Chapter Three: The Impossible Mission
> [System Update]
Reign, you are currently under continuous observation by two human units:
Name: Marco Bodt
Name: Historia Reiss
Activity: Monitoring your behavior and emotional state
Status: Friendly — No hostile intent detected
How do you wish to proceed?
1. Confront them directly
2. Pretend not to notice
3. Send a subtle warning
4. Ignore the situation entirely
---
Reign stared at the translucent prompt floating before his eyes.
He didn't move. Didn't react.
Then slowly… he selected:
> [Option 4: Ignore the situation entirely]
The prompt closed, and silence returned to his mind.
---
Days passed in the training camp, and Marco and Historia kept a close eye on him.
Historia, always with her gentle smile, would often say:
"I don't think he's dangerous… just really gloomy. We should try to draw out any expression."
And Marco would nod with his usual grin:
"Even machines laugh… if you try hard enough."
Their attempts began.
Sudden questions, shallow jokes, strange remarks, and staged situations.
One evening at dinner, Marco asked with a smirk:
"Reign, do you think the mud here tastes better than military bread?"
Reign looked at him without blinking, then continued eating.
Historia smiled and added:
"Maybe he doesn't smile because he's hiding something… his true face."
---
Reign knew what they were doing—and still, he didn't interfere.
Every attempt they made crashed against the wall of his silence.
Yet something inside him… began to tremble, even slightly.
What was once cold silence became quiet hesitation.
---
On the fifth day, Marco, Historia, Sasha, Connie, Eren, and finally Jean gathered around Reign near the training yard after drills.
Sasha said excitedly:
"We have a group mission: make Reign smile!"
Jean scoffed:
"I'd rather get Mikasa to sing."
Historia laughed, then stepped forward:
"Honestly, we just want to see you as you really are. One smile… even a fake one."
Even Eren—despite the beating he took during training—showed no resentment.
He said plainly:
"I want to know who I'm fighting beside… not some emotionless machine."
Mikasa and Armin stood off to the side, observing quietly.
Armin murmured:
"He's strange… but he doesn't seem bad."
---
The "final plan" began.
Marco pretended to trip in an overly dramatic fall, then shouted:
"I've been poisoned… by the sacred potato!"
Sasha jumped up, alarmed:
"Who?! Who stole my potato?!"
They took turns acting out ridiculous scenes—some serious, some utterly absurd.
Historia even wore a cook's hat and, in a theatrical tone, asked Reign:
"Alien agent, would you prefer… potato or laughter?"
The words echoed inside him.
And for the first time…
His lips softened slightly… then—
A faint, genuine smile appeared.
Silence followed for a few seconds…
Then everyone burst into laughter.
"He smiled!!"
Even Mikasa, ever-stoic, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
> [System Update]
First human expression unlocked
Status: "First Smile"
Public reaction: Positive
Relationship Updates:
Marco: +2
Historia: +2
Sasha: +1
Eren: +1
Jean: +1
---
In a moment of stillness, everyone turned to Reign.
He stood among them, bathed in golden sunlight.
His short silver hair reflected the light like crystal threads,
And his silver eyes—though cold—shone with a hint of gentleness.
For a brief moment…
He looked like an angel who had stepped into a battlefield.
But…
When he noticed their gazes, he quickly wiped away the smile, returning to his usual blank expression.
And they all burst into laughter again.
Marco patted him on the shoulder:
"You tried… and that's enough."
---
And so, the first step toward belonging began—
Not through words,
Nor through violence,
But with a single smile…
From a wounded heart.
---
End of Chapter Three
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The beginning of the novel is slow, about the first 10 chapters.