[Attack on Titan] The Gate of Hakogawa

?#15

As soon as they got back to the regiment branch, the two rushed to the school grounds. From a distance, Levi saw that two horses had already been prepared by the gate, and the young leading soldier was walking ahead in a hurry. The man hurriedly got on his horse and galloped towards Allen's house.

Following a horse's body behind the soldiers leading the way, Levi silently watched the passing scenery along the road.

When fighting the giant, it was impossible to have the leisure to observe the surrounding scenery, so it was only now that Levi took a serious look at the town for the first time.

This is where Allen was born, grew up, and lost everything.

However, in his opinion, these dilapidated streets and dilapidated houses are no different from those he saw in other areas inside the Wall of Maria. Perhaps, the only difference is that it was once the first place where giants invaded. The layered barrier has experienced more profound suffering and wind and frost, thus making it appear more desolate and ruined.

The horseshoes rattled on the floor made of stone bricks, the endless streets looked long and winding, and the whole town was as silent as if only the cold echo of the horseshoes trampled around my ears.

With the ups and downs of the horse's back, the key hung on the chest jumped, and the frequency of the beating on the apex of the heart blurred the surrounding sounds. The vibrations again and again seemed to be some kind of warning, allowing Levi's heart to settle down step by step.

Not long after, the soldiers leading the way slowed down, and Levi took a closer look, and saw a circle of people around a collapsed house not far away, with the emblem of Wings of Freedom spread out on the back of their green cloaks, The noisy voice came over after a while.

In Levi's memory, he once heard Alan mention that at the moment when Maria's Wall was destroyed by a giant giant, his home was also scattered by the wreckage of the wall with the blow of the giant. hit.

Since then, this abandoned town has been frozen forever at the last moment before the fall.

Only now did the frozen time flow again.

Allen's house - in the half-standing and half-destroyed two-storey building, the huge rock that smashed half of the eaves was blown into pieces by the soldiers and removed, and the solid and thick timber was fixed around the half-overturned house , The damaged pillars and beams were also supported by auxiliary supports, the scattered plank debris on the ground has been cleaned up, and the originally squeezed and deformed houses are gradually restoring their original appearance.

The entire job site is proceeding in an orderly manner.

Quickly turning over and dismounting, Levi walked through the busy crowd, and soon found Erwin and Hanji near the main entrance of the building.

"The action is fast, can't wait to dig out the back necks of those giants?"

Hearing these slightly sarcastic words, Erwin, who was talking with Hanji, raised his head unexpectedly. However, when he saw the identity of the visitor, the stiff lines on his face became much more gentle.

"You're finally here. I thought you'd run away with the key."

Erwin made a few unscrupulous jokes, and immediately received Levi's eyes. At this moment, he noticed the fully equipped three-dimensional mobile device on Levi's body.

He realized it immediately, but felt a little unbearable, but he had no position to say anything, because he was also one of the people who kept pushing him forward.

He opened and closed his lips slightly, but still swallowed the words. He bent the unspoken words into a smile and changed the subject.

"Ackerman lived in Allen's house for a long time. She told us that the entrance to the basement is inside Allen's house, near the stairs, so before entering the basement, ensure the safety of the house to avoid collapse. After all, it may take a lot of manpower and time to explore the basement.”

"Now the fixed work has almost been completed. Fortunately, the entrance to the basement is on the intact half of the house, and it will not be damaged beyond repair, otherwise our side will be in trouble."

"Ah...that's right, if I can't get those materials because of the house...hehehehehehe..."

Halfway through Erwin's speech, Han Ji suddenly started talking to himself. The reflective lens covered his expression, making it difficult for people to understand his current emotions. However, the corners of his mouth curved into a strange arc, and the words He also kept spitting out creepy giggles.

"Hey, something is wrong with this strange-looking species, are you sure he won't swallow all the information as soon as he rushes into the basement?"

Levi squinted at Han Ji, his eyes full of distrust.

"Although it's a bit pitiful to say that Han Ji is like this, but...can it be said that he has made progress?"

All of a sudden, this sentence was wrong, and words with unclear meaning came out by itself. Facing such a weird answer, Levi looked up at the speaker in doubt.

"……what?"

"It's hard, isn't it... This is my interpretation, you are already planning to come out... You can care about the world around you again, can't you?"

There was a little more weight on the left shoulder, and Erwin's hand was lightly placed on it, the man looked down at him, but what was in those eyes made Levi speechless for a while.

How should I put it, those eyes that always looked dull and serious, even made Levi feel every time that the other party's performance was a waste of the advantage of the blue irises, unexpectedly, they could also show such a soft expression.

Ahhh, he really has a group of good friends who are always being cared for──

and so……

It doesn't matter anymore, my own business or mood or something

He, there are only these guys left, if they can't even protect them well, then there really is nothing left

So it doesn't matter if it's fake

Can't... make them worry anymore...

"Humph"

From Erwin's point of view, Levi saw Levi staggered his gaze and made a soft nasal sound. Facing this scene, he just showed a helpless smile, and he didn't expect the other party to have any bluntness The performance, or rather the current reaction was expected, but just when Erwin was about to end the topic on his own, he heard Levi's voice.

"I'm fine now, so don't show that disgusting Bala expression anymore, and use your barren time on more important things, here...you have nothing to do."

Erwin froze for a moment but couldn't help the upward curve of the corner of his mouth, which was unexpected to him, but it was a very rare confession for Elivi's personality.

He patted Levi's shoulder again and took his hand back. Almost at the same time as the conversation ended, the fixing work of the house also came to an end. Erwin was found by the team in charge of the house's reconstruction.

Levi, who had nothing to do, found a wall and leaned against it. He folded his arms and stared silently at the scene in front of him. Almost everyone's faces were full of joy and high spirits, even if there was a trace of uneasiness. Anxiety is also suppressed by excitement.

The young team members couldn't help discussing happily and energetically. Even though the older team members could cope with it more calmly, they still vaguely revealed their yearning and expectation for the future and hope.

The setting sun in the afternoon falls on this piece of land, coating everyone and everything with a golden halo, those smiles and smooth outlines seem to be melting in the hazy mist, making people feel dizzy. Do not open your eyes.

So it is even more unpleasant, for the self-styled and out of place self.

But this is the only thing that can't be disguised no matter what, the current him can't show that kind of calm smile, and the current him can't walk into the field favored by the sun.

but-

Even if you don't stand in the sun, as long as you can protect those people, even if you can't smile, you can protect the smiles of those people.

"Levi."

He heard his name, and Erwin waved to him not far away, as if signaling him to go over.

At some point, everyone quieted down, the whispers and construction noises disappeared, and in his ears, he could only hear the din of the wind and the clear beating of his heart.

His eyes moved to the building behind Erwin, and the wooden door that was originally covered by rubble and stones was now fully revealed in front of his eyes.

He could no longer hesitate or hesitate, he understood that everyone was waiting for his reaction.

The footsteps stepped forward.

"Ah, I see."

He reached into the neckline, grasped the key that was warm from his own body temperature, and tore it off──