sapewloth

[sapewloth]

In reference to great meta writers

Something I've been gradually learning since joining Tumblr a few months back is that no matter how grammatically correct, no matter how often they hit the nail on the head with predictions, no matter how good they are at crafting and explaining their opinions or narratives, meta writers can and will make mistakes. They don't always have the answer (even though they might sometimes act like their opinion is an undeniable fact.)

I bring this up because I used to treat their writings regarding SnK as factual or something to base my own opinions on. It's not and shouldn't be used that way. The fact is that the manga is nearing completion. Anxiety is definitely increasing in the fandom as each chapter is released because certain character's povs STILL haven't been shown. We still know absolutely nothing on their thought process. It's frustrating getting pieces of the puzzle but never getting enough to finally complete it.

I guess my point in writing this is if there's anyone else out there who is desperately trying to find the answer by asking writers here (or anywhere else) you're not going to get facts, you're going to get speculations and theories. That's fine. Don't be like me and take it too seriously. Have fun theorizing and having discussions with different people.

[sapewloth]

TEXT: Historia’s Oath

for @reiku and @momtaku

Disclaimers for mistakes and misinterpretation, also please do not repost anywhere else, thank you! :)

Afficher davantage

[sapewloth]

Would be pretty hypocritical of Eren to be this revolted about Ymir's story when he pulled the same shit with Historia then, don't you think? Even if "she agreed", that's a King Fritz tier move that kinda puts a massive damper on Eren's struggle for freedom as well as Historia's own development for the sake of a plan that might not even require the existence of this pregnancy.

I also have a hard time imagining Zeke relying on a forced pregnancy of all things when he had not just his wine which had been circulating for years but is also a firm anti-natalist whose entire endgoal revolves around stopping Eldian childbirths altogether. In fact, that would be completely inconsistent with and contradictory to his character and motives.

Lastly, it would make even less sense for Zeke to act like he has no idea whether Eren is on board with the euthanasia plan when they meet in Marley and not just ask for his honest opinion, but also be mentally prepared for his refusal if he already got him to something as dodgy as getting the Queen pregnant for the sake of that plan/for his safety:

Now, and this is completely divorced from any baby daddy debate (because it's pretty obvious that what rustles everyone's jimmies isn't so much the nebulous circumstances of this pregnancy but rather the identity of the child's father), I know it's easier to just stick to what we're being told because we think it makes sense at the moment we receive the information. But in a manga as a whole and in an arc where there has been no shortage of lies, deceptions, biased and incomplete information, obscured points of view (in particular the POVs of two characters who just so happened to be directly involved in this weird pregnancy business) and misdirections, I don't think it's a good idea to be so eager on maintaining that way of reading or processing the story's content without being willing to put it under closer scrutiny (possibly because one doesn't want to nor feels like this particular plot point deserves to be examined beyond the surface level and second hand information provided to them).

It's been a whole ass year, and the only substantial elements we have on this pregnancy are a background check and the speculations of a fatso belonging to an army corps that's been portrayed more often than not as complacent, idiotic (thanks Floche for calling 'em out), negligent and generally lacking in competency, and who was actually busy getting drunk on the wine that destroyed his government and got him killed/titanized less than a dozen of chapters later. It's been a whole ass year, and neither Historia nor Eren were given a voice on this matter.

I'm ready for any outcome, but as far as I'm concerned, we still don't actually know what's up with this pregnancy at all.

I’m sorry but it’s so fucking clear farmer boy is the real dad. There is no mystery to solve here. Just y’all being dramatic benches.

See, even in the MP’s speculation, we see the hooded figure observing from afar, suggesting they were the informant, not the person Historia got physical with. The MP even point out how Historia didn’t know about them wanting to feed Zeke to her, but that “someone told her the truth”, which is clearly pointing towards the hooded figure. 

We all know that hooded figure is Eren, so there you go. Eren was involved in orchestrating the pregnancy plan, but not the actual physical process, as this illustration is clearly showing. The narrative has made it so bloody clear time and time again that Historia getting pregnant was to prevent Zeke from being eaten and her from being titanized. 

It’s not a passionate romance. It’s not a fake pregnancy. It’s just Historia working with Eren to make sure Zeke could live long enough for them to make contact, so the father’s identity really never mattered. She’s the Queen, and pretty. It’s not that hard for her to trick a random guy into sleeping with her so she could get pregnant and save the world. Get over it. 

