"I… passed?" Lock stopped in confusion, catching his breath.
The soldier beside him gave a nod of admiration. "The deputy commander said there's little point in testing you further. Your level's already proven."
"I see."
Lock exhaled slowly, steadied his breathing, and walked toward the rest area. As he sat, his eyes flicked up to the platform. Erwin Smith was watching him. When their gazes met, Erwin gave the faintest nod.
Lock returned it with a small smile.
Just then, among the crowd of onlookers, several familiar faces waved at him.
"Can I go over for a few minutes?" he asked the soldier nearby.
"Go ahead."
Lock headed straight toward them.
"How did you all get here?" he asked.
"Tch, don't flatter yourself," Uncle Harry snorted. "We came to watch the fun, not to see you."
Aunt Martha rolled her eyes at him. "Don't listen to this fool, Lock. We're here to cheer you on."
"Brother Lock, why'd you stop running?" Eren piped up curiously.
Armin and Mikasa stood quietly at his side, also waiting for an answer.
Lock chuckled. "I already passed the first test. No need to run circles just to prove it again."
"So cool!" Eren's eyes sparkled. Armin echoed the words with equal awe. Even Mikasa, usually indifferent to anyone but Eren, gave Lock a silent thumbs up.
Grisha offered quiet encouragement, though his gaze was thoughtful, almost heavy. Aunt Martha reminded him not to slack, while Harry puffed out his chest and acted unconcerned.
Lock only stayed a short while before returning to the rest area. From his bench, he studied the other recruits, watching their movements, their nerves, their determination.
Half an hour later, the first round finally ended.
Out of two hundred hopefuls, only a hundred remained. Those who passed were elated, those who failed hung their heads, enduring the weight of humiliation—and the comparisons whispered by the crowd. The older candidates, especially, felt the sting of being overshadowed by someone so young.
But soon all eyes turned to the center of the field, where a new challenge was being prepared. Soldiers dragged out a thick rope, nearly two fingers wide, and stretched it taut for a hundred meters between two posts.
Puzzled murmurs broke out.
"What's that for?"
"Don't ask, idiot. They want us to walk across it."
"Walking a rope that long? That's insane."
"No way all of us can do it…"
"Don't forget—only three slots in the end."
Lock grinned slightly. Of course. They're testing adaptability for vertical maneuver gear. Let's see how far I can push myself.
On the platform, Erwin stood. The moment he did, the restless whispers died down.
"First of all, congratulations on passing the opening trial," Erwin said, his voice firm and steady. "You've guessed the content of the second. Yes—it is exactly as you think."
He gestured to the rope. "The task is simple: cross it. Anyone who makes it to the other end passes. If no one succeeds, the three who travel the farthest will advance."
Gasps rippled through the recruits.
"Only three?"
"Then what about the third round?"
Erwin's gaze swept the group. "The final round is not a test of skill, but of background. We do not recruit criminals into the Survey Corps. If you've made it this far, I trust that won't be an issue."
The crowd fell into uneasy silence.
Lock, as the first to pass earlier, was called up first. All eyes tracked him as he approached the rope. His youth, his earlier performance, and his calm confidence made him stand out. Even Erwin seemed to study him more carefully.
Lock, for his part, was glad he hadn't tried to hide his ability. His chances were strong now. If all goes well, I'll secure my place—and maybe gain a chance to know the future leaders of the Corps.
Among the spectators, Eren fidgeted nervously. "Mikasa, Armin—do you think Lock can do it?"
"Of course," Armin answered without hesitation. He'd become Lock's little shadow ever since the alleyway incident. Mikasa gave her a quiet nod of agreement.
In the back, Karal and Martha clasped hands, praying silently that he would fail. They still couldn't bear the thought of him joining the dangerous Survey Corps.
Harry, though outwardly casual, couldn't hide his worry. Grisha's expression was the most conflicted of all. Ever since their late-night talk, he'd been plagued with the uneasy suspicion that Lock somehow knew more than he should.
But Lock was unaware of all this. Under the gaze of hundreds, he stepped up the wooden stairs, planted one foot firmly on the rope, and steadied himself.
The second trial had begun.