Five men moved along a narrow forest path hidden beneath thick bushes and tangled branches. I followed the faint traces they left behind, tracking them quietly for nearly an hour.
During the latter half of the pursuit, another set of footsteps appeared behind me. Someone had found the marks I left and followed them. He kept his distance and never tried to approach. I already knew who it was.
It had to be Eren Yeager.
In the original events, he used this same route to chase after the group of human traffickers.
I ignored him and continued forward.
Rain soon began to fall. Droplets slipped through the gaps between the leaves and landed on my shoulders and hair, cold and steady. It felt almost like the sky itself was mourning.
I did not slow down.
Rain could wash away footprints and blur tracks, but it could never wash away the sins of murderers. It could soak the earth and the trees, but it could not extinguish the anger burning in my chest.
After navigating the winding forest path for some time, I pushed aside a cluster of leaves blocking my view. A small wooden cabin finally appeared ahead.
Through Hunter's Sight, I could clearly sense the people inside.
All five men were gathered in a single room. Another body lay on the floor in the center.
That had to be Mikasa.
"This might be a little troublesome," I murmured.
With my current strength and equipment, killing the five of them would not be difficult. The real problem was eliminating them while keeping Mikasa safe. Protecting her while finishing them quickly was the real objective.
I turned my head toward a large tree behind me.
This would be easier if I did not need Eren Yeager's help, but the situation left little choice.
"Come out," I said calmly. "You've been following me since halfway through the trail."
For a moment, nothing moved.
I reached into my quiver, drew a Hunting Arrow, and fired it into the trunk of the tree where he was hiding.
"Do I need to drag you out myself?"
A second later, Eren Yeager stepped out from behind the tree with both hands raised. A dagger rested in each hand, and his eyes stared at me without fear.
"You shouldn't have come," I said flatly.
"I want to save her sooner," Eren replied. "If we wait for the Military Police, it will be too late."
"You might die," I told him.
Eren met my gaze. "Then was the promise you made earlier meaningless?"
For a brief moment, the corner of my mouth twitched.
I walked over and gave his shoulder a light pat.
"You're not bad," I said. "Follow me."
Using a branch, I quickly sketched a rough layout of the cabin in the dirt.
"All five men are in one room, and Mikasa is in the middle of them," I explained. "I can kill them, but I cannot guarantee her safety while doing it."
Eren stared at the drawing. "What do you need me to do?"
I thought for a moment before answering.
"I need you to distract them. Make at least two of them leave Mikasa. Once that happens, I'll break through the window and deal with the remaining three."
I looked him straight in the eye.
"Until then, I cannot support you. Can you do it?"
Eren lowered his head and stayed silent for a while. Then he nodded.
"I can pretend to be a lost kid and draw their attention," he said. "But you better be confident about killing the other three. Otherwise all three of us will die."
I clenched my fist.
"Don't worry about that," I replied quietly. "They will die."
"Then I'll get ready."
Eren stood and moved carefully through the bushes toward the cabin door.
"Wait for my signal before you act," he whispered.
I watched him disappear into the trees. Then I took out a concealment strip, activated it, and crept silently toward the cabin window with my bow ready.
Soon, the voices of the men inside the cabin drifted into my ears.
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Powerstones?? (´ε｀ )
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Patreon = _Zeph