04x15 - Sole Salvation

[bunniefuu]

Take a good look, Zeke.

That's Liberio, where we live.

Compared to the world, it's like a tiny birdcage.

Since we can't leave, we have to live here till we die.

Zeke, wouldn't you like to leave?

Yeah, I would.

Oh, what's this?

We hardly ever get visitors this early.

I'll come back later.

It's okay.

We're on our way out.

Oh, Eldians?

Wh-What?!

We got permission to leave the walls!

It's my job to clean the tower and get rid of trash.

You came in here and defiled it, you devils!

Your kind slaughtered countless lives!

Yet here you are, pumping out kids?!

Devils!

Stay in the internment zone!

You guys stink!

- Thanks for ruining my day!

- Remember this well, Zeke.

This is the outside world.

If you don't like it, you've gotta change it.

Zeke, you're going to save everyone.

"Sole Salvation"

One of these kids will be my successor?

Yes, we'll choose one.

One of them is falling behind.

Who's that?

Ah.

Jaeger again?

All the other kids are fiercely competing to be Honorary Marleyans.

Yet he has none of that drive.

Why does he even come here?

How was training, Zeke?

It's really tough.

I see.

But I know you can be a Warrior.

Because you have a special power.

And most important of all, you're our son!

Right!

Father, Mother.

Thanks for watching Zeke.

Yeah.

I baked your favorite pie today.

Yippee!

Your social dance club again?

Zeke misses you.

But it's for the wellness of Liberio.

Someday, I'm sure Zeke will understand why we're doing this.

This is the Tragedy of Lago that occurred , years ago.

After Lago was destroyed in a single day, the Titans went on to cause the Horrors of Valle and Ravaging of Monte.

Marleyans in the tens of thousands were k*lled by Eldia.

What's more, the people who escaped Lago fled into the countryside.

However, the Eldian Empire put Titans along the path, and at daybreak, the Titans rose and att*cked the...

Yeah, I know.

A lot of people d*ed.

Is your father teaching you our actual history?

He says Eldians did horrible things to Marleyans, so we have to atone for it.

Do you want to become a Warrior and fight for Marley?

Yeah.

I want to be a Warrior.

Well, I think it's bedtime.

Oh!

Next time you're here, I'll read you the cat house book!

Yay!

Begin!

You're awful at this, Dad!

Dad!

Zeke?

I finished early today!

Let's...

Oh, good.

We'll be able to study more.

Right...

In other words, the Tragedy of Lago never happened.

The Ravaging of Monte and Horrors of Valle are stories made up by Marley, too.

Eldians have never had such cruel customs or culture.

After all...

The Founder Ymir wouldn't want that.

It's unthinkable.

That's right!

You're catching on, Zeke!

Yeah!

If you're not serious, get lost!

Marley needs people willing to give everything to our motherland.

We sure as hell won't leave a Titan in the hands of someone like you.

Hey!

You there!

Can you toss that ball back?

You've got a good arm for a kid!

Huh?

Here!

Nice catch!

I'm sick of throwing off the wall.

You mind playing for a bit?

A red armband!

You're...!

One of the Marleyan Warriors you're aiming to be.

Though, since my Beast Titan isn't too helpful in w*r, I mostly just play catch around here.

The name's Tom Ksaver.

I work in Titan research.

So, what's your name?

Zeke Jaeger!

Zeke, your throw has some heat!

You'd be a good pitcher.

I'm home!

Dad, guess what?

That's not what you told me!

What gives, Grice?

If Zeke isn't chosen, the plan's finished!

But the Owl said they can't influence the decision unless Zeke has decent scores.

I know!

A chance like this comes once a century!

Doesn't Zeke still have a sh*t, though?

Yeah, he might.

If Zeke steps up...

- I'm sorry.

- Zeke!

I know you can do it!

You're our son, after all!

I said Marley has no need for you.

Why are you here?

T-To show my loyalty to Marley and atone for Eldia's sins!

Let me in open training, please!

What are you doing, Jaeger?!

Run!

Run, boy!

Dammit!

It's bullshit!

Don't say that!

He's trying his best!

He'll never be a Warrior like this!

You were a mess the other day.

It's not funny.

They're just having me run errands now.

It's over for me.

Seemed to me that you never wanted to be a Warrior.

I have to become one, yet I totally failed.

No big deal.

It's stupid for you to be a Warrior.

It's dumb to shorten your life for Marley and get sent to fight other nations.

Huh?!

Why did you become a Warrior?

To learn the secrets of Titans.

I'm a researcher, you know.

Everything started when the Founder Ymir touched "something," but I wanted to know the truth of it all...

enough to shorten my life to look through Titan memories.

That's why I'm pretty much useless when it comes to w*r.

Compared to the mysteries of Titans, hatred and w*r seem so trivial.

That's why you and I aren't interested in their w*r games.

We're just two decent people... a real rarity in this world.

This is for the best.

Even if I can't leave the zone, as long as I'm alive...

We finally got a lead.

They're the "Eldian Restorationists."

It's a pretty large group.

A traitor called the "Owl" formed it.

We've got a few hunches already.

It's just a matter of time till we get solid proof.

Zeke?

What's wrong?

Eat up.

M-My stomach hurts.

Dad, Mom...

Stop doing dangerous things.

