Chapter 278: Right and Wrong, Yes and No
It was not an extraordinary scene.
The sky was stained gray, and people gathered beneath the ominous clouds with solemn expressions, the atmosphere heavy with grief.
"He was a devout believer in God, our dear friend, a devoted husband to his wife, and a loving father to his children. Here,
may the Lord grant him eternal peace..."
The priest stood before the freshly dug grave, offering prayers, while the surrounding people picked up shovels and began filling the pit with loose soil.
Dark brown earth, laden with sorrow and mourning, gradually covered the coffin resting within.
Such scenes had repeated countless times over the past few days.
And the cause of it all was the landslide triggered by ZERO at Mount Narita half a month prior.
Both soldiers and terrorists alike had perished beneath the torrent of mud.
In addition, the city at the foot of the mountain, along with its civilian facilities, homes, and those who had failed to evacuate in time, were all buried.
To call this misfortune for one side alone would be a selfish claim.
After all, Britannia had done the same in the past.
Thus, everyone understood well that this cycle of sorrow and hatred was part of the world they lived in.
Yet, if that were the case, they ought to at least offer smiles to the departed.
If this world was filled with hatred and grief, then at the very least, they wished for those freed from it to attain peaceful salvation.
This was the true meaning of prayer... and the desire of the living.
"No, stop it!"
Just then, a woman broke through the crowd, disregarding all attempts to hold her back.
She was a woman with coffee-colored hair, dressed in simple black casual attire. Her sorrowful face appeared pitifully delicate, and with her pale skin and mournful aura, she exuded an air of profound sympathy.
"Please don't do this! I beg you..."
The woman used her hands to brush the soil off the coffin.
"Don't bury him! He'll be in pain! It will hurt him! So, please, don't make him suffer anymore. My dear, my dear..."
This was the raw cry of the living, a widow's lament against the heavens for taking her husband.
Beside her, the orange-haired girl, Shirley Fenette, trembling, embraced her mother from behind as she teetered on the brink of collapse, tears streaming continuously from the corners of her eyes.
"Mom...."
She called out to her mother repeatedly.
Why, why did this have to happen?
Holding her mother, Shirley glanced behind her. In her view were the figures of her teachers and classmates who had rushed to her side.
Student Council President Milly lowered her gaze in sorrow, the usually cheerful Rivalz bit his lip tightly, Nina clutched the hem of her uniform skirt just to keep herself from crying, and Kallen hung her head as if enduring something...…
But there were two others.
One was Suzaku, watching silently from a distance.
Another person was Mahiro, who was accompanying the students. His expression remained as placid as ever—no sorrow, no pain, nor any trace of joy.
It was a familiarity born of routine.
And deep within, a faint sigh echoed.
As expected, it ended up like this after all.
Even though Zeta had already caused chaos in the research institute before the battle, not only seizing all research materials on Geass but also forcing the relocated institute at Mount Narita to evacuate ahead of schedule.
Yet, unexpectedly, the outcome remained unchanged...
No, it should be said that the moment Lelouch decided to blow up the mountain, the conclusion was inevitable.
This was an inescapable trap.
However, that didn't mean it couldn't be altered. He gazed thoughtfully at the girl sobbing in her mother's arms.
A new tombstone had been erected, the funeral had concluded, and the mourners who had come to pay their respects gradually dispersed one by one.
Shirley turned and approached the student council group, her expression filled with sorrow.
Seeing her so distraught, Kallen instinctively apologized.
"I'm sorry, Shirley!"
Not as Kallen Stadtfeld, but as Kallen Kōzuki.
Though she hadn't intended to implicate Shirley's father, she still bore responsibility, for it was she who had personally detonated the bombs at Mount Narita.
"Don't say that, Kallen. Why are you apologizing?"
Shirley forced a faint smile, though it was tinged with such sadness that it only made the sight more heartbreaking.
So heartbreaking that Kallen couldn't meet her eyes, guiltily averting her gaze.
"I should apologize too, um... During the hotel hostage incident, I watched it on TV and thought the Black Knights and Shadow Garden were kind of cool. A few days ago, when I saw what happened at Narita, I even posted 'That's amazing' on the school forum... So, I'm sorry!"
Following Kallen, Rivalz also stepped forward. He felt he had to say something, but his words came out jumbled and incoherent.
"That has nothing to do with it! This was just an unfortunate accident! I don't mind at all! As for what happened at Narita, I also..."
"Shirley, stop!"
Milly grasped the girl's shoulders, cutting her off, and said earnestly, "More than that, I'm worried about you, Shirley!
Have you let yourself cry properly? If you hold it in now, it'll only hurt more later!"
"It's really okay now... really okay..."
Shirley couldn't bring herself to look President Milly in the eye.
