Die Jäger
An unfortunate situation, and even for me, an uncomfortable one.
In front of me, Mikasa. Her face is hidden beneath her scarf, her eyes fixed on the ground, her mind clearly elsewhere. Not a single glance in my direction, not a single insult, not even a flicker of concern for all my wounds.
It hurts to be second in your own sister's heart.
It almost makes me believe in some external intervention, in the manipulation of an unpleasant force. But I prefer to remain silent.
Time passes in thick, suffocating silence. Minutes stretch on, each one more unbearable than the last.
Then, footsteps break the stillness.
"Hey, you guys... you're hungry, aren't you?"
We lift our heads.
"Hannes-san."
Armin murmurs his name in greeting.
The man crouches down naturally and, with a smile that tries to be reassuring, extends a small package to each of us.
"Here, eat this. It's the usual rations, but... take it."
I accept the package with a slight nod but don't even bother to open it.
Hannes notices the lack of reaction. With a sigh, he sits in front of us and begins chewing on his own ration bar.
He chews calmly, tearing pieces from the hard, flavorless mass.
"Hn... it's not good or bad, just the same as always."
He takes his time chewing before drinking a long sip of water.
Then, with a casual smile, he starts talking.
"Well... this is how it always is, right? Cleaning up after that brat's mistakes has always been your job, hasn't it?"
He looks at us with an expression somewhere between nostalgia and resignation.
"Together through thick and thin... for better or worse. No matter the situation, you always act just like when you were kids, don't you?"
Armin lets out a short chuckle, though his head remains low.
"However... there's a big difference between a bully and the Titans."
Hannes nods with a faint smile before resting his elbows on his knees.
"Well, whatever... that idiot has never been good at fighting, yet he always picked fights with four or five at once. By the time Mikasa or the soldiers arrived, he was already beaten up."
His gaze darkens slightly.
"I never saw him win."
He pauses.
"But I never saw him give up either."
Silence.
"He has that unmatched tenacity. No matter how many times he gets knocked down, he always gets back up. That's just who Eren is."
Mikasa tenses slightly but remains silent.
"Do you really think there's any way he'd let himself be taken without a fight? Impossible."
Hannes' smile widens a little, as if he can clearly see what's happening at this very moment.
"He'll use everything he has to his advantage. No matter who he's up against, he'll make them regret taking him prisoner."
...
...
"I loved those days..."
Hannes' voice softens, his gaze lost in the past.
"Eren might call them days of false peace, but... being the drunk soldier was enough for me."
His lips form a nostalgic smile, but his hands unconsciously clench into fists.
"I'll do whatever it takes."
His jaw tightens, and determination seeps into his voice.
"To get those mundane days back... no matter how long it takes. I'll do it. If you three aren't together, then none of it makes sense."
Silence.
Faced with those words, Mikasa and Armin's expressions harden, determination forming in their eyes. Without saying a word, they start eating their rations, each bite faster than the last.
But I remain still.
My gaze drifts to the horizon, beyond the wall, observing the devastation stretching as far as the eye can see. The smoke of battle still rises in the distance, and the ground continues to tremble under the weight of everything that has been lost.
Between Mikasa and Armin's chewing, a voice filters into my consciousness.
"Hnn? Kiyotaka, aren't you going to eat?"
Hannes watches me curiously, his tone different from the one he uses with the other two. More respectful, perhaps a bit more serious.
"Eh... no. My throat is a bit burned, I'd rather wait."
I respond simply.
He nods without pressing further, though a hint of concern lingers in his gaze.
But... that's not it.
Yes, my throat burns. Every word scrapes, every breath leaves a trail of discomfort. But not enough to stop me from eating.
The real reason is something else.
A long time ago, I promised myself I would never eat these rations again. Not in this world.
The mere thought makes my stomach churn.
"Mundane days..."
The word lingers in my mind, leaving a bitter taste. Its sound is unpleasant. Repulsive.
