The crowd's whispers died down as Zachary leaned forward, his sharp eyes glinting beneath the chandeliers.
"Eren Yeager," he said, voice echoing through the marble hall, "I'll ask you once more—did your father inject you with the Titan potion?"
Eren hesitated only briefly. He had no idea what script the Survey Corps was following anymore, but he knew one thing for sure: defying them was suicide.
"No," he answered firmly.
"Look me in the eye, child," said Zachary, the Commander-in-Chief. His voice was low, commanding. "Repeat that answer."
Eren met his gaze squarely, his expression unwavering. "No. My father didn't inject me."
Zachary's eyes narrowed. "Then tell me—are you willing to swear to all mankind, in the name of your mother and your deceased father, that you are one hundred percent human?"
The chamber went silent again.
Even Hange stopped fidgeting. Erwin's fingers twitched at his side.
"Yes," Eren said clearly. "I swear in the name of my mother, Carla Yeager, and my late father, Grisha Yeager, that I, Eren Yeager, am absolutely a human being."
The commander stared at him for several long seconds, weighing every twitch of his expression.
Finally, Zachary nodded. "Very well. I'll believe that you are human—for now." He straightened his back and addressed the crowd. "Remember this oath! You swore before your king, your comrades, and the people! If you ever betray mankind, every witness here will have the right to condemn you and nail you to the pillar of shame for eternity!"
The audience roared in approval.
No one noticed the faint, crooked smile tugging at the corner of Eren's lips.
A smile that didn't belong to a frightened child.
Believe what you want, he thought coldly. Humans, Titans—what difference does it make?
"Now then," Zachary continued, "did your brother kill your father in order to save you?"
Eren froze.
Every eye turned to him again.
He glanced toward Zeke, still kneeling at the center of the courtroom, his head hanging under the weight of the anesthesia.
Zeke's eyes, half-lidded, met his for just a heartbeat—wordless, calm.
He was shouldering everything, Eren realized. Taking every sin for himself.
And suddenly, Hange's words came back to him: 'Whatever happens today, we'll protect you all—so long as you don't cause trouble.'
Don't transform. Don't rebel. Just play along.
Eren took a breath. "I'm sorry," he said at last. "I don't remember much about that day."
A shocked murmur ran through the room.
Before the tension could spiral, Erwin stepped forward smoothly. "The child was traumatized that day," he explained quickly. "He remembers little, and I've already noted this in our report, Commander."
"Hmm… yes, that's right," said Zachary, nodding as he rifled through the documents. "Then let us proceed on that basis. According to the joint report from the Survey Corps and the Garrison, there was only one Titan present in the forest that day—the Beast Titan. No other humans or Titans were seen."
Erwin nodded. "That is correct."
Zachary slammed the folder shut. "Then it is provisionally determined that Zeke Yeager slew his father out of necessity—to protect his younger brother."
Erwin exhaled quietly. "Yes, Commander. I request leniency on his behalf."
He raised his head, his voice taking on the full weight of a commander's conviction.
"Your Majesty, Commander-in-Chief—Zeke Yeager's existence holds extraordinary strategic value to humanity's counteroffensive against the Titans. When human strength fails, the power of a Titan wielder can still prevail.
On the night Shiganshina fell, you all witnessed how Zeke's transformation turned the tide. Had he not fought with his life against the Colossal and Armored Titans, Wall Maria would have fallen—and the catastrophe of the Shiganshina District would have repeated across every territory inside the wall.
I implore you—spare his life. Place him under the strict custody of the Survey Corps, and allow us to use his strength for the sake of mankind!"
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air.
Then—
"Let him live?!" someone shouted.
"Are you insane? He eats people!"
"What if he transforms and devours us all right here?!"
"He's a monster!"
The chamber erupted into chaos.
Dozens of civilians jumped to their feet, shouting over one another. The nobles on the sides fanned themselves, their faces twisting in disgust.
"Typical Survey Corps," sneered a rotund nobleman. "They can't defeat the Titans, so now they're crawling to them for help!"
"Indeed!" another noble chimed in. "We have our walls! As long as Wall Sina stands, who cares what happens outside? Are you really suggesting we rely on monsters to defend us?"
The din rose higher and higher, the entire courtroom swelling with outrage and fear.
Eren clenched his fists at his sides.
He could see Erwin standing tall, unflinching amid the noise.
He could see Hange's jaw tight with frustration, Levi's hand resting quietly on his sword.
And in the center of it all, Zeke, motionless, head bowed.
This is humanity, Eren thought bitterly. Terrified, selfish, loud.
If this was what the Survey Corps wanted to protect—maybe his brother wasn't wrong after all.