[Attack on Titan] The Gate of Hakogawa

?If only it was a dream, a dream that you can laugh off when you wake up.

Levi was lying on the bed with a thin blanket on his chest, and his hands were casually placed outside the quilt. The bed was comfortable to sleep on, and both the bed cover and the quilt had been cleaned the day he moved in. If I remember correctly, it was Allen who was drying the sheets.

However, the soft scent of the sun on the bed sheets has long since dissipated, leaving only a sticky touch with a slight chill and moisture. Maybe he should take advantage of the rare vacation to clean the room, anyway, this is not planned It was Erwin's mandatory order to take a vacation.

Staring blankly at the ceiling, there are traces of water leaks on the ruined wooden ceiling, the faint yellow water stains travel along the gaps between the planks, some dark brown shadows can be vaguely seen in the corners, watermarks, dust and Cobwebs in the corners randomly form a messy painting on the ceiling.

It was so pathetic that he had been staring at these things all night.

Levi blinked with difficulty, the swollen eyelids, swollen eyelids, dry eyeballs and bloodshot whites again showed the fact that the owner of the eyes was insomnia.

He couldn't bear to stay in this room anymore.

Levi sat up quickly, and he glanced in the direction of the window. Outside the window, the cool-toned sky was mixed with warm milky white. Gradually brightening, the message of dawn was conveyed by the birds hovering in the sky.

Both feet got off the bed and stepped on the ground. Just when Levi was about to stand up, the nerve signal from the brain was transmitted to the whole body, but the signal to the right foot was like a pebble thrown into deep water, without any response , as soon as Levi stood up, he fell forward with an unstable center of gravity, and reflexively supported the lampstand on the bedside table, which stopped the tendency of falling.

Levi let go of his hand slowly, and he lowered his eyelids to stare at his right foot, his expressionless face was clueless, but the crow-colored pupils became deeper.

Standing quietly by the bed, the man closed his eyes, trying to recall the power distribution of his feet when he usually walks. Walking was originally as simple as breathing or eating, but for Levi now, it seems to be retreating. For a baby who is learning to speak, the pulling force of the calf muscles, the bending angle of the knee, and the exchange of the center of gravity between the heel and the toe all have to adapt again.

Levi tried to feel his right foot, slightly raised or moved forward, these methods were told by the four-eyed bastard, saying that as long as he can regain the knack of walking, the day of recovery is not far away.

Levi snapped his knuckles, and seeing the dark circles under the guy's eyes, he took the stupid advice for a second.

Pacing slowly in circles in the room, the wooden floor was creaked, although I had to temporarily lean against the wall or cabinet to walk normally, but this was quite an amazing improvement.

After feeling that his right foot was no longer so weak, Levi took the crutches that had been leaning against the wall, put the crutches under the armpit of his right shoulder, and the pole parallel to the body stood straight on the ground, which was a good aid Still not good at walking right foot.

Although he felt very uncomfortable, but without relying on this kind of thing, he couldn't even get out of the door of the room. Levi let out a secret "tss", and walked slowly out of the room on crutches.

Since I spent a lot of time in the room on the rehabilitation of my right leg, after Levi walked out of the room, the sun had completely risen to the sky, and the bright sunlight was hanging in the sky, but it couldn't penetrate into the room surrounded by walls. The captive birdcage, the spot of light falls on the ground without the slightest warmth.

so cold.

Tightening the coat draped over his shoulders, Levi walked aimlessly on the winding corridor, until he heard Erwin's voice, he realized that he had unknowingly walked to the place where the soldiers gathered school grounds.

On the podium not far away, Erwin was announcing something in a calm and composed tone. In the neatly lined up line below, the soldiers looked solemn and determined.

A gust of wind blew up, and the cloaks on the soldiers were rattled, and the majestic blue and white overlapping wings fluttered in bursts in the sudden gust of wind.

The wind messed up Erwin's words, and Levi could only hear broken words and phrases. He leaned on the porch pillar and watched the scene silently. None of the soldiers in the school grounds found the invisible From Levi in ​​the shadows, they watch the leader on the podium with eager, excited eyes.

