Chen Si returned home with the fish he had caught, supported by Mikasa.
He discovered that the weakened period affected his mind rather than his body. His head felt drowsy, and in his weakened state, his physical abilities were no better than an ordinary child's-not even as good as Mikasa's.
On the way home, he struggled to keep his eyes open, yawning constantly as sharp pains stabbed through his head.
"Hiss." Chen Si frowned and rubbed his head.
"Are you tired, Chen Si? You can sleep in my room when we get back," Mikasa said with concern, blinking her big eyes.
"Ahh... yaaawn... okay." Chen Si was too sleepy to speak properly.
Once they arrived home, Mrs. Ackerman praised Chen Si's resourcefulness as usual, then took a knife to prepare the fish. After spending these past few days together, the Ackermans had grown used to his presence and already treated him as family.
As for Chen Si's parents, he had never mentioned them, and the Ackermans felt awkward asking. Still, they could more or less guess. Though there were currently no Titans within the walls, evil still flourished everywhere.
He had been sleeping alone in the forest when they found him. His parents had likely met with misfortune, which only made the kindhearted Ackermans feel more sorry for him. They cared for him every bit as much as they did Mikasa.
Chen Si could barely stay awake, but it was lunchtime, and the Ackermans welcomed him to the table so enthusiastically that he felt too embarrassed to go straight to bed.
Before long, the aroma of fish filled the house. Mrs. Ackerman emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl of fish soup. The table was laden with all sorts of food: vegetables, wild boar meat, and some freshly gathered fruit.
The meal was simple but full of warmth. Its flavors were plain, nowhere near the colorful, fragrant, delicious meals cooked in his own home, yet Chen Si could still taste home in it.
For a moment, that taste made him think of his family. He did not know whether he could ever return to his own world. Though dwelling on it no longer served much purpose, homesickness was a familiar feeling for someone from China.
"Chen Si! Chen Si! Why aren't you using your fork?" Mikasa waved her little hand in front of his face. Those clear eyes still held not a trace of impurity. The beginning was always the most beautiful.
Chen Si's eyes narrowed, and his head kept nodding toward the table. Just like in an ordinary math class, he was unbearably sleepy.
"Are you too tired, little Chen Si? Tell us if you need anything! We've already come to think of you as one of us, so don't worry about staying here. From now on, we're your family." Mrs. Ackerman looked at him kindly and placed a fish head in his bowl.
"That's right, little Chen Si. We're your family now. With that strength of yours, you should learn blacksmithing from me. You'll make a fine smith," Mr. Ackerman said, putting a piece of pork into his mouth.
Their words warmed Chen Si's heart. The characters in anime really were wonderful. It was precisely because such goodness was so hard to find in reality that it felt especially precious.
At that moment, Chen Si made up his mind.
"Thank you, Uncle, Auntie. From now on, you're my only family in this world!" Despite his drowsiness, Chen Si forced himself to perk up and spoke firmly.
At his words, Mikasa broke into a brilliant smile, her eyes curving into crescents. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman exchanged a glance and smiled as well.
"Of course!" Warmth filled the entire house.
After lunch, Mr. Ackerman was straightening up the furniture while Mrs. Ackerman knitted a sweater.
Chen Si was drowsy, his eyelids growing heavy, when he suddenly remembered something important. Looking around this warm little home, he resolved to save the family that had willingly taken in an uninvited guest like him. He decided to tell Mikasa's father immediately to seek help from the Military Police Brigade or move away at once.
He quietly approached Mr. Ackerman and rose onto his toes.
Seeing him, Mr. Ackerman immediately stopped working and wiped his hands with a rag. He looked at the black-haired, black-eyed child before him, crouched down, and smiled kindly. "What's wrong, Chen?"
"Uncle, this forest is dangerous. I got separated from my family because we ran into bandits. It isn't safe here. Why don't we move away?" Chen Si said weakly.
Hearing this, Mr. Ackerman looked into Chen Si's eyes and paused. Pitch-black pupils. He stood up and said, "Chen, come with me."