[sapewloth]

It is unfortunate that the phrasing makes this sound like a rather immature ship war comment, but I’ll assume that ‘Historia’ here means ‘Eren’s vision of the future as represented by Historia’s hand’. 

I usually try to remain as neutral as possible while reading meta but in the particular case of linkspooky’s “Eren the Slave”, I had this vague and unpleasant feeling all the way through that there was some clear bias hidden behind their words but which I couldn’t quite accurately identify. And that’s actually when I got to the part you adress in the bit I quoted that the pieces started falling into place, and incidentally when I understood why the Uprising arc was completely ommitted in their analysis despite being commonly acknowledged by readers as pivotal to Eren’s growth:

Mikasa symbolizes what Eren really wants, a future, to be enough for someone, to be accepted. Historia symbolizes what Eren thinks he wants, power and control. 

I wouldn’t be so kind as to give the author the benefit of the doubt the way you did and assume what’s written above wasn’t a blatantly shipping-oriented argument when there’s hardly any other way this could have been interpreted, regardless of how poor the wording may be.

As I mentioned earlier, when you get to this part, the Uprising arc being not just partly but entirely ignored no longer comes off as a critcial oversight but as a perfectly conscious and calculated choice. Not just because the arc showcases the very character progression the author claims Eren never experienced, but also because of the crucial part a certain blonde midget has played in said progression.

Anyway, done with my rant. Your response was insightful as always!

Eren the Free, Part 2: Response to linkspooky’s ‘Eren the Slave’

Continuing from where we left off:

Afficher davantage

[sapewloth]

"Too often we breathe freedom and justice in the same sentence as generic goods, as if they were at all compatible. But a wild beast is free not because it is just but because it does what it wills. When the cat tortures a doormouse, it is free. When the lion tears the head off a gazelle, it is free. When the chimpanzee cannibalises its young, it is free."

This right here is true on every possible level in regards to Eren's actions, and I have no idea whether you knew about when you wrote that response, but this is exactly the "dilemma" that was written on his wall in the final exhibition:

Was it justice or liberty that he sacrificed?

So yeah, great fucking analysis.

Eren Jaeger - Who Freer than the Tyrant?

It seems just about everyone wants to think Eren is a slave.

Mikasa wanted to,

Armin wanted to,

Zeke wanted to,

And the fandom wants to.

Eren is a slave to his inherited memories, Eren is a slave to the Attack Titan, Eren is a slave to his vision of the future, Eren is a slave to his dreams, and Eren is a slave to himself. By the logic of that last part freedom is so inherently impossible that the entire concept becomes redundant. If you’re a slave to your own Will, then that means you are not your Will - and if you are not your Will, what are you?

That’s a can of worms for someone who gets a paycheck to open. But I digress. The point is that a lot of people really don’t want Eren to be free. Because, well, look at him. He’s so different now.

He’s doing terrible things. He hurt his friends, manipulated his family, murdered children and now seemingly wants to commit genocide. How can that be free?

To that I say: what does morality have to do with freedom?

Too often we breathe freedom and justice in the same sentence as generic goods, as if they were at all compatible. But a wild beast is free not because it is just but because it does what it wills. When the cat tortures a doormouse, it is free. When the lion tears the head off a gazelle, it is free. When the chimpanzee cannibalises its young, it is free.

The argument that ‘because Eren is depriving others of freedom, he doesn’t really care about freedom’ speaks to me of a failure to thoroughly investigate what freedom actually entails. The Oxford English Dictionary defines freedom as:

“the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants.”

So freedom is two things:

Individual (’as one wants’)

And:

A functionary of power (’the power or right’, the latter essentially being a guaranteed power)

So freedom is the power of the individual to do as one wants. When you do something, you are imposing your internal desires onto the external world. If freedom is thus the power to impose your individual Will onto the outside world, then whoever has more power has more freedom.

Then who freer than the tyrant?

