Chapter 305: Changes over a year
He had been asleep for an entire year...
And not just that—everything had undergone earth-shattering changes.
During this year, Shadow Garden had emerged from the shadows. Led by Alpha, they had swept across the world, conquering a third of its territories and directly bringing the EU under their control.
Moreover, they had established friendly relations with the Chinese Federation. Through some unknown transaction, they had obtained the island of Penglai from the hands of the Ten Eunuchs.
This was precisely where he was now.
While trying to digest all this information, Mahiro gently stroked Delta and Zeta, who were crying on top of him.
One like a cat, the other like a dog—both were crying quite pitifully.
The difference was that Delta was smearing her snot and tears all over him, while Zeta only dampened his clothes with her tears.
The others, though they hadn't thrown themselves at him in an undignified manner, were also quietly sobbing.
Over the past year, they had even feared he might never wake up again.
But they never gave up, waiting day after day. Different people took turns staying by his side, afraid he would wake up to find himself alone.
Today was another day they had agreed to gather together, keeping vigil by Mahiro's side, waiting for him to awaken.
Unexpectedly, today he truly woke up.
"Alright, alright, stop crying. I'm still alive, aren't I?"
Yet even as he said this, their tears didn't stop.
This reaction only made him scratch his head in greater distress. He might be good at handling other situations, but when women cried—especially these women who were like family to him—he truly didn't know what to do.
Noticing the pleasant scenery outside the window, he suddenly thought of something and said:
"How about taking me to see the view outside?"
He still didn't know exactly what was going on.
The girls exchanged glances and nodded in agreement with his suggestion.
But just as he was about to get out of bed, Alpha and C.C. stepped forward to support him. This gesture made Mahiro pause slightly.
Alpha was one thing, but what was C.C. doing?
Yet she offered no explanation.
Delta, who had been clinging to his waist, protested and refused to let go, but a sharp glare from Alpha made her bristle and reluctantly release him.
As for Mahiro himself, he wasn't used to being waited on like this, especially since he felt perfectly fine—no signs of muscle atrophy or any other issues.
After some persuasion, Alpha and C.C. finally released him.
But they still stayed close by his side, not leaving even a step.
The group left the ward and stepped outside. Gazing at the turbulent sea in the distance, Mahiro couldn't help but feel surprised.
Because Penglai Island wasn't the kind of island he had imagined—it was more like a metal fortress floating on the ocean!
The ground beneath his feet wasn't soft soil, rock, or sand but hard steel plates!
Looking around, most of the buildings were covered in metal shells.
According to Alpha's explanation, these structures were built to laboratory-grade blast-proof standards.
Still, the greenery was well-maintained. Willow trees stood tall in the gaps between the intersecting steel plates and rivets—the very ones he had seen earlier.
Those coming and going for work were all numbered members of Shadow Garden, along with a few unfamiliar faces. However, there wasn't a single member of the Black Knights in sight.
"By the way, what happened to the Black Knights and Lelouch?" Mahiro asked curiously.
At the mention of the Black Knights, no one answered. Instead, they exchanged uneasy glances.
It wasn't that they were unaware of the relationship between the Black Knights and Lelouch—quite the opposite. Everyone present knew it all too well.
"The Black Knights are currently in a state of wandering dissolution. Lelouch was captured, and Suzaku Kururugi used this achievement to be promoted to a Knight of Rounds. Lelouch's memories have been rewritten by Charles's Geass, and he now lives as an ordinary student at Ashford Academy."
Alpha spoke expressionlessly, as if discussing something entirely unrelated…
Well, it was unrelated, so never mind.
Still, Mahiro couldn't help but click his tongue upon hearing this.
Although he had expected Alaya to lead to Lelouch's capture, hearing it confirmed was still hard to swallow.
Just how foolish was Lelouch? The path had been laid out for him, yet he still ended up captured by Suzaku Kururugi…
As for the Black Knights' wandering dissolution, that was even easier to understand.
Without a leader, what could that ragtag group accomplish?
Especially someone like Kaname Ohgi…
The only ones worth noting in the entire Black Knights were Toudou Kyoushirou, his Four Holy Swords, and Kallen.
Seeing him rub his temples as if in pain, Alpha stepped forward and asked softly:
"Do you need us to rescue Lelouch?"
If Mahiro nodded even slightly now, Alpha was ready to take action. After all, extracting someone from Area Eleven wasn't particularly difficult.
Even bringing a few extra people wouldn't be a problem.
But Mahiro hesitated for a moment.
