The next day—
Eren retook the adaptability test. As expected, after switching to the belt Chen Si lent him, he passed with ease.
"Not bad, Eren," Chen Si praised him.
Eren looked at Mikasa and Chen Si excitedly, shouting inwardly: I finally don't have to rely on you anymore!
Keith Shadis removed Eren's belt and examined it. As if realizing something, he glanced at Chen Si and sighed inwardly.
Grisha… perhaps this child really can carry your hope.
As for the privileged trainee Polino—yesterday he had used his connections to avoid the test and even bragged loudly about it.
No surprise: he lasted less than a second in the air before crashing face-first to the ground. The entire field buzzed with ridicule and disdain.
Polino was expelled from the Training Corps.
"Carla, your son has become a soldier. His future is destined to be extraordinary."
Keith looked at the apron-wearing cook before him with complicated emotions. The Survey Corps was a path paved with death.
"No matter what, I'll always be proud of my child. Thank you, Keith," Carla replied with a warm smile.
Keith froze slightly. He couldn't help recalling the first time he met her at the tavern—and the first time she held baby Eren in her arms.
Noon. The mess hall.
"Why is today's lunch so amazing?!" Connie exclaimed, stuffing his face.
"It's so good! So good!" Sasha cried in delight—so excited she nearly shoved the bowl into her mouth whole.
Marco grabbed her cheeks in panic while Mikasa delivered a sharp chop to her back.
"Haven't you heard? There's a beautiful new cook today. Pretty and talented," Jean said with visible enthusiasm.
"Huh?" Eren froze mid-bite, a vague premonition dawning on him. He stuffed in a few more mouthfuls and bolted out the door.
Chen Si wiped his mouth and followed with Mikasa. Sasha and Connie exchanged a glance and sneaked after them.
"Mom!" Eren called out from afar, immediately spotting Carla's busy figure.
"Eren!" Carla embraced him warmly.
Chen Si and Mikasa arrived shortly after.
"Chen Si, Mikasa, you're here too. There's still some food left—come quickly!" Carla urged.
"Mom, why are you here? And as a cook?" Eren asked, confused.
"I was worried staying home alone. I asked Instructor Shadis if I could cook for you all, and he agreed," Carla said with a smile.
Chen Si couldn't help sighing inwardly. Shadis… you really are devoted. A position in the military kitchen was stable and rarely given to outsiders—he must have pulled strings.
"Mom!"
"Auntie!"
Two figures came running, eyes shining.
"Don't shout nonsense!" Connie smacked Sasha's head.
"Auntie! We're Eren's good friends! We get a share too, right?" Sasha pointed eagerly at the food.
Carla happily agreed. From then on, every mealtime turned into a chaotic "family reunion" outside the kitchen.
"Oh! Beautiful mother! Please serve me a little extra!" Jean declared dramatically.
"Hey! Jean! That's my mom!" Eren protested.
"Hey! Sasha! You already had seconds!"
"Hey!!! Reiner, even you?!"
Chen Si burst out laughing while Mikasa covered her mouth, smiling softly.
Nearby, Krista peeked over with wide, sparkling eyes. Sensing something, Chen Si turned—Historia quickly ducked away.
This girl… Chen Si shook his head. Sigh, too much charm is troublesome. I'm not some playboy… a harem wouldn't be appropriate. I'm a modern youth upholding proper values!
…Though maybe in this world it wouldn't matter?
"Krista, what are you doing?" Mina suddenly appeared behind her and glanced toward Chen Si and Mikasa.
"Oh~" Mina smiled knowingly.
"N-no! I just wanted to help Aunt Carla in the kitchen!" Krista flustered, face turning red.
"I didn't say anything," Mina teased.
Even without Ymir around, Krista's kindness and angelic appearance made her one of the most popular trainees.
Two years later. Year 850.
The 104th Training Corps had all turned fourteen. The final year of training began—the most important and most grueling year.
"Ow!" Eren fell from his horse yet again, bandages wrapped around his head and arms.
Mikasa, finishing a lap, quickly dismounted.
"Eren, are you okay? Maybe rest a bit," she said, worried he'd rattle his brains loose.
"Oh? Isn't that Eren? It's fine if you can't learn—just follow behind me later," Jean mocked as he trotted past.
"Damn it! If I fall behind in horsemanship, Jean's score will surpass mine!" Eren snapped stubbornly.
"Wait… hasn't Chen Si set off yet?" Eren asked.
From the stables came furious shouting.
"You damn horse! You don't listen, huh?!"
"Eren, sometimes my brother's just as stubborn as you," Mikasa sighed.
In truth, Chen Si could already ride. Several gentle horses were available—but he insisted on challenging the largest, most ill-tempered one that others had given up on.
"Chen Si! What are you doing?! Why haven't you started?! Do you plan to live with the horses?!" Shadis barked.
Fine. You forced my hand.
Chen Si's eyes flickered with blue light. Raising his hand toward the horse, arcs of electricity gathered in his palm.
"In the name of Zeus, god of thunder, I punish you, insolent beast! Today is your judgment!"
No one was around—his inner chuunibyou spirit burned brightly.
The horse trembled at the crackling sparks and quickly lowered its head, bending its front legs submissively.
The lightning faded. Chen Si exhaled deeply. He had no intention of killing it—he just wanted to scare it. Besides, why destroy his own property?
"From now on, I'll call you Grass Mud Horse," he said, patting it affectionately.
The horse neighed in protest.
A small electric arc snapped.
The horse fell silent.
Just as Chen Si mounted—
Ding. Congratulations, player. First time riding a horse in another world. Horsemanship Mastery acquired.
The long-absent system voice echoed in his mind.
"Hey! I thought you were one-time use! You've been here all along?!" he thought.
No response.
Still, Chen Si grinned. Great. No need to learn from scratch. He'd seen how miserably Eren was faring—and he didn't have Titan-level durability.
With mastery activated, riding felt as natural as a racing game.
He galloped across the field, drawing envious looks.
"Did he already know how to ride?" Jean muttered.
Even Mikasa urged her horse faster to keep up.
Eren grit his teeth and mounted again. This time, he stayed on.
Shadis nodded approvingly and made a note in his book under Chen Si's name:
Exceptionally gifted.
On the eve of graduation—the final day of training.
"Arlert! You're falling behind! Too heavy for you? Need me to let you drop your gear? If this were a real battlefield, you'd already be Titan feed!" Shadis lashed out at Armin.
He cracked his whip and rode off, adding:
"If you still can't keep up, report to the girls' dorm tonight!"
"Damn it…" Armin gritted his teeth but couldn't increase his speed.
"Give it to me," Reiner said, hoisting Armin's pack.
"You'll lose points if you're caught," Armin protested between breaths.
"Today's scored. Keep up before I change my mind," Reiner replied.
(If Chen Si had been there, he would've snatched the pack back—why let enemies build bonds? Unfortunately, they weren't on the same team.)
Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear practical training.
The moment Chen Si grasped the gear—
Ding. Congratulations, player. First use of ODM gear in another world. ODM Mastery acquired.
This equipment was extremely dangerous. Every year, trainees were severely injured—or killed—during training.
"Wow, Captain Levi cleared the forest in just 26 seconds!" trainees exclaimed around the ranking board.
And thus, the final year of the 104th moved steadily toward graduation.