Afficher davantage

[sapewloth]

Best picture xD

Congrats for the award AOT

[sapewloth]

Since world domination arc is around the corner here’s some spoilers without context:

[sapewloth]

The last bit about how Zeke shouldn't want Historia to be pregnant is something I've been thinking about too. It actually makes me question whether the pregnancy really happened for any of the reasons speculated by the MPs in chapter 108 and by the fanbase thus far. Zeke would need to have his safety guaranteed when he arrives on Paradis in order to put his plan in motion, but wasn't the poisoned wine precisely supposed to be that insurance, which he could have used to pressure the military into keeping him alive when push came to shove? I'd go as far as to ask: does Zeke even know that Historia is expecting an heir?

Also where does Yelena stand in all of this mess: is she aware of Zeke's real Eldian euthanasia plan or does she believe her idol just wants to crush the bad bad Marleyans? What exactly did she tell Eren 10 months ago? When will we get that damn ceremony flashback already? Eren and Historia's POVs are sorely needed. Ugh, my head hurts...

Anyways, great chapter and excellent analysis, as per usual.

SnK 114 Thoughts

This is going to be done a little differently than my usual chapter posts, because I can. Or I guess a nerve got struck or something, who can say.

Attack on Titan is about humans and monsters.

It’s about the monsters humanity faces, and the monsters that humans can become.

It’s about fighting those monsters at both ends.

It depicts this fight as never-ending. You might not see the end. Your children might not see the end. Your grandchildren might not see the end. But for the generation that does see the end, for time that you’re here, you’ll play your part.

If you beat down one monster, another will take its place.

If you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, you’ll be the monster.

There is too much wrong in this world for it to ever be right.

Afficher davantage

[sapewloth]

It might be the best fucking spoiler week ever, not even joking.

[sapewloth]

Fate and Curse

[sapewloth]

Reblogging this just because that level of dedication is out of this world.

@ anons: Please allow me to reply multiple asks at once, I don’t want to repeat my thoughts by replying similar asks. This is the first part, I only talk about what is shown in this image. I’ll reply other things in next post(s).

Afficher davantage

[sapewloth]

When you have to infiltrate Paradis

[sapewloth]

Helps a ton, thanks again! Everyone please read this!

Shingeki No Kyojin Smartpass AU : Some Stories of Determination vol. 1 (Eren Jaeger)

So, a new side story titled (”Tell me a Story : Some Stories of Determination”) came out on the 31st August. Since I didn’t find the raws or the translation anywhere on tumblr I figured I would post the raws here along with a rough translation by yours truly.  My japanese isn’t that good though, so if anyone who’s more fluent stumbles upon this post, be free to re-translate it properly. I just want a maximum amount of people to have access to this story since I think it’s really good and actually foreshadows some recent events and character motivations/relationships in the manga.

Raws:

