The members of Team Ten searched every nook and cranny of the spot where the Titan had disappeared. They hoped to find something that might divulge the Titans’ secrets, but ultimately came up empty-handed. Their intention had been to recover the severed wrists and chunk of medulla oblongata as samples, but it had all turned to steam and been blown away by the wind. The only thing Kuklo had left in his hands was the sensation of cutting through flesh. Even the conviction that he’d defeated a Titan escaped him.
Looking down at his palms, Kuklo asked no one in particular, “Did Ogre really die?” His hands retained the distinct feeling of cutting into a Titan, but with no body, that feeling was refusing to spread to his heart or mind. Some part of him even wondered if Ogre still lived.
“The same thing happened during the expedition fifteen years ago,” Cardina told Kuklo. “They say that Mammon turned to steam and disappeared… Apparently, there were no particular discoveries then, either.”
“So as far as we know, that’s what a Titan’s death looks like. There’s no telling if that’ll hold true in the future, of course,” Rosa said.
“So does that mean I killed a Titan?!”
“Yes, absolutely. All of us here can attest to that,” Cardina assured him.
Okay. So I killed it… Kuklo had cut the tie that connected him to the Titans. His body felt the slightest bit lighter.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t get any closer to the mystery of the Titans, but we did learn that the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment can be used to fight them. That’s a big haul,” Rosa said with a satisfied look, only to shrug her shoulders right away. “Maybe no one will believe us, though.”
The members of Team Ten had wielded the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment to defeat a Titan, but not in front of Carlo or any of the other soldiers. With no corpse, they had no way to prove their deed. Carlo would surely believe them, but the others might laugh it off as the first-timers’ tall tale.
“Then we just try again on the next expedition,” Kuklo said. Now that they were sure the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment was effective against Titans, fighting another battle wouldn’t be difficult. They’d show everyone on a later expedition.
“Hm? I thought defeating Ogre was all you wanted, no?” Cardina probed his teammate.
“Ah!” Kuklo exclaimed, his voice cracking.
I’ll have to talk to Sharle about it… Even Sharle might lose her patience with him if he continued to act selfishly. Every decision that he made without her prior input seemed to summon harsh trials. The first time, he snuck along on an expedition and ended up exiled. The second time, he joined the Training Corps to cut his ties with Ogre, and as a result he stood outside the walls as a Survey Corps soldier, worrying Sharle to no end.
Just as Kuklo began to feel concerned, Xavi spoke up. “I’ll bear witness. You guys defeated a Titan.”
“A witness… Really?”
“I need to repay my debt to you,” Xavi coolly reassured Kuklo.
“But it was thanks to your work that the Titan just stood in place. Shouldn’t we say that we killed it together?” Rosa offered congenially.
“If I put myself on your side, then my testimony loses credibility. I was about to be eaten by a Titan, that’s all.” Xavi shook his head. “You really are an idiot, though. Don’t you hate me for what I’ve done?”
“I used to want to kick your ass. But I don’t really care now.”
“‘Don’t really care,’ huh?” Xavi said with a bitter smile.
“We can settle things once we get back from this expedition. We’ll decide who’s better.”
“I’d rather not embarrass myself any further,” Xavi quickly shot down Kuklo’s proposal. “Or rather, if I’m to embarrass myself, teach me how to use that thing instead.” He pointed at the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment.
“You, the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment?”
“Why not? I think he saw how effective it can be,” Cardina promptly agreed.
“The more sympathizers we have, the better,” Rosa approved as well.
If what they’d just done led to the official adoption of the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment by the Survey Corps, soldiers would have to train in its use sooner or later. In that case, practicing from now afforded a head start.
Be that as it may, Xavi wouldn’t ask to train with them again once he found out how terrifying being ambushed was.
Cardina shrugged. “Putting aside what we’ll do after we return, how do we even get back?”
Rosa cast an imploring look heavenward. “I never thought our horses would run off…”
With all of Team Ten resorting to the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment to defeat Ogre, the riderless horses had gone their own ways. As a result, Team Ten was left with no means of transportation.
“Wasn’t it obvious what would happen if you used those things?” Xavi asked, appalled.
“No Titans nearby. There’s water, and food too. We’re fine,” Kuklo declared.
Fortunately for them, they were in an oasis. The knowledge and experience they’d acquired through logistics training would help them pull through. Although they’d lost the rations in their saddlebags along with their mounts, they’d be able to fill their stomachs so long as they weren’t too picky. The Iceburst Stone gas would even provide them with heat.
“I’ve said this plenty of times before, but you’re the only one okay living like that.”
“I did fire a flare, so they should find us…” mumbled Rosa.
In the worst case, they would have to walk to Shiganshina District, but for the time being, they needed to dry their clothes and warm their bodies. Just as Kuklo reached for the gas cylinder on one of his scabbards, he heard a faint explosion in the sky.
“Looks like a flare gun,” Rosa said, breathing easy.
“Guess we won’t have to sleep outdoors.” Cardina stretched out with a sigh.
“I’ll go check.”
Kuklo looked to the top of a tree and used the lever on his controller. The next instant─
Shaking gravity free, Kuklo soared into the air. In the dark gray sky floated an orb of light that shone like the sun.
THE END