Chapter 301: An absolutely unwinnable war
Due to Lelouch's floor-flipping actions, the Britannian military suffered over half its forces in losses, while the Black Knights' offensive surged forward, capturing most of the Tokyo Settlement.
Only the Governor's Mansion remained, teetering on the brink.
However, that was also the toughest nut to crack, and the situation between the two sides had reached a stalemate. Even the remaining forces were not something a temporary organization like the Black Knights could handle.
After all, they were the elite of the elite.
Not to mention the presence of boss-level figures like the Knights of Rounds and Cornelia.
Meanwhile, the Black Knights had moved their command post into the last remaining sanctuary within the Tokyo Settlement—
Ashford Academy.
Because of Euphy's deception, the Black Knights now harbored deep hatred for Britannians, even Britannian students.
They showed almost no mercy, forcibly rounding up the students in the school and locking them in the gymnasium as hostages.
The members of the Student Council were no exception. When the Black Knights stormed in, Milly, Shirley, Rivalz, Nunnally, and Sumeragi Kaguya happened to be hiding there.
They were captured on the spot.
"Let go! Release me!"
"Huh? What nonsense are you talking? Stay put!"
Rivalz broke free from the terrorist's grip, trying to shield the others.
However, the terrorist who was pushed aside immediately raised the butt of his gun, ready to strike down hard.
"Stop! I am Sumeragi Kaguya of the Kyoto Six Houses. I will not allow you to act recklessly here!"
At this critical moment, Kaguya suddenly stepped forward and shouted.
Indeed, her words had an effect. The man stopped his movement, looking up with a strange expression as he examined the girl who appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old.
Not just him, but the others were also surprised.
The Kyoto Six Houses.
Others might not know, but Milly, as a noble, understood—they were the six families that assisted Britannia in managing Area Eleven and mining the Sakuradite from Mount Fuji.
But why was she one of them?
Back then, Mahiro-sensei had said this girl was his sister, which was why she was settled in the Student Council club's villa.
But now she claimed to be part of the Kyoto Six Houses.
Could it be that Mahiro-sensei was also a member of the Kyoto Six Houses?
Milly felt this guess was reasonable, especially since the teacher insisted on the name Yotsuba Mahiro, not Mahiro Zi Britannia.
But the question was, when did the Kyoto Six Houses have a Yotsuba family?
Just as Milly was misunderstanding everything in her confusion, the man opposite her sneered disdainfully:
"Hah, the Kyoto Six Houses? Just a bunch of Britannia's lapdogs!"
Kaguya's presence in a Britannian school only confirmed this.
So the man decided not to hold back. He released the safety, chambered a round, and aimed the muzzle at them.
"A traitor like you should just die!!!"
Without hesitation, the man pulled the trigger. The dark muzzle spat fire, and a gleaming bullet shot out.
Though terrified, Kaguya stood motionless, only closing her eyes tightly in fear.
Because her friends were all here. Though they hadn't spent many days together, life here was far happier than when she'd been holed up in Mount Fuji.
It's just a pity...
At this moment, only one handsome face surfaced in her mind - a face that always wore a gentle smile, remaining perfectly composed no matter what dangers they encountered...
"Husband-sama..." Kaguya couldn't help murmuring.
"Hmm? You called me?"
"Eh?"
With her eyes tightly shut, Kaguya didn't feel the sharp pain of bullets tearing through her chest. Instead, she found herself falling into a warm embrace, completely enveloped by a familiar scent.
Simultaneously, a familiar voice reached her ears...
Could this be a dream?
Kaguya cautiously opened her eyes, and the very face that had just appeared in her thoughts now filled her vision.
And she was currently being held in the arms of the husband she'd been yearning for.
Before them, a transparent barrier had materialized, intercepting all the bullets.
"Husband-sama, is it really you?"
Kaguya's lips trembled slightly as she was about to murmur something, but was interrupted by a shocked scream.
"You... What kind of monster is this?!!"
Yotsuba Mahiro: ...
I haven't even made a move yet, why are they already screaming like ghosts.
"So noisy."
A red light flashed briefly in his eyes, and instantly [Mist Dispersion] activated, decomposing the man into a cloud of dust.
The room immediately filled with an unpleasant, pungent smell of burning.
Milly and Shirley were relatively fine, having seen this kind of method before - they'd even witnessed more exaggerated displays - so they didn't react too strongly.
However, Rivalz, the only other male in the room, was dry heaving uncontrollably at the sight.
What an embarrassing reaction...
Mahiro calmly averted his gaze.
"It's wonderful, Husband-sama! I knew you would come to save me!"
Kaguya simply turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to him like an accessory.
The young girl was still wearing her elegant, full-length kimono today, but beneath the kimono her delicate feet were clad in short boots. A delicate gemstone necklace adorned her forehead, and her beautiful large eyes blinked repeatedly. Yet within those seemingly innocent eyes, there was a subtle maturity that only adults typically possess.