世界は、嘘と虚構でできていた。ねじまげられた歴史のせいで、多くの人が犠牲になった。

　子供たちがこれから学ぶのは、世界の真実と未来の物語。

だから、語り継いでいこう。

　今まで起きたすべてと、心に秘めた決意のことを。

　壁に囲まれた、小さな世界。その片隅に、牧場を改装した孤児院がある。

　そこで慎ましやかに「先生」として生きている少女ヒストリアに、子供たちが声をかけた

「ねえ、ヒストリア先生。エレンってやつ、本当に巨人になれるの？」

「僕、知ってるよ。オルブド区では巨人になって、街の人を守ったんだって！」

「うそだあ。あいつ、手伝いもしないで、ボーッとしてるの、おれ見たもん」

　男の子たちがうわさをする横で、小さな女の子がヒストリアの手を掴んだ。

「……巨人のエレンは、誰かを食べるの？」

　声はわずかに震えている。無理もない。巨人といえば、人を食らって殺す絶対悪だと、この壁の中の人間はみなそう思っていた。

「彼は人を食べたりしないの。巨人の力で、戦ってくれるんだよ」

　そうなのかな、頼りになるのかな、無邪気な声。

「少しボーッとしてるかも。だけど、信じてあげてね」

　おだやかに笑って、ヒストリアは遠く南の空を見上げた。

「へえ……子供たちが、そんな話を」

��孤児院には、ヒストリアと同期で兵士になった者たちが手伝いに訪れる。

子供たちが寝静まったあと、彼らと簡素な夜食をとりながら、彼女は昼間にあったことを話して聞かせた。

「オレは……『みんなを守って戦ってくれる良い巨人』ってことになってるのか」

　話の張本人は、どこか戸惑った様子だ。

「それ以外にどう説明するってんだ。あてにならないヤツだと思われちゃ、兵団全員が困るんだよ」

　憎まれ口のようでいて、大局を見据えたジャンの発言に、ヒストリアはうなずく。少しだけ、エレンに申し訳なさそうに。

「エレンのこと、疑ってほしくなかったから。背負わせてごめんね」

　孤児院の「先生」としてのヒストリアは、エレンを調査兵団の兵器、人類を守る英雄として紹介した。それは、いまの壁の中を治める女王として必要な判断だ。

「……わかってるよ」

　エレンもそれは重々承知しているようで、しかし、どこか納得のいかない顔だった。

　夜更け

　何かと用事の多いアルミンが宿舎に戻ると、エレンはまだ起きていた。

「ヒストリアの話を気にしてるの？」

　幼馴染の表情から、ただならぬものを感じる。ままならない世の中への、怒りにも似た、やり場のない感情。

「オレは英雄なんかじゃねえよ」

「そんなの、みんな知ってるよ。だけど、戦うつもりだよね」

「自分のために戦ってるだけだ……敵を倒して、自由になるために……」

　エレンを動かすのは、自由への渇望と、それを許さない者への怒りだ。

　アルミンたち、調査兵団の仲間は当然のように共感し、ともに戦ってきたが、果たしてそれは人類普遍のものだと言えるだろうか。

「壁の中の人たちは、エレンの自由がみんなの自由につながるって信じてる。エレンは違うの？」

「……どうだろうな」

　このとき、エレンの瞳は、海よりも遠い、夜空の果てを眺めているとアルミンは感じた。

　朝になって、アルミンは真っ先にヒストリアのところへ向かった。胸騒ぎがしてならなかった。

「ヒストリア。この先、エレンが何をしても……やっぱり、みんなを守る英雄だって言う……？」

「エレンが戦ってくれる限りは、そう言おうと思ってる。どうして？」

「……なんでもない。ヒストリアにも立場があるのは知ってるから」

　アルミンには、エレンの未来にある道が、英雄的なものだとは思えなかった。飢えた獣のような感情が、あまねく人々の幸福になるとは限らないと、そう思われて仕方なかった。ただ、今は何もはっきり言うことができず、言葉を飲み込む。

「……私は、私の見方を伝えただけ。それにね」

　ヒストリアは柔らかく、しかし毅然と言った。

「ここの子供たちはエレンを直接、見ているから。今はわからなくても、いつかは自分と同じ、迷ったり悩んだりする『人間』だって、理解できると思うの」

　未来に生きる子供たちなら、エレンという人物のことを冷静に見られるだろうと、ヒストリアは信じているのだ。

「……そうだね。そうだといいな……」

　牧場の朝のけだるい風は、アルミンの不安をただ揺らすだけで、答えを出してはくれなかった。

Shitty translation :

The world was made of lies and fiction. Because of the twisted history, many people were sacrificed. From now on, what children will learn is the truth of the world and the story of the future. As such, let’s pass it down. Everything that has happened until now, and the decisions we’ve kept secret.

A small world surrounded by walls. In this corner of the world, there’s a farm reorganized into an orphanage. Here, children called out to the young woman Historia, who modestly lives as a teacher: “Hey, Historia-sensei. That guy Eren, can he really turn into a titan?” “I know, I know. He turned into a titan in district Orvud and protected the townspeople!” “Bullshit. He never helps around and he always daydreams, I saw it” Next to the little boys who were busy making up rumors, a little girl grabbed Historia’s hand. “… When Eren’s a titan, who does he eat?” Her voice is slightly trembling. It’s understandable. If we’re talking about titans, they eat and kill people and are the absolute evil, that’s what everyone inside these walls thinks. “He doesn’t eat people, you know. He uses his titan power to fight.” She said with a simple-minded, reliable voice. “He might zone out from time to time, that’s true. But please, trust in him” Historia quietly smiled and gazed at the southern sky.

