The scenery rushed past as Roger, in his Titan form, sprinted forward, feeling the horses were unbearably slow—like turtles crawling.
During the time it took the scouting squad to find the main force and regroup, Roger nearly dozed off, but the shouts of those beside him, especially Mike when they occasionally encountered Titans, jolted him awake again and again, leaving him drenched in cold sweat.
Could anyone truly stay calm with Titan teeth only ten centimeters from their face?
Roger admitted, several times his body had seized up in terror, praying the horse—no, the turtle—beneath him wouldn't decide to stop and rest.
If it slacked even a little, his head would be snapped up and chewed before he could even transform into the Jaw Titan to save himself.
Too terrifying.
Fortunately, nothing happened.
When Mike finally said, "We've found them," Roger felt he was the happiest man alive in the squad.
Sliding off the horse, his feet sank into the soft grass, and for a moment it felt unreal.
So the earth didn't shake after all?
With a long sigh, Roger couldn't help but pity these people within the Walls.
Outside, rumors spread everywhere—that they were "devils," that they "feasted on raw flesh."
Heh.
Roger only wished every one of those liars could ride one of these horses just once.
If they were devils, would they really be chased by Titans until they collapsed from exhaustion?
If they lived on raw flesh, would they know the stench that burst forth when Titan jaws slammed shut?
To witness a Titan's savage face up close, to see its claws reaching as it gained ground—Roger's nerves had nearly snapped. It was only luck and composure that kept him alive.
Mike led the sweat-soaked horses into something like a stable and tied them up.
Roger followed for a while and noticed there were very few people here. Counting carefully, even with Hall's squad now added, there were barely twenty men.
In Marley's army, twenty men hardly made a platoon.
"So this must be just a small outpost," Roger guessed.
It wasn't until Mike finished tying the horses and smilingly said he would take Roger to see the Survey Corps commander that Roger realized—
These twenty men were the entire Survey Corps?!
What a joke.
In Marley, a corps had at least a thousand soldiers.
Back when they tried to seize the Jaw Titan from him, Marley had only dispatched one corps, and it had been enough to encircle the entire district.
Twenty men?
Roger began to suspect the Survey Corps was nothing but a civilian band.
Mike didn't seem to notice anything strange. Seeing that his companions had survived without further losses, his heart was light, and he wasn't in the mood to dwell on details.
"Come on, the commander should be inside."
Leaving the stable, Mike spoke, while Hall decided it was more important to settle Moges's remains and left Roger alone.
Roger hadn't walked far when a booming voice rang out.
"Hall!!"
"Commander! Here!"
Hall, who had been helping his squad carry Moges's body, immediately set the stretcher down and saluted.
Both fists clenched: the right pressed over the heart, the left behind his back at the corresponding spot.
The Survey Corps commander himself had come out to greet them, his face lit with joy. He had never imagined Hall's squad would return alive.
That morning, during the routine expedition outside the Walls, they had scouted along the perimeter, mapping unknown areas, only to clash with a massive swarm of Titans.
The formation was shattered. Commander Keith barely escaped with the survivors.
He had watched Hall's squad forced into the forest by Titans, powerless to help—already struggling for his own life as he hacked a path out with barely a dozen men.
"Never thought I'd see you alive, Hall."
As if meeting an old friend, Keith clapped his shoulder with relief.
"Neither did I," Hall sighed. "We were surely doomed, but in the end we ran into an Abnormal."
"An Abnormal?"
"Yes. Unlike other Titans, it lived in the trees and had a strong territorial instinct. It attacked other Titans."
"A Titan that attacks its own kind?"
"That's right. Oh, and…" Suddenly remembering, Hall turned and gestured at Roger.
Roger nodded slightly and stepped forward.
Their eyes met. Though the commander's gaze was fierce, Roger's face remained calm.
"Who is this?"
Keith asked, puzzled.
"No idea. Dug him out of that Abnormal's stomach."
"Someone who's been eaten by a Titan?!"
Keith was stunned. Around them, expressions changed instantly.
Roger noticed two in particular—a man and a woman—who didn't look afraid, but something else. He filed it away.
"Yes, I was eaten by that Titan," Roger admitted.
"???"
"That's right! And it was the captain who killed the Titan in the end—cut it open clean and saved him!"
Oluo seized the chance to butt in, boasting excitedly.
Hall scratched his head in embarrassment. He wasn't sure if it had really been his doing—he had only struggled desperately, maybe by chance…
"Incredible…" Keith muttered, as if hearing nonsense. "I've never once heard of anyone surviving after being swallowed. Erwin, have you?"
"I haven't either, Commander."
Erwin shook his head, though his eyes lingered on Roger, studying him again and again.
Roger felt as though he were being seen through. This Erwin was different from the others—earlier too, he had shown no fear, no matter what he heard. Always calm.
Not an ordinary man, Roger thought. But he didn't flinch, meeting Erwin's gaze evenly.
He knew, now was not the time to slip—any mistake meant death.
"In any case, it's enough that you've returned. Go get some rest."
Keith ordered, paying little attention to Roger. Strays lost outside the Walls—he'd seen one before, years ago. Nothing surprising.
"Yes, sir!"
Hall and his men saluted once more.
When the commander and Erwin left, Roger finally let out a secret breath of relief.
Someone stepped up beside him. Roger assumed it was Mike and didn't care—until…
A tongue licked his cheek.
!!!
"As I thought, you reek of Titans… hehehe… hehehe…"
Roger jerked back in shock, staring at the person beside him.
A woman with glasses, hair in a high ponytail.
Her face flushed crimson, body trembling with excitement, like a crazed fanatic.
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