As mentioned in the previous partial translation I posted a few days ago, the full text of this Levi interview (Originally in Japanese) was not available until @dragonfly789 brought the Chinese translation to my attention a few days ago. Part 2 is still to come :)

Note: This interview was originally released in 2016, prior to the Survey Corps returning to Wall Maria and encountering Reiner/Bertholt/Zeke. Hence, it is not current in terms of the recent chapters.

Translation from Chinese to English by @fuku-shuu

Please link back to this post if quotes are used for posts/graphics/meta!

He is known as “Humanity’s Strongest.”

Recently, due to the progression of time, people have gained more and more anticipation for the Survey Corps’ next move. The stories of his existence travel through the ears and mouths of all types of people, garnering mixed responses and many different assessments.

— He is Captain Levi Ackerman.

This surname, which became known to the public during the uprising, also illustrates a part of humanity’s history.

As someone who carries both the past and the future on his shoulders, what is he focused on now?

With this in mind, we conducted yet another interview with him.

**Is He a Hero? Or is He—?**

Interviewer: Please take care of us today as well.

Levi: Well, why are you interviewing me again? Last time you said it was to encourage public funding for the Survey Corps, so at least there was a promotional purpose…but not this time. As long as the Research Team doesn’t use our funds erratically, our budget and investments should be sufficient.

Interviewer: Like you said, the current Survey Corps has a sufficient amount of everything - public support, tech, funding. However…the direction of our interview today is slightly different.

Levi: Oh…do tell, then.

Interviewer: In the past, Captain Levi was the hero at the frontlines of humanity, hunting down Titans day by day. However after the recent political changes, we received testimonies from others that they saw “many different sides” of you.

Levi: Oh…I see. You want to know whether someone like me, who now stands on the same side as the monarchy and still acts quite arrogant, is trustworthy, right?

Interviewer: No, we aren’t trying to report anything provocative. It’s just that the topic of where well-known figures came from and where they are going has always been of public interest.

Levi: Speaking of which, when we flew all over the streets and clashed with the Central Military Police, it was probably not an unusual sight for the citizens. But back then when those guys represented the monarchy, I seemed more like the villain and they were the righteous ones…

Interviewer: Yet once the people understood the backstory of that battle, they also accepted the new government.

Levi: I…sliced up the Central Military Police members who had their guns pointed at me, even killing them. But this was an act in self-defense, so it cannot be deemed criminal—this is how you reported it?

Interviewer: Correct. The oppression and control of free speech enacted on us by the previous monarchy was what led the people to “choose” to side with the Survey Corps.

Levi: “Choose,” huh? Indeed. What exactly the correct choice is, I don’t think anyone really knows. This also means…you “chose” someone like me, who journeys on while surrounded by corpses. Whether this is the correct path or not, you would still have to evaluate my future actions, right?

Interviewer: We anticipate them very much.

Levi: I’m only obeying orders and fighting accordingly. You should say those empty words to Erwin.

Interviewer: Then, let us change topics…

Levi: The next questions are probably heavy-handed, I’m guessing? A moment ago I noticed that your grip on the pen tightened, and the hand holding that document keeps trembling.

Interviewer: This document is what we seized from former noblemen, and one of the few pieces of information made available to the public about the history “Inside the Walls.” It contains records pertaining to the monarchy and any connected families.

Levi: Let me make things clear from the get-go - I won’t tell you a thing about what you actually want to know. I will only give you the details about my family history that were prepared for me after the investigation by Erwin and others.

Interviewer: That’s not a problem. We just want you to be the one answering them.

**Secrets**

Interviewer: Even though no one knew this before, we hear now that the Captain’s surname is “Ackerman.” There are records indicating that those bearing this name were persecuted in the past. Did you conceal it to avoid those issues?

Levi: I honestly just didn’t know. Even when I was growing up I simply accepted that I didn’t have a surname. At this point you’ve probably investigated my origins thoroughly, no?

Interviewer: Even if those were rumors, you were born in the Underground, after all…within the lower classes, there are many people without surnames.

