Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

"Thank you!"

**Krista** took the meat happily, carefully breaking off a piece with her hands and offering it to **Ryo**'s mouth, looking as though she intended to feed him.

"What's wrong? Do you want to feed me?" **Ryo** asked with a smile, all while turning over the other pieces of barbecue to keep them from burning.

"These are all made by **Ryo**. If **Ryo** doesn't eat them, I'll be embarrassed to eat them!" **Krista** tilted her head, smiling with an angelic expression that made her words impossible to resist.

"In that case, I won't be polite, wow!" **Ryo** said, pretending to pounce on her like a tiger. **Krista** wasn't frightened at all; instead, she giggled, entertained by his antics.

**Ryo** also laughed, but the barbecue tasted amazing!

They had more than five kilograms of barbecue in total. In fact, **Ryo** had been given more by the others, but he set aside the extra to roast into jerky for future meals, ensuring they'd have extra food for the camp.

"Master **Ryo**, here's the broth. Please have some!"

Soon, the team members responsible for making the broth returned with their work.

At that point, both **Ryo** and **Krista** had eaten plenty of barbecue, so having some soup was perfect. It would aid their digestion and ensure they wouldn't need to drink water later.

"Well, thank you for your help. I'll leave the patrol work tonight to you. Thank you for your hard work!"

The area wasn't entirely safe; although there were no giants, it was still home to many dangerous beasts. To ensure everyone's safety, **Ryo** arranged for patrols to keep watch throughout the night so the others could sleep soundly.

**Ryo** casually assigned this task, not bothering to consider how it would be done. It didn't matter to him.

"Yes, I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

The soldiers eagerly accepted the task, leaving with high spirits.

**Ryo** watched them go, slightly puzzled. Why were they so excited to do such hard work? But he shrugged it off—no need to dwell on it. Now, it was time for some rest.

"There's only one quilt!"

**Krista** searched through their belongings for a long time before finally finding a single quilt. It wasn't very thick, as thick quilts would be harder to carry.

"Well, there's also a blanket. That should be enough for you to sleep. I'll light a fire next to you, so it shouldn't be too cold tonight!" **Ryo** reassured her. He was familiar with his supplies, especially since **Krista** had neglected to prepare anything for herself in this regard.

"Ah, what will you do then?" **Krista** asked, looking at the blanket and then at the quilt. It seemed there was barely enough for one person to sleep comfortably. If they squeezed together, it would be difficult. Her sleeping bag seemed pointless now, as it wasn't warm enough for the cold night.

"I'm fine. I'll stay by the fire for the night. Isn't that what everyone else does?"

Most of the group hadn't brought much luggage, and they usually slept in their clothes by the fire. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it wasn't cold enough to be life-threatening.

"But…"

**Krista** frowned, clearly upset by **Ryo**'s plan. If he stayed by the fire while she had the quilt, she would feel uneasy and guilty.

Without hesitation, she opened the quilt and invited **Ryo** inside. "**Ryo**, please come in. I can't sleep warmly alone!"

She tried to offer a reason, as if it was logical for him to join her. After all, in such a snowy place, she really couldn't sleep alone. She knew **Ryo** cared for her, and if he saw that she was cold, he wouldn't ignore her.

Hearing this, **Ryo** hesitated. Though he would definitely be willing to join her, he was concerned about how this might affect **Krista's** reputation. Their relationship hadn't reached that stage yet.

"**Ryo**, didn't you say before that you'd marry me? I promise I'll marry you, and as long as you don't regret it, I'll be your wife in the future. So, please don't worry too much. Come in quickly—we have to travel tomorrow!"

**Krista** spoke with a red face, clearly gathering courage to say those words.

"Well, then, all right."

Seeing her so determined, **Ryo** finally relented. After all, they were going to marry eventually, so there was no reason to hesitate anymore.

**Ryo** took off his coat and climbed under the quilt. The blanket wasn't very large, and they both felt crowded inside. No matter how **Ryo** adjusted, it was awkward. **Krista**, though pretending to sleep, was clearly nervous, her body tense. Her lips were pursed, her eyes slightly closed, and her long eyelashes fluttered. She was trying to act calm, but it was evident she was uncomfortable.

**Ryo**, unsure what to do, tried to adjust by wrapping his arm around her carefully, keeping a respectful distance but still feeling the awkwardness between them. As he did, **Krista** shifted to her side, responding to his action. The space in the quilt became a little more comfortable, and both of them relaxed a little in the newfound space.