Mundane days.
Did I ever have them?
From the moment I opened my eyes in this world... or in the other... was there ever a period in my life that I could truly call ordinary?
Childhood, youth, the future... in any line of existence, normalcy was an unreachable mirage.
No matter where I was, whether in the cold walls of the White Room or the suffocating cage within the walls... the feeling was the same.
I wonder... have I ever had a place I wanted to return to?
Something that truly held meaning for me?
Even now, in this foreign world, trapped in a story that doesn't belong to me, there is nothing I can call home.
I search my mind, looking for a corner where I might have once felt something close to security, to belonging.
And only one image returns.
A small bathroom.
Cold. Sterile. Wrapped in the monotony of white walls.
But there, I could breathe.
No surveillance. No eyes following me. No orders, no tests.
Just me.
Sometimes, I would stare at the mirror, for no particular reason.
I would gaze at the reflection of a child without a past or a future. A mere test subject.
There, in that absolute solitude, was the closest thing to freedom I had ever known.
A mockery of freedom.
And yet, even that small, empty space...
Was better than nothing.
--------------
"THEY ARE HERE!"
Mikasa's voice cuts through the air like a sharp blade as the horses appear in the distance, their figures silhouetted against the horizon.
I don't even know if I should feel excited about this.
Armin, beside me, understands it too.
"If they're rushing towards us, that means..."
Exactly.
We're going to rescue Eren.
Beyond the walls.
Against humanity's two greatest enemies.
It's hard to estimate how many people will die.
Too many.
"Krista..." Armin continues, his usually calm tone tinged with concern. "I don't think you should go."
A tense silence falls over us.
"... You can say that as many times as you want."
Historia responds without hesitation, her voice sharp, as if Armin's words had offended her.
"But there's no way I can stay behind after Ymir has been taken. You and Mikasa should understand how I feel."
Armin falls silent.
Maybe because he knows she's right.
It's ironic. The same hypocrisy that makes up both him and Mikasa is now turning against them. If it were Eren instead of Ymir, they wouldn't be telling her to stay behind.
"Krista is right."
This time, it's Connie who speaks.
There's something different in his tone. Something rarely seen in him.
Seriousness.
"We have more than enough reasons to go after them..." His jaw tightens, as if trying to process the impossible.
"... I still can't believe it. That Reiner and Bertholdt are our enemies... I won't believe it until I hear it from them."
A murmur spreads through the group.
It's not just Connie.
The faces of all the cadets who lived alongside Reiner and Bertholdt reflect the same thing.
Disbelief.
Confusion.
A waste of time, but every second depresses me a little more. Is no one going to say anything? I should barely be recognizable with the amount of bandages I have... I barely got a worried glance from Mina for a few seconds before she went back to helping the wounded.
But time doesn't wait.
The enemy doesn't wait.
"COMMANDER ERWIN!"
Voices rise as the commander's figure appears, riding at the front of his unit.
Even the Military Police is with him.
"YOU MADE IT IN TIME!"
Expressions of relief and hope begin to emerge among the soldiers.
But Erwin doesn't stop to respond.
He's looking at me.
His steps are firm, his posture unshakable.
At the same time, Levi, who had been standing off to the side, almost sulking, approaches.
He doesn't need to say it out loud.
He's still upset about his failure.
The difference is that, this time, his frustration has a target.
Erwin unrolls a map over an improvised surface, his sharp gaze scanning every face around him before settling on me.
"Kiyotaka."
His voice is firm, without hesitation.
"Where do you think they went?"
He doesn't ask for guesses or vague answers. He wants precision. A calculation.
Everyone around falls silent, some visibly concerned that he's asking for my opinion, but they hold their tongues, waiting for my response.
I step closer to the map.
My eyes scan the terrain, the road layouts, the proximity of the walls.
My hand extends, and without hesitation, I mark a point as I speak.
"They have no way of erasing the Armored Titan's tracks, but... I can predict that they'll go here."
