<Author’s Notes>
At the time of publication of Volume 8, the total number of series’ copies of “Hazure Waku” sold has exceeded 800,000. Thank you to everyone who has purchased the book.
<Takao Itsuki POV>
In the end, my sister, Takao Hijiri, collapsed.
She coughed up blood, and bled from the corner of her eyes.
[Elder Sister!]
I immediately caught Elder Sister’s collapsing body and hugged her body close.
In a faint voice, Elder Sister spoke.
Telling me to lay her down.
For a moment, I hesitated.
But then, I did as I was told.
Gently lowering her body, I laid Elder Sister on the grass.
I couldn’t feel the presence of anyone around us.
Other than the two of us, there’s no one else.
It’s only the two of us here.
Yes, even now, it’s just the two of them———— It has always been just the two of them.
[I thought we could somehow escape…… and prepare for another chance……]
Elder Sister’s voice sounded frail.
With her like this, I’d like it if she could just not talk and save her strength.
However———– I also like to talk to her more.
These conflicting feelings torment my heart.
Closing her eyes, Elder Sister placed her hands on her chest.
[But I never expected———– that I’d be poisoned…… Gobfuuk.]
An S-Rank Hero has revolted.
If that Goddess had let her escape alive, she definitely won’t let this matter go.
Elder Sister had planned to disappear from the Goddess’ vicinity for a moment.
Then, she was going to arrange the next plan again.
But……
[The blade of the Goddess’ hidden sword…… it seemed like it was laced in poison……]
Poison-laced weapons were things that once it wounded you, the poison would enter through the wound.
Many countries have banned the possession of poisons.
From what I heard from Elder Sister, this is mainly due to the appeal of Alion.
Naturally, the distribution of such poison itself is also forbidden.
It seems that Alion and Jonato are the ones who are particularly strict about this.
Meanwhile, the other countries have also ostensibly forbidden possession and distribution.
[Forbidding something…… means that the knowledge and technology in that field will not be accumulated…… That’s what it means for something to become a taboo. For example, yes…… Even if a new kind of poison was created…… an antidote against that wouldn’t spread……]
If people are forbidden to even possess it.
They won’t be able to do any research about it.
Saying this, Elder Sister opened her eyes.
[With that being the case, those who have the knowledge of that new poison and its antidote…… can take advantage of this in various ways……]
They would be able to kill someone with a poison for which there is no antidote.
If you want this antidote, you must follow my every demand.
Having poisons as a taboo means that they have a monopoly on poisons.
The Goddess wanted to monopolize certain poisons and use them effectively for her own benefit.
Thus, isn’t that why she strictly forbids the use of poisons?
All to prevent others from gaining knowledge about it.
All to prevent others from having countermeasures against it.
That’s how Elder Sister analyzed it.
Even so, does that mean we wouldn’t have any way to find an antidote?
That should be impossible.
The biggest problem though was that the poison was slow-acting.
By the time the symptoms started to appear, we were already far away from the human settlements.
We need to hide ourselves.
Even if I’m not proficient about it, I could also use Recovery Skills.
However, it has no effect on poison.
Thinking about my incompetence, I slammed my fist on the ground.
[———-This can’t be happening! D*mn it……!]
Tears also began leaking out of my eyes.
[There’s no way this is happening……!? Hey, Elder Sister!? Just like usual, you can do something about this, right…… With Elder Sister’s cleverness, we’d somehow be able to recover from this situa———–]
[Itsuki.]
Her gaze still on the sky, Elder Sister spoke.
[Listen well to what I’m about to say.]
[……Elder…… Sister?]
[It seems like this is the end for me.]
[ ! ]
There’s…… no way———
[However…… I don’t regret turning my blade against the Goddess. Even if such an action is a mistake.]
[Elder…… Sister……]
[Life is a series of choices. And——– One would never know if they made the right one or wrong one until they see the results. Even if you can estimate what it would be…… during those times when they observe those predictions, fluctuations———- blurs may occur. Unlike programs, that’s what “reality” is…… In the end, we can only swing between joy and sorrow after we roll the dice…… It’s just———-]
Sluggishly raising her hand, I felt Elder Sister’s hand on my cheek.
[We can at least increase the odds of getting the result we want.]
[Elder Sisteeeeer……]
[That’s what it means for one “to do their best”.]
[Unnn…… Unnn.]
[If it weren’t for that miscalculation, that black ball…… I would have won. Well…… I guess that’s just another excuse…… But I’m sure the next time will be a victory———- for you and your allies.]
Saying this, Elder Sister started telling everything to me.
As if she’s trying to entrust everything to me before her life burns out.
Elder Sister also talked about Sogou Ayaka.
She thinks that Ayaka would probably be alright.
It seems like Ayaka actually doesn’t know about the details of this betrayal.
Elder Sister thinks that even the Goddess would comprehend that.
[Then, that note you passed to her……?]
[I just wrote down what we would be doing…… but I didn’t write down the details. The rest…… is up to her to decide what she thinks and how she wants to act.]
———She completely didn’t want to involve Sogou-san———–
That’s what Elder Sister said.
She was apparently hesitating about this matter until the very end.
Whether she divulges to her everything or not……
[I- I think…… I think that it would have been better if we just met up with Prez!]
