"Mass Explosion" Limited Edition (Continued)

Alpha suddenly appeared beside him.

He walked right past like any other passerby, completely going unnoticed by anyone.

Even if her appearance is attractive enough to draw attention.

"Oh dear, what's going on? I was just invited by a student, why are you being so confrontational?"

Mahiro smiled, appearing completely unconcerned.

"But this is clearly a trap. That man named Mao is obviously using Shirley Finette to try and get close to you..."

Alpha is getting anxious.

Mind-reading ability is very troublesome; at least the Shadow Garden has absolutely no way to deal with it and has been able to escape many times.

But before he could finish speaking, he noticed that Mahiro's aura suddenly changed.

"... Alpha, who do you think I am?"

The moment they turned to look at each other, the sharp gaze and deep voice that came from him made Alpha's delicate body tremble slightly.

Yes, who is he?

That is the ruler and creator of the Shadow Garden, and the one and only Lord Shadow!

Their strength is enough to reach the pinnacle of the world; any conspiracy or trickery can be seen through at a glance.

What kind of trap could possibly fool this adult and threaten his safety?

"I'm sorry, I..."

"It's alright."

Mahiro immediately withdrew his aura, waved his hand, and interrupted with a smile, saying, "It was originally a trivial matter."

Is it really worth going to such lengths to eliminate a mind-reading creature?

Obviously not.

It's just a matter of moving a finger.

Soon, the tram arrived at the station.

Following the address given by Shirley, he arrived at his destination—

A newly built obelisk at the foot of the Narita Mountain Range.

This is a memorial erected to commemorate those who perished in the Narita Mountain Range disaster.

Shirley stood in the square, gazing up at the obelisk, her eyes stinging from the sunlight, without looking away, a pink backpack slung over her shoulder.

Through the open zipper gap, one could vaguely see a photograph and a pistol inside.

"Why... why would anyone do something like this?"

"What kind of thing?"

Muttering to herself, Shirley heard a voice behind her and instinctively turned around.

"Teacher Yotsuba Clan..."

"Yes, it's me, Shirley. Can you tell me what's bothering you so much?"

Mahiro looked at Shirley and asked softly.

The Shirley he saw at this moment was no longer the outstanding student who excelled in both sports and academics; instead, she looked broken and haggard.

Her once lustrous and alluring orange hair now looked like withered grass battered by the autumn wind, scattered in a mess.

Her delicate face was now marred by severe dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept in a long time.

The struggle in her eyes was even more obvious.

Even knowing that Lelouch was the murderer of his father, even having his mind read by Mao and having his deepest, most unwanted thoughts exposed, even with his consciousness on the verge of collapse and his mind filled with the thought of 'killing Lelouch '.

But in the end, Shirley still didn't take action. This strong girl gave up the chance to avenge her father for the sake of the one she loved, and this cowardly girl abandoned her hatred for her father because of the one she loved.

What a contradiction... love... and hatred... In the end, did love prevail?

"Hey, Yotsuba Clan- sensei..."

With her dry lips parted slightly, Shirley suddenly called his name. Looking up, she saw the girl's face full of bitterness.

"Teacher... are you really the Shadow who was with Zero?"

Yes, that's right.

"So, the kidnapping by the Black Knights at the hotel that day was also a lie, right?"

"Well, that's just a temporary way of putting it."

Faced with Shirley's questioning, he gave a straightforward response.

"As expected... How could someone with your supernatural power be kidnapped... And if Lelouch is Zero, then the Shadow can only be you..."

Shirley wept silently. Although she had long guessed this outcome, she still couldn't believe it, let alone that the person she loved most was the culprit who killed her father, and that the teacher who usually took the best care of her was actually an accomplice.

After a while, as if Shirley had made a decision, the struggle in her eyes disappeared completely, and she slowly raised her head to look into his eyes.

Then he said firmly:

"Teacher Yotsuba Clan, please kill me."

Yotsuba Mahiro: "???"

I was stunned when I heard that.

He blinked in surprise.

"Hey Shirley, did you pick up something unclean by the roadside and eat it? Why would I kill you?"

"Because... because I know your and Lulu's identities. According to terrorists, shouldn't they kill all witnesses? Besides... besides..."

"Hahaha."

A Mahiro of laughter interrupted Shirley's increasingly soft voice, which was now barely audible. Simultaneously, she raised two fingers to correct her:

"You've got two things wrong, Shirley."

"First of all, while the Black Knights are indeed a resistance force, the Shadow Garden is not the terrorist organization you imagine."

"Secondly, you are my student, I have no reason to kill you... Just because your identity was exposed, you're going to kill someone? Is the life of your own student less important than something as trivial as your identity?"

