Chapter 132 My Beautiful Wife 'Krista'

(A/N: This Is A Sneak Peek Chapter To Let You All Know I have started updating this fanfic on patreon as promised, if you like it please consider joining my patreon)

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"Captain, why don't we speed up? At this pace, we might have to spend the night in the woods when we reach the south!"

Armin, Eren, and Ryo were in the same team, along with Krista, Jean, Sasha, and a few others.

Mikasa, Reiner, and the rest had been assigned to a different team. Since Mikasa wasn't much of a talker, their captain was Reiner. The instructor seemed to have confidence in Reiner's leadership ability and had given him the position without hesitation.

"There's no need to rush. Even if we speed up and reach the southern woods, we still won't make it back today," Ryo said casually. "The round trip is over eighty kilometers, and the instructor didn't give us a map. If we take the wrong path, we'll just end up lost, wasting more time."

To Ryo, this was nothing more than a field exercise, so he wasn't particularly concerned about the pace.

On Reiner's side, the terrain was even more difficult. Their route was mountainous, with rugged, narrow paths, making it impossible to move quickly.

Ryo's team had to meet up with Reiner's team before heading back. No matter how fast they went, it wouldn't matter—they'd still have to wait.

"Eren, Armin, you two take charge for now. Keep heading south at this pace. Rest and replenish supplies in three hours. Just make sure we reach the woods before dark."

Being captain was dull. This route was desolate and free of danger, so Ryo saw no harm in taking a break. He had other plans—spending some time alone with Krista.

"Uh… Ryo, is that really okay?" Armin asked hesitantly. He could tell Ryo was looking for an excuse to slip away. Though things seemed peaceful now, something about this mission felt off. The instructor had hesitated before announcing it, as if there was something he wasn't telling them.

And then there was the gear—three-dimensional maneuvering devices and weapons. For a simple training exercise, why bring equipment meant for combat? Armin couldn't shake the feeling that this mission wasn't as simple as it seemed.

"It's fine. I know what I'm doing," Ryo assured him. "If anything happens, just look for my flare."

He patted the holster at his waist, where a flare gun was secured. He wasn't planning to stray too far, and if anything went wrong, they could easily signal each other.

"Alright… I understand," Armin said, giving up on convincing him. There was no changing Ryo's mind once he had decided on something.

Ryo hadn't had much time alone with Krista lately, so this was a rare opportunity. And with the others around, what was the worst that could happen?

"Let's keep moving!" Eren called out, waving them forward.

As the team continued south, Krista glanced at Ryo, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Aren't we going with them?"

Ryo grinned. "No need. They're slow. We'll catch up before dark."

They rode side by side, the breeze tousling Krista's golden hair. As the wind lifted her bangs, she self-consciously tucked them behind her ear, unaware that, in Ryo's eyes, the simple gesture was mesmerizing.

"Is there something on my face?" she asked shyly, lowering her gaze when she caught him staring.

Ryo chuckled. "No, I'm just admiring my beautiful wife."

Krista's face turned bright red. "W-Who's your wife? You're so shameless!" she huffed, spurring her horse forward to escape his teasing.

Ryo laughed and chased after her. "Whether you admit it or not, you're mine! Think you can run from me? No way!"

Krista giggled mischievously. "Then catch me if you can!"

They raced across the open plains, their laughter carried by the wind. Eventually, they arrived at a deep blue lake, where Krista reined in her horse and took in the view.

The lake stretched out before them, its surface shimmering under the fading sunlight. A lush grassland bordered the water's edge, the tranquil scene untouched by time.

Ryo dismounted and patted his horse's neck, letting it graze freely. The mounts were well-trained and would return at a whistle, so there was no need to worry.

Krista stepped closer to the water, spreading her arms as if embracing the vast beauty around her. "What a beautiful lake…" she murmured, her reflection rippling in the water.

Ryo watched her, feeling a pang of regret that he didn't have a camera to capture the moment.

"Yeah… it really is."

Stepping up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her gently against him. Krista tensed for a moment before relaxing into his warmth, her heartbeat quickening.

The quiet world around them faded, leaving just the two of them by the water's edge.

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