Bang!
Holst's boot smashed down hard, crushing the Jaw Titan's remains to dust, scattering them on the wind.
"Captain Holst…"
The squad exchanged looks, not sure what he was doing.
Holst, however, kept cursing, spitting every foul word he knew.
"Damn bastard, you thought you could eat me?! You little shit! I've cut down a fifteen-meter Colossal before! And you—tiny runt—think you can swallow me?! Pah!"
He spat on the ashes, then stomped twice more before stopping.
At last, the others understood. Their tight smiles held back laughter—none spoke it aloud.
Only Oluo, reckless as ever, chuckled: "Captain, so mighty! That guy frozen stiff earlier definitely wasn't you!"
"???"
Holst's grin turned sharp. He grabbed Oluo by the hair and lifted him clean off the ground, making him scream and bite his tongue again.
"Oluo, mouth off again and I'll slice your nape for the titans."
"Waaahh!! Captain! I was wrong, Captain!!"
His squeals echoed like a butchered pig, drawing laughter from the squad.
They were used to it. Oluo always paid for his mouth.
But once the laughter died, tears lingered.
Who could understand the agony of watching their captain swallowed whole, of hearing Oluo's desperate screams for help, raw and hopeless?
Only they could.
Roger understood too.
But now, relief washed over him.
For a moment he thought Holst had seen through his act. Now he realized it was a false alarm.
Still, Holst didn't leave. He studied Roger, eyes narrowing, and asked the question hanging over them all.
"You. Who the hell are you? Reinforcements? Where's your uniform? Your gear?"
Roger tilted his head, feigning confusion. Truthfully, he didn't know how to answer.
Miche stepped in quickly: "He came out of the titan's belly too. Same as you, Captain."
"What? That titan swallowed two of us? Both alive?"
"Seems that way."
"Then it really was an abnormal…"
Holst stroked his chin, scrutinizing Roger.
If it was an abnormal, that explained it.
Abnormals were strange, unpredictable, beyond understanding. Why it swallowed men whole without chewing was anyone's guess.
"Name?"
"…Roger."
"Roger, who are you? I've served years in the Survey Corps. Never seen you."
"I don't know. I can't remember."
"Amnesia?"
Holst frowned, glancing at Miche.
Miche only shrugged. "That's what he says. His family and friends were all killed. Doesn't know why he was eaten."
"Then he must've slipped out of the Walls," Holst muttered. "I've heard it before. Merchants stealing gear, going out to mine gems. None ever return. All end up in titan bellies."
"Really?"
Miche looked back at Roger, struggling to believe it.
He was young, striking, confident. Not the face of a greedy fool.
"I think he's like us," Miche said firmly. "Wanted to see the world outside."
"Then why not join the Survey Corps?"
A female soldier nearby asked softly.
Roger looked at her, caught off guard—he hadn't even noticed her until she spoke.
"I'm sorry. I really don't remember."
Didn't know who he was.
Didn't know where he was.
Didn't know why he was here.
Roger had read enough plays and novels in Marley to know the trope well: the "amnesiac."
Answer nothing, claim ignorance. One slip of detail could betray him.
Better to say he knew nothing.
That way, even if they suspected, they'd have nothing solid to use against him.
"Do you at least remember which district you're from?" Miche asked.
Roger shook his head, apologetic.
One question after another—his answer was always the same.
Eventually they gave up, sighing. He remembered nothing.
Holst shuddered.
"Lucky I was only inside a few minutes. If I'd stayed longer, maybe I'd be like him. Digested in some strange way, memory wiped…"
He wiped the sweat from his brow. He'd rather die than lose everything like that.
"So what now, Captain?" Miche asked, suddenly aware they'd lingered too long here.
"Back to the main force," Holst ordered. He gave Miche a look, subtle but clear: bring Roger.
Miche nodded. He pitied Roger's fate. He was the sort to look after comrades. When the horses answered his whistle, he helped Roger onto one.
"Where are we going, Miche?" Roger asked.
"The Survey Corps."
"What's the Survey Corps?"
"You'll see soon enough. Comrades worth trusting. All of us share the same faith."
"…"
"Here, look."
Miche unpinned his own badge and handed it back.
Roger took it. The silver wings gleamed in the sunlight.
"Our faith is like these wings. One day we'll uncover the truth of the titans, fly beyond the Walls, and free all mankind."
Free… all mankind?
Roger traced the emblem's lines with his finger, thoughts drifting far away.
And if…
The ones who caged mankind—
…were mankind themselves?
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