Spring arrived in Shiganshina.
The trees that had stood bare through winter were once again covered in vibrant green leaves.
Children raced through the streets.
The smell of freshly baked bread drifted from the market.
To everyone else, it was just another peaceful day.
To Eren...
It was one less day before the end of that peace.
"Eren!"
A familiar voice called from behind.
He turned to see Hannes waving with a broad grin, a wooden crate balanced on one shoulder.
"There you are!"
Hannes was a member of the Garrison Regiment assigned to Shiganshina.
Despite his laid-back attitude—and his frequent visits to the tavern—he genuinely cared about the people inside the district.
Especially Carla’s family.
"Morning, Hannes."
"Morning?"
Hannes laughed.
"It’s nearly noon!"
Eren scratched the back of his head.
"I lost track of time."
"Thinking again?"
"...Maybe."
Hannes chuckled before placing the crate on the ground.
"Help me carry this to headquarters."
"As payment, I’ll buy you lunch."
Eren nodded.
"Deal."
The Garrison headquarters was modest compared to the imposing walls surrounding it.
Soldiers came and went, chatting casually while inspecting equipment.
Some sharpened blades.
Others repaired harnesses.
A few cleaned the steel cylinders used for vertical maneuvering equipment.
Eren slowed his pace.
This was the first time he had been this close to ODM gear since his rebirth.
His eyes naturally drifted toward the equipment.
One day...
His life would depend on mastering it.
"Ding."
New Side Mission
Observe the Soldiers
Objective:
Learn from experienced Garrison members.
Reward:
100 EXP
Skill Proficiency Bonus
Interesting.
The system wasn’t asking him to fight.
It wanted him to learn.
Eren liked that.
While Hannes spoke with another soldier, Eren quietly watched the maintenance process.
Every movement.
Every tool.
Every safety check.
Enhanced Memory captured everything.
One soldier noticed him staring.
"Interested?"
"A little."
The older man smiled.
"Curiosity is good."
He held up a steel cable.
"Most recruits think the blades are the important part."
"They’re wrong."
Eren listened carefully.
"If this cable snaps..."
The soldier tapped the launcher attached to his waist.
"...you’re dead."
Simple.
Blunt.
True.
He spent the next hour explaining how every component worked.
Not enough to use the equipment.
But enough to understand it.
"Ding."
Mission Complete
Reward:
Mechanical Understanding Lv.1
A warm sensation spread through Eren’s mind.
He instinctively understood basic maintenance principles.
How gears meshed.
How pulleys distributed force.
How tension affected movement.
Not enough to build ODM gear.
But enough to repair simple mechanisms.
"Useful."
Very useful.
On the way home, Hannes handed Eren a meat skewer.
"You’ve got sharp eyes."
"Hm?"
"You notice things most kids ignore."
Eren smiled awkwardly.
"I guess."
Hannes laughed.
"Keep that habit."
"It might save your life someday."
The words carried more weight than Hannes realized.
That evening, Eren visited his hidden warehouse.
Using the Builder’s Toolkit, he reinforced the entrance.
A loose floorboard became a concealed hatch.
Old crates were rearranged to hide the storage area completely.
Anyone entering would see nothing more than an abandoned building.
"Ding."
Safe Shelter
Progress Updated.
Security Rating:
C → B
Reward upon Completion Improved.
Excellent.
As he prepared to leave, he noticed movement outside.
Someone was approaching.
Eren extinguished his lantern and remained perfectly still.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Careful.
The warehouse door creaked open.
A familiar blonde-haired boy peeked inside.
"Armin?"
Armin blinked in surprise.
"Eren?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I..."
Armin scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"I wanted a quiet place to read."
Eren nearly laughed.
Of course.
Only Armin would search abandoned warehouses for a reading spot.
"I’ve been cleaning this place."
"I noticed."
Armin looked around with amazement.
"It looks much better."
"You can read here whenever you want."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Armin smiled brightly.
"Thanks."
As they sat together in silence, Eren realized something.
He had spent months preparing this place for survival.
But perhaps...
It could also become a place where precious memories were made.
A place worth protecting.
Days turned into weeks.
The countdown continued.
The hidden warehouse slowly filled.
His skills steadily improved.
His bonds with Armin, Mikasa, and Carla grew stronger.
Then, one quiet afternoon, the system appeared once again.
Unlike previous notifications...
Its frame was golden.
"Ding."
Main Story Preparation Mission
The Day Before the Storm
Objectives:
Emergency Supplies: 45%
Strength: 20
Agility: 20
Vitality: 20
First Aid Lv.2
Build Trust with Key Allies
Completion Reward:
Rare Gacha Ticket ×3
Mystery Item
Time Remaining:
240 Days.
Eren stared at the mission for a long moment.
Two hundred and forty days.
Less than a year.
For the first time...
The countdown no longer felt distant.
It felt close.
Dangerously close.
He closed the system and looked toward Wall Maria.
The massive structure stood as proudly as ever.
Unshakable.
Impenetrable.
Everyone believed it would protect them forever.
Eren knew better.
And every passing day...
He became more determined to be ready when that illusion finally shattered.