Chapter 422: Eren – Coach Jiraiya, I Want to Be a Player!
"How do you know about vertical maneuvering gear?"
Eren was puzzled.
According to the information given by the Reincarnation Game, the scruffy white-haired man before him should be from another world.
Could this gear also exist there?
"You should be able to open the shop too, right?"
Jiraiya showed him how to access the player interface.
In an instant,
the shop window popped open.
Eren stared at the suddenly appearing screen in shock.
"You can actually buy vertical maneuvering gear?!"
[Vertical Maneuvering Gear (Low-Grade)]: A basic mechanical device capable of firing cables and grappling hooks, allowing humans to fight Titans to a certain degree. Price: 500 Yellow Springs Points.
This kind of tech was strictly forbidden knowledge,
prohibited from civilian use by royal decree and the military.
Only soldiers from the Military Police, Survey Corps, and Garrison Corps were allowed access to it.
"Titan bloodline… can transform into a Titan?"
"Humans can turn into Titans? That's impossible…"
Looking at the Titan transformation potions listed in the shop,
Eren became even more confused, like he was reading ancient scripture.
Jiraiya ruffled his hair and smiled.
"You'll get used to it. I was stunned too the first time I encountered the Reincarnation Game!"
The implication being:
these game items were absolutely real.
"Right now, we're comrades, fighting side by side, Eren."
As the countdown ended and the protective barrier faded, Jiraiya took a deep breath.
"First, tell me everything you know about Titans and your world."
Eren's blood boiled as he listened to the old man's words.
He suppressed his fear of death.
His original dream had been to join the Survey Corps,
to become one of the soldiers exploring the world beyond the walls, carrying the Wings of Freedom.
This time, he would protect his mother, Mikasa, and Armin—no matter what.
Buzz.
The barrier vanished.
Mikasa looked curiously at Eren, now standing beside a white-haired stranger.
"Eren, who is this?"
She had never heard of Eren having any friends besides her and Armin.
Eren gave an awkward smile.
"Distant relative. Came all the way from another district to find me…"
"Mikasa, can I ask you for a favor?"
"Of course."
"Can you buy a basket of apples for me? From the shop at the base of Wall Rose. Bring Armin too."
Eren wanted to hide the truth from his friends and lure them to the gate closest to Wall Rose.
If the mission failed, they could at least escape to the inner ring.
"That's weird. I thought you hated apples?"
"Please, Mikasa!"
He forced a laugh.
No one would believe the truth about the Reincarnation Game. They'd just think he was crazy.
Then—
He used the same excuse to get his mother to the edge of Wall Rose,
and led Jiraiya to the base of the soon-to-be-breached Wall Maria.
"This is the spot?"
Jiraiya touched the thick wall.
"It's solid, but you're saying a Colossal Titan can kick it open?"
Even a Chunin would need half a day to break through something this thick.
Sure, a Chunin could fire powerful jutsu—
but it'd take a dozen strikes in the same spot, and they'd need chakra recovery.
So the Colossal Titan's strength must rival a Jonin's physical power.
Of course—
from Eren's description, it was strong in power and durability,
but average in agility.
Otherwise, casualties would be even higher.
"Can we get to the wall's inner walkway before the attack?"
Jiraiya wanted to prepare defenses, to minimize the damage to Wall Maria.
"No."
Eren shook his head.
"The wall is sacred. Civilians can't approach.
Only Garrison soldiers tasked with maintenance and repair are allowed up."
Any civilian caught climbing it could be thrown in prison.
"Leave it to me."
Jiraiya smirked and opened the shop.
He bought two Garrison uniforms—
they appeared out of thin air.
He had about 5,000 Yellow Springs Points. Each uniform cost 200—not cheap.
But for the sake of the mission, it was worth it. Items would reset after the quest anyway.
Eren twitched.
"Old man, Garrison soldiers are all familiar faces. Two uniforms aren't enough to fool them."
But Jiraiya simply tossed him the clothes and began changing.
The moment he touched the uniform,
a game notification popped up.
[Garrison Uniform]: In non-combat situations, perfectly disguises the wearer as a Garrison soldier. Price: 200 Contribution Points.
"Perfect disguise?"
Eren put it on skeptically. He didn't feel any different.
But seeing the old man already climbing the wall steps,
he had no choice but to follow.
"Captain!"
As Eren trembled with fear,
a group of repair soldiers passed by and saluted Jiraiya.
Eren's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
Are these really the arrogant Garrison guys I know?
Sure, these were the rejects who couldn't get into the Military Police and ended up here.
But they still acted superior toward civilians.
"My uniform's captain-grade. Cost me 300 more points than yours."
Jiraiya whispered and waved the soldiers away.
"Old man… what exactly are you planning?"
Eren trailed behind, confused.
Was he really going to try and stop the Colossal Titan from the wall?
Eren had seen it up close.
Facing a Titan with human power was suicide.
"We need to find the Survey Corps and Military Police—ask for help!"
"Naive!"
Jiraiya shook his head.
"You really think the Military Police will believe you?
A bunch of pampered sheep who haven't seen a Titan in centuries?"
Eren gritted his teeth.
"Then what do we do?"
More than anything, he wanted to protect Wall Maria—
to stop it from being shattered, to prevent the bloodbath that would follow.
He had sworn to drive the Titans out.
"You said… the weak point is the nape of the neck?"
"If you cut it, they die?"
Jiraiya stepped to the edge of the wall,
then jumped off.
He slid down the stone using the cracks as handholds,
landing outside the protection of the wall.
Eren's heart nearly stopped.
Not far away, Titans wandered aimlessly.
One sound, and they'd pounce like bloodthirsty cats.
Dangerous!
Eren opened his mouth in a silent scream.
But he saw Jiraiya mouth the words:
"If Wall Maria is doomed to fall… then let's blow it up first."
[Black Powder]: Explosives from the Titan World. Price: 1 Point each.
A pile of 500 units now sat at the wall's base,
looking like supplies abandoned in haste.
"You're going to blow up Wall Maria?"
Eren asked with a trembling voice.
Jiraiya nodded—then shook his head.
"Not the wall.
I'm going to blow up the Colossal Titan."
"You're crazy!"
Eren grabbed his collar.
"I told you—Titans don't care about pain!
This won't work! Their only weakness is—"
"The nape. I know!"
"But we need the Survey Corps and their gear—"
Before he could finish,
Jiraiya calmly spent 3,500 points to buy the highest-tier [Vertical Maneuvering Gear]
and [Gear Mastery Lv. Max].
With a steady voice, he declared,
"Now I'm the strongest soldier of all three military branches."
"Eren, you brat!"
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