Levi: I originally thought I was also that kind of person. According to the intel from Hanji, Erwin, and other Survey Corps allies, the clan was along the lines of “those who served the monarchy in the past, but were later persecuted due to their resistance against the government.”I probably wasn’t told the name at all so I could completely escape mistreatment.

Interviewer: Coincidentally during the Uprising, a key individual sharing your surname appeared. The later incidents at the bar also made headline news…

Levi: I won’t talk about that guy.

Interviewer: Even a little bit is fine…

Levi: Do you no longer want this hand of yours to hold that pen? I’m fine with breaking it. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it recovers some time after I leave for another battle.

Interviewer: So…so sorry.

Levi: No…the way you pester to the very end about someone else’s business…that’s just your job as a journalist. I supposed this is the so-called philosophy within these walls, “If you aren’t passionate about something, then you can’t go on”……

Interviewer: What does that mean?

Levi: What are you reporters “passionate” about? What about me? Erwin? Hanji? Our subordinates? Also…those brats…

Interviewer: I still don’t know what you mean…

Levi: Never mind. Just pretend I didn’t say anything.

**The Choice that Awaits**

Interviewer: Next, we would like to know: old historical records show that the persecuted Ackerman clan served the King loyally as guardians. This seems similar to Captain Levi’s current situation.

Levi: You interviewed Reeves’ son, right? I screamed at Historia about how she needed to become Queen…do you consider that “serving?”

Interviewer: We’ve heard that the Queen wants to protect the weak, including the poor children of the Underground. She now plans to set up orphanages, and you were someone who helped push this proposition through.

Levi: I was only obeying the orders of Her Majesty.

Interviewer: It’s quite surprising that you assisted in government policy.

Levi: It’s not something I told her to do. Historia just utilized those close to her to complete her existing objectives…it doesn’t seem all that unbelievable.

Interviewer: Many consecutive days of training on top of government affairs…you seem quite busy with work.

Levi: Are you concerned about my fighting capabilities? You can be at ease about that…all the preparations have been successful. I just have to listen to instruction and continue annihilating who I should be annihilating.

Interviewer: We’re getting closer to the mission to retake Wall Maria. With you at the helm, does the new elite squads have any unusual responsibilities?

Levi: I still need to figure out what I can and cannot say. All this is confidential - nothing for you to write articles about.

Interviewer: Then let’s switch topics. Even though the goal of retaking Wall Maria is to “Seal the Wall,” is it impossible to avoid a battle?

Levi: The bastards who created the wall and want Humanity’s extinction…if we don’t get rid of them, people will never gain freedom. That is my reason for any choices I make.

Interviewer: And by “choices” you mean…

Levi: Everything. Who should live…or who should die…

(T/N: Holy foreshadowing…)

Interviewer: So you don’t necessarily mean anything concerning the enemy?

Levi: On the battlefield, you don’t think about sacrifice first and foremost. But in this rotten world, who knows what will happen the next second…whether you’re in the military or not, I’m sure this is obvious.

Interviewer: So what you’re saying is, if you have to exchange the life of a comrade or subordinate, you would still make that choice without hesitation?

Levi: You people…who do you think I am? Am I a monster who will do anything to reach a goal? Or am I a God who wanders among the masses?

Interviewer: Neither. The one we’re interviewing is Captain Levi - as a human being.

Levi: What a straightforward answer…forget it. No matter what, there is no such thing as an “impossible choice.” Just write that as of right now, I plan on choosing Humanity.

Interviewer: Many thanks.

Levi: Mmhmm……oy, don’t leave behind any papers that you already wrote on.

Regarding the truths that have been revealed, Levi himself still seems unable to discuss them fully. But from his perspective, he has never ceased thinking about the circumstances. We can also sense his determination to achieve his goals.

As he responds, he simultaneously blurs the focus of the discussion. Yet, his words also allow for the truth to approach those close to him.

[End of Part 1 of 2]

Thank you for reading! Again, please link back to this post if you would like to use any quotes for posts/graphics/meta :)