"If you really don't feel like it, you can return it after the reclamation battle."
Ye-hyeon said softly.
"But during the reclamation battle, hold onto it yourself."
I hesitated before extending my hand.
Everyone in the barracks turned their gazes toward my hand, where they lingered. The hand I held out trembled faintly. I tried to control the shaking as I accepted the sword.
My sword.
I moved my trembling hand to slowly unwrap the cloth.
The sharp scent of tal filled the air.
As I looked at the long blade, sothing welled up inside .
I barely managed to compose my expression.
"Yes."
It was hard to say more.
"I'll return it after everything's over."
Ye-hyeon looked at with a strange expression.
I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Not that I particularly wanted to know.
Anyway, now wasn't the ti to get lost in sentint, so I placed the sword on my lap and straightened my posture.
I suppressed the churning feeling inside . I pretended not to notice the seniors' intense stares fixed on .
Fortunately, Ye-hyeon quickly shifted the atmosphere with a businesslike tone.
"Let's begin."
At his husky voice, the seniors adjusted their postures.
"You all probably know the reclamation battle process well, but since Hilde is here, I'll explain it once more."
Sorry about that.
Thinking this, I took in the image that appeared on the panel in the barracks.
Ye-hyeon showed the appropriate footage and explained the reclamation battle process in detail.
It was a clear and concise explanation.
The core of the reclamation battle was protecting the core devices.
When the reclamation battle began, the Breath surrounding the Center Core and Core 24 opened. Imdiately after, a new Breath ford, encompassing the Center Core and Core 24. The key to the reclamation battle was defending the designated zone until this new Breath completed safely.
The top priority was safely protecting the core devices that created the new core.
The next goal was to prevent creature territorial incursions.
The larger the repaired area, the longer it took to complete the new Breath. This ti, it was estimated to take 8 hours for the new Breath to form.
In other words, they had to defend the core devices and the core for 8 hours.
The footage showed the core devices installed in various places.
Ye-hyeon narrowed his eyes as he took in the colorful images, then turned his head.
"Ska will command the defense."
People waited for what ca next.
"We'll take on the Titans."
His tone was as casual as if he were explaining the evening nu.
"Their leader is coming."
My stomach tightened.
And at that mont, Kyle's presence suddenly pressed in. It was a ghostly shift. A sensation hard to describe made aware of Kyle's existence. He was definitely approaching this way. He was not yet close enough to gauge the exact distance.
I couldn't pinpoint the direction of his footsteps or where his gaze might fall.
But anyway, he was getting closer.
I took a deep breath.
"How did you know?"
"The dia departnt worked hard on it."
Ye-hyeon answered emotionlessly, then smiled faintly.
"It seems you're sensing it now too? After the reclamation battle, we should give the dia departnt a bonus."
"Yes. He's coming."
"We should go greet him."
The superior said.
"We'll head outside the walls."
It was a strategy to strike the leader directly.
It wasn't entirely inefficient. Especially now that Kyle's skills had deteriorated as much as mine. If Kyle had his peak strength, it would have been like walking into a trap, but strangely, his abilities had rusted just like mine.
If we could push hard enough, my kin would commit forces to protect Kyle.
It was similar to how Ye-hyeon going out ant we'd sent out our king too...
"Can you sense who's around him?"
I answered the expected question straightforwardly.
"There are three strong ones with him. He's approaching with a herd of creatures in front. He's keeping so distance from the creature frontline."
"What a strange sensation. We can sense each other, so no surprises or ambushes possible."
Even as he said this, Ye-hyeon didn't erase the faint smile on his lips.
It was an uncharacteristically cold and businesslike smile.
"So we'll bring unmanned aerial vehicles with us."
He tapped the table with his white finger.
"They have no life, so they won't be detected. Our goal is to push the Titan leader and force a retreat."
The overall explanation ca later. When the ti ca, we'd jump over the walls and board the vehicles outside to move. The first objective was to lure Kyle to the desired location. So we could choose the battlefield where the fight would take place.
"We can't know if it'll go that smoothly, but anyway, they hate you intensely."
"Yes. That's why he's coming personally."
He'd always been the type to stand on the front lines.
But now, sitting as the leader of my kin, marching directly into enemy territory fully prepared was far from wise. He must have known it was surrounded by walls. He knew better than anyone that sieges weren't easy.
Yet he couldn't miss the chance to see my face.
Kyle's boiling hatred was palpable, like I could touch it with my hand.
Feeling his emotions heat to the bursting point, I chuckled softly.
