Chapter 45: Attack On Titans, Part 19

The atmosphere within the walls was electric after the news of Wall Maria’s reclamation reached Wall Rose.

People celebrated in the streets, their worries forgotten, drinking and reveling with strangers.

Meanwhile, we disseminated information about the true history of the world, including the king’s manipulation of their memories, making them believe that only Titans existed beyond the walls.

I had expected denial and resistance, but the people’s reaction was surprisingly positive.

“The Demonic God will take care of everything!”

“Indeed! We trust the Demonic God! He has done so much for us already!”

Hmm…

When did they become my fans?

While my speeches were impactful, not everyone had heard them.

And this was Wall Rose; few here would have heard my speech in Wall Sina.

The answer to my question arrived unexpectedly.

“It’s been a while, Demonic God.”

It was the gardener from the assassination mission.

While I enjoyed his company, I was more arrogant then, referring to myself with grandiose titles.

But I couldn’t suddenly change my demeanor.

I decided to don my Demonic God persona once again.

“Indeed, it has been a while, Gardener. How have you been?”

“Excellent, thanks to you. That excuse for a king is finally gone.”

“Ah, the false king.”

In retrospect, I had killed him too easily. Considering his crimes, he deserved to be tortured.

But I had been too lazy at the time.

Well, the Survey Corps had taken care of the nobles who colluded with him, torturing and executing them, so it wasn’t too bad.

“How is your mother?”

“She collapsed again, but…”

“You helped her up?”

“Yes.”

The gardener’s mother seemed to have a recurring falling problem.

“Is she ill?”

“No, she’s perfectly healthy.”

“I see.”

It wasn’t my concern.

I had other matters to attend to, preparing for Marley’s arrival.

The Wall Maria reclamation celebration.

While unexpected, it was a welcome event.

Hope had returned to the people within the walls.

As their ruler, I shared their joy.

While the people celebrated, I went to the market with Mikasa.

The Concealment skill was useful. My face was plastered all over the newspapers. Everyone recognized me.

Thanks to the skill, I could move about unnoticed, enjoying a date with Mikasa.

“Eren, what are you thinking about?”

“Thinking about you.”

My answer surprised her. Her face turned red.

“Pfft, you look like a tomato.”

“It’s your fault!”

Her flustered reaction made me glad we came.

I hadn’t had much time for dates with Mikasa since arriving in this world.

While we had spent time together as children, before Wall Maria fell, we were too young then.

Ten years old wasn’t exactly dating age.

And Armin was always with us.

This was our first real date.

“You’re cute when you’re flustered, so don’t be angry. It’s a national loss when someone as beautiful as you frowns.”

“Eren.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve become quite smooth-talking.”

“Huh…?”

“You weren’t like this before… Do you have another woman?”

Mikasa leaned in, sniffing me.

“Hmm, I don’t smell anyone else on you.”

So my brief visit to the world of Omniscient Reader had unexpected consequences.

Before entering this world, I had stabbed Kim Dokja.

It seemed the scent of Shinobu had been masked by the scent of Kim Dokja’s blood.

Otherwise, I would have been exposed.

“Since when could you tell from my scent?”

It must have been a recent development.

Otherwise, she would have noticed before.

Mikasa’s gaze turned cold.

“Since you saved me. Tell me, Eren, how did you manage to meet another woman without me noticing? Is it Annie? No, that’s impossible… Annie likes Armin…”

This could be dangerous.