Shirley's body trembled, and she involuntarily lowered her head, large tears streaming down her cheeks, dripping onto the ground and shattering into pieces.

Yotsuba Mahiro's answer was completely unexpected.

She had originally planned that if Teacher Mahiro was indeed the Shadow that person spoke of, and her identity was exposed by her, then she would die here peacefully, which would be a kind of liberation.

But now...

"That's so unfair... that's so unfair... Mr. Mahiro, your statement is utterly cheating."

Shirley smiled and tilted her head back, but her face was covered in tears, making it impossible to tell that it was a smile. It was a mixture of smile and sadness, making her look even more heartbreaking.

"Because I'm your teacher."

Mahiro a gentle, faint smile. "So even if you know my identity, it's okay. If you want to report me, go to the Governor's Mansion. I won't stop you."

"If you want revenge for your father, aim here."

He pointed to his chest, to the location of his heart.

"Lelouch's gun is still in your bag, isn't it? Take it out, load it, aim it at me, and pull the trigger."

He guided the student step by step, just like instructing a beginner on how to use a firearm.

"No... I can't do that..."

Shirley refused his request, retreating desperately until her ankle struck the memorial stone behind her.

"How could I possibly kill a teacher..."

Shirley almost cried again.

But just then, a round of applause broke out.

"Slap, slap, slap..."

"What a hypocritical yet touching drama, hehehehehe..."

From the other side of the memorial, a tall, white-haired man wearing headphones and black goggles walked out. The applause that had just been given was undoubtedly from him.

His gaze, however, fell on Shirley.

"Your father is grieving. Lelouch and Yotsuba Mahiro deceived you. They were Zero and Shadow. They used their hypocritical words to order your father's death, and yet you chose to forgive them..."

"It's... it's you?!"

As if fleeing, Shirley took a few steps back, trying to distance herself from the man.

"Yes, that's me, the one who helped you get revenge... Now, take the pistol out of your backpack, cock it, and kill that man..."

"Shut up!"

Just as the man was continuing to bewitch Shirley and destroy the defenses she had painstakingly rebuilt, Mahiro suddenly spoke up.

It was just an ordinary, loud shout, yet it seemed to make the air tremble.

Mao felt as if he were being stared at by a wild beast about to break free of its cage. The temperature around him seemed to drop sharply, and the terrifying intimidation made him instinctively shut his mouth.

It was as if they had received some kind of order.

Mao slowly turned around, looking at Mahiro with a playful smile.

"Ah, like a lurking beast, you possess such an aura. You must be Yotsuba Mahiro. Let me introduce myself, I..."

"No need for that. You are Mao, a Geass contractor who once signed a contract with CC, but CC's evaluation of you was that you were a piece of trash. She was too lazy to get rid of you back then, so now I'll make up for that mistake."

"What did you say?!"

Mahiro's words precisely hit Mao's sore spot.

After CC made a vague promise to him, it left without saying goodbye, which was a lifelong pain for Mao!

"Impossible! You're lying! How could CC say I'm useless! You must be deceiving me. Let me hear your secrets!"

Mao's lips curled into a defiant smile, and the bird-like markings in his eyes seemed to become even more vivid, but his defiant demeanor quickly vanished.

Instead, their faces were filled with astonishment and surprise.

Even after removing his headphones and goggles, his facial expression remained unchanged.

"Why? Why can't I hear your thoughts, why can't I read your mind?! Who... who are you anyway?"

"Oh? You're so willing to listen to other people's ideas? Then come and listen carefully."

Mahiro curled the corner of his mouth into a smile, as if some kind of restriction had been lifted.

At that moment, Mao did indeed hear a "voice," but rather than a "voice from the heart," it was more like a lament from hell!

I'll kill you...

I'll kill you...

I'll kill you!!!

Dismemberment, slow slicing, dismemberment by chariot, beheading, burning, crucifixion—kill! kill! kill! kill! kill! kill! kill! kill! kill! kill!

No favors, no redemption, only destruction, a return to pure white!!!

Hahahahahahaha!!!

"What... what is this?"

Mao immediately covered his head and ears tightly, trying to block out the sounds, but the sounds continued to flood his brain.

This sound was far more painful than hearing the voices of hundreds of people at the same time, and far more terrifying than any evil thought!

Like pure darkness, without a trace of light!

It was as if his entire being was immersed in an inescapable hell, enveloped by a torrent of evil thoughts that constantly washed over and eroded his consciousness. Immersed in this desperate killing intent, his hands began to tremble.

"W-why?! What kind of monster are you?!"

Mao roared wildly, scaring Shirley half to death.

The Geass mark in Mao's eye almost turned into a pinhole as his pupil shrank.