[Yes. Once I’m not here anymore, here’s what you should do…… Once the opportunity appears, try to make contact with her…… Everything I told you here…… Tell Sogou-san about it…… and…… tell her…… thank you…… and I’m sorry……]
Saying this, Elder Sister coughed up blood again.
So that Elder Sister doesn’t choke on her blood, I raised her upper body and held it up.
[……It’s alright, Itsuki. Even with the Goddess gone, you all will definitely——– be able to return……]
Elder Sister’s breathing is getting thinner and thinner.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve ever seen my sister so exhausted.
No———– I don’t think I’ve seen it even at the last moment.
And to see my Elder Sister like this……
[Elder Sister——— W- Wait…… That’s impossible…… As expected, if I’m alone…… if I’m not with Elder Sister…… Hey, Elder Sister!]
As if she’s trying to relieve me, a small smile appears on Elder Sister’s lips.
Thereupon, she leans her weight against my chest.
[Itsuki……]
Closing her eyes, Elder Sister spoke.
[You are my one and only————– You’re the best little sister in the world.]
[! ———-Big Sister!]
I couldn’t take it any longer.
[I——— I don’t want this! W- Wait! If Big Sister isn’t here…… If Sister isn’t here, I can’t do anything! Hey! If Sister isn’t here, what would Itsuki——— What would Itsuki do!?]
[……It’s alright. If it’s you, you would be able to do it…… If it’s my little sister……, ————]
[Big Sister!? D- Don’t die! I don’t want this! Stop it! Don’t……]
Tears inadvertently leaked out of my eyes.
Putting aside any shame or reputation……
Seeing her blaze of life about to be extinguished, I clinged on my sister.
Not wanting to let go, I tightly clung on her body.
However, Big Sister won’t remonstrate me at all.
Gently——– She only smiled.
She only quietly looked at me.
[Itsuki—————- I’ll leave the rest to you.]
[……S- Sister?]
With her weak hand, Big Sister took my hand.
Her hold was so loose that I wondered if this really was from that sister of mine.
Thereupon, Hijiri grasped my hand tighter, to which I grasped her hand back.
[I guess so…… In that case, at least, until my time ends…… How about we pass the time like sisters……? Let’s make sure——– to have a proper goodbye.]
[! Uuu——– Unnn…… A- Alright! I understand, Elder Sister…… I also…… I also definitely don’t want to have a strange farewell! That’s why, that’s why———-]
[Itsuki.]
[U- Unnn……]
[The time I spent with you…… Within this 10-over years. I was really satisfied…… It was really fun.]
[——–Unnn! It was fun for me too, Elder Sister……!]
[Even if we’re separated by death…… Know that I will always be with you, okay?]
[! U- Unnn…… That’s right! Even before I die…… I’ll never…… forget you, Elder Sister……]
After that…… A peaceful moment passed.
That moment…… That place——— It was only for us two sisters.
Right now, this is only for the two of us, and I won’t let anyone interfere with it.
Just the two of us……
Just like always……
And in the end———— At the final time we have together.
Our conversations were all about the past.
About all sorts of things that had happened.
About how this and that occurred.
And……
[……Hey, Elder Sister? You’re still alive, right? ………………..Elder Sister?]
[………………..Yeah.]
[H- Haha…… I’m glad…… Don’t scare me……]
[Perhaps, it may be…… because of the status correction I received as a Hero……]
It’s quiet.
Very quiet.
A few moments after such silence———-
[—————I love you, Elder Sister.]
[—————I love you too, Itsuki.]
[…………………..]
[…………………..]
[……Elder Sister? W- What’s the matter?]
[My…… eyes.]
[Eh?]
[My eyes turned dark…… I can’t see.]
[………………..Unnn.]
[Itsuki.]
[Unnn.]
[Thank you…… Thanks to you——– I’m not afraid to die. With this, I can definitely die happy……]
[……Unnn.]
[Also…… I’m sorry. And…… Once again———– Thank you.]
[Unnn…… Unnn……]
[———————————–Itsuki?]
[Eh?]
With my sister like this……
All I could see right now is her.
My surroundings haven’t entered my attention at all.
But at this moment, my eyes———- my field of vision———-
The silhouette of various things around me became clearer…… and more definite.
It seems like we’ve ran deep inside this forest, with the rain descending upon us.
Scattered around this area——– are the corpses of the Golden-eyed Monsters.
And……
[You are———-]
There stands a familiar Leopardkin.
The person who called out to me just now.
If I remember correctly, her name is————
[Eve…… Speed?]
[It really is the Takao Sisters huh——— What in the world are you doing in a place like this?]
Yes……
The place Elder Sister wanted me to go wasn’t towards the Anti-Alion Mad Emperor.
The route leading there, the path leading to Mira, would apparently be in the Goddess’ control now.
That’s what she foresaw.
With that being the case———–
There was only one “perfect place” for us to hide.
Indeed, it’s dangerous.
But if we could meet “her”———— She could become a powerful ally.
The place we’re currently in was the forbidden lands, where the Witch of Taboos lives.
The ray of hope Elder Sister sees, the name of the place I had been aiming for———– was the Golden Demon Zone.
Here, two Heroes and the Leopardkin, the former Blood Champion———–
——–had a strange reunion.
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