The Miracle Battle of Mount Narita (5.1K)

A few pure white snowflakes drifted slowly and quietly down from the sky.

The snow seems to have come earlier than usual this year; several heavy snowfalls have already occurred by mid-December.

The mountains and fields were covered in a blanket of silver.

Meanwhile, inside a small wooden cabin, Lelouch and Mahiro were playing chess face to face. On the table where the chessboard was placed, there was a steaming cup of coffee and a cup of hot tea.

If we disregard their current location, their behavior isn't particularly strange.

However, it would seem rather strange to say that this was the Narita Mountain Range, the main outpost of the Japanese Liberation Front.

Inside the wooden house, two members of the Japanese Liberation Front were playing Go in a corner, seemingly oblivious to their presence.

"What a useful ability, Lelouch..."

Lelouch used Geass to lead himself and his men through the Japanese Liberation Front's checkpoints, and they remained in a house with the guards, unnoticed until now.

"It's not exactly useful, teacher. Compared to your ability, which can only be described as convenient, it's not very useful on the front lines. However, since you have such a convenient ability, it would be foolish not to make good use of it."

Lelouch held the chess piece, his brow furrowed in thought.

In this world, there are only two people who have played chess with him who make him cautious and thoughtful in every move: one is his teacher Yotsuba Mahiro, who sits opposite him, and the other is his elder brother Schneizel.

"That's definitely your style of answer."

Mahiro smiled gently, picked up the steaming teacup, and took a slow, leisurely sip, looking as content as an old man playing chess on the street.

But in reality, playing chess is just a tool to relieve boredom; they are actually waiting.

They were here because Cornelia was preparing to take action against the group on the Japanese Liberation Front.

The information was leaked to the Black Knights through Diethart Ritt on the television station.

Meanwhile, the Black Knights received aid from the Kyoto Six Houses, who provided a batch of brand-new Knightmare vehicles, as well as Kallen's personal vehicle, the Guren Type-02 Crimson Lotus Mk-II.

So Lelouch brought him here under the guise of a picnic, intending to use this opportunity to start a war with Cornelia.

However, Mahiro came along mainly for other purposes; spending time with Lelouch and Cornelia was just a side thing.

Moreover, he was also curious to see just how much Cornelia had grown over the years.

I'm kind of looking forward to it...

"Um?"

Lelouch stroked his chin, seriously contemplating the situation on the chessboard before him. The clock on the wall slowly ticked forward, and it wasn't until several minutes later that he made a decision.

But just as he picked up the chess piece to move it, he caught a glimpse of a figure outside the window out of the corner of his eye.

"When... did that woman arrive?"

Turning his head, Lelouch saw C. C. in her white straitjacket, but his face was not friendly at all.

Rather, he was quite annoyed by this woman who acted willfully and was completely unaware of the danger she posed.

"CC is someone I brought along. Since we're going on a picnic, it's good to let her get some fresh air."

Shrugging, Mahiro tossed the chess piece onto the table.

Because he knew that Lelouch had lost interest in playing chess.

"Then handle it yourself, don't let her ruin our plans."

"Yes, yes, leave it to me."

Mahiro casually replied, then got up and walked out of the cabin.

Their plans?

That's complete nonsense; he and Lelouch each had different motives.

Lelouch's goal was to overturn the floor, kill Cornelia, and thereby win over those on the Japanese Liberation Front, gaining more support and more advantageous pawns.

But he was after something hidden Narita Mountain Range—

The secret research facility related to Geass.

Although they say they don't care, over time they eventually start to care about it.

Even though he understood the essence of this thing, he still wanted to figure out the connection between Geass, Code, and the C's World, or rather, he wanted to transform it into his own power.

Even if all else fails, he can share it with others; as he experienced more of the world, he understood this.

It's not just him who needs to become stronger, but also his family.

Otherwise, they will eventually be left far behind and reduced to useless ornaments.

And that's why CC was brought here by him.

"It's all done?"

"Yes, we've located the location. Your little kitten has infiltrated the research institute."

As CC spoke, she casually touched the weeds growing among the rocks, kicked small stones on the ground, and sometimes looked up at the sky indifferently.

Until a single snowflake drifted down from the dark, gloomy sky.

"It's snowing," she said softly.

"Yeah, this awful weather is really..."

Mahiro came to her side, and together they gazed at the distant mountains.

But CC ignored his complaints and instead reached out to catch the snowflake that was gently drifting in the breeze.

The snowflakes, however, vanished from her fingertips in a fleeting moment, like mayflies that live only a day and die at No Shadow, No Trace.

