Chapter 20 Aftermath

"Ryo, are you okay? Are you not injured?"

When Krista appeared, she had already been bandaged by Eren and Armin. Despite her own injuries, she was worried about Ryo's condition.

After hearing the news that Ryo had returned safely, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, her focus shifted entirely to Ryo, showing her characteristic selfless concern.

"Haha, I'm fine, don't worry! Let me see!"

Ryo examined her injuries. The wound on her head was minor—a scrape near the hairline that wouldn't cause scarring. However, the injury to her leg appeared more severe, possibly involving a fractured bone. She wouldn't be able to walk for a while.

"Does it hurt?" Ryo gently stroked her face, his tone filled with concern.

"It doesn't hurt. If you're by my side, I won't feel any pain!" Krista replied, her voice soft and full of trust.

Ryo smiled and lightly tapped her nose. "You always say that. Does it really not hurt?"

Krista was trying to appear strong, but Ryo gently pressed on her wound to test her.

"Ouch, it hurts!" she gasped sharply, unable to hide her reaction.

"Really? Just now, you said it didn't hurt."

Ryo gave her a disapproving look. Krista pouted, clearly displeased with his teasing.

"Humph, that's because you pressed on my wound! Ryo, you're so mean!"

Krista's face was full of grievance. She had only tried to be brave so Ryo wouldn't worry, but now he had both exposed her and caused her pain.

"Haha, yes, yes, I'm so bad. If you don't admit that you're hurt, how else can I carry you back without excuse?"

Ryo laughed and scooped her up in his arms.

Krista's face turned red as she nestled against him, overwhelmed by a sense of happiness.

---

This giant attack brought a heavy cost to the training corps. A total of fifteen trainees were either dead or missing. For those classified as missing, their fate was grim—they'd likely been devoured, leaving no remains.

This loss, though proportionally small among over 200 trainees, sent shockwaves through the corps. Many recruits faced death and Titans for the first time, and the horror they witnessed was shattering.

As a result, training became more urgent and intense. For most, their primary goal became clear: to graduate among the top ten and join the Military Police Brigade.

The Military Police Brigade operated within the inner walls, far from the front lines and the Titans. For these young recruits, it represented safety and a life free of danger.

It was ironic—training hard to excel in combat skills, not to fight Titans but to avoid them. The Military Police Brigade seemed more concerned with protecting the comfort of the nobility than safeguarding humanity from the Titans.

---

Meanwhile, the mystery of how the Titan infiltrated had been solved.

"Is this the place?"

A group of investigators stood by the area, examining the ground. The footprint trail confirmed their suspicions.

"Judging by the tracks, the Titan came through here. Thankfully, there's only one exit, and it's been secured now."

The Titan had slipped in through the water gate. Between the Walls Maria, Rose, and Sina ran a network of canals used for transporting goods. Normally, water gates kept these canals secure, but when the Armored Titan attacked, the water gate on Wall Rose had been left damaged.

During the increased supply shipments from Wall Maria, the damaged gate was left open. This oversight created a vulnerability, which the Titan exploited to infiltrate.

The training corps camp was the closest location to the breach, leading directly to the recent tragedy.

Though only one Titan had entered, the consequences were devastating. Behind Wall Rose, panic spread among the residents. Many feared this could be the start of a larger attack.

For now, the canal had been sealed, and reinforcements patrolled the area. But this incident had left an indelible mark on the training corps and the recruits who survived.