A forest.
Not just any forest.
A forest of giant trees, not too close, but not too far either.
Silence.
Some exchange glances, trying to make sense of it.
A soldier frowns.
"... Why there?"
Without lifting my gaze from the map, I begin to speak.
"Even in their Titan forms, after everything that happened in the battle, they have to plan their next move carefully... If they try to move directly to their destination without any precautions, they risk being surrounded by Titans in open terrain."
I move my hand toward the forest.
"But here, in contrast, they can use the terrain to their advantage. The giant trees allow them to maneuver better if necessary and give them a place to rest before moving forward."
I leave my hand over the marked point.
"... It's the only place that lets them buy time without exposing themselves too much, assuming their goal is beyond the walls... We have until—"
"Nightfall."
All eyes turn to Erwin.
He's the one who decides.
The commander studies the map intently for a few seconds.
Then, he simply nods.
"We're heading to the forest."
He lifts his gaze.
"PREPARE TO MOVE OUT! WE'RE LEAVING IMMEDIATELY!"
------------------
My eyes open heavily, accompanied by a burning sensation throughout my body.
Heat... a heavy one, but not entirely unpleasant.
Steam seeps around me, distorting the air with pale ripples.
My vision slowly adjusts.
"Yo, Eren... you awake?"
Reiner.
The surprise barely has time to settle before a brutal pain strikes through me like lightning.
An unnatural sensation.
Something is missing.
My eyes drop urgently.
My arms.
Or what's left of them.
Half of both are gone, replaced by stumps in the process of regenerating, new skin forming over the mangled flesh.
My pupils dilate.
"...!!!!!!! WH...!!! BUT WHAT?!!! MY ARMS...!!!!!!"
A shiver runs down my spine as the shock fully hits me.
"Eren."
Another voice interrupts my horror.
It's not Reiner's.
It's calmer.
To my right, Ymir watches me with a neutral expression.
"Look closely."
My eyes shift to her.
She's missing parts of her body too.
An entire arm, along with deep wounds across her torso that are halfway healed.
"Looks like we had a rough time."
...
...
...
The echo of her voice sounds distant in my ears.
Finally, my throat releases a rough whisper.
"... Why... don't I have my arms?"
"Sorry about that."
Reiner responds simply.
"It's my fault. We were in a tight spot... and in that chaos, I had to cut them off."
"I see... I lost..."
...
But no.
I can't accept this.
I can't allow it.
I have to... I have to regenerate them faster.
Almost without thinking, I bring one of my stumps straight to my mouth.
I'm going to bite.
I'm going to transform.
"EREN!!! STOP!!!!!"
Bertholdt's scream hits me like thunder.
But before I can clench my teeth, a hand gently pushes my limb away.
"Wait, Eren."
Ymir.
She's too close, her gaze locked onto mine.
"Before you do anything, look carefully around you."
The way she says it... the tone in her voice...
It's not mockery.
It's not disdain.
It's pure seriousness.
"This is the giant forest of Wall Maria... Not too close to the wall. Titan territory."
Slowly, she forces me to look down.
A titan at least 14 meters tall is right below us.
It's lying down, completely motionless.
But its eyes...
They're closely following us.
"... We should consider it a pervert."
Ymir speaks with her usual calm tone.
"It doesn't move, it seems relaxed... but it doesn't take its eyes off its prey."
A shiver runs down my spine.
My eyes scan the area.
There are more.
"There are several small ones around, strong enough to be a problem. And over there..."
She points.
Another titan.
Similar in size to the one below.
But this one keeps its distance, watching.
"... A shy one. It doesn't approach but keeps us in sight."
And further ahead...
I finally see what should really worry me.
"And then there's this trash."
The traitors.
Reiner and Bertholdt.
The only ones with ODM gear.
My jaw clenches instantly.
"Reiner has yours."
I feel the fury ignite in my chest like a bonfire.
... Damn it.
Even if I could transform now, what good would it do?
