A Year of Change (Continued)

Just as he was about to get out of bed, Alpha and CC came over to help him, a gesture that surprised Mahiro.

Alpha is one thing, but what's with the CC?

However, she did not explain anything.

Delta, who had been hanging around his waist, was still arguing that he wasn't going to defend, but after being glared at by Alpha, he immediately bristled and obediently let go of him.

As for Mahiro himself, he was naturally not used to being served like this, not to mention that he was perfectly fine and showed no signs of muscle atrophy whatsoever.

After much persuasion, Alpha and CC finally let him go.

But she still stayed by his side, never leaving his side.

The group left the ward and went outside. Looking at the turbulent sea in the distance, Mahiro was still somewhat surprised.

Because this Penglai Island is not the island you might imagine; it's more like a metal fortress floating on the sea!

What you're stepping on isn't soft soil, rocks, or sand, but a hard steel plate!

Looking around, most of the surrounding buildings are covered with metal shells.

According to Alpha, these buildings are all up to laboratory explosion-proof standards.

However, the landscaping was still quite good; among the crisscrossing gaps of steel plates and rivets stood rows of willow trees, just like the ones he had seen before.

Those coming and going were all numbered members of the Shadow Garden, along with a few unfamiliar faces, but not a single Black Knights was to be seen.

"By the way, how are the Black Knights and Lelouch?" Mahiro asked curiously.

When the Black Knights were mentioned, no one answered; instead, they looked at each other in bewilderment.

It wasn't that they were unaware of the relationship between the Black Knights and Lelouch; quite the opposite, everyone present was perfectly aware of it.

Only...

"The Black Knights currently on a journey and have disbanded. Lelouch has been captured, and Suzaku Kururugi has been promoted to Knights of the Rounds as a result. Lelouch's memories have been rewritten by Charles's Geass, and he is now a regular student at the Ashford Academy."

Alpha spoke expressionlessly, as if discussing something completely unrelated...

Oh, it seems they really are unrelated. Never mind then.

However, Mahiro couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement after hearing it.

Although I had anticipated that the Alaya-vijnana would lead to Lelouch's capture, I still couldn't help but feel a little uneasy when I actually heard it.

Just how stupid is Lelouch? The path had been paved for him, yet he still ended up being captured by Suzaku Kururugi...

As for the Black Knights' disbanded state during their travels, that's even easier to understand.

Without a leader, what can that bunch of scoundrels possibly accomplish?

Especially guys Kaname Ohgi...

Of the Black Knights, only Tohdoh Kyoshiro and his Four Holy Swords, plus Kallen, are worth considering.

Seeing him rubbing his nose as if he had a headache, Alpha stepped forward again and asked softly:

"Do we need to rescue Lelouch?"

If Mahiro nods even slightly now, Alpha will prepare to take action; after all, taking someone out of Area 11 is not a difficult task.

Bringing several is no problem.

But Mahiro hesitated for a moment.

He turned to look at Nunnally, who had already regained her legs and was almost as tall as Kaguya Sumeragi, and asked:

"Nunnally, what do you think?"

"Huh? Me? Me?"

Nunnally paused for a moment, then thought carefully. After a while, she shook her head, pursed her lips, and whispered:

"... If possible, I hope my brother can live a peaceful life and never be involved in this conflict again."

Upon hearing this, Euphemia li Britannia tightly grasped Nunnally's small hand, bringing a touch of warmth to her icy fingertips.

She could see how much courage it took for Nunnally to make that decision.

If Lelouch were to live out his life without regaining his memories, his sister Nunnally would likely never see him again.

Mahiro understood what the two girls were thinking, so he sighed softly and reached out to pat Nunnally's head.

"There's no need to rush to a conclusion, and it's impossible to never see each other again. I also happen to be planning a trip to Area 11 anyway, so let's postpone this decision until then."

Nunnally didn't refuse. She first gave him a thank-you look, then nodded silently.

But just then, Mahiro felt a strange gaze on him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure in a deep purple hue flash past a short distance behind him, near a building.

It looks familiar...

Mahiro seemed to remember something, winked at Euphemia li Britannia, and then looked at the people following her.

"By the way, where's Cornelia?"

If he remembered correctly, he had Cornelia brought back to China.

But when he asked, the group fell silent again, and all eyes turned to Euphemia li Britannia.

Euphemia li Britannia felt awkward watching this and could only timidly speak:

"Um... teacher, my sister... she hasn't figured out how to see you yet, so please give her a little more time."

As she spoke, Euphemia li Britannia bowed deeply to him.

This wasn't surprising, given the circumstances. Although he didn't kill Euphemia li Britannia himself, he was still an accomplice, so it's normal for Cornelia to hate him.

So he didn't pay any attention to it.

Moreover, the lilac-colored figure in the shadows of the corner did not reappear; perhaps she really didn't want to see him.

Afterwards, Mahiro and the other girls strolled around Penglai Island and saw many things.

