The snow had finally melted.
Warm sunlight bathed the streets of Shiganshina, replacing the bitter cold that had lingered throughout the winter.
Children laughed as they chased one another through the narrow roads.
Merchants shouted from their stalls.
Life continued exactly as it always had.
Peaceful.
Ordinary.
Fragile.
I stood atop the outer wall, staring at the endless grasslands beyond.
The world looked beautiful.
If someone had never seen a Titan before, they would believe paradise lay just beyond the gate.
Unfortunately...
I knew the truth.
"Eren!"
A familiar voice pulled me from my thoughts.
Armin climbed the stairs, breathing heavily.
"You came up here again."
I smiled.
"I like the view."
Armin walked beside me and leaned against the stone railing.
"I brought something."
He proudly held up an old notebook.
"I’ve started making maps."
Maps?
Curious, I opened the notebook.
Inside were hand-drawn sketches of Shiganshina.
The streets.
The warehouses.
The water wells.
Even the locations of supply depots.
My eyes widened.
This...
This was exactly what I needed.
"These are incredible."
Armin scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"You really think so?"
"They’re better than incredible."
Enhanced Memory immediately engraved every page into my mind.
In the future, evacuation routes would become priceless.
Armin had no idea how valuable his hobby truly was.
A system notification quietly appeared.
[Ding.]
Hidden Mission Completed.
Encourage Armin’s Dream.
Reward:
1 Common Gacha Ticket
50 Experience
I smiled inwardly.
The system wasn’t rewarding strength.
It was rewarding choices.
I preferred that.
Much more.
"Eren!"
Another voice echoed from below.
Mikasa.
She stood with her hands on her hips, looking mildly annoyed.
"Your mother is looking for you."
I sighed dramatically.
"Looks like our adventure is over."
Armin laughed.
"For today."
"For today."
...
Back at home, Carla had already prepared lunch.
The aroma filled the entire house.
For a brief moment...
I simply watched her.
She hummed softly while arranging the plates.
Completely unaware of the fate waiting for her.
Every smile she gave me made my determination stronger.
I would save her.
No matter the cost.
No matter what the story originally said.
That evening, after everyone had gone to bed, I used the Common Ticket.
The familiar wheel spun lazily before stopping.
[Ding.]
Reward Obtained.
Iron Stomach (Passive)
Description:
Reduces the chance of illness and improves recovery from spoiled food or contaminated water.
I blinked.
Then laughed quietly.
Not flashy.
Not powerful.
But useful.
Very useful.
During refugee life after Wall Maria fell, disease and starvation killed countless people.
This passive would help me endure those hardships.
The system truly planned for the future.
I appreciated that.
...
The following morning, I began a new routine.
Every day, I secretly stored a small amount of food.
A handful of dried beans.
Some preserved meat.
A bottle of clean water.
Nothing large enough for anyone to notice.
But over time...
The hidden stash beneath an abandoned shed slowly grew.
It wouldn’t feed a family forever.
But it might keep them alive long enough to escape.
As I buried another small sack beneath the loose floorboards, the system chimed once more.
[Ding.]
Preparation Mission Progress
Emergency Supplies
12%
Reward upon completion:
2 Rare Gacha Tickets
I brushed the dirt from my hands and smiled.
Good.
This was exactly the kind of mission I wanted.
No fighting.
No impossible battles.
Just careful preparation.
Because I had learned one lesson from my previous life.
Heroes didn’t survive through strength alone.
They survived because they prepared before everyone else.
Far beyond the walls...
A sixty-meter giant silently watched humanity from the distance.
Its appearance was still months away.
But destiny had already begun moving.
This time...
I intended to be ready before it arrived.