Chen Si followed Mr. Ackerman outside. Mikasa watched curiously, then turned to her mother. "Mom, what are Dad and Chen Si going to do?"
"They have things to worry about as the pillars of our family," Mrs. Ackerman said with a gentle smile.
"Chen, are you truly willing to consider us your family?" Mr. Ackerman asked solemnly, resting his hands on Chen Si's shoulders.
Chen Si froze for a moment, then his gaze grew resolute. "I am! If it weren't for you, some wolf might have carried me off in the forest by now."
"All right, Chen. If you're truly willing to accept us and trust us, could you tell me your parents' surname, or your real surname? I know it's a little intrusive, but I've genuinely never heard of the surname Chen. I understand that you might be trying to protect yourself, but please trust us. We'll keep you safe," Mr. Ackerman said earnestly.
Faced with Mikasa's father's solemn, serious expression, Chen Si did not know how to explain. On Paradis Island, this Western world, his surname was not merely uncommon-it did not exist at all. Though there were people of Eastern descent in Hizuru beyond the walls, they probably would not believe that humans existed outside.
Since that was the case, Chen Si clenched his fists slightly.
"Ackerman. My surname is Ackerman," Chen Si said with unwavering eyes. His physical abilities would certainly grow stronger in the future, and having that surname would spare him a great deal of trouble.
Shock flashed through Mr. Ackerman's eyes. He hastily looked around, then picked Chen Si up and rushed to the backyard before setting him down.
A storm of emotions surged through Mr. Ackerman's heart.
When he first saw Chen Si's black hair and black eyes, he had wondered whether the boy was of Eastern descent like his wife, or perhaps even a persecuted member of the Ackerman clan. That was also why he had been especially kind to Chen Si and accepted him so quickly. Now that he had heard his surname, he was finally certain: the boy truly belonged to the same Ackerman clan as him.
"So that's it." Mr. Ackerman could not help giving a bitter smile.
"The people who captured you probably weren't bandits at all. They were from the Military Police Brigade. I'm afraid your parents have already met with misfortune. Chen Si, we can't move," Mr. Ackerman said.
"Why? Security here is terrible. What if the bandits or robbers nearby come here..." Chen Si asked in confusion. Was Mikasa's father not worried at all?
"Because I'm an Ackerman too," Mr. Ackerman said. He pulled out a strand of hair and placed it in a nearby water vat. After soaking for a while, a patch of black appeared at the root of the blond strand.
Chen Si was stunned. He had never imagined that Mikasa's father actually had black hair, or that he was a member of the Ackerman clan.
"The Royal Family has hunted down and slaughtered Ackermans for years. We fled from the interior to Shiganshina. To escape pursuit from the central authorities, I could only bring my family here to hide. Your family was probably just like ours. Sigh," Mr. Ackerman said sadly.
"This place is remote, far from the Military Police Brigade's station. When residents encounter criminals and go to ask the Military Police for help, they refuse to come because it's too remote and there's little profit to be made. After all, we're only commoners without any status. So although bandits and thieves sometimes appear here, it's much safer than being hunted by the Military Police Brigade," Mr. Ackerman explained.
"But soon, there'll be..." Hearing this, Chen Si grew anxious and immediately began to speak.
Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through Chen Si's brain. His mind went blank, his legs wavered, and he began to collapse.
Mr. Ackerman hurriedly caught him and lifted him into his arms. "Don't worry. I've been a blacksmith for many years, and I'm fairly strong. Though I've never awakened the Ackerman clan's potential the way my elders described, I should be strong enough to protect you all."
No! No! What was I going to say? Why can't I remember all of a sudden? Chen Si's head throbbed violently, and sheer panic sent sweat pouring down his back.
Something dangerous must be approaching!
Mr. Ackerman carried Chen Si to the bed in Mikasa's room and tucked him beneath the blanket.
