Chapter 284: "Material Burst" Limited Edition
Ever since hearing from C.C. that Mao had come to the Tokyo Settlement, Mahiro had been waiting for him.
As for searching?
Naturally, they had tried.
But mind-reading abilities were far too overpowered, especially within a five-hundred-meter range. Even Shadow Garden couldn't track Mao's whereabouts.
Finally, Mahiro had managed to lie in wait for him.
Only, the manner of his appearance was somewhat unexpected.
"...Do you need me to help you eliminate him?"
On the crowded train, a natural fragrant breeze drifted by, followed by a soft, whisper-like voice reaching his ears.
Alpha had suddenly appeared by his side.
Like an ordinary fellow passenger, she drew no one's attention at all.
Even though her appearance was striking enough to attract others' gazes.
"My, what's this about? I'm merely responding to a student's invitation. Why so tense?"
Mahiro smiled, appearing completely unconcerned.
"But this is clearly a trap, isn't it? That man called Mao is obviously using Shirley Fenette to get close to you..."
Alpha grew somewhat anxious.
Mind-reading abilities were troublesome; at the very least, Shadow Garden had no means to counter them, and they had already let him escape many times.
But before she could finish speaking, she noticed Mahiro's aura suddenly shift.
"...Alpha, who do you think I am?"
The moment their eyes met, the sharp gaze and low voice caused Alpha's delicate frame to tremble slightly.
Yes, who was he?
He was the leader and founder of Shadow Garden, the one and only Lord Shadow!
His strength was enough to challenge the world's peak, and any scheme or trick would be seen through at a glance.
What kind of trap could possibly deceive this lord's eyes or threaten his safety?
"I'm sorry, I..."
"It's fine."
Mahiro immediately withdrew his aura, waving his hand with a smile to interrupt. "It was never anything important in the first place."
Was it really necessary to mobilize forces and launch a full-scale hunt to eliminate someone with mere mind-reading abilities?
Clearly not.
It was merely a matter of lifting a finger.
Soon, the train arrived at its station.
Following the address Shirley had given him, he reached his destination—
a newly built obelisk monument at the foot of Mount Narita.
This was a memorial erected for those who had perished in the Mount Narita disaster.
Shirley stood in the square, gazing up at the obelisk. Even as the sunlight stung her eyes, she did not look away, a pink backpack slung over her shoulder.
Through the partly open zipper, one could vaguely glimpse a photograph and a handgun inside.
"Why… Why would they do such a thing?"
"What kind of thing?"
Muttering to herself, Shirley turned around instinctively at the voice from behind.
"Yotsuba-sensei…"
"Yes, it's me. Would you like to tell me, Shirley? What is it that's troubling you so much?"
Mahiro looked at Shirley, his voice gentle as he inquired.
The Shirley reflected in his eyes now was no longer the honor student who excelled in both sports and academics, but instead carried a fragile, weary air.
Her once lustrous and alluring orange hair now resembled withered grass battered by the autumn wind, scattered in disarray.
On her delicate face, severe dark circles were evident, as if she hadn't slept properly in a long time.
The struggle in her eyes was plain to see.
Even after learning that Lelouch was her father's killer, even after Mao's mind-reading had exposed her deepest, most unwanted memories, even when her consciousness was on the verge of collapse and her heart was filled with the thought of "killing Lelouch"...
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 person she loved. This cowardly girl abandoned her father's hatred because of the person she loved.
How contradictory... Love and hatred... In the end, did love prevail?
"Hey, Yotsuba-sensei..."
Her dry lips parted slightly as Shirley suddenly called his name. Looking at her, the girl's face was full of bitterness.
"Sensei... Are you really that Shadow who works with Zero?"
"Yes, that's right."
"So, that incident at the hotel where you were kidnapped by the Black Knights was fake too, wasn't it?"
"Yes, that was just a convenient explanation."
He responded frankly to Shirley's questions.
"I knew it... How could someone with supernatural powers like yours be kidnapped... And if Lulu is Zero, then Shadow could only be you..."
Shirley wept silently. Though she had already guessed this outcome, she still found it hard to believe. Not only was the person she loved most the one who killed her father, but even her teacher who always took care of her was an accomplice.
After a while, as if having made some decision, the struggle in Shirley's eyes completely disappeared. She slowly raised her head and met his gaze.
Then she said firmly:
"Yotsuba-sensei, please... kill me."
Mahiro: "???"
Hearing these words, he froze on the spot.
He blinked in surprise.
"Shirley, did you eat something strange you found on the roadside? Why would I kill you?"
"Because... because I know your and Lulu's identities. Shouldn't terrorists eliminate all witnesses? Besides... besides..."
"Hahaha."