The titans surround us.
I have no weapons.
And they can take refuge in the tallest trees if I try to fight.
"... Even with the 'Power of the Titans,' surviving in their territory is difficult. Do you understand?"
Ymir looks at me with a neutral expression.
"Now is not the time for an outburst."
"No."
Reiner suddenly interrupts, indifferent.
"You wouldn't be able to transform even if you wanted to."
His voice is cold, devoid of emotion.
"It's not that easy to use. Your strength is at its limit... and your arms are still regenerating."
My teeth grind.
My eyes burn with rage.
"Idiot, who would believe you?"
He doesn't answer.
He doesn't care whether I believe him or not.
...
Ymir sighs.
"Well, I don't know all the details about titans, so I can't completely agree with you."
She turns to Reiner.
"... So, Reiner, you said you would talk when Eren woke up. Start talking.
Now.
What are you going to do with us?"
Silence.
Reiner watches us for a moment before responding with the same calm as always.
"We're taking you to our hometown."
His words are unwavering.
"So calm down."
My jaw clenches further.
"On the other hand..."
Reiner continues.
"I don't know why they're following me... but Ymir is right."
His gaze sweeps across the forest.
"This is titan territory.
It's not a place for a fight to the death.
If we try now, we'll all end up devoured."
His voice holds no fear.
Only conviction.
"For now, we have no choice but to stay until nightfall when the titans stop moving."
His eyes lock onto mine.
"Whether to try to escape... or to come with us."
"We'll have to wait until nightfall."
A deep silence falls between us as I sink into my thoughts.
...
...
...
...
"Oh right..."
Ymir cuts through the silence.
"Those titans at the castle could move very well at night, right? What about the titans here???"
"The titans here can't move at night."
Reiner answers simply.
"You, more than anyone, should know that, Ymir."
—-------------------
Ymir sighs heavily and fans herself with a hand.
"Reiner, do you have any water?" she asks tiredly. "You'd better give me some, or I'm going to die."
"I understand it's a matter of life and death, but..." Reiner shakes his head. "We can't get anything under these circumstances."
Ymir clicks her tongue in frustration.
"I guess you're right... These circumstances are a damn nuisance."
Reiner doesn't answer immediately.
His expression changes.
He slowly sits down on the ground and lets out a heavy sigh.
"Now that I think about it... we've been at this since yesterday morning, since the titans appeared."
He runs a hand over his face.
"We barely ate or drank enough... and the worst part is that we haven't slept either."
He nods, thoughtful.
"... On the bright side, the wall is still in one piece."
My brow furrows.
What...?
"We can rest for now."
His tone changes.
It's more relaxed.
As if nothing were wrong.
"... I'll talk about the promotion later."
The promotion.
My jaw tightens.
Reiner... what the hell are you saying?
"...!! Reiner..."
Bertholdt's voice carries a hint of concern.
But Reiner ignores him.
"Nah... I think all of that was an achievement."
That tone...
It makes me sick.
"We did well in an incomprehensible situation. Acting like soldiers... That alone deserves a reward. At least, that's what I think."
And he smiles.
He smiles as if he hadn't just betrayed us.
As if all of this were just a bad day at the academy.
"Hey, Reiner... what are you talking about?"
Ymir watches him with discomfort.
"Huh? What? We don't have to talk to the commander about the promotion right away."
He continues as if nothing is wrong.
That attitude...
That damn attitude...
He's playing with us.
It can't be.
He can't be serious.
Not after everything he's done.
Not after everything he's destroyed.
And then...
My lips part.
"ARE YOU PLAYING WITH US?"
The shout rips through the air.
My eyes burn with seething hatred as they lock onto Reiner.
He looks at me, confused.
"P... Why are you upset, Eren?"
His tone is genuine.
As if he truly doesn't understand.
"Did I... say something wrong?"
Something inside me snaps.
"IF YOU WANT TO DIE, JUST SAY IT!!!"