"Chen Si, you don't look well at all. Get some rest first. A guest will be coming shortly, and he can examine you. He's an excellent doctor," Mr. Ackerman said before leaving the room.
A guest? What important thing have I forgotten... Chen Si held his aching head. What's happening? Why does my head hurt so much?
"No!" Overwhelming drowsiness and stabbing pain kept assaulting his mind. Fighting through the discomfort, he rushed out of the room and grabbed the hammer by the door.
Nearby, Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman were speaking in hushed voices. Shock appeared in Mikasa's mother's eyes, followed by pity.
Chen Si's sudden appearance immediately drew their attention.
Mr. Ackerman's gaze shifted slightly when he saw Chen Si effortlessly pick up the twenty-jin hammer.
"Chen Si?" Mikasa asked curiously, her big eyes wide and innocent.
"What's wrong? Chen... Chen Si, if you need help with anything, just treat this place as your own home," Mrs. Ackerman asked quickly.
"It's nothing. I just want to get some fresh air," Chen Si said with a faint smile.
"Is that so?" Mrs. Ackerman immediately moved to set down her embroidery.
"It's all right. I'll take a walk with him. Mikasa, stay home and keep your mother company," Mr. Ackerman said.
"Okay." Mikasa nodded obediently.
Mr. Ackerman took Chen Si outside.
"I never expected you to be so strong. Come work with me at the smithy in the future. You'll definitely make a fine smith," Mr. Ackerman said.
"Is it our family's shop?" Chen Si asked.
Delighted to hear that, Mr. Ackerman replied, "Yes. I opened a smithy in the village. Everyone comes to me whenever they need something. I'll be counting on you in the future."
"No problem," Chen Si replied.
"Chen Si, please take good care of Mikasa from now on. She's a very kind girl," Mr. Ackerman urged.
Determination flared in Chen Si's heart. He nodded firmly, then immediately said, "Uncle, could I patrol the area with you?"
"Are you worried about robbers nearby? No problem. I'll go with you." Mr. Ackerman immediately picked up an axe and led Chen Si along the nearby paths and hills, surveying and searching the area.
They searched together for a long time, found nothing, and returned home.
Chen Si felt a little reassured. Perhaps he had been overthinking things. Maybe he was simply too nervous after arriving in this world.
In the dense woods deep beyond a patch of bushes behind the house, a fat man was snoring inside a tent.
Suddenly, the fat man jolted awake, startling the other two sleeping men beside him awake as well.
"What the hell are you doing? You scared me!" the tall, burly man beside him complained.
"I just dreamed a Titan ate me! Damn it, I never dream. Why did I suddenly have a dream today?" the fat man said, sweating coldly.
"Buri! Why were you sleeping too? Weren't you supposed to be keeping watch?" the fat man shouted at the other man, who was rubbing his eyes.
"I don't know why, but I suddenly got a little sleepy, so I took a quick nap," Buri said groggily. He did not know what had happened either; he had simply become very sleepy all of a sudden.
"Damn it! We're half an hour behind schedule! Hurry up and tie up that family. Once we finish this job, we'll all be living in the royal capital," the fat man cursed, pulling out his pocket watch.
Hearing that, the men grew wildly excited. They grabbed their weapons and carefully approached the Ackermans' home.
"Mikasa, look. This embroidery is a craft passed down through our clan for generations. When you have a child of your own, you must teach it to her too," Mrs. Ackerman said kindly, holding up a piece of woven cloth.
"How do you have a child?" Mikasa asked with a child's innocent candor, blinking her big eyes.
"Ah, well... go ask your father. He knows." Mrs. Ackerman promptly passed the responsibility to Mr. Ackerman.
He was peeling potatoes and instantly panicked when he heard her.
"Ah, well, um... oh, right! Doctor Yeager will be here soon. You can ask Doctor Yeager when he arrives, Mikasa," Mr. Ackerman said helplessly, breaking into a sweat.
Mrs. Ackerman covered her mouth, unable to suppress a quiet laugh.
