officers, around forty years old, saw Haruya.
"What are you doing here? A new recruit from the Military Police Brigade?"
"No, I'm here for the ODM Gears." Haruya answered.
"Oh? What for?"
Since he didn't have a good reason, Haruya recalled their earlier conversation, "Over at the restaurant, there's a drinking party going on. I'm here to finish the work the officers didn't complete."
"We didn't get any notice... Whatever, no one's stupid enough to steal ODM Gear to fight Titans. Let's go."
The three officers, reeking of alcohol, left the scene, giving Haruya the chance to enter the weapon maintenance depot.
Inside, everything was neatly organized. The ODM Gears were placed on the left, blades in the middle, and gas canisters on the right.
Further inside under the firelight, Haruya also saw spare parts for the ODM Gears.
For example, the control device, the independent spool for the wires, the gas canister switch, and so on...
Grabbing a fully assembled set of ODM Gear, he left the depot and closed the door behind him.
"Phew…" Exhaling, Haruya headed toward the training grounds.
This time, he didn't need to ask for directions. The further he went, the fewer people he saw.
Plus, there were signs along the way.
The training grounds were surrounded by wooden fences. Due to the lack of proper lighting, the area was shrouded in darkness.
Haruya remembered that in the nearby forest, you could practice fighting Titans... specifically, the technique of slicing the nape of their necks.
"Seriously, why couldn't I just be assigned a senior officer role?"
The Supreme Deity really had a twisted sense of humor, forcing Haruya to start from the bottom...
Just as he was putting on the ODM Gear, he realized he had done so fluidly, no struggle whatsoever...
Haruya hadn't undergone any training, so was this part of his implanted memories?
Taking advantage of the fact that no one had noticed him yet, he entered the training grounds...
The temperature around him dropped slightly, but it wasn't a big deal.
More importantly, after passing through the training grounds, Haruya entered the forest.
The trees here were much taller than usual. Beyond the walls, there was a forest known as the 'Forest of Giant Trees'.
"Let's start with the basics..."
Based on what he had gathered from reading the manga, using the ODM Gear effectively required utilizing all the muscles in the body.
The control device was operated using handles. By pulling the triggers, anchors could be fired from the launchers on either side.
The wires were retracted using gas pressure, allowing the anchors to be fired again.
The blades used to attack Titans were highly flexible and could be replaced when worn out.
"Hmm… let's give it a try…"
Even with the implanted memories, wouldn't there still be issues with perfecting the technique?
Haruya crouched slightly and swung his right hand.
*Whoosh!!!*
The anchor, connected to the wire, shot out from the launcher and embedded itself into a tree trunk ahead.
Haruya then pulled the handle back, and the tension lifted him off the ground...
"Whoa!!!" His entire body was pulled forward.
Just as he was about to reach the limit of the wire and start falling, he swung his left hand.
Steam hissed as the right anchor was retracted, and the left anchor shot out.
It embedded itself into another tree trunk, and Haruya repeated the motion.
"Not bad..."
The wind whistled past his ears as the ODM Gear continued to operate, making him feel like Spider-Man.
"Let's try the next move." Firing the anchor again, Haruya was pulled toward the top of a tree.
His field of vision expanded, and he locked onto a wooden Titan target placed on the ground.
Its nape was white, visible even in the darkness.
Haruya positioned both hands on one side, ready to strike over his shoulder...
But then…
"Ah!!" he lost his balance.
The anchor he had just fired retracted too quickly, causing him to crash into the tree trunk and then fall to the ground.
His back made intimate contact with the leaf-covered ground, and the impact forced a grunt out of him.
The tree shook, and leaves rustled down.
Lying on the ground, the moonlight bathed him from above. The sky in this world was truly beautiful.
"Ahhh…" Haruya exhaled and reached out toward the sky.
The people here sought freedom and a stable life. If you ignored the Titans, this world would be almost perfect.
Unfortunately, that premise didn't exist.
Getting up from the ground, Haruya leaned against the tree trunk. Leaves drifted past his eyes, gently landing on the ground.
The Colossal Titan's next attack was drawing near. He had to learn quickly.
"If you're not attacking Titans, the equipment is actually quite convenient..."
After all, to kill a Titan, you had to target their weak spot by considering their position and adjusting your own trajectory.
Putting it into practice wasn't as simple as it seemed.
It was like juggling while riding a bike... quite difficult.
*Crack*
A sound reached Haruya's ears, the sound of a branch being stepped on.