She had intended to put on a brave face, but as soon as she uttered the words "it's okay," her tears began to flow uncontrollably, like a floodgate bursting open.
Her eyes reddened in an instant.
Finally, Shirley could bear it no longer and threw herself into Milly's arms, weeping bitterly.
The heart-wrenching sobs were enough to move anyone who heard them to tears.
Yet, as Rivalz watched Shirley crying in Milly's embrace, he muttered under his breath:
"Where on earth did Lulu run off to? As her boyfriend, shouldn't he be here comforting Shirley right now?"
That's right—Lelouch hadn't come.
Instead, he was busy with the Black Knights' rebellion efforts. Kallen, who valued friendship more, had taken leave from the Black Knights today to appear here.
Listening to Shirley's sobs, Kallen silently lowered her head.
Her heart felt as if being sliced by a knife.
Though she had prepared herself from the moment she joined the resistance that her hands would be stained with blood—possibly even innocent lives—she never imagined that such a fate would befall one of her own classmates.
She had never mentally prepared for this.
At this moment, she was deeply saddened.
"How despicable!"
Suddenly, the silent Suzaku shouted out.
"The Black Knights, ZERO, and Shadow's methods are truly despicable! They don't take initiative themselves but just meddle in situations created by others, acting as if they're judges. They gloat over victories, but that kind of attitude changes nothing!
Results achieved through wrong methods are utterly meaningless!"
"What a high-and-mighty statement, Suzaku Kururugi."
"What?!"
At this voice, everyone's gaze instantly focused on Mahiro.
Wearing his usual smile, he innocently shrugged and said:
"Am I wrong? Among everyone here, anyone has the right to criticize the Black Knights' actions—except you.
As an ELEVEN who joined the Britannian military, Suzaku Kururugi, may I ask from what standpoint you're making this evaluation?
As Genbu Kururugi's son, Suzaku Kururugi?
Or as Honorary Britannian Lieutenant Suzaku Kururugi?
If I'm not mistaken, you were also part of the Battle of Narita Mountain, correct?
Then you should know better than anyone who started this fight—it was Britannia. And you were one of the executioners. Do you really think you can escape responsibility?"
"...I did not!"
Faced with this sudden barrage of questions, Suzaku Kururugi refuted sharply without blushing or flinching: "I just... I just didn't want more killing and casualties!"
"So you chose to betray everything. Your so-called 'prevention' means helping Britannia crush your homeland and attack those trying to save it, right? You think if you kill them all, there will be no more resistance, right?"
"I did not!"
"If not, then what are your actions?"
Mahiro's eyes now carried a trace of mockery.
Suzaku had been backed into a corner, his face flushed red and unable to speak. His originally dark complexion now showed through with redness, creating quite a comical sight.
As for Rivalz and Nina—
Perhaps because of Mahiro's influence, Nina didn't have much goodwill toward Suzaku Kururugi either and simply stood there silently.
Seeing Suzaku rendered speechless by the questioning, Rivalz also felt somewhat at a loss.
Because what Mahiro-sensei said was indeed correct.
As a soldier, and moreover one who had betrayed his own homeland and raised his sword against his own people, Suzaku Kururugi had absolutely no standing or qualification to speak such righteous words.
"Alright!"
Milly, who was comforting Shirley, stepped in to smooth things over for their side, speaking in a slightly reproachful tone: "Yotsuba-sensei, please say less. I think Suzaku-kun is just feeling indignant about what's happened these past few days. You don't need to make such a big deal out of this."
In response, Mahiro simply shrugged, not intending to say anything more.
Milly then shot a glance, signaling Rivalz to take Suzaku Kururugi away.
However, before getting into the car to leave, Suzaku suddenly stopped, turned back, and looked seriously at Mahiro, questioning him:
"You were only focused on criticizing me just now, but what about you, Mahiro-sensei! From what position do you say such things?"
"Of course as a teacher. What other position could there be?"
Mahiro found his question ridiculous, and Suzaku was even more infuriated by his response.
But as he was leaving, Mahiro spoke up again, giving Suzaku the answer he wanted to hear.
"I know what you mean, but unfortunately, I'm different from you. Even though I have the dual identities of Mahiro Zi Britannia and Yotsuba Mahiro, sadly, I am neither an Honorary Britannian nor an ELEVEN."
"I am just me. Yotsuba Mahiro is Yotsuba Mahiro, that's all."
Suzaku Kururugi: "..."
This was sophistry!
How could someone be neither an Honorary Britannian nor an ELEVEN? Could he be from the Chinese Federation?!
Or the EU?!
But faced with such sophistry, Suzaku didn't continue arguing. Instead, he gave him a deep look before getting into the car.
Afterwards.
The others gradually left as well.
