Chapter 3

"Be careful with your words, she is a year younger than you."

At Carla's words, Eren looked at Nike.

Maybe it was because she was a guest from the interior. Eren, with a slightly disgruntled expression, stared at her as if he had something to say, and after a while, he finally spoke.

"Why are you here?"

It was quite a sharp question.

For a completely unfamiliar person to be a guest having lunch in this ordinary household. Mikasa was also curious, so she didn't stop Eren.

On the other hand, Carla was worried that if the relationship soured, it might disadvantage Eren.

"I'm here on an inspection."

At the word "inspection," Eren recalled what Hannes had said before they arrived.

The daughter of a high-ranking official is coming down, and she's with the Military Police. We're cleaning up because she might visit here.

Unlike his usual self, drinking excessively, Hannes had shown a rare sight of diligently cleaning like a disciplined recruit.

Eren muttered Hannes' words to himself.

The interior. So, the daughter of a high-ranking official from Wall Sina is coming. Eren scrutinized Nike's clothes.

It was luxurious clothing that you wouldn't see in Shiganshina District. Eren was convinced that Nike was the person Hannes had mentioned.

Eren, who had little desire for power, would have lost interest in Nike by now, but his curiosity about Nike increased instead.

More precisely, it was curiosity about the Military Police insignia on Nike's robe.

"Are you… a Military Police member?"

Eren placed his hands on the dining table, looking at Nike with great expectation.

No, he didn't just place his hands on the table; he was ready to climb on the table and get right in front of Nike's face.

Nike could only look at Eren with disdain.

'What the heck is this?'

The way he was wary moments ago and now asking questions with eager eyes made Nike think Eren was an idiot.

Nike hadn't expected to see the protagonist in such a foolish state, even though she knew he was full of passion.

Knowing that Grisha's son was acting foolishly in front of his benefactor's daughter, Grisha grabbed Eren, slightly annoyed.

"Eren, that's enough."

"Just a little more talking, I'm curious."

"Eren! When your father speaks, you listen. Sit down now!"

"…Yes."

As Grisha stopped Eren, Carla took the opportunity to scold Eren.

With his parents' insistence, Eren reluctantly got off the table.

Then Carla pulled Eren's ear.

"Ouch, ouch!"

"Eren, we need to talk later. How can you be so rude to a guest?"

"Stop it. It's fun."

As Carla decided to scold Eren, Nike intervened to stop her. After swallowing the last piece of bread, Nike turned to Eren.

She then showed Eren the Military Police insignia.

"I'm not part of the Military Police, so I don't know all the details. But I can answer your questions."

"Really? Then, I want to know if the Military Police also conduct expeditions outside the walls like the Survey Corps!"

"?"

Nike recalled Eren's status. No wonder his intelligence was low.

The Military Police operated inside, while the Survey Corps operated outside. Nike wondered if Eren had forgotten even such basic knowledge of this world.

But since she had already agreed to answer a few questions, Nike started answering Eren, looking at him as if he were a fool.

"No, absolutely not."

They went to Wall Sina to avoid death. Why would they go outside?

Regardless of how Nike looked at him, Eren continued asking questions.

"Then what does the Military Police do?"

"They manage the Garrison and the central administration."

"Why would anyone apply for such a boring place?"

"Don't you know…?"

Thus, the Yeager family's meal continued with their conversation as a side dish. Mikasa, Carla, and Grisha also listened to their conversation.

Carla, who had been scolding Eren, hoped he would change his mind and aim to join the Military Police.

"I want to join the Survey Corps, what should I do?"

Whether he heard it or not, Eren, who had been asking about the Military Police, habitually brought up the Survey Corps.

The moment Eren asked about the Survey Corps, Mikasa sighed as if she had stepped on a mine. By the time Mikasa sighed, the situation changed dramatically.

As soon as Carla, who was washing dishes, heard that, she rushed over, grabbed Eren's shoulders, and shook him wildly.

"Eren! What are you thinking?! Don't you know how many people have died going outside the walls?!"

"I know!"

"Then…!"

In the situation that seemed like a fight could break out at any moment, Nike quietly raised her hands to cover her ears. The Survey Corps was known to be a place for those who were desperate to die.

Parents would naturally try to stop their children from joining such a place. Carla had a reason for trying so hard to scold him.

But Carla's nagging didn't continue. Grisha stood up, pushing his chair back.

"Eren, why do you want to go outside?"

"I want to know. I want to see what the world outside is like. I don't want to live my whole life inside these walls without knowing anything!"

Grisha and Eren locked eyes and talked. After listening to Eren, Grisha seemed to fall into deep thought for a moment, then quietly put on his hat and opened the door.

When the door opened, bright sunlight streamed into the house. In that sunlight, Grisha quietly took out his necklace and showed it to Eren.

"Eren, when I come back, I will show you the basement that I've kept secret."

"R-really?!"