“Eeeh… So that’s what the kids talked about” Historia and her fellow comrades become soldiers who came to help at the orphanage. After the kids fell asleep, while taking a simple meal, she informed them of the things that were said during the day. “I’m… becoming a ‘good titan who fights to protect everyone’, huh” The person at the center of the discussion seems to be perplexed. “Besides, how do you even explain that. People think you’re an unreliable fuck who gets everyone in the corps in trouble” Historia nodded to Jean’s harsh yet accurate words. Just a bit, she felt sorry for Eren. “That’s because I didn’t want them to doubt him. Sorry for burdening you with that” As the “teacher” of the orphanage, Historia introduced Eren as the Survey Corps’ weapon, the hero that protects humanity. This was a necessary decision she made as the queen who governs the walls. “…I get it” Eren also seemed to fully understand that, and yet, his lack of conviction showed on his face.

Late at night

Armin came back after running some errands only to find Eren still up. “Does Historia’s story bother you?” Judging from his childhood friend’s expression, he sensed something alarming. An emotion similar to anger, directed at a world which was beyond his control, an emotion he had no outlet for. “I’m not a hero or anything like that” “We all know that. But, you’re still fighting, aren’t you” “I’m just fighting for my own sake… Destroying the enemy, in order to be free…” What motivates Eren is the longing for freedom, and his anger towards those he can’t forgive. Armin and co, everyone from the Survey Corps did sympathize with him and fight alongside him, but can we really call it something universal? “I believe your freedom and that of everyone inside the walls are connected, Eren. Do you think otherwise?” “…I wonder” In that moment, Armin felt that Eren’s eyes, more distant the ocean itself, were gazing at the limits of the night sky.

When morning came, Armin was the first to head over to where Historia was. He felt some uneasiness. “Historia. From now on, no matter what Eren does… As I thought, you’ll keep saying he is a hero that protects everyone…?” “As long as he keeps fighting for us, I will keep saying that. Why?” “…Nothing. You have your own viewpoint, I understand that” For Armin, it didn’t seem like Eren’s future path would lead to heroic acts. However, being unable to say anything for certain, he swallows his own words. “…I’m simply teaching my own viewpoint. That is all” Historia said with a soft, yet firm voice. “The kids here have direct contact with Eren. They might not understand now, but someday when they lose their way or find themselves in trouble, they’ll be able to understand what being human means. That’s what I think.” The kids that will live in the future should be able to see the person called Eren with serenity/calm, that’s what Historia believes. “Ah, yeah. That’s right…” The morning breeze blowing across the meadow only shook Armin’s anxiety (not sure if that means it made him even more anxious or if it shook it away lol), and he was unable to come up with an answer.

PS: This sentence「飢えた獣のような感情が、あまねく人々の幸福になるとは限らないと、そう思われて仕方なかった」 has me beat. Don’t know what it means at all, no matter how hard I try to make sense of it. I can understand the beginning, “similar to feeling like a starving beast” and “he couldn’t help but think that…” but I’m lost with あまねく人々の幸福になるとは限らないと. If any other person who can read Japanese could help I’d be grateful.

[sapewloth]

Shingeki No Kyojin Smartpass AU : Some Stories of Determination vol. 1 (Eren Jaeger)

So, a new side story titled (”Tell me a Story : Some Stories of Determination”) came out on the 31st July. Since I didn’t find the raws or the translation anywhere on tumblr I figured I would post the raws here along with a rough translation by yours truly. 

My japanese isn’t that good though, so if anyone who’s more fluent stumbles upon this post, be free to re-translate it properly. I just want a maximum amount of people to have access to this story since I think it’s really good and actually foreshadows some recent events and character motivations/relationships in the manga.

Raws:

