Editing Hyouketsu Kyoukai no Eden:Volume 5 Final Chapter (section)

===Part 7===

“……There’s a gap between your strength and your growth. Such terrible growth.”

The boy who had disappeared further into the passage. Looking at him go, Ishtar let out a rare bitter sigh.

“Unit Leader Monica.”

“Y-yes!”

“It’s as you heard. I’ll face this guy. You take the Priestess-sama and the General Affairs Bureau Chief’s entourage to the meeting room. I’ll leave the details after that up to you. ……Now then.”

Maha stood up unwounded despite the gigantic rubble.

“This guy’s spells are numerous and annoying. I’ll ignore a moderate amount so take care of the puppets that went that way. Can you do it?”

“U-Understood!”

The Cadet Guards behind her escorted the Priestess. Feeling them walking away behind her, Ishtar once again leered at the practitioner in front of her.

“Now we can finally talk, just the two of us. I’ve been waiting for this. ───At any rate, it looks like you took care of my younger sister.”

“…………”

“That’s right……I’ve waited a long time. Taking on this annoying mission and everything is because I bet on the chance that you might appear. Be a little thankful?”
[[image:Eden05_279.jpg|thumb]]
The Golden spell caster stayed silent. Perhaps in his place, the poisonous snakes crawling around his feet slowly raised their heads.

……That’s right, that was what started this.

 

“''Onee-sama…………onee-sama, I’m sorry……I…………''“

 

It started with I’sa who used to cry for reasons Ishtar couldn’t understand no matter how many times she asked.

She had a weak bodily constitution and couldn’t even go to school much. The one who looked after her troubles in that household which consisted of only the sisters and no parents was always Ishtar.

In place of a mother, she nursed her, made meals and attended to I’sa without sleep.

In place of a father, she taught her studies, taught her how to exercise and protected I’sa from the surrounding dangers.

At those times, her sister always cried.

She cried and apologized.

“''Onee-sama…………onee-sama, I’m sorry……I…………''“

In reality, her older sister could be more accomplished in studies and fitness than anybody and wouldn’t lose to any of her peers. It couldn’t be helped that she felt frustrated that her older sister was sacrificing her talents on her.

“''I’sa-chan is an idiot. Onee-chan’s fine like this.''“

“''But…………but, but……!''“

Then she cried again.

She thought of her as a really kind little sister. That was also why she wanted to be by her little sister’s side.

──Until my sister becomes able to fly by her own strength, I will protect her.

She learned spear techniques to protect her little sister and became a Guard at {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}} in order to become even faster and stronger. It wasn’t to protect the Priestesses at the top but to protect her little sister who slept at their house.

──Because isn’t it a given?

──The Priestesses have many people protecting them but I’m the only one protecting my sister.

When she came to notice it, Ishtar had become a spear warrior that wouldn’t lose to anyone around her. It wouldn’t be strange if she became a Sennenshi at any time. It was to the point that it was an open rumor.

“''Onee-sama, you won’t be a Sennenshi?''“

“''Yu〰p. Onee-chan’s bad at that kind of thing.''“

She hadn’t even honestly told I’sa that reason.

If she became a Sennenshi, her time would be taken up guarding the Priestess. Her training time would decrease and most importantly, she would have to live apart from her younger sister who was the one she wished to protect the most.

 

“''Hey, Sheltis-kun, do you want to become a Sennenshi?''“

“''I’m fine with being an Elite Guard. I have no interest in being a Sennenshi.''“

 

That was why she always gave up the position of Sennenshi.

On the other hand, ironically, I’sa whom she should have been protecting was now completely healthy and, taking after her, even started saying that she wanted to be a Guard.

……Well, fine, if that’s what I’sa-chan wants to do.

It was a little complicated as her older sister but Ishtar permitted it.

It looked like she had talent as a shinryoku user and she’d found a reliable dual guns user so Ishtar had had the intention of watching over her as her older sister.

That continued for several years and just when she thought it would keep going well like that.

 

Information that a Regular Guard unit was wiped out by an unknown person arrived.

 

“I’sa-chan, are you okay!?”

“Onee-sama……”

What Ishtar saw in the medical ward was her little sister with her eyes swollen bright red.

In the hospital.

Her little sister cried while looking at her.

Ishtar was reminded of how long it had been since she’d seen that. The weakened form of her sister that she thought she wouldn’t see anymore. The true nature of her little sister.

“''……Onee-sama…………onee-sama, I’m sorry……I…………''“

“''You don’t have to say it. You don’t need to worry.''“

“''……Onee-sama?''“

Ishtar held her sobbing little sister tight to her chest.

That was also something that hadn’t happened in years.

“I’sa-chan is fine. ……If you’re unharmed, it means you were able to return '''here'''. Leave the rest to onee-chan.”

That’s right, that was the start.

The one who had attacked her I’sa had already been defeated once but that was a puppet created by the spell caster. Then this time, she would──