EPILOGUE

A sharp pain ran through Angel’s body, suddenly bringing him back to reality from the depths of a deep slumber. His body ached from his head to his toes, making it a chore to budge a single finger. Moving his body was out of the question, and he didn’t even have the energy to open his eyes and look around.

“Are you up?”

The male voice was familiar. “Jorge…”

“Looks like you’re still alive.”

“Just barely.”

Angel could manage to banter, but the pain he felt with every word he spoke twisted his face.

“We’ll be back in town soon. I know it’s not a comfortable ride, but try to bear it.”

Apparently strapped onto the horse that Jorge was riding, Angel’s body bounced rhythmically with its movements.

“What…happened to me?”

“You don’t remember?”

“I remember blowing the Titan up.”

He’d blacked out before he could see the end result, but everything must have gone according to plan if he was now having a conversation with Jorge. Angel was still alive thanks to what could only be described as a stroke of incredible luck.

“You proved that the Titans can be killed.”

“Their weakness was their nape, though.”

He’d nearly died because of that, but he was satisfied with the result.

Still, there were many challenges ahead. The short sword’s durability, the simultaneous use of a weapon with both controllers, and the Equipment’s mobility. They may have proven that Titans could be killed, but a pile of issues still had to be resolved.

They also had to zero in on the Titans’ weakness. Defeating one was not enough. They needed to look into why the Titan had died, which would require continued surveys.

Establishing tactics that employed the Equipment was also necessary. Reaching the Titans’ weak point in the fastest and shortest way and delivering a decisive blow─fumbling as Angel had would exact an unacceptable toll in lives. The Equipment had to be improved, of course, but if they could all master it, they could even start hunting the Titans.

“Things are going to get hectic for the Survey Corps.”

“Yes. In a lot of ways.”

It was very likely that the dissolution of the Survey Corps would be rescinded now that they had proved that the Titans could be defeated. On the other hand, they had ignored orders and gone on an expedition. Putting aside what would happen to the rank and file, as commander, Jorge would have to take responsibility for his actions. It seemed inevitable that he would have to resign.

“There’s something I need to do,” the commander said.

“What’s that?”

“Bring up the next generation.”

“By training recruits or something?”

“It needs doing, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, true.”

The Survey Corps’ numbers had been drastically reduced. Training recruits and thus rebuilding the Survey Corps could be Jorge’s next calling.

But Jorge was looking at the situation in a slightly different way.

“When I saw you fight, I knew the age for soldiers like me had come to an end.”

“You’re making it sound like I’m the one putting you out of commission…”

“I think that’s exactly what happened.”

“Isn’t that a little overblown?”

There was no question about Jorge’s abilities, and the same went for those under him. The commander was surely still capable of shining in combat, and they needed him to.

“The way we fight is going to change radically because of that device you made. I don’t know about the younger men and women, but personally, it’s too late for me to change my fighting style.”

“And that’s why you’re stepping down? I gotta say, I do find that gracious,” Angel replied with honest admiration. “Becoming a training instructor might be the right choice.”

Training the next generation still meant developing soldiers’ minds, bodies, and skills. Jorge was the perfect man for the job. Angel could already picture Jorge throwing trainees through the mill. If a veteran like him who knew the Titans inside and out became an instructor, he’d start churning out the greatest soldiers they’d ever seen.

“If they’re going to master that device, they need to be taught how to use it from the time they’re recruits.”

“And you’re offering to do that?”

“Good idea, isn’t it?”

“I need to get started on improving the Equipment.” But Angel wouldn’t be able to do it overnight. His head hurt when he thought about the mountain of issues he faced.

“Is that its official name? ‘Equipment’?”

“It’s just what I call it. It’s more like a code name. I didn’t think up a real name because it’s a prototype.”

Now that he could see the Equipment coming to completion, though, a name wouldn’t hurt.

“Hmm…” Angel thought for a while as he tried to come up with something that reflected the Equipment’s unique traits. “Well, it’s equipment that allows for vertical movement, so maybe the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment.”

“Ah, not bad.”

“I still have to make them, of course.”

Angel managed to laugh and pulled his leaden eyelids open. His blazing and aching eyes filled with tears. His entire body was covered in injuries, and his eyes were no exception. His vision was dim and unclear as though he were looking through frosted glass.

That must’ve been when.

His eyes must have been scorched by hot wind as he watched the Titan’s final moments.

I’ve done something, though, haven’t I?

He didn’t know if his vision would recover, but he felt full of satisfaction.

“The hero returns,” Jorge proudly proclaimed.

Angel heard the sound of the main gate opening.

THE END