世界は、嘘と虚構でできていた。ねじまげられた歴史のせいで、多くの人が犠牲になった。

　子供たちがこれから学ぶのは、世界の真実と未来の物語。

だから、語り継いでいこう。

　今まで起きたすべてと、心に秘めた決意のことを。

　壁に囲まれた、小さな世界。その片隅に、牧場を改装した孤児院がある。

　そこで慎ましやかに「先生」として生きている少女ヒストリアに、子供たちが声をかけた

「ねえ、ヒストリア先生。エレンってやつ、本当に巨人になれるの？」

「僕、知ってるよ。オルブド区では巨人になって、街の人を守ったんだって！」

「うそだあ。あいつ、手伝いもしないで、ボーッとしてるの、おれ見たもん」

　男の子たちがうわさをする横で、小さな女の子がヒストリアの手を掴んだ。

「……巨人のエレンは、誰かを食べるの？」

　声はわずかに震えている。無理もない。巨人といえば、人を食らって殺す絶対悪だと、この壁の中の人間はみなそう思っていた。

「彼は人を食べたりしないの。巨人の力で、戦ってくれるんだよ」

　そうなのかな、頼りになるのかな、無邪気な声。

「少しボーッとしてるかも。だけど、信じてあげてね」

　おだやかに笑って、ヒストリアは遠く南の空を見上げた。

「へえ……子供たちが、そんな話を」

　孤児院には、ヒストリアと同期で兵士になった者たちが手伝いに訪れる。

子供たちが寝静まったあと、彼らと簡素な夜食をとりながら、彼女は昼間にあったことを話して聞かせた。

「オレは……『みんなを守って戦ってくれる良い巨人』ってことになってるのか」

　話の張本人は、どこか戸惑った様子だ。

「それ以外にどう説明するってんだ。あてにならないヤツだと思われちゃ、兵団全員が困るんだよ」

　憎まれ口のようでいて、大局を見据えたジャンの発言に、ヒストリアはうなずく。少しだけ、エレンに申し訳なさそうに。

「エレンのこと、疑ってほしくなかったから。背負わせてごめんね」

　孤児院の「先生」としてのヒストリアは、エレンを調査兵団の兵器、人類を守る英雄として紹介した。それは、いまの壁の中を治める女王として必要な判断だ。

「……わかってるよ」

　エレンもそれは重々承知しているようで、しかし、どこか納得のいかない顔だった。

　夜更け

　何かと用事の多いアルミンが宿舎に戻ると、エレンはまだ起きていた。

「ヒストリアの話を気にしてるの？」

　幼馴染の表情から、ただならぬものを感じる。ままならない世の中への、怒りにも似た、やり場のない感情。

「オレは英雄なんかじゃねえよ」

「そんなの、みんな知ってるよ。だけど、戦うつもりだよね」

「自分のために戦ってるだけだ……敵を倒して、自由になるために……」

　エレンを動かすのは、自由への渇望と、それを許さない者への怒りだ。

　アルミンたち、調査兵団の仲間は当然のように共感し、ともに戦ってきたが、果たしてそれは人類普遍のものだと言えるだろうか。

「壁の中の人たちは、エレンの自由がみんなの自由につながるって信じてる。エレンは違うの？」

「……どうだろうな」

　このとき、エレンの瞳は、海よりも遠い、夜空の果てを眺めているとアルミンは感じた。

　朝になって、アルミンは真っ先にヒストリアのところへ向かった。胸騒ぎがしてならなかった。

「ヒストリア。この先、エレンが何をしても……やっぱり、みんなを守る英雄だって言う……？」

「エレンが戦ってくれる限りは、そう言おうと思ってる。どうして？」

「……なんでもない。ヒストリアにも立場があるのは知ってるから」

　アルミンには、エレンの未来にある道が、英雄的なものだとは思えなかった。飢えた獣のような感情が、あまねく人々の幸福になるとは限らないと、そう思われて仕方なかった。ただ、今は何もはっきり言うことができず、言葉を飲み込む。

「……私は、私の見方を伝えただけ。それにね」

　ヒストリアは柔らかく、しかし毅然と言った。

「ここの子供たちはエレンを直接、見ているから。今はわからなくても、いつかは自分と同じ、迷ったり悩んだりする『人間』だって、理解できると思うの」

　未来に生きる子供たちなら、エレンという人物のことを冷静に見られるだろうと、ヒストリアは信じているのだ。

「……そうだね。そうだといいな……」

　牧場の朝のけだるい風は、アルミンの不安をただ揺らすだけで、答えを出してはくれなかった。

Shitty translation :

The world was made of lies and fiction. Because of the twisted history, many people were sacrificed.

From now on, what children will learn is the truth of the world and the story of the future.

As such, let's pass it down.

Everything that has happened until now, and the decisions we've kept secret.

A small world surrounded by walls. In this corner of the world, there's a farm reorganized into an orphanage.

Here, children called out to the young woman Historia, who modestly lives as a teacher:

"Hey, Historia-sensei. That guy Eren, can he really turn into a titan?"