He turned to Nunnally, who had long since regained the use of her legs and had grown almost as tall as Kaguya, and asked:
"Nunnally, what do you think?"
"Huh? M-Me?"
Nunnally was taken aback at first, then carefully considered the question. After a moment, she shook her head, pursed her lips, and whispered:
"…If possible, I hope my brother can live a peaceful life and not get involved in this conflict again."
Hearing this, Euphy tightly grasped Nunnally's small hand, bringing a trace of warmth to her cold fingertips.
She could see how much courage it took for Nunnally to make such a decision.
Because if Lelouch never regained his memories and lived out his life like this, Nunnally would likely never see her brother again.
How could Mahiro not understand the feelings of these two girls? He sighed softly and reached out to pat Nunnally's head.
"There's no need to rush to a conclusion. Besides, it's not like you'll never see him again. I happen to want to visit Area Eleven myself, so let's postpone this decision until then."
Nunnally didn't refuse. She gave him a grateful look and nodded silently.
But just then, Mahiro felt a strange gaze fixed on him. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a faint purple figure disappearing behind a nearby building.
It looked familiar…
Suddenly remembering something, Mahiro blinked at Euphy and then looked at the others accompanying him.
"By the way, where's Cornelia?"
If he remembered correctly, he had ordered Cornelia to be brought back.
But when he asked, everyone fell silent again, and all eyes turned to Euphy.
Euphy felt awkward and could only timidly explain:
"Um… Teacher, my sister… she hasn't figured out how to face you yet, so please give her a little more time."
As she spoke, Euphy bowed deeply to him.
This wasn't entirely unexpected. Given the circumstances at the time—even though he hadn't personally killed Euphy, he had been an accomplice—it was natural for Cornelia to resent him.
So he didn't mind too much.
Besides, the faint purple figure in the corner shadows didn't reappear. She probably really didn't want to see him.
Afterward, Mahiro strolled around Penglai Island with the girls, visiting many places.
He also met quite a few people.
But what surprised him was running into Leila Malcal here!
Or rather, Leila von Breisgau.
She was the one from the movie who, as a child on the brink of death, was saved by C.C. and granted a fragment of Geass.
Blonde hair, blue eyes—as cold and stern as he remembered.
Though her combat suit perfectly outlined her figure, her fluttering short skirt sparked imagination, and the snow-white thighs revealed above her knee-high boots were enticing, her icy, unapproachable aura remained undiminished.
But upon seeing this woman, Mahiro was only briefly surprised. He paused to observe her for a moment but made no move to approach or speak with her.
Because he had more important matters to attend to—
To see his trophies: Monica, who had been imprisoned in Shadow Garden for a long time, and Anya, who, from his perspective, had only just been captured.
The girls sensed his intentions and gradually dispersed along the way to attend to their own tasks. Only C.C. and Alpha remained by his side.
"You've been following me for so long—is there something else?"
Mahiro stopped and turned to face the two women.
He couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but it seemed as though C.C. and Alpha had reached some kind of agreement. C.C. appeared to hold a position of considerable authority within Shadow Garden.
However, Alpha remained silent.
Instead, C.C. crossed her arms and leaned against the cold wall of the corridor, her eyes filled with inquiry as she spoke softly:
"We're waiting for you to tell us what exactly happened that day a year ago."
A year ago, on the day the Black Knights launched their large-scale attack on the Tokyo Settlement, C.C. suddenly felt a disturbance in the power of the Code and sensed that Yotsuba Mahiro was in danger.
But when she arrived, she found Yotsuba Mahiro standing motionless, like a statue.
From that moment on, he fell into a deep slumber that lasted an entire year.
During that time, they tried countless methods but were unable to wake him.
At this, Mahiro simply smiled.
"I thought you were going to ask something else. So it's about that…"
Without any intention of hiding the truth, he explained what had happened that day in a casual, indifferent tone, as if it hadn't happened to him but to someone else.
Alpha and C.C., however, grew increasingly shocked and solemn as they listened.
Alpha, having experienced great storms before and even encountered world-destroying demons like Diablos, wasn't as visibly shaken. Still, her eyes flickered as she watched him, lost in thought.
C.C., on the other hand, looked at him with a complex expression.
"So, you met the 'God'?"
As a bearer of the Code, C.C. knew all too well what this "God" represented—the origin of all evil.
Mahiro merely shrugged nonchalantly.
"You could say that."
Although he had told them everything, he made no mention of what Alaya intended to do, only saying they had chatted casually.