My breathing is heavy.
My body trembles with contained fury.
But before I can lunge at him, a hand is placed in front of me.
"Wait, Eren."
Ymir.
She stops me with a serious look.
"... No matter how you look at it, something is off."
She turns to Bertholdt.
"Isn't that right, Bert? If you know something... say it."
Silence.
Bertholdt lowers his head.
Reiner reacts with surprise.
"Huh?"
His eyes narrow.
As if trying to comprehend what's happening.
And then, Bertholdt speaks.
"Reiner... you... you're not a soldier, are you?"
The words float in the air like a sentence.
Reiner's eyes widen.
His face goes through countless emotions.
Until his expression finally darkens.
"... Yes... it's... true..."
The wind blows through the branches.
The sound of the leaves feels distant to me.
I don't know why.
I don't understand why.
But I feel like I already knew this truth before hearing it.
Ymir crosses her arms, exhaling slowly.
"For some reason, I think I get it."
Her gaze sharpens.
"It always seemed strange to me... The guy who broke the wall risks his life to save Connie."
Her lips curl into a mocking smile.
"You acted unconsciously, despite the contradiction. I have no idea why, but I think..."
She pauses dramatically.
"You were once a warrior who tried to destroy the walls... but while playing soldier, you lost sight of your true self."
The words cut deep.
Ymir continues.
"No... You probably couldn't bear the weight of your sins.
You escaped into the delusion that you were a soldier protecting the walls.
As a result, your heart was split.
Your memories became distorted.
You looked at Bert in surprise because you could no longer relate to him.
... Something like that?"
She claps slowly.
"I'm surprised. With such a firm personality, you ended up—"
"Silence."
Reiner's voice is low.
Almost trembling.
But sharp.
Dark.
Ymir stops.
"Sorry. Maybe I went too far..."
...
...
...
No.
It can't end like this.
Not after all this.
Not after what they took from me.
My hands tremble.
My head lowers.
My lips part.
"D... stop playing..."
My voice comes out as a seething whisper.
My eyes lock onto his with palpable hatred.
"Why are you playing the victim?"
My blood boils.
"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?"
My body vibrates with a fury I can't contain.
"THAT DAY..."
My heart pounds against my ribs.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU LISTENED TO ME?!!"
My gaze shifts to Bertholdt.
"WELL, BERTHOLDT?? YOU DAMN BASTARD, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT, DIDN'T I?!!"
My voice cracks with rage.
"I TOLD YOU MY MOTHER WAS EATEN BY A TITAN... DIDN'T I?"
I take a step forward.
"A PIECE OF THE GATE YOU KICKED FELL ON MY HOUSE, SO MY MOTHER COULDN'T ESCAPE..."
My teeth grind together.
"You knew, didn't you? Because I told you."
Silence.
Dark.
Crushing.
Until finally...
Bertholdt's gaze darkens.
And his voice, a whisper filled with guilt, breaks the air.
"Back then... I felt sorry for you."
...
...
"YOU... both are not soldiers."
"not warriors."
"YOU MURDERERS."
My voice is like ice.
"The ones who killed so many innocent people... are genocidal."
Reiner clenches his teeth.
"YES, I ALREADY KNOW THAT!!!"
He yells at me with rage and self-loathing.
"YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL ME!!!"
His eyes pierce me.
But I don't care.
Nothing he says matters anymore.
Because in the end...
"I will do everything... to give you the most atrocious death I can."
But before I can continue...
"That's enough..."
Ymir's voice interrupts the moment.
My gaze locks onto her, still trembling with anger.
"Eh?"
But she just sighs, crossing her arms.
"Please, Eren... I can't expect anything from you if you keep saying such childish things."
The coldness in her tone is like a bucket of ice water.
My body tenses.
Childish...?
My rage is not childish.
My hatred is not childish.
Not when everything they took from me is real.
"What...?" I barely manage to murmur, incredulous.