"I know, I know. He turned into a titan in district Orvud and protected the townspeople!"

"Bullshit. He never helps around and he always daydreams, I saw it"

Next to the little boys who were busy making up rumors, a little girl grabbed Historia's hand.

"... When Eren's a titan, who does he eat?"

Her voice is slightly trembling. It's understandable. If we're talking about titans, they eat and kill people and are the absolute evil, that's what everyone inside these walls thinks.

"He doesn't eat people, you know. He uses his titan power to fight."

She said with a simple-minded, reliable voice.

"He might zone out from time to time, that's true. But please, trust in him"

Historia quietly smiled and gazed at the southern sky.

"Eeeh... So that's what the kids talked about"

Historia and her fellow comrades become soldiers who came to help at the orphanage.

After the kids fell asleep, while taking a simple meal, she informed them of the things that were said during the day.

"I'm... becoming a 'good titan who fights to protect everyone', huh"

The person at the center of the discussion seems to be perplexed.

"Besides, how do you even explain that. People think you're an unreliable fuck who gets everyone in the corps in trouble"

Historia nodded to Jean's harsh yet accurate words. Just a bit, she felt sorry for Eren.

"That's because I didn't want them to doubt him. Sorry for burdening you with that"

As the "teacher" of the orphanage, Historia introduced Eren as the Survey Corps' weapon, the hero that protects humanity. This was a necessary decision she made as the queen who governs the walls.

"...I get it"

Eren also seemed to fully understand that, and yet, his lack of conviction showed on his face.

Late at night

Armin came back after running some errands only to find Eren still up.

"Does Historia's story bother you?"

Judging from his childhood friend's expression, he sensed something alarming. An emotion similar to anger, directed at a world which was beyond his control, an emotion he had no outlet for.

"I'm not a hero or anything like that"

"We all know that. But, you're still fighting, aren't you"

"I'm just fighting for my own sake... Destroying the enemy, in order to be free..."

What motivates Eren is the longing for freedom, and his anger towards those he can't forgive.

Armin and co, everyone from the Survey Corps did sympathize with him and fight alongside him, but can we really call it something universal?

"I believe your freedom and that of everyone inside the walls are connected, Eren. Do you think otherwise?"

"...I wonder"

In that moment, Armin felt that Eren's eyes, more distant the ocean itself, were gazing at the limits of the night sky.

When morning came, Armin was the first to head over to where Historia was. He felt some uneasiness.

"Historia. From now on, no matter what Eren does... As I thought, you'll keep saying he is a hero that protects everyone...?"

"As long as he keeps fighting for us, I will keep saying that. Why?"

"...Nothing. You have your own viewpoint, I understand that"

For Armin, it didn't seem like Eren's future path would lead to heroic acts.

However, being unable to say anything for certain, he swallows his own words.

"...I'm simply teaching my own viewpoint. That is all"

Historia said with a soft, yet firm voice.

"The kids here have direct contact with Eren. They might not understand now, but someday when they lose their way or find themselves in trouble, they'll be able to understand what being human means. That's what I think."

The kids that will live in the future should be able to see the person called Eren with serenity/calm, that's what Historia believes.

"Ah, yeah. That's right..."

The morning breeze blowing across the meadow only shook Armin's anxiety (not sure if that means it made him even more anxious or if it shook it away lol), and he was unable to come up with an answer.

PS: This sentence「飢えた獣のような感情が、あまねく人々の幸福になるとは限らないと、そう思われて仕方なかった」 has me beat. Don't know what it means at all, no matter how hard I try to make sense of it. I can understand the beginning, "similar to feeling like a starving beast" and "he couldn't help but think that..." but I'm lost with あまねく人々の幸福になるとは限らないと. If any other person who can read Japanese could help I'd be grateful.

[sapewloth]

Historia

[sapewloth]

Mob Psycho 100 Chapter 101 (END) Raws

Enjoy!

And here is the afterword:

It was one hell of a ride. Thank you ONE-sensei.

[sapewloth]

As if we’re not hyped enough about Chapter100

Isayama’s blog post 12/01/17

“I finished drawing chapter100. Although I didn’t want to be particular about numbers or anything like that, in fact, judging from the final product, I was very conscious about ‘100.” I put a lot of soul and spirits into the drawing.”