I also met quite a few people.

But to his surprise, he actually saw Leila Carl here!

Or you can call her Leila Von Brycega.

He's the one who appeared in the movie, saved by C. C. when he was young and on the verge of death, and given a fragment of Geass.

Blonde hair, blue eyes, and the same cold and serious demeanor as I remembered.

Although her combat uniform perfectly accentuated her figure, her flowing short skirt sparked endless fantasies, and her snow-white thighs exposed by her over-the-knee boots were even more alluring, her aloof and glamorous aura remained undiminished.

However, upon seeing this woman, Mahiro was merely surprised for a moment, paused to observe her briefly, and made no attempt to approach her for conversation.

Because he had more important things to do.

Go see his spoils: Monica, who has been imprisoned in the Shadow Garden for a long time, and Anya Alstreim, whom he should have just captured.

The women saw through his intentions, so they dispersed halfway through to do their own things, with only CC and Alpha remaining by his side.

"You've been following me for so long, is there anything else you need?"

Mahiro stopped and turned to look at the two women.

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I have a feeling that CC and Alpha have reached some kind of agreement. Judging from CC's appearance, she seems to have a high status in the Shadow Garden.

However, Alpha did not speak.

CC, on the other hand, crossed her arms and leaned against the cold wall of the corridor, her eyes filled with inquiry, and said in a low voice:

"We're waiting, waiting for you to tell us exactly what happened on that day a year ago."

A year ago, on the day the Black Knights launched their massive attack on the Tokyo Settlement, CC suddenly sensed the restlessness of the Code's power and also felt that Yotsuba Mahiro was in danger.

But when they got there, they found that Yotsuba Mahiro was standing there motionless, like a statue.

He fell into a year-long slumber from then on.

During this time, they tried countless methods, but none of them could wake him up.

Mahiro simply smiled at this.

"I thought you wanted to ask something else, but it turns out it's this..."

Without any intention of hiding anything, he explained what happened that day in a nonchalant tone, as if it had happened to someone else, not him.

Alpha and CC, however, became increasingly alarmed and solemn as they listened.

Alpha was alright; he had seen his share of great storms, even encountering a world-destroying Demon King like Diablos. So, he wasn't too shocked or solemn. Instead, he stared at him for a moment with a flicker in his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

CC, however, looked at him with a complicated expression.

"So, you saw [God]?"

As the owner of the code, CC knew very well what kind of being this [god] was, the beginning of all evil.

Mahiro simply shrugged indifferently.

That's not wrong.

Although he told the two of them everything, he didn't mention a word about what the Alaya-vijnana was going to do, only saying that they had a casual chat.

But both Alpha and CC understand that it's definitely not as simple as just talking.

The two exchanged a glance, and CC's attitude changed first, becoming like that of a lazy cat.

"Hmm, it's good that you're alright. I'll head back now."

After saying that, he turned and left without pausing for a moment.

After Alpha led him to the place where Monica and Anya Alstreim were being held, he also left.

Mahiro to figure out what the two were thinking. Instead, he focused his attention on the automatic metal door in front of him, which looked exactly like the entrance to a laboratory.

After standing outside and observing for a moment, Mahiro opened the sealed metal door in front of him.

He went inside and said loudly:

"Oh, it's been a long time, my dear Lady Monica!"

Inside the room.

This should have been a prison, but there was no sign of one inside.

It's more like a young girl's boudoir.

Aside from the subtle, unique fragrance permeating the air, the surrounding furnishings were all in a girlish style.

Monica, who once piloted the magnificent Bedivere, the most loyal of King Arthur's Knights of the Rounds, now sat on her large bed in her boudoir, looking utterly pitiful.

It wasn't that she was truly sad, but rather that her appearance and temperament were naturally like that; she was born with a face that could evoke others' protectiveness and pity.

But her strength is undeniable. Although she sits at the end of the round table and is a frail woman, her power is among the best in the empire.

Even in close combat, only the Second Princess Cornelia could reliably defeat her.

Even with such strength, he still became a prisoner, kept like Canary in this room.

Even though he was still wearing the pure white clothes that the empire had conscripted, the glory that once clung to them had long since vanished.

And he was imprisoned like this for more than a year.

But she never expected that the seemingly indestructible metal door would open at that moment.

Upon hearing the noise, Monica's delicate body trembled slightly, and a hint of fear appeared on her face.

A petite figure immediately came to mind.

Although he looks cute, he is like a demon in her eyes.

Although her long, wine-red hair was smooth, it looked to her like Medusa's hair.

Although her voice was sweet, it sounded like the voice of a demon to her ears!

For more than a year, she spent most of her time idly imprisoned in her room, only occasionally suffering torment from the little devil named Ita!

Even just thinking about it makes her tremble.

Moreover, she tried to resist, but she found that the girl was surprisingly strong, and it always took one blow to render her powerless and then drag her out of the room.