"There, there."
Mahiro affectionately patted Kaguya's small head.
To be honest, he genuinely liked Kaguya - she ranked among the top three in his heart in this world.
Usually cute and adorable, yet knowing what's important at critical moments. It's just that the burden on her shoulders was a bit too heavy...
Thinking this, he turned to look at the other girls in the room and asked:
"Are you all alright?"
"We're fine, Mahiro-sensei."
Milly responded as their representative.
The others nodded along, including Rivalz who was still vomiting up bile - he tremblingly raised his hand to acknowledge his presence.
But it had truly been dangerously close - if the teacher hadn't arrived, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Probably everyone in the room would have been shot full of holes, right?
Meanwhile, Shirley, who was pushing Nunnally's wheelchair, looked at Yotsuba Mahiro with a complex expression in her eyes.
He had saved her again...
Just like at the lakeside hotel before, and now once more.
A complicated emotion quietly stirred within her heart.
However, the gunshots inside the room had also alarmed the other Black Knights members outside.
"What happened?"
Rushing over were the masked Zero and Kallen, whose face was covered by a mask but whose fiery red hair remained unmistakable.
Kallen scanned the room and let out a slight sigh of relief when her gaze fell on the student council members.
But when she saw Mahiro also present there, she was somewhat surprised.
"....."
She was about to call out "Shadow" but quickly changed her mind. Then, when she thought of addressing him as Mahiro-sensei, she promptly fell silent.
The reason was simple: she was now Kallen Kōzuki of the Black Knights, while Mahiro was Mahiro-sensei at school, not Shadow.
If she spoke up, both she and Mahiro would be exposed.
Seeing this, Mahiro couldn't help but feel amused.
"Nothing much. It's just that some of your people were getting restless, so I helped take care of them."
As he spoke, Mahiro slowly stepped forward, his appearance beginning to change.
Long silver hair flowed out, his pitch-black pupils gradually shifting to a blood-like crimson. Clad in dark attire reminiscent of a noble of the night, the smile curling at the corner of his lips appeared particularly sinister and alluring.
Seeing this, Milly and the others couldn't help but cover their mouths in astonishment.
Although they had long known Mahiro's identity, this was the first time they had witnessed him transform from his original appearance into Shadow's form.
Not to mention Rivalz, who trembled as he pointed at Mahiro, his mouth agape but unable to utter a single word for a long while.
Mahiro-sensei was actually Shadow?!
What kind of earth-shattering news was this?!
"..."
Zero glanced at the pile of dust on the other side of the room, then pondered for a moment before saying, "I'll leave this place to you. Take them and lock them up separately. Make sure they're kept safe."
These words were directed at Kallen beside him, who understood immediately and promptly led the others away.
Throughout this process, Lelouch didn't even glance at Nunnally. He was restraining himself, afraid that a single look would expose him, and even more afraid that he would feel reluctant to let her go.
Meanwhile, Nunnally, seated in her wheelchair, seemed to sense something as she closed her eyes and turned her head toward Lelouch's direction.
She parted her lips as if to say something, but ultimately, no words came out. She simply pressed her lips together and allowed Shirley to push her away, leaving the room.
Now, the only ones remaining in the room were Mahiro as Shadow, Lelouch as Zero, and Sumeragi Kaguya.
This girl had insisted on staying, claiming that as a member of the Kyoto Six Families, she had the responsibility and duty to remain.
Lelouch simply let her be.
Instead, after everyone else had left, Kaguya very casually greeted them.
"Lord Zero, we meet again. I wonder if you remember this humble girl."
Kaguya bowed slightly as she spoke.
But as she lowered her head, she was struggling to hold back her laughter.
Even though they had already known each other for so long, now they had to pretend not to be too familiar.
Lelouch, who had been watching the drama unfold, nodded with understanding. "I remember you - the survivor of the Kyoto Six Houses, Sumeragi Kaguya."
After speaking, Lelouch's gaze returned to Mahiro, clearly having something to say.
Mahiro naturally noticed this and patted Kaguya's back. "Alright, Kaguya, you may leave now. I have some matters to discuss with Zero."
"Yes, my lord."
Kaguya left the room without hesitation.
After the young woman departed, Lelouch immediately asked, "...Where is that green-haired woman?"
His tone carried both accusation and barely suppressed anger.
"You mean C.C.? She should be..."
"I'm here."
Before Mahiro could finish, the student council's automatic door opened again, revealing a woman with flowing green hair entering the room.
The moment he saw her, Lelouch's eyes instantly turned red.
"You..."
Facing the calm C.C., Lelouch rushed forward angrily, his expression beneath the mask looking as if he wanted to devour her.
But the next moment.
Thud!
Lelouch was slammed hard to the ground by Mahiro.
The sharp pain from his back made Lelouch gasp sharply.
"Have you calmed down now, young man?"
Seeing Mahiro's half-smiling face, Lelouch immediately fell silent.