"Luring him to the desired spot doesn't seem too difficult."
"Good news. It'd be great if we could eliminate him like this, but there's probably at least one sane one among those with him."
I nodded quietly.
I could sense Hecate's presence too. She was probably as heated as Kyle, wanting to kill . But Sequoia beside her would keep her cool to the end.
Ah...
Too many familiar nas.
"How many Titans are approaching?"
"Four including Kyle. The number of creatures is uncountable."
"Assu we'll handle those four."
There was no emotion in his husky voice.
"We depart at dawn."
That was it.
Ye-hyeon didn't specify the exact departure ti. It would depend on Kyle's speed.
No one asked further questions. The seniors, experienced through multiple reclamation battles, quietly accepted the orders.
They responded with a crisp "Yes" to the instruction to rest until the ti ca.
After that, the supre commander released the Task Force freely.
With a reminder to get plenty of sleep for the long battle ahead, he quickly left the barracks.
Naturally, I was called out separately.
*
Kyle. Hecate. Sequoia. Sion.
Among them, only Sion was unfamiliar. When I crossed to Earth, I brought kin I didn't know about. It was natural, having gathered the survivors and brought them tightly together.
Kin who escaped the collapsing world.
While living with them on Earth, I eventually morized their nas and faces. But I hadn't ford deep bonds with all of them. Sion was one of those distant connections—a kin whose na and face I knew, but not much else.
On the other hand, I had so connection with Sequoia.
She was an outstanding summoner.
"That ans he won't attack directly himself."
I was relaying to the seniors what I'd told Ye-hyeon.
People sat in chairs, staring at intently.
We'd just had lunch. After devouring barbecue, they gathered back in the barracks with drinks in hand. In a few hours, they'd face Titans directly. The more they knew about the enemy, the better.
I wet my parched throat with water and continued.
"He'll attack using the creatures he's commanding. That might actually make it easier to respond. You probably know how to handle most creatures."
"So that's why specific creatures have been targeting Hilde all this ti."
"Yes. Oh, and Sequoia rarely loses her composure. She's the opposite of Hecate."
I briefly explained about Hecate.
No need for details. The seniors had encountered her once. On the day I reunited with her, they'd seen so of her techniques.
Later, Joo provided footage, and they'd all watched it.
Anyway, after the brief explanation, the four seniors nodded.
After finishing my explanation of the three kin, I let out a long breath.
Then I slowly added,
"I'll keep handling Kyle."
He'd only attack anyway.
"Our skills are probably evenly matched."
No one replied.
I didn't try to break the ensuing silence. In fact, I was grateful for the mont when no one spoke to . So many things had happened suddenly that my chest felt stuffy. Diving deep into each one felt like it would make burst.
But I couldn't let my mind wander.
Not until the reclamation battle ended.
"You okay not drawing the sword yet?"
Ami spoke to as I gripped my knee tightly.
The senior watched intently with her round eyes.
I smiled faintly at her.
"When the ti cos, I'll draw it properly. I've steeled myself, so no need to worry."
"Yeah."
"Have you prepared yourself to strike kin?"
Kal asked.
His deep blue eyes looked straight at . He'd asked sothing similar when he heard the truth from . What a fine soldier.
I let out a small laugh silently in admiration.
Then, I answered with sincerity.
"If I could, I'd kill all four with my own hands."
Even if they killed my kin, I wouldn't resent or hate the seniors for it.
Truth be told, I didn't want to see kin die by human hands.
Of course, I knew that was asking too much.
"When the ti cos, I'll be too busy facing Kyle to look away."
"We'll support you properly, so don't lose~..."
Ricardo suddenly spoke, breaking his silence.
He was watching closely, arms crossed and leaning back against the chair.
The snake-shaped ring on his right hand reflected the light bulb's glow.
Taking in that light, I nodded without erasing my smile.
"Yes."
People stared intently at my smile.
I didn't bother figuring out what their strange expressions ant. I was trying not to think too deeply. Thinking deeply wouldn't change anything. What I needed to do now was convey as much information as possible to my comrades, warm up, and rest sufficiently.
I'd done the first two, so now for the last one.
I focused only on what was in front of .
I slowly rose from the chair.
"I'll go rest now."
Their gazes didn't leave .
Brushing off those gazes as best I could, I walked out of the barracks.
I felt deeply relieved that no one tried to stop as I left.
*
Dawn.
While gauging the distance to Kyle inside the container, Ye-hyeon's voice ca.
"Hilde."
The door opened, revealing his handso face.
"Ti to depart."
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