But both Alpha and C.C. understood it couldn't have been just a simple chat.
The two exchanged glances. C.C.'s attitude shifted first, becoming as lazy as a cat.
"Hmm~ As long as you're fine, I'll head back now."
Without another word, she turned and left.
Alpha also left after leading him to where Monica and Anya were imprisoned.
Mahiro didn't dwell on what the two were thinking. Instead, he turned his attention to the metal automatic door before him, which looked like the entrance to a laboratory.
After examining it briefly from the outside, Mahiro opened the sealed metal door.
Stepping inside, he called out loudly:
"Yo, long time no see, dear Lady Monica!"
Inside the room…
This should have been a prison cell, but it bore no resemblance to one.
It looked more like a young girl's bedroom.
Aside from the faint, peculiar fragrance lingering in the air, the furnishings were distinctly girlish.
Monica, who once piloted the magnificent knightmare frame named "Bedivere," symbolizing the most loyal of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, now sat on the elegant bed with a pitiable expression.
It wasn't that she truly felt sorrowful—her appearance and temperament were naturally like this, gifted with a face that evoked protection and pity in others.
But her strength was undeniable. Though she occupied the lowest seat among the Knights of Rounds and was a seemingly delicate woman, her power was among the greatest in the empire.
Even in close combat, only the Second Princess Cornelia could reliably defeat her.
Yet despite such strength, she had become a prisoner, kept like a canary in this room.
Though she still wore the pure white uniform issued by the empire, the honor it once represented had long since faded.
And she had been imprisoned like this for over a year.
But she never expected that the seemingly indestructible metal door would open now.
Hearing the noise, Monica's delicate frame trembled slightly, and a trace of fear flashed across her face.
Her mind immediately conjured the image of a petite figure.
Though cute in appearance, to her, it was like a demon.
Though the wine-red hair was smooth, to her, it resembled Medusa's locks.
Though the voice was sweet, to her ears, it sounded like a demon's whisper!
Over the past year, she had mostly been idle, imprisoned in this room. Only occasionally would she suffer torment at the hands of that demonic little girl named Eta!
Even the memory made her shudder uncontrollably.
She had tried to resist, but she discovered the girl possessed astonishing strength—a single strike was enough to render her helpless before she was dragged out of the room.
So now, the sound of the door opening filled her with involuntary dread.
Until an unfamiliar male voice came from outside.
"Yo, long time no see, dear Lady Monica!"
"…Who's there?"
She instinctively looked up and saw a young man walking in.
He appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, with messy black hair and a sunny, handsome face adorned with a faint smile.
"Who are you?"
Monica demanded, trying to sound stern.
Finding him unfamiliar, she asked again.
"Yotsuba Mahiro."
Mahiro smiled slightly, offering only a name in response. But Monica was puzzled.
Whether as a royal tutor or a teacher at Ashford Academy, neither identity was connected to Monica, even if she was Charles's illegitimate daughter.
Mahiro could tell from her expression, so he offered another name—
"If Yotsuba Mahiro isn't familiar, then what about the name Shadow? I wonder if you remember, Lady Monica."
The room fell silent.
Instantly, the atmosphere grew tense, and the air pressure seemed to drop.
She certainly remembered the name Shadow, and she had no reason to doubt this person's claim—because before her eyes, the young man visibly transformed.
He took on the appearance of the white-haired man who had grievously wounded her!
Monica felt both shock and boundless anger.
It was because of this man that she had been imprisoned here for so long; it was because of this man that she had suffered such inhuman torment!
At this thought, Monica's eyes reddened. Her small hand subtly retrieved a sharp metal shard from under her pillow.
She had prepared it long ago to use against that girl named Eta.
She never expected to have the chance today to personally kill the empire's greatest enemy!
"Die!!!"
Monica suddenly sprang from the bed, charging at the figure before her like a panther. Her speed was so great that the metal shard in her hand sliced through the air with a sharp whistle.
Her target was his heart!
A single strike to kill!
That was how it should have been.
But the next moment, her body inexplicably froze in place. In her vision, the young man's eyes glowed with a crimson light.
"Didn't expect it to work so well."
Mahiro rubbed his chin, looking intrigued, even eager.
This was the "Gate" he had replicated from Miya Yotsuba, used to forcibly interfere with the opponent's unconscious region.
But in practical application, it yielded unexpectedly pleasant results—this interference with the unconscious region could even achieve a paralyzing effect.
For no particular reason, Mahiro felt a spark of interest and decided to conduct a few more experiments on Lady Monica.