Erwin Smith (No Regrets)



Erwin Smith (エルヴィン・スミス) is a squad leader (分隊長) of the Survey Corps.

Appearance
Erwin is a large, tall man with smooth blond hair styled in an undercut and parted neatly to the left side of his head. He also has bright eyes, but an often stern expression and a strong jawline. He is often seen wearing the Survey Corps' uniform with a white button down underneath, and on missions, wears the Survey Corps' green cloak.

Personality
Erwin is a calm person who takes every news neutrally, whether it is bad or good, but has already been seen showing enthusiasm in Levi's skills. He is ingenious and is not afraid of standing against the majority's opinion. The progress of humanity means a lot to him and he is willing to do everything to win against Titans. Erwin also has a ruthless side, as he does not hesitate to use violence or manipulate his allies in order to get what he wants.

Attack on Titan: No Regrets
Interested in Levi's skills, an underground thug, Erwin leads a unit to find and recruit him. His squad chases him and his friends, with Mike and him trapping Levi. After they apprehend the trio, Erwin asks them where they got their equipment from and if Levi received military training. After getting no answer, Mike uses force to make Levi talk. Erwin asks him his name and, as the latter did not talk more, he threatens the life of the two others. After Levi finally speaks, Erwin offers him and his friends to join the Survey Corps so that they would not be arrested by the Military Police, which they accept.

A few weeks before the underground mission, the Survey Corps was in danger of losing funds for expeditions. When Keith Shadis was ready to give up and accept the collapse of his regiment, Erwin intervenes and saves the corps. Then during the carriage ride, Keith mentions that Erwin's suspicions about Nicholas Lovof being the leader of the Dissolution Faction were correct. Erwin tells Keith that according to the information he gathered, Lovof has sent a spy to infiltrate the Survey Corps in hopes of redirecting funds. Keith mentions about appealing to Darius Zackly, but Erwin replies that Zackly is aware and asks Keith to leave matters to him. Keith questions Erwin's methods, but Erwin tells him that no matter how foul the efforts, the Survey Corps must take back the world from the Titans. When the two men return to Zackly's office, Zackly asks if Levi and his friends will be useful despite being good with the vertical maneuvering gear. Erwin replies that their skills cannot be overestimated, especially Levi, whose level is beyond a veteran's. Erwin also reveals that he plans to make contact while he is close.

While proposing the idea of recruiting Levi, Isabel, and Furlan in a meeting between leaders in the Survey Corps, Erwin is greeted with disapproval of the idea from Flagon Turret. Erwin explains that though they had no training and did not earn their wings from the Survey Corps, they grew wings on their own and that their wings will be vital to the Survey Corps.

As Levi, Furlan, and Isabel are training with the other soldiers, Erwin is watching them from an upstairs window. He is seen thanking someone outside his door, before taking a sealed envelope off of the table and putting it in his jacket.

Shortly after Erwin and the rest of the Survey Corps exit Wall Maria, Erwin watches as Levi, Isabel, and Furlan work as a team to take down a titan. He smiles, very impressed at their performance, and says that Levi's wings really are the real thing after all.

After arriving at some old castle ruins outside the walls, Erwin finds Levi alone in a hallway. He asks where his subordinates are, and Levi replies that they are not his subordinates. Erwin asks how Levi is adjusting to military life before complimenting Levi's performance earlier in the day. Levi explains that he knew what to do after watching the first soldier fight the titan, then fail. Erwin tells Levi that the Survey Corps is built upon countless sacrifices and that there is much they have yet to learn about the outside world. He assures Levi that no one would regret dedicating their hearts to the cause of taking back the world for humanity. Erwin and Levi stare at each other for a moment before Isabel interrupts and draws Levi away.

The next morning, Erwin orders the Survey Corps to deploy the long-distance scouting formation. Shortly after shooting off a green signal flare, Erwin comments on the dark clouds forming in the sky. He tells everyone to be careful, because something terrible is coming. Erwin attempts to fire off another signal flare, but due to the heavy downpour, the attempt yields in a failure. Erwin, thereafter, informs Commander Keith Shadis that they are unable to continue scouting ahead, and should expect a titan encounter at any moment.

Shortly after the rain simmers down a bit, Erwin notices the steam of fallen titans in the distance. Him and the rest of his squad find multiple dead titans and Levi standing nearby. Erwin asks if he is the only survivor, but gets no response. He asks Levi if he was the one who killed all of the titans, and is attacked by Levi immediately after. Levi holds a blade to his neck and tells Erwin he is going to kill him. Erwin figures that the rest of Levi's squad is dead, then pulls the envelope with the supposed documents out of his jacket. Erwin explains to Levi that it was all a bluff, and that he was using Levi, Isabel, and Furlan to help him get definite proof that Lovof was embezzling. Levi asks why Erwin recruited him and his friends. Erwin says that it was because of their exceptional skills, and so that they could aid Erwin in taking down Lovof. Erwin tells Levi that the real documents have already been handed over to Zackly, and that it is over for Lovof.