Shirley still needed Milly's comfort, so they left first. Nina, uncomfortable with the atmosphere, quietly followed behind Milly like a small animal, glancing back at Mahiro several times before leaving the cemetery.
Finally, only Mahiro and Kallen remained.
The sky remained overcast, a cold wind slowly blowing, causing pedestrians on the road to instinctively tighten their clothing.
But only Mahiro and Kallen showed no reaction to this.
Mahiro's physique had long made him impervious to the cold, while Kallen allowed the cold wind to rush into her collar, as if only that chill stimulating her body could make her feel somewhat better.
"Hey, Mahiro-sensei, can I ask you a question?"
Kallen, walking along the road, suddenly came out with this.
"Mhm, go ahead," Mahiro replied indifferently.
Instead, Kallen hesitated once again.
"...Sensei, are the Black Knights really... on the side of justice?"
"Isn't that how you've been promoting yourselves?"
Helping the weak, opposing the powerful, always standing on the side of truth and justice—this is how the Black Knights have always presented themselves to the public.
And the people have believed this narrative.
But....
"But teacher, this time... regarding the Narita Mountains incident, can our actions truly be considered just? Shirley's father... didn't do anything wrong, did he?"
"You've really asked quite a profound question."
Mahiro put on an exaggerated troubled expression, yet still spoke in a light tone: "However, you should already have the answer in your heart, don't you?"
Kallen: "..."
The girl didn't respond.
But from her conflicted, struggling, and hesitant expression, it was clear she indeed had an answer in her heart, but subjectively didn't want to acknowledge it.
Seeing this, Mahiro's lips curved slightly as he reached out and placed his hand on Kallen's head.
Feeling the pressure and gentle stroking on her head, Kallen involuntarily looked up at him.
"Teacher...?"
"Well, although I can't give you the answer you want regarding this matter, as your teacher and as your comrade-in-arms, I just want to tell you—this is war."
"The cruelty of war lies precisely here."
"Whether they're Britannian soldiers, the Japan Liberation Front, or even our Black Knights."
"Everyone is someone's child, or someone's parent."
"No matter who we kill, the end result will be the destruction of someone's family."
"But—"
"But precisely because of this, we have no choice but to wage war. Because when facing unreasonable enemies, only through force can we protect the homes behind us, protect our families, and protect those we want to protect."
And Britannia happens to be that unreasonable enemy.
As the leader of the world's three great empires, it extends its plundering claws toward the entire world.
After hearing his words, Kallen's cherry lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but just as she was about to speak, she seemed to understand something. Her eyes became resolute, and she nodded firmly.
"I understand!"
Yes, to protect their homeland, to protect their families, to protect their friends.
They have no choice but to raise the banner of resistance. Otherwise, how could they drive away these villains who invaded their homeland?
By mere words alone?
We must remember—weak nations have no diplomacy, let alone as a defeated colony.
Only with fists can we drive the enemy away!
However...
"You've helped me again, teacher."
A trace of gratitude appeared in Kallen's eyes, gradually mixed with some indescribable emotion.
Evening.
Under the night sky, the private Ashford Academy was enveloped in silence and darkness, with only the villa deep inside still brightly lit.
When Mahiro returned to his room, C.C. was already asleep.
Since the end of the Narita offensive and defensive battle, after that detailed conversation, the relationship between C.C. and him had undergone subtle changes.
C.C.'s sharp-tongued remarks toward him had decreased significantly, and she rarely called him "brat" anymore, instead addressing him by his name seriously.
Even her gaze often lingered on him.
It's hard to say whether this change is for better or worse...
After all, a woman's heart is as deep as the ocean.
But just as he sat on the sofa wanting to rest for a while, the door suddenly knocked.
"..."
"Come in, Lelouch."
Mahiro said while yawning. Judging by the knocking pattern, it could only be Lelouch without a doubt.
If it were Nunnally, the knocking would be lower and gentler.
As the door opened, the person who entered was indeed Lelouch, but he wasn't wearing his ZERO outfit or school uniform—just casual clothes.
"Well, if it isn't our dear young master Lelouch? Where have you been all day? You were nowhere to be found." Mahiro teased lightly and gestured for him to take a seat.
"Don't joke around, Teacher. I had some matters to attend to with the Black Knights today. When I returned, I found Nunnally had a slight fever... but she's much better now."
Lelouch made himself at home and sat directly across from him.
Glancing back at the Witch lying on the bed and confirming she was fast asleep, he paid no further attention.
Instead, he pulled a letter from his coat and placed it on the coffee table.
"Nunnally had a fever? I wasn't aware of that. I'll go check on her later."
"Yes, thank you, Teacher."
As they conversed, Mahiro had already picked up the letter from the coffee table, opened it, and skimmed through it.
"This is... an invitation from the Kyoto Six Families?"