Levi subconsciously touched the coat of arms of the Wings of Liberty on his left chest, but what he touched was a piece of smooth fabric, and he remembered that he was not wearing a uniform.

Those eager eyes made him want to look away, but he couldn't take his gaze back as if he was nostalgic. On those soldiers, he seemed to see the phantom of a young man.

That clear, bright, strong, hot, and totally incomprehensible taboo always followed my gaze.

"Give your heart to mankind!"

When Levi was still deep in his own thoughts, there was a loud slogan from the school grounds, with their left hands behind their backs, the soldiers raised their right hands unanimously, and their clenched fists hit the left chest forcefully .

"Yes!"

Following Erwin's order, the soldiers straddled their horses in unison, and the sound of the horses' hoofs running was deafening like a cannon fired. .

After the door was closed heavily, Erwin stepped off the podium, and when he passed through the already empty school grounds, he noticed Levi leaning on the pillars of the corridor, staring blankly at this place.

"Send off the soldiers, it should be a very fresh experience for you."

Levi glanced at Erwin who was walking towards him, and he didn't fail to hear the teasing meaning in the other party's words, and he also understood that the man was trying to adjust the heavy atmosphere with a relaxed tone.

"How many will come back?"

Not investigating, not evading, not searching, this time their mission is just to kill the giant.

Those who are inexperienced, unskilled, lacking in strength, and lacking in thoughtfulness are all likely to be buried in the mouth of giants.

"...I don't know, but each of them has a strong fighting spirit and a resolute and unyielding soul. I believe they can make themselves come back."

Erwin stood next to Levi, looking at the back of the gate with Levi.

"Such high-sounding words are avoided for me. I know very well that among them, at least one-third or more people will not come back, and I can only be a good-bye like a waste."

"Is this... your complaint? Do you think I'm a cruel person?"

Erwin lowered his eyes and stared at the man beside him with complicated eyes.

Levi seemed to be aware of his impulsiveness, he fell silent, his lips opened and closed slightly, but he couldn't think of words to make up for it, and his hand on crutches became tighter and tighter.

"If it wasn't for my wrong tactical arrangement, at that time, you wouldn't have faced so many giants without reinforcements. It was I who pushed Allen to the last step." As if he didn't see Levi's wavering, Erwin He said every word in a tone that could not hear the emotion.

"Are you pissing me off, Erwin?"

Levi turned around sharply and grabbed Erwin by the neckline. The strong force forced Erwin to bend down staggeringly, his eyes met each other, and the distance between his face and his face was only a few centimeters, reflected in Erwin's eyes. In Wen's pupils is Levi's sharp gaze like a beast.

"..." In the silent stalemate with Levi, Erwin finally sighed softly, "If you are willing to release the emotions that are suppressed in your heart, I don't mind."

The hand pinching the neckline froze, Levi seemed to have been hit hard, and he was stunned for a long time without returning to his senses.

Erwin easily got rid of the hand that was no longer exerting force on his collar, and while he was straightening his collar, he heard Levi speak in a low and slow voice.

"I am very clear that no one can be blamed for Alan's death. Every member of the investigation corps is the same, living under the fear of death. The next investigation outside the wall may be the time of his own death. Everyone holds this Awareness, even if there is no record and no gain, all deaths will not be meaningless, not to mention, Allen turned his body into a part of the wall of Maria, and he guarded the human territory , No one will see him as a monster anymore, he has become a hero of mankind."

"But, I feel very reconciled. He is only 20 years old. The burden and pressure on his body have long exceeded his age. But he has no choice, he cannot decide his own will, and finally There may be a different future, human beings have just begun to attack freedom, but he has no chance, he is already dead, that kid has a dream, he wants to see the sea, but he has not even stepped out of this city wall!"

Levi's clenched right hand hit the wall heavily, and the crutch supporting his body fell down. The strong force immediately caused the pillar to rupture, and the cracks spread rapidly outward.

The bangs covered the drooping face, and the shadow covered Levi's expression. On the ground, round water spots bloomed one by one.

The wind howled through the eaves, wailing in place of those who could not shout.