But she just gives me a distasteful look before turning to Reiner.
"Hey, Reiner... what was that monkey?"
Monkey?
Reiner freezes.
His jaw tightens.
He doesn't respond immediately.
"... Monkey?"
His tone is forcibly neutral.
"What do you mean?"
But even with his attempt to feign ignorance, I can see the discomfort in his eyes.
Ymir smirks mockingly.
"Huh? You don't know?"
Reiner doesn't answer.
"Back then, both of you looked at it with shining eyes, as if it were a blessing."
That statement confuses me even more.
"What 'monkey' are you talking about?"
I don't understand.
I don't even grasp the meaning of the word.
Ymir looks at me with disdain, as if it's obvious.
"That monkey... The Beast Titan."
...
Silence.
The words float in the air.
My eyes narrow.
"The Beast Titan... what?"
Ymir stretches lazily, as if what she's saying isn't of vital importance.
"The mastermind behind everything this time."
My heart pounds.
"... What?"
"He was the one who made the Titans appear inside the walls."
My blood freezes.
"Maybe measuring our strength..."
"And these two are looking for him."
Reiner and Bertholdt lower their gazes.
"Because if they find him..."
She pauses dramatically.
Then smirks mockingly.
"They can go home, right?"
The atmosphere grows even heavier.
Reiner and Bertholdt's expressions darken.
I step closer, desperation creeping in.
"Tell me everything you know!"
My voice is a roar of desperation.
But Ymir only raises an eyebrow, calm.
"Wait. I have my own conditions."
Her eyes lock onto mine with an irritating calm.
"Basically, Eren, if you think everything will end by killing these two..."
Her smile widens, cynical.
"You're making a mistake."
My teeth grind.
My hands tremble.
"WHO IS THE ENEMY?!"
I shout, demanding answers.
Ymir sighs, thoughtful.
"The enemy, huh?"
She tilts her head.
"If I had to say, then it would be—"
"YMIR!"
Reiner's voice abruptly cuts her off.
His expression is grim.
Dark.
Filled with latent desperation.
"Do you think this world has a future?"
Ymir watches him in silence.
"If you understand, think about your actions."
He steps forward.
"You can still come to our side, right?"
The question lingers in the air.
Ymir simply smiles, but her eyes show no emotion.
"... Do you really think it's that simple?"
"... Maybe."
His tone is ambiguous.
His gaze, sharp.
"Maybe before, it would have been that simple."
Reiner frowns.
"What do you mean?"
Ymir shrugs indifferently.
"Before, yes."
She crosses her arms, watching him with a piercing gaze.
"I would have accepted joining you... in exchange for saving Krista."
Reiner blinks.
Bertholdt watches her with narrowed eyes.
"But now..."
Her smile vanishes, her expression hardens.
"Things aren't that easy."
Reiner looks at her warily.
"Why?"
Ymir sighs, as if about to say something obvious.
"Because you've already seen Kiyotaka."
Silence.
The air grows even heavier.
Just the name provokes a visible reaction in Reiner and Bertholdt.
Their bodies tense.
Their discomfort is undeniable.
"What does he have to do with this?" Reiner asks, his tone carefully neutral.
Ymir smirks mockingly.
"The ease with which he discovered I was a Titan... how he made me surrender..."
She pauses to watch their reactions.
Bertholdt darkens completely with hatred just from hearing the name.
Reiner keeps trying to maintain his composure.
But Ymir doesn't stop.
"That wasn't normal, was it?"
Reiner doesn't answer.
Ymir narrows her eyes, enjoying the moment.
"For someone like him... who figured out my secret so easily..."
She pauses, letting her words sink into their minds.
"... It wouldn't be surprising if he already knew the truth about the whole world."
Absolute silence.
Reiner and Bertholdt exchange a fleeting glance, their expressions hardened.
"In that case..." Ymir's voice softens, but her tone is lethal.
"Think of it this way... If I join you... Krista is in danger..."
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