Mikasa looked bewildered, then suddenly had an idea and went to ask Chen Si.
At that moment, Chen Si lay groggily in bed.
He discovered that activating the system had not left him at full strength. The power of thunder within him was recovering little by little, extremely slowly, while rapid recovery required him to sleep. If he slept for twenty minutes, his electrical energy would recover, and his mind would be fully refreshed.
Chen Si could only hope that killing a Pure Titan and fully unlocking his bloodline might shorten the cooldown. Then he would be able to protect himself even without the power of thunder. In a chaotic world, being a perpetual motion machine was the safest possible state.
I have to become stronger and protect Mikasa, Chen Si silently vowed.
After staying alert for so long, Chen Si could no longer keep his eyes open. Finally unable to hold out, he closed them and drifted off to sleep.
Vast surges of energy, crackling with electrical arcs and brimming with an extraordinarily rich aura of life, streamed from beyond boundless spacetime toward Mr. Ackerman outside Chen Si's room. Yet they were extinguished in midair, fading away bit by bit...
Beyond boundless spacetime, one figure turned to look at another in astonishment. Both figures slowly faded away...
"Chen Si." Thinking he was asleep, Mikasa called softly.
"I'm not asleep... what's wrong?" Chen Si struggled to open his eyes and saw Mikasa crouching beside the bed, leaning against its edge.
"How do you have a child?" Mikasa's curious eyes seemed to sparkle.
"Oh, having a child... that's when a husband and..." Chen Si murmured, exhausted beyond measure.
"Aah!" A scream reached Chen Si's ears, and he sprang out of bed.
Chen Si rushed out of the bedroom with Mikasa close behind. But when he saw the scene before him, his pupils contracted sharply. At that moment, his heart held nothing but endless regret.
A burly, bearded man with a flat-top haircut pulled a knife from Mr. Ackerman's chest. Two tall, burly men with crew cuts stood beside him. He glanced at Mrs. Ackerman at the dining table, then swept his gaze over Chen Si and Mikasa standing in the bedroom doorway.
"Sorry for the intrusion."
Mrs. Ackerman's lips parted slightly, her gaze trembling as she stared in disbelief at the bloodstained dagger in the intruder's hand. She raised her hand and slowly reached for the scissors on the table.
"Stay right where you are unless you want your head chopped off." A tall, burly man beside the fat man raised his axe and waved it threateningly.
"Ha!" Suddenly, Mrs. Ackerman snatched the scissors from the table and lunged at the tall, burly man.
Mikasa watched her mother charge forward in utter terror. With his arm seized, the tall, burly man stumbled and crashed into the fat man beside him.
Mrs. Ackerman clung fiercely to the tall, burly man's arm, her eyes wide as she screamed:
"Mikasa, Chen Si, run!"
"Mo... Mom..." Helpless, Mikasa looked at Mr. Ackerman, who had collapsed beside a chair. Blood covered the floor.
"Dad..." Mikasa called helplessly.
"You motherfuckers!" Rage flooded Chen Si's heart, and he roared.
Chen Si forced himself to stay conscious, but moving with his energy depleted sent waves of dizziness through him. He gritted his teeth and stepped forward. The floorboards exploded beneath his foot as his hand shot toward the fat trafficker. The fat trafficker had never considered that an eight- or nine-year-old child would attack him.
Moreover, enhanced by the ackerman bloodline, Chen Si's speed exceeded that of an ordinary adult. The fat man had no time to react.
Chen Si seized the back of the fat man's neck.
The sudden turn of events momentarily drew the attention of the tall, burly man holding the axe.
Gritting his teeth, Chen Si summoned all his strength and punched the back of the fat man's head, instantly knocking him unconscious to the floor.
"You fucking animal! Die!"
He picked up the knife from the floor and, with clenched teeth, thrust it toward the fat man's heart.
But he had already been forcing himself to keep going. Before the knife could plunge down, another wave of dizziness struck him. His electrical energy was exhausted, and he had never had a chance to rest. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the floor.