Though buttoned down compared to how Survey Corps expeditions were welcomed back, the audience response, the whole point, was quite favorable. The Vertical Maneuvering Equipment’s capabilities had been conveyed well enough. Jorge’s satisfied expression reinforced the impression. All that was left was for a political decision to be made, and Kuklo would have no say in that. He just had to believe in Jorge and wait.
The team saluted the audience and retreated, with light steps, to the athletic grounds’ outer edges, where the numerous recruits awaiting their turns cast envious gazes upon them─except for Xavi, whose expression was rather one of rage.
“I let you out of sight for a while, and look how good you get.”
A man who looked like the very picture of manliness approached Kuklo as he sat on the ground resting. The soldier in his mid-thirties had a beast’s penetrating glare. On his uniform was a winged emblem, the symbol of the Survey Corps.
Carlo Piquer─that was the soldier’s name. The current commander of the Survey Corps and the very man who’d discovered Ku-klo’s raw talent and recommended his recruitment, Carlo was Kuklo’s savior. If it hadn’t been for him, Kuklo would have died in exile, devoured by a Titan.
“So you came.”
“Of course. I needed to see if the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment is worth using in combat.”
Bowled over by the sudden presence of the Survey Corps commander, the other recruits began to stir. He practically existed on a different plane, so their reaction was natural.
“And what did you think?”
“It passes with flying colors,” Carlo replied immediately. “However, Titans and Titan dummies are two different things, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“It’ll be hard to aim for their weak spot. I know that.” Having been chased by Titans before, Kuklo wasn’t letting his results against the dummy get to his head. The other recruits showed the same reserve. Seeing the Titans first-hand from atop Wall Maria had paid off.
“I felt like I was watching the future of the corps when I saw all of you. Old soldiers like me are probably going to be shown the door soon.”
“It’s not too late. You just need to train.”
“I would if I could, but I’m a slow learner, you see. It’s too late for me to change my ways.”
Carlo added that the same went for his troops. Their style of combat had seeped into their marrows, and embracing novelties would be difficult.
“I’ll be going, then. Keep at it until graduation.” Carlo began to walk way with confident steps, but he turned around once to say, “The next time we speak, it’ll be as fellow soldiers.”
“Wow, I guess you need to be a force of nature to be the Survey Corps commander.” Cardina was just being honest.
Kuklo felt the same way. Many recruits boasted impressive physiques, including Xavi, but not the aura around Carlo forged by countless battles and brushes with death. Cardina likened the quality to a force of nature, but whatever it was, Carlo had something that attracted others to him. Perhaps it was his largeness as a person.
Rosa had tilted her head now and again, unable to get over her puzzlement. “First the instructor, now the commander. How in the world do you know such people?”
Kuklo had no answer for her, but if he had to come up with one, it was fate.
Because I was the Titan’s son. Burdened with a curse from before he was born, he endured horrible treatment, but as a result he came across people he might not otherwise. When he thought of it that way, his days of abuse seemed to have meaning. Of course, this in no way inclined him to speak any words of thanks to Xavi.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the inspection matches had been completed. The bouts would take place between teams, eight on eight. The recruits would marshal the gamut of the combat techniques they’d acquired to try to disable the opposition. Arms were allowed, but the short swords would feature regular bamboo blades rather than sharp Iron Bamboo edges. As for firearms, toy guns replaced carbines. Both weapons were capable of imparting bruises but not fatal blows.
Ten mock battles would take place at once, with the soldiers switching out for a total of three rounds. Kuklo’s team wasn’t up until the second round, but they had no time to dawdle since the bouts would be decided quickly.
“It’d be so easy if we could use the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment,” Cardina sighed as he looked at the grounds. Ten pairs of teams, a total of a hundred and sixty recruits, braced for battle. Simulated or not, it was quite a spectacle.
“It wouldn’t be a fair fight if we could,” Rosa said, and she wasn’t exaggerating or bragging. She only spoke the truth.
The Vertical Maneuvering Equipment would allow them to move freely through the air. They could just blast away with their toy guns from up above to make the match one-sided. Thus, Kuklo’s team was to engage in the mock battle equipped with just the standard gear. The one difference was that they would each carry two fake blades. Having gotten used to dual wielding, they felt uneasy with just one sword.
The first round of battles finished in about ten minutes, and it was now Kuklo’s team’s turn. Having prioritized their earlier demonstration, they were somewhat tired. They still had some stamina, however, and felt perfectly capable of fighting. They certainly didn’t plan on losing.
Kuklo’s team walked to its designated position on the field.
“Hm? It looks like the big shots are going,” Cardina said. The officers, including Carlo, and the bureaucrats started to leave the grounds, apparently tired of watching recruits spar.
“Maybe they just wanted to see what the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment could do,” Rosa reasoned. She was probably right.
While this served Kuklo’s team, who’d only wanted to promote the device, it had to be vexing for the other recruits who’d hoped to make an impression. In the end, the quickest way to the Military Police was through honest and steady progress.
“This will probably demotivate our opponents,” Cardina said sympathetically.
“Not true. Let your guard down and they’ll get you,” Kuklo said, noticing the naked hostility on their counterparts’ faces. In the center of the opposing team stood Xavi.
“I see, you’re right. One careless moment could sink us.” Perhaps the usually frivolous Cardina sensed that a fierce battle was coming; his expression suddenly turned grim.
“This doesn’t feel like chance,” Rosa said.
“He could have asked for it,” Cardina agreed.