After a long while, he finally spoke:
"Teacher, Euphy is dead."
"I know."
"It's because the Geass this woman gave me suddenly went out of control."
"Yes, I know that too."
"Then..."
Lelouch wanted to say, "Then why are you stopping me!"
But Mahiro interrupted: "When you obtained the power of Geass, I warned you that there would be a price to pay. And the out of control wasn't C.C.'s fault, but rather your dear father Charles the Schneizel and his brother V.V."
"Charles... V.V.?"
Compared to his father's name, Lelouch was more astonished by "V.V." - the name was so similar to C.C.!
So the two of them...
"V.V. and C.C. have no relationship."
Mahiro discerned Lelouch's thoughts and explained: "V.V. is your father Charles's biological brother. They were the only two survivors of the royal conflicts back then. When they were young, they made a vow to create a peaceful world without lies."
"So V.V. obtained CODE from somewhere, making himself immortal while maintaining his youthful appearance, and granted Charles Geass."
"And your Geass going out of control was actually part of Charles's plan."
After hearing all this, Lelouch fell silent.
The shock on his face was difficult to conceal.
There were so many things he didn't know - especially about this V.V., who turned out to be his uncle?!
And that man also possessed the power of Geass?!
However, after hearing this explanation, Lelouch's mind completely calmed down.
"I understand."
Lelouch slowly rose from the ground.
At the same time, he had to leave the student council room due to news of Lancelot's arrival.
"Is this really alright?"
C.C. stepped forward gracefully and asked, "By doing this, you're essentially exposing Marianne and Charles' entire plan to this little one. Aren't you afraid of Charles' retaliation?"
"Afraid?"
Mahiro looked at the woman beside him with a faint smile, sneering, "When have you ever seen me afraid? I'm only afraid he won't make a move."
Hearing this, C.C. stared at his face for a long moment before finally unable to suppress a chuckle.
"That's true, when has this arrogant brat ever been afraid?"
If anything, it should be Charles and Marianne who are afraid - otherwise they wouldn't have tried to keep him by appointing him as a royal tutor, once showing him favor.
And there was no obstruction when he left later.
However, being called an "arrogant brat" made Mahiro's forehead twitch with annoyance. If the timing weren't inappropriate, he really wanted to pin this woman down and teach her a lesson right then.
"Where are you going?"
Seeing Mahiro preparing to leave, C.C. asked curiously.
"Going out for some light exercise."
"Oh? It wouldn't be for your other good student, would it~"
C.C. crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe with smiling eyes.
"Of course, that's a very important student indeed."
With these words, Mahiro smiled and directly left the student council room.
Just as he entered the hallway, he saw Kaguya waiting outside.
She noticed Mahiro's appearance and immediately bounced over to him, smiling as she said, "Husband, are you going to sortie too?"
"Yes, it's about time to make a move."
Mahiro nodded, but just as he took a step, he withdrew his foot and asked with interest:
"Kaguya, would you like to come along and see?"
"No, husband."
Kaguya calmly shook her head and said, "If I follow you now, I would only cause trouble for you."
"Oh?"
Mahiro raised an eyebrow, curious about Kaguya's calm expression.
"The Tokyo Settlement is currently in the heat of battle. Aren't you excited about Japan's impending liberation, Kaguya?"
He spoke with a faint smile, his words unhurried.
"Japan cannot be liberated now...
Sumeragi Kaguya softly denied.
Though her smile remained full, her words carried profound depth.
....There's absolutely no way for current Japan to liberate itself from Britannia's grasp, even if all other colonial areas revolt simultaneously."
"Japan possesses eighty percent of the world's Sakuradite resources. For Britannia, even if they abandon other colonial areas, they would never let go of Japan."
"Regardless of whether the Black Knights can capture the Tokyo Settlement, once forces from Britannia's homeland arrive, Japan will inevitably face defeat."
"Even if we don't lose, we would still have to defend against encroachment from the Chinese Federation and the EU afterwards."
To sum it up in one sentence, the current Area Eleven is a hot commodity, with everyone wanting a piece of it.
Kaguya's tone carried a hint of melancholy and a touch of wistfulness.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Japan had lost all possibility of becoming an independent sovereign nation. In the future, it could only be a vassal state of some great power.
However, if one had to say who could protect this land, it would likely be the person standing before her.
Because he possessed absolute military power, a force capable of overwhelming the world!
But what truly surprised Mahiro was how far-sighted she was, able to see everything so clearly.
He had originally thought that this girl was probably just like the Black Knights—full of passion but mindlessly pursuing restoration. Yet, she had already glimpsed the future.
In Mahiro's heart, his estimation of Kaguya couldn't help but rise a few notches.
"Alright, don't worry. What I promised you, I will definitely accomplish."
"Then this humble wife shall quietly await her husband's triumphant return~"
Kaguya smiled faintly, watching as Yotsuba Mahiro departed.