Mahiro's laughter interrupted Shirley's increasingly soft voice that had become nearly inaudible. He raised two fingers to correct her:
"You've made two mistakes, Shirley."
"First, while the Black Knights are indeed a resistance group, Shadow Garden isn't the terrorist organization you imagine."
"Second, you're my student. I have no reason to kill you... Would I really kill someone just because my identity was exposed? Is my student's life worth less than some mere secret?"
Shirley trembled, unconsciously lowering her head. Teardrops as large as beans continuously slid down her cheeks, shattering when they hit the floor.
Mahiro's answer had completely exceeded her expectations.
She had originally resolved that if Mahiro-sensei truly was the Shadow mentioned by that person, and his identity was exposed by her, she would accept death here as liberation.
But now...
"So cruel... This is too cruel... Mahiro-sensei, your reasoning is utterly unfair."
Shirley lifted her head with a smile, yet her tear-streaked face made it impossible to recognize as genuine joy—it was a blend of smile and sorrow that appeared even more heartbreaking.
"Because I am your teacher."
Mahiro revealed a faint, gentle smile. "So even if you know my identity, it doesn't matter. If you wish to report me, go to the Viceroy's Palace—I won't stop you."
"If you want to avenge your father, then aim here."
He pointed at his own chest, right where his heart was.
"Lelouch's gun is still in your bag, isn't it? Take it out, load it, aim at me, and pull the trigger."
He guided her step by step, as if teaching a beginner how to use a firearm.
"No... I can't do that..."
Shirley refused his request, retreating desperately until her ankles hit the memorial stele behind her.
"Killing my teacher... how could I ever do that..."
Shirley nearly broke down in tears again.
But just then, a series of applause rang out.
"CLAP, CLAP, CLAP..."
"What a hypocritical yet touching performance, heh heh heh heh..."
From the other side of the memorial stele emerged a tall, slender man with white hair, wearing headphones and black goggles—the applause had naturally come from him.
His gaze, however, was fixed on Shirley.
"Your father is grieving. Lelouch and Mahiro both deceived you—they are Zero and Shadow, the very ones who hypocritically ordered your father's death with their words. Yet you choose to forgive them..."
"It's... it's you?!"
Shirley stumbled backward as if fleeing, trying to put distance between herself and the man.
"That's right, it's me—the one who helped you seek revenge... Now, take the pistol from your backpack, chamber a round, and kill that man..."
"Shut up!"
Just as the man continued to manipulate Shirley, shattering the fragile defenses she had barely rebuilt, Mahiro suddenly spoke.
Though it was merely an ordinary, loud rebuke, it seemed to make the very air tremble.
Mao instantly felt as if he were being stared down by a beast about to break free from its cage. The surrounding temperature seemed to drop sharply, and the terrifying intimidation made him subconsciously fall silent.
As if obeying some command.
Mao slowly turned around, a mocking grin on his face as he looked at Mahiro's cold, indifferent expression.
"Ah, like a lurking beast—with such presence, you must be Yotsuba Mahiro. Allow me to introduce myself, I..."
"Don't bother. You're Mao, a former Geass contractor who made a pact with C.C. But C.C.'s evaluation of you was: worthless. Back then, she couldn't be bothered to clean up
"I'm dumping you as trash, so now I'm here to correct that mistake."
"What did you say?!"
Mahiro's words precisely struck Mao's sore spot.
Back then, after C.C. made him an empty promise, she left without saying goodbye—this had been a lifelong pain for Mao!
"Impossible, you're lying! There's no way C.C. would call me trash! You must be deceiving me, let me properly listen to the secrets in your heart!"
A defiant smile curled on Mao's lips, the bird-shaped mark in his pupils seeming to grow more vivid, but soon his arrogance vanished.
Instead, his face was filled with shock and astonishment.
Even after removing his headphones and goggles, the expression on his face remained completely unchanged.
"W-why? Why can't I hear your thoughts, why can't I read your mind?! What kind of person are you?!"
"Oh? So eager to listen to others' thoughts, are you? Then come and listen carefully."
Mahiro curled his lips as if releasing some restriction.
And at this moment, Mao indeed heard "voices," but rather than "thoughts," they were more like wails from hell!
Kill you...
Kill you...
Kill you!!!
Dismember, slice, quarter, behead, burn, execute kill kill kill kill kill kill kill!!!
No blessings, no salvation, only destruction, return to pure white!!!
Hahahahahahahahaha!!!
"W-what is this?"
Mao immediately covered his head, desperately clamping his hands over his ears, trying to block out these voices, but they continued pouring relentlessly into his brain.
These voices were even more painful than simultaneously listening to hundreds of people's thoughts, more terrifying than any malicious intent!
Like pure darkness, without a single trace of light!
It felt as if his entire being was immersed in endless hell, wrapped in a torrent of malice, constantly eroding his consciousness. Soaked in this despairing killing intent, his hands began to tremble.