If they find out, we'll be sent to paradise...

sent to the island of devils and made into Titans.

Have you learned nothing I've taught you?

Unless someone takes a stand, we'll live pitiful lives in this tiny cage.

That's right.

We're fighting for the future of all Eldians, including yours.

Even if there's a chance that I end up like Aunt Fay?

Zeke!

The only reason Fay d*ed is because this world is twisted!

We have to fight so nobody else ends up like her!

We must restore the strength of Eldia and win our rights back!

You're kidding me!

Your parents are Restorationists?!

You'll all be sent to paradise!

Yeah.

Mr.

Ksaver, thanks for playing catch with me.

Even when I'm a Titan, I'll remember you.

Well, goodbye.

Report them.

Huh?

It's your only hope!

If you report them to Marley and prove your loyalty, you and your grandparents might be spared.

I could never do that!

Zeke!

Your parents have been terrible to you!

They gave up on you and never cared how you felt!

They... never loved you!

Zeke, you've done nothing wrong.

You're a smart kid.

A good kid.

Take it easy on me, Zeke!

Whoops.

Do I throw too hard for a geezer?

Hey!

I'm not that old...!

Mr. Ksaver!

It won't be long till my term is over.

Yeah.

I didn't get to grow old, but I don't regret a life of research.

I'll be able to release a compilation.

Yeah?

What about?

The things the Founding Titan did to the Subjects of Ymir.

Oh.

Like rewriting their memories?

Not just memories.

It can change the anatomy of their bodies.

Around years ago, a terrible pandemic devastated the population.

But all of a sudden, the disease just vanished from the Eldian Empire.

The King at the time used the Founding Titan to change how their bodies work.

No matter where we go, we Subjects of Ymir are like part of the Founding Titan.

Scary, right?

Then...

Why are you pumping out more devils?!

Can the Founding Titan make it so Subjects of Ymir can't bear children?

If none of us were able to have kids, Titans would be wiped out in years.

The world wouldn't have to fear or be threatened by Titans anymore.

What's more, if we hadn't been born, we wouldn't have had to suffer!

Mr. Ksaver?

I've never spoken about it, but I had a family once.

In my foolish youth, I removed my armband.

And hiding the fact I was an Eldian, I had a wife and child.

My wife was a Marleyan.

I knew I couldn't hide it forever, but when my wife found out I was Eldian, she slit my son's throat and her own.

Me becoming a Warrior was merely a grandiose way to commit su1c1de, but...

For years, I immersed myself in Titan research, met you, played catch...

It's been fun.

I looked for my dead son in you.

I ran from my sins with my Titan powers!

If only I hadn't been born in this world!

I'll inherit the Beast Titan.

Not for Marley, but to retake the Founding Titan and save the world!

I'll free the world from the terror of Titans and free all Eldians from suffering!

This is something I haven't told Marley... a way to break the vow renouncing w*r.

As luck would have it, it's only possible because it's you.

If a Titan with royal blood comes in contact with the Founding Titan, it's possible to draw out its power.

However, the power isn't yours to use.

That right lies with the Founding Titan.

Essentially, you're the key to the lock.

The Founding Titan needs to be someone you trust.

Someone who understands our "euthanization" plan.

I know you'll find that someone.

I'll always be watching over you, Zeke.

I'll find that someone, Father.

Eren Jaeger?

Yes.

Eren possesses the Founding Titan.

And in the basement of his house in Shiganshina there's some sort of vital information.

Did you hear Eren say anything about his father?

I believe he said his father's missing and used to be a doctor.

Unbelievable!

"That" father was alive?

Eren, we're victims.

You've been brainwashed by him.

Someday, I'll come and rescue you!

You're starting to resemble Father a bit.

First of all, thanks for coming here to talk with me.

My stance is exactly what Yelena told you.

Do you support the Eldian euthanization plan?

Four years ago, some of Dad's memories opened up to me...

memories of when he slaughtered the wall's royal family.

He crushed their little kids and smeared them like bugs.

I felt it, too.

If those kids lived, the royal family would retake the Founding Titan.

Bound by the vow renouncing w*r, humanity in the walls would be doomed.

Those kids dying is what let us live.

I see.

So you believe that Father was right?

No, he was wrong.

And I, the son that he raised, was wrong, too.

If Eldians hadn't been born, this city...

these people wouldn't have to die in this plan of ours.

There's no greater salvation than never being born in this world.

I'll do it.

I'll put an end to , years of Titan domination.

Until then, I keep moving forward.

Right, Brother?

Yeah.

Yeah, you're right.

Let's do it.

I wish I could shake your hand, but it's best that we don't make contact just yet.

So instead, take this.

Eren, we're gonna save everyone.

Our sole salvation...

...is Eldia's euthanization.

You say something?

Euthanization?

You're about to find yourself in a Titan's mouth, listening to what it sounds like to be digested.

Compared to how you stole the lives of my comrades, it sounds like a pleasant way to die.

I didn't steal...

I saved lives.

The lives of the children they would bear...

...from this cruel world.

- Looks like your legs are growing back.

- Isn't that right...

...Mr. Ksaver?!

I hope you're watching!

The futures they seek are incompatible.

All they can do is clash, fighting for their beliefs in the place it all began, Shiganshina.

Next episode: "Above and Below."

"Above and Below"