Erwin[1]?
Hange?
Looking at the two standing before him, Roger was speechless.
With such a huge commotion outside, they really couldn't be bothered to take a look? Not wanting to join in on the chaos wasn't exactly a good habit.
"Uh… there was an earthquake. Shouldn't I be escaping?"
Roger raised his hand, pretending to be frail as he spoke.
Hearing this, Erwin and Hange exchanged a glance.
"It should be fine now. Go back, Roger. We'll call you when it's time to eat."
Hange tried to reassure him, rubbing her temples, clearly disappointed.
"Oh."
Roger didn't resist. He knew forcing it wouldn't be wise.
"Don't smoke. Fire is forbidden here." Erwin added casually, pointing toward the window. "It's visible outside."
Smoke?
Roger froze.
Where would I even get cigarettes?
Suddenly, he thought of the healing steam from Titan power.
But he'd been careful—he'd made only small cuts, hidden from any line of sight outside the room. The steam had been minimal, no more than a puff of smoke.
And yet…
They noticed that too?
Roger remembered a Marleyan biologist named Leeuwenhoek, famous for his meticulousness—said to spot anything under a microscope.
So that's it—you're all Leeuwenhoeks?
Roger was at his limit. This was suffocating—like being stared at constantly.
Still… did Erwin really think he was smoking?
Roger met Erwin's unreadable gaze and gave up trying to guess.
He was thoroughly convinced—this man was untouchable.
Roger admitted, at his age, he was far too green to play mind games against a seasoned schemer like Erwin.
But this only confirmed it.
He couldn't stay here.
Now that he was inside the Walls, he had to find a chance to escape.
"I understand."
Roger nodded, sneaking a glance outside.
The place was heavily guarded, not even a fly could slip past.
But stealth was Roger's specialty in Marley's military—flawless, unmatched.
Seeing Roger behaving, Erwin finally nodded with satisfaction.
Roger closed the door.
Just then, a soldier ran up and saluted Erwin.
"Commander Erwin, the old commander Keith is asking for you!"
"Understood."
"And also…"
"?"
The soldier leaned in close and whispered.
"The Wall Maria has been breached by a Colossal Titan. Large numbers of Titans have already poured in. The old commander asks that you immediately mobilize the regiment to assist the Garrison in evacuating civilians!"
For the first time, a flicker of shock crossed Erwin's otherwise calm face.
"Good. Go relay the order to assemble at once."
"Yes, sir!"
Without delay, Erwin hurried off.
Beside him, Hange pressed for details, her voice fading as they ran.
Even with the door shut, Roger could hear every word.
From their conversation, he realized—Erwin was leaving.
This was his chance!
He pushed the door open, ready to bolt.
But the guards outside hadn't budged. They were dead set on watching him until the end.
At that moment, Hange came panting back.
She braced her hands on her knees, catching her breath, and asked curiously,
"You… what are you trying to do now?"
The Commander must have sent her back, Roger thought.
"Toilet."
He sighed and walked into the latrine.
Hange watched him enter, not relaxing for a second.
But you won't follow me into the men's toilet, will you? Roger thought.
Inside, he tapped the wall lightly.
Too solid. No way to break through without transforming.
But if he transformed, he might as well smash his way out.
Through the vent, he could see wilderness and mountains outside, though he didn't know where they led.
If he escaped that way, he could hide in the mountains. They'd never find him quickly.
But the latrine was too well-built. No angle of escape.
Unless he broke the wall—but that would be noticed.
He searched again. Only one route remained.
The sewers.
But…
Ugh.
Forget it. He'd think of something else.
And then—suddenly, a person-sized crack opened in the wall.
"?"
It appeared out of nowhere.
No sound, no warning.
Roger hurried over—no one outside.
It had simply appeared.
The edges were perfectly clean, cut sharp. Inside wasn't stone, but something indescribable—like space itself.
"What the hell is this?!"
Shocked, Roger suddenly remembered Mr. Nolin, and the "ghost ship" he'd sent.
Then he recalled Ape Brother kneeling before that mysterious man.
That person must have been Mr. Nolin, Roger thought.
He saved me once before. Now he's saving me again?
As he pondered, Hange's voice came from outside.
"Roger, I'm coming in!"
"???"
Even into the men's toilet? Really?!
Roger was exasperated.
No time to think.
If this was Nolin's help, Roger would accept it again!
He slipped through the gap and sprinted into the wilderness.
Behind him, the crack vanished without a trace.
"Mr. Nolin… what kind of divine savior are you?!"
Roger reached a cliffside, looking down at the river and the looming Wall beyond.
Drawing his dagger, he slashed his palm and leapt.
BOOM!!
Golden light flared. With a roar, the Jaw Titan's bones and blood rushed through the Path into Roger, weaving its frame, flesh blazing hot as it covered him once more. The power felt achingly familiar.
THUD!!
He hit the ground rolling, then surged forward as the Jaw Titan, racing toward the Wall.
His speed was overwhelming. He had to reach outside before the Scouts could react.
That way, "Roger" would only be an escaped suspect—not a fugitive Titan shifter.
If the people inside learned Titans were humans in disguise, they'd start a "population census" instantly.
Then forget the Founding Titan—just surviving undercover would be impossible.
Roger had thought of this already. Nearing the Wall, he quickly released the transformation.
The Scout base wasn't far from the gate. Without ODM gear, Roger had to run extra distance, but he eventually slipped into the panicked crowds.
Against the flow, he finally squeezed out through the gate.
Pressing against the Wall, he saw it breached—a gaping hole. A massive boulder had smashed into the residential district, and hordes of Titans were pouring in.
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[1] Yup, that's the title. You don't need to watch the movie...