One thing Roger knew for certain—Marley, cowardly and reliant on titans, would never equip its soldiers with "new gear."
At best, they bought foreign-made Eastern rifles and cannons to support titan offensives, never investing heavily.
So the people darting through the trees on bizarre flying devices could not be Marleyans.
Nor could they be from other nations. The entire continent spat curses at Eldians. None would dare step foot on the "island of devils" they so feared.
"Then… they must be people from inside the Walls. My own kind."
Roger thought, mind racing.
He had never seen them before. Did they hate the Marleyans outside? Surely. They had been locked within the Walls since the 145th Fritz king led them inside, while Marley sent endless titans their way.
At the very least, they could feel no kindness.
Fear came from the unknown. Roger understood that.
If he approached openly, they would likely treat him as a monster.
Like the legends in the Middle East that painted Eldians as aliens from the stars.
If they treated "aliens" as enemies, then his chances of being killed on sight were high.
Especially since he could turn into what they feared most—a titan.
"So they must never know what I really am."
Roger decided, sketching out a plan.
He manipulated the Jaw Titan's body, reducing its hardened armor and claws, reshaping it to resemble a mindless titan. Then, clinging to branches, he eased his body downward.
One meter.
Two meters.
Bit by bit, he descended.
The soldiers below, unaware, tended to their wounded.
Through the leaves, Roger peered down and counted.
One, two, three, four…
Seven in all. Two wounded—one gravely, one lightly.
Two kept watch, blades ready. One tended to the lightly wounded, wrapping a broken arm.
One crouched in a corner, clutching his head, sobbing as though the world had ended.
Beside him, another berated him harshly, calling him a coward, then whistling for the horses that had bolted in panic.
Roger followed the sound, spotting the frightened animals running far off.
Calling their mounts back, he thought. From their words, he recognized—their speech was the same as Marley's. Their faces too.
They were just like him.
"Hello… my kin."
Roger's heart stirred. His first time seeing people from inside the Walls—and they weren't monsters with fangs and horns. He was glad.
But he couldn't reveal himself just yet. He needed to test them.
He lowered himself further. Leaves gave way, and part of his titan's body became visible.
From below, he heard the sobbing man's broken voice.
"If not for me… If not for me, Moges wouldn't have… if I hadn't slipped—"
"Shut up, Oluo! Have we not lost comrades all along the way? If you regret it, then fight harder in training when we return! Stop your whining!"
"But… but I—"
"Enough!"
"Captain Holst, Moges…" The female soldier tending wounds whispered, tears filling her eyes. Pressing her ear to Moges' chest, she found no heartbeat.
Roger looked closer. The man's leg, half his torso, torn away by a titan. His organs spilled out.
There was no saving him.
Silence fell. Only the whistles for horses broke it.
At last, Captain Holst spoke, voice raw.
"Use Moges' body as bait. While his heart's still warm."
"?!"
"What are you saying, Captain?!"
"Holst! You bastard!"
"Why, Captain?!"
Tears streamed down Holst's face. He didn't want this either. But they were out of choices.
If they didn't rejoin the main force soon, they'd starve in the trees. And their maneuver gear was running out of gas.
"If not Moges… then I'll go myself. I'll see you all live."
"Captain!"
"Miche, you're the fastest. Take him and draw the titans away."
"Yes."
Miche landed by the corpse, pain twisting his face. Hours ago, Moges had been laughing with them. Now, cold and gone.
He held back his tears. They'd shed too many already.
"I'm sorry, Moges…"
He whispered, unpinning Moges' Wings of Freedom insignia. Reaching down, ready to lift him—he froze.
A strange scent.
"Wait!"
He blocked the others.
He sniffed hard, narrowing his eyes toward the trees.
And then—he saw it.
Cold sweat drenched him.
"T-Titan!! There's a titan in the trees!!!"
He screamed, pointing upward, stumbling backward in terror.
Every gaze snapped up.
Roger had been found.
He sighed inwardly. He'd wanted them to notice, but not this late.
Still, it was impressive. He'd been hidden barely ten meters above, in their blind spot.
"Roar!!!"
Roger bellowed. No more hiding.
The disguised Jaw Titan dropped to a massive branch, looming above them.
"Scatter!!"
Captain Holst was the first to recover. As Roger landed, Holst's reflexes snapped like lightning.
Shing!
Slash!
In one strike, he severed the Jaw Titan's pinky finger.
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