Gazing at the water droplets remaining on her fingertips, she suddenly spoke:

"Mahiro... why are you Mahiro?"

"Discussing philosophy? That's quite interesting."

Feeling the gentle breeze blowing in his face, Mahiro smiled slightly and said, "The reason Mahiro is Mahiro is because he is only Mahiro, not someone else. Or rather, Mahiro is just a code name. I can be him, you can be him, and others can be him too."

For me, the name Yotsuba Mahiro is now the only explanation that can define me.

Just like you, CC.

Having abandoned your original name and all your past experiences, isn't the only remaining identifier, the code name CC, the only proof of your existence?

"Yes, you make a lot of sense. Yotsuba Mahiro is Yotsuba Mahiro, but CC... is just CC."

She mumbled something unintelligible, then turned her head and gazed at him with her bright amber eyes.

The mountain breeze rustled through her hair; that fleeting beauty was like an eternal memory captured by a painter. The girl standing there didn't seem like a witch, but rather a beautiful goddess.

However, a myriad of emotions flickered in the goddess's eyes.

Such sorrow.

So lonely.

It was as if she was telling a story of loneliness and pain that had lasted for thousands of years. No one understood her, no one loved her, and she just forced a smile and walked forward alone.

However, she doesn't need anyone's pity or sympathy.

Because she is CC.

It's just CC.

Before I knew it, more and more snowflakes were falling silently from the gray sky.

Her long hair gradually turned white.

CC withdrew her gaze, raised her head to look at the sky scattered with white crystals, and asked in her usual calm tone:

"... Mahiro, do you know why snow is white?"

"..."

Silence.

But before CC could continue speaking, Mahiro spoke up:

"Snow appears white primarily due to the complex reflection, refraction, and interference of light within the snowflakes..."

Mahiro answered with a smile.

CC turned and glanced at him, saying softly, "You really are a boring man..."

It's like all the carefully cultivated emotions and harmonious atmosphere were shattered by his single sentence.

However, Mahiro insisted that he was completely innocent.

"This isn't boring; it's science, explaining the color of snow from a physics perspective."

But you know, that's not the answer I want.

"Yes, I know." Mahiro gazed into the distance, and said with a wistful tone, "You mean to say that snow is white because it has forgotten its former color, right?"

"..."

Silence reigned over the cold mountain air.

The clouds were moving, churning out meaningless patterns, until they slowly covered the entire mountain.

CC, who was below, gradually regained her composure after a slight surprise, and her eyes seemed to hold some indescribable emotions.

It was as if she regarded Mahiro as someone like her.

A confidant who can understand you.

But at that moment, Mahiro spoke again:

"However... even if the snow forgets its color and reverts to pure white, I will definitely dye it with my own colors."

"Heh, that's quite a domineering statement."

CC smiled softly.

There was no sarcasm, no sentimentality, no other superfluous expression; she simply smiled like an ordinary young girl.

At the same time, she reached out and caught another snowflake that landed right on her fingertips.

Snowflakes are pure and flawless, just like her beautiful face, inspiring admiration.

The crowds on the hillside below were bustling about, but she seemed unusually quiet amidst the noise, as if she were in another world.

Chapter 272 The Miraculous Battle of the Narita Mountain Range (5.1K)

At the Narita Mountain Range mountain range.

The large Britannia army forces gradually unfolded, their insignia flashing like stars in the night sky on the simplified strategic dashboard.

Those were Cornelia's personal guard and a carefully selected elite combat force.

Behind these troops, a crown symbol was displayed.

That's where the headquarters' mobile base vehicle is located, guarded by two Knights of the Rounds.

However, behind the mobile base vehicle, slightly away from the main force, there was a completely different orange dot, as if it had been abandoned there.

That was Lancelot, whose performance had been repaired and upgraded several times.

"Aren't you going to try to persuade them to surrender?"

Sitting in Lancelot's control seat, Suzaku Kururugi muttered to himself.

Lloyd grunted in response, indicating that he had heard him.

"Yes."

In his usual flippant tone, seemingly deliberately off-key, Lloyd answered Suzaku Kururugi.

"Because it's meaningless."

"What do you mean by meaningless..."

"Think about it from their perspective. Even though they were forced into a corner, if the leader surrendered and the intelligence was obtained by the enemy, he would still end up being publicly hanged or shot, or at best, imprisoned for life."

Because of this outcome, they won't surrender. In that case, there's no need for us to try and persuade them to surrender."

How could that be?

As Suzaku Kururugi stared at the screen in the cockpit, his lips trembled slightly.