At the end of the necklace was a key. It glimmered golden in the sunlight. It was a key so exquisitely made that it seemed unlikely that the people of this era could have crafted it. Eren's face lit up.

Eren, who had seemed ready to argue with Carla just moments ago, now followed Grisha outside with light steps to see him off.

Mikasa followed behind. Carla, after glancing at Nike for a moment, also went outside after her son.

'…'

Left alone in the house, Nike stood up.

Nike began to quietly examine the house.

It was a warm house that felt cozy and lived-in. They say the atmosphere of a house changes with the family. If not for the Colossal Titan's actions, this house would have remained harmonious.

'Are they prepared properly?'

In the fading memory of the Attack on Titan story, Nike knew that Carla would be eaten because she was pinned under this house.

If there is no change here, Carla would die just like in the original story. Thinking about this bittersweet reality, Nike opened a window that couldn't see outside.

Through the window, she saw the commander of the Military Police, Nile Dok.

Nile Dok was not originally supposed to be here. He was an important officer in the Military Police and would later argue with Commander Erwin about Eren.

The reason he was here-

"Is this enough?"

"Yes, it's perfect."

Was to paint.

In Nile Dok's hands were brushes stained with black paint.

Seeing the black paint stains all over his uniform, Nike could tell that Nile had painted with his own hands.

It seemed that all the windows in the Yeager family's house had been completely covered with black paint to Nike's satisfaction.

Nile gave a slightly amused smile at Nike's sight.

"Good grief... the young lady sometimes does strange things. And this time… never mind."

"But it's good in the end, isn't it?"

"That's the strange part. Why does everything turn out well when you do these things?"

"That's why we should keep working."

"Hey… remember sometimes that I'm a Military Police officer."

Not a handyman, kid. Nile Dok wiped the sweat off his forehead and took out a padlock.

Nike, regardless of how hard it was for Nile, just stared at the black-painted windows.

'If luck is on our side, she'll survive. If not, there's nothing we can do.'

Thinking that Carla was pinned under the house because she tried to look outside through the window, Nike made a guess.

So-

'What if we prevent Carla from opening or looking through the windows and make her go outside the house?'

If such coincidences pile up, Carla would surely survive. Though it would take a lot of luck.

Leaving that thought behind, Nike stepped out of the window with Nile's help.

Once outside the window, Nike quietly closed it. The warm smell of food that had been wafting around disappeared completely.

Nike wondered if they had actually eaten there, considering how quickly the smell vanished, and she turned towards the center of the city without hesitation.

"Let's go now."

"What? You're leaving without saying goodbye?"

"Yes."

"Geez... among the noble ladies I've seen, there's none as eccentric as you. And don't make me do something like this again."

Nile, the commander of the Military Police and Nike's bodyguard, locked all the windows of the house and followed Nike.

...

Upon arriving at Shiganshina District, various thoughts crossed my mind.

The sight of people living happily and the impending disaster kept alternating in my mind.

[Appearance of the Colossal Titan D-DAY]

'It's starting now.'

By now, Eren must have met Armin, just like in the original story.

That means the Titan invasion will start soon.

I came here to prepare for that. To greatly reduce the number of people who would be eaten by Titans from now on.

And to prevent my downfall as a female Titan.

I brought about fifty Military Police officers with me.

They were the elite troops of the Military Police, requested from my father, 'Darius Zackly.'

Their leader was none other than Nile Dok, who had been guarding me.

"Could you gather all the soldiers in this city for a moment?"

"Gather? What do you mean?"

Nile replied to my words. Well, that's understandable from his perspective.

Even though the Military Police's authority is stronger than the Garrison's, immediately gathering everyone is a highly illegal act. Depending on the situation, he might end up in jail.

But I thought differently.

My father, 'Darius Zackly,' dotes on me immensely.

Besides, considering Wall Maria, which will eventually fall no matter what, this isn't a high-risk action but rather a high-return boomerang.

Knowing the original story, I had to utilize it to achieve the best outcome.

"I'll take responsibility. So, let's do it."

Why did Shiganshina District fall in the original story?

'First, because there were too many Titans.'

'Second, because they had rusted in long peace.'

'Third, because they had no proper defense strategy.'

That's why I brought fifty Military Police officers.

For a proper defense strategy, that is, to use them as commanders to instruct the Garrison.

"So what are these explosives and Molotov cocktails for?"

"Those? Those are for the Military Police to use."

Nile Dok asked me with doubt. He still didn't know.

That the explosives and Molotov cocktails would be most useful in the upcoming defense battle.

'By all means, I will prevent my downfall as a female Titan.'

And that they would be the best weapon to prevent my downfall.

…At that moment, a quest window popped up, blocking part of my view.

[The Colossal Titan's attack begins!]

[People eaten by Titans 300 / 50,000]

[If you exceed 50,000 people at this time, you will be subjected to 'mm' as an adult.]

What the heck is 'mm.'

I didn't even want to think about what 'mm' was. But it was clear that if I didn't stop it, I'd be screwed.