Gripping the blade in his right hand, he turned around and held it up like a shield.
*Thud!*
The blade was kicked, and Haruya stumbled back a few steps.
"You are…"
"…"
Under the moonlight, her golden hair shone brightly even in the darkness.
She lowered her raised foot and took a sip from the cup of tea she was holding.
"Annie Leonhart…" Haruya muttered her name, momentarily unsure of what to do.
It wasn't that he couldn't act, it was that his thoughts consumed him entirely.
Annie Leonhart... this girl was his target, the true identity of the Female Titan.
If Haruya captured Annie now and reported her to the Survey Corps, would that count as completing the mission?
No, he'd probably be seen as an idiot.
After all, humanity hadn't yet witnessed humans transforming into Titans, nor had they seen Eren's transformation.
Therefore, taking action now would undoubtedly put him at a disadvantage, forcing him to reload a Checkpoint...
'That would be a waste of energy...' Haruya reached this conclusion.
The mission was to «capture the Female Titan», not «Annie Leonhart»...
"You're also from the 104th Trainee Corps, right? Why are you here?"
"Uhm..."
He needed to come up with a reason...
'Wait, why am I the one being questioned?'
"Then, why are you here, Annie Leonhart?"
"I saw someone sneaking around, so I came to check."
Annie, dressed in casual clothes, spoke calmly. Haruya scratched his head and started walking toward the exit.
"When attacking, make sure to secure your anchors properly. You don't need to constantly focus on controlling the launchers." She said.
"Huh?!"
Annie's words, spoken as she turned her back to Haruya, sounded like advice...
'Is she… giving me tips?' Haruya pondered this as he left the training grounds.
After a day or two of free time, Haruya finally got the hang of operating the ODM Gear.
Three days later, as a member of the 104th Trainee Corps, Haruya was assigned to the fixed artillery maintenance team.
Standing on the wall, he could see the vast terrain and horizon in the distance. The endless expanse of land showed no signs of enemies.
Holding a tool, he stood by the artillery cannon's muzzle, using a rod to clear the barrel.
At that moment, he overheard Eren and the others talking:
"You're joining the Survey Corps?"
"Yeah, I've made up my mind." Connie replied to Eren.
Just as Haruya had expected, everyone was 'moved' by Eren's speech.
Staying in the interior and seeking protection wouldn't solve anything.
Haruya shook off his wandering thoughts and focused on his task.
Maintaining the fixed artillery was relatively simple. The more complex tasks were handled by the science division.
"Hey, recruit! Don't slack off!"
Someone shoved Haruya from behind, and three people walked past him toward another direction.
It seemed these guys hadn't grasped the situation yet.
Even though they had enjoyed a few years of peace, it was merely the calm before the storm.
Humanity's counterattack had only just begun, and it was also the start of their greatest misfortune.
"Hey! Do you want to end up in solitary confinement? Stealing meat from the senior officers' storage is–"
"Hehe, it's fine if we slice it up and put it in bread." Sasha, the foodie, said this with drool dripping from her mouth.
"Besides, once we reclaim the land, there'll be more cows and sheep." Sasha continued while searching for tools.
"You guys, seriously…" Eren looked exasperated.
Gazing at the vast land, Haruya dropped the tool in his hand and gripped the handles of the ODM Gear.
'The plot had progressed to this point... So it's about time…'
Before Haruya could fully prepare, it happened.
Steam and a fierce wind...
*BOOM!*
The gas seemed to explode with a deafening roar. The fierce wind swept across the wall's platform, and the hot steam obscured everyone's vision in an instant.
Everything on the platform was blown away. People screamed as they fell toward the ground below.
"Everyone!" Amid the chaos, Eren took charge, "Use the ODM Gears!"
*Pew!* *Pew!* *Pew!*
Anchors connected to wires shot into the wall.
Haruya also activated his gear, but he moved faster, heading back toward the platform.
Flying through the air, Haruya saw the skinless Colossal Titan before him.
"We meet again!"
Eren arrived shortly after.
*Boom!* *Crash!!!*
Below, the Colossal Titan kicked through the wall.
Seeing the two of them, the Colossal Titan swung its right arm.
'Here it comes!' Haruya sprang into action.
What he did next would lay the foundation for his future plans.
"Hey! You're from the maintenance team, right? Attack from both sides!"
"Understood."
Eren took off from the left.
Haruya followed from the right.
His clothes flapped in the fierce wind as his vision rapidly shifted.
"Here we go, my first battle..."