"W-why, what kind of monster are you?!"
Mao screamed madly, frightening Shirley who was nearby.
The Geass mark in Mao's eyes nearly shrank to pinhole size along with his constricting pupils.
Immediately, he turned and ran toward the back of the memorial monument, abandoning the weapons he had prepared there to kill Mahiro, along with the tools meant for dismembering C.C.
His original plan was to use Shirley to eliminate Mahiro here, or at worst, step in himself to finish the job, then take C.C. away from this place and return to their long-dreamed-of home.
A dwelling place with grasslands and rivers intertwined, scenery beautiful as a painting.
Even if C.C. refused, he could always use a chainsaw to cut her into pieces and pack her into a suitcase.
After all, C.C. was an immortal Witch—such injuries meant nothing to her.
But despite all his calculations, he never expected Mahiro to be such a monster!
"Yotsuba Mahi... hehehehehe... what kind of monster are you?!"
Panic-stricken Mao fled the square without thinking, leaped down the slope, and desperately ran through the woods. Even when accidentally tripped by branches, he scrambled right back up, completely ignoring the pain as he continued his escape.
In his mind, a chaotic monster like a demon thirsting for prey was charging toward him from behind at an incredible speed. Yet, as if toying with him, it always maintained a distance of nearly two hundred meters.
Unreadable, unreadable, unreadable—Mao struggled to discern Mahiro's current thoughts, but all he received was a chaotic mess and countless hoarse screams repeatedly shouting, "Kill you."
"A monster... an absolute monster!!!"
His throat burned with heat, and his chest felt like a tattered bellows being constantly pulled apart. Yet even so, Mao dared not stop for even a moment.
In front of others, he, with his ability to read minds and see through disguises, was the one who seemed like a monster. But now, he had encountered an even more terrifying freak—not only possessing terrifying physical prowess and combat skills, but also a mind so horrifying!
"..."
Seeing the residential area just ahead, Mao cried out in pleasant surprise. As long as he reached the crowded place, he, who could sense Mahiro's location, would find a chance to escape. The flat road between them now was truly unfavorable for Mao.
"....."
Gasping heavily, Mao felt as if his lungs were about to burn out, each breath bringing a searing pain. But it was all worth it, because he could no longer hear that terrifying inner voice—meaning he had shaken off that monster!
However, a vicious glint appeared in his eyes as he resolved that if he escaped this time, he would definitely seek an opportunity for revenge against that damned monster!
But in reality.
Mahiro had been standing in the square by the memorial monument the entire time, not moving an inch. He just gazed indifferently into the distance, as if his vision pierced through space and obstacles, watching Mao's relieved expression.
"Think you're safe now? What an idiot."
Mahiro reached out toward the distance and softly called, "Est," instantly summoning a silver-white pistol in his hand. Beautiful azure particles, like fireflies, shimmered around him as Mahiro aimed the gun barrel in the direction Mao had fled and pulled the trigger.
—"Material Burst"—activate!
The next moment, Mao suddenly heard a roaring sound. Turning his head, he saw a pitch-black sphere floating beside him. Before he could understand what it was, the black sphere suddenly erupted with a blinding light.
Expanding at a speed of one-thousandth of a second, the scorching high temperatures instantly disintegrated his flesh, roasting it to ashes. Under the extreme heat, not even a trace of him remained.
The loud explosion from the residential area caught the attention of the surrounding people. Yet, bizarrely, the energy powerful enough to destroy everything, after annihilating Mao, suddenly shrank, collapsing into a tiny singularity like a collapse, then vanished without a trace—as if it had completed its mission.
Using the "Eye of the Spirit" to observe the distant scene, Mahiro slowly withdrew his gaze.
The results were quite satisfactory—a limited-scale "Material Burst."
Indeed, he hadn't unleashed the "Material Burst" at full power; otherwise, even the entirety of Mount Narita wouldn't have been enough to withstand a single blast.
But overall, it was a success.
By restricting the duration and scale of the explosion, and once the energy reached the predetermined critical point, he used "Decomposition" again to eliminate the excess energy entirely.
Though he knew this violated the conservation of energy and had no idea of the underlying principle—it was as if the energy were simply erased—he could still accomplish it.
After all, when using magic, who would bother with such details?
However, the most troublesome issue still lay ahead—
"Shirley...? C.C.?"
Yes, it was C.C. She had appeared here at some unknown time. With her emerald-green hair tied into twin tails and a small red beret on her head, C.C. stood silently, clad in a red-and-white Gothic Lolita dress. Bathed in the twilight glow, the sorrowful Witch was breathtakingly beautiful.
And leaning against her was a girl who had already fallen into a deep slumber—none other than Shirley.