Editing Hyouketsu Kyoukai no Eden:Volume 5 Epilogue (section)

===Part 2===

{{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}}, Floor 65.

The terminal late at night. Glancing at the few night shift workers in the airship control room, it was the time that even the airships, guidance lighting and electronic bulletin board were put to rest──

“Onee-sama!”

In the terminal that was virtually deserted, a single girl ran over with her golden hair fluttering.

“Ah, I’sa-chan!”

Ishtar’s face lit up after she descended from the airship. She forcibly hugged to her chest the Regular Guard girl who’d run over.

“Waa, there, there. Has I’sa-chan been a good girl? Onee-chan was so, so worried that bad men would hang around you while she wasn’t here!”

“O-Onee-sama……I-I can’t breathe. L-Let go!”

“No─pe. I’ll hug you a whole week’s worth.”

The older sister held fast and would let go of her struggling little sister.

“W-wait a second, please, onee-sama. I have to greet the Priestess-sama first. And……I heard that {{furigana|Golden|Maha}} attacked the Governmental Sector.”

“Ah, that’s right. There might be something like that.”

“Priestess Meimel-sama and boss……I mean, Captain Ran and the Instructor with a few others. They were eager to hear about the circumstances upon onee-sama’s return. They’re already waiting in the meeting room.”

“Ehhhh!? I thought I could finally take a break……”

Ishtar’s shoulders drooped in disappointment.

“Then I’ll go on ahead. Onee-sama, please come afterward.”

“‘Kay─…………we’ll do this again later, I’sa-chan.”

The older sister weakly waved her hand as she watched her little sister leave. Or so it seemed, but her little sister turned around and bowed spiritedly.

“Now, Ymy-sama, thank you for your hard work!”

“Ah……y-yes! Thank you for your hard work; I’m really thankful.”

“No, no, Ishtar should be the one thanking you.”

“Heh?”

“Ah, just talking to myself─. Rather than that, you should thank them too.”

……Monica-senpai, Kagura-san and Vaiel-san.

In a place a little ways off, the exhausted General Affairs Bureau Chief’s group and the Cadet Guards defending them. The three’s expressions seemed to be saying, “Finally”, as they carried the General Affairs Bureau Chief’s group’s luggage without saying much.

“Ymy-sama…………well then……we’ll part ways here……”

“For I as well……guarding the……General Affairs Bureau Chief’s……group until the end is……my job……”

Their parting words were just like an incantation.

“……Everyone’s tired so I don’t think it’s a good time to thank them.”

“Right─. Monica-san’s unit had that as their first mission and it’s the first time the General Affairs Bureau Chief has experienced an attack of that magnitude first-hand, right? Well, everything’s an experience.”

Ishtar’s laughing voice resounded throughout the floor.

……I’m no match for her.

She hadn’t slept a good amount for several days and even had a harsh fight with {{furigana|Golden|Maha}} at the end, but she still had leftover energy.

“Well then, Ishtar will also head to the meeting room. They’re waiting without getting sleep.”

“Th-that’s right. It sounds like there are some great people at the meeting room.”

“I meant I’sa-chan!”

“…………”

“It would be terrible if the cute I’sa-chan were to lack sleep so I’ll end this meeting or whatever in five minutes! Ahh, jeez, to have a little sister that waits for her onee-chan until this late at night, Ishtar is the happiest person in the world. This excess happiness might make me lack sleep tomorrow too───”

She spoke heatedly with a clenched fist.

“……Haa.”

“Mm, what’s the matter, Ymy-sama?”

“No, ……what should I say. I feel like I also understand I’sa-san’s feelings. Even though you looked cool when you protected me from {{furigana|Golden|Maha}}.”

The light in her eyes seemed like it would cut you with just a touch and her voice was low.

It was a little scary but when she stood between them and {{furigana|Golden|Maha}}, she had unapproachable majesty and pride.

“……Even so.”

This change.

It was the same since she’d met her at the terminal several days ago. What was this slack state of hers?

“I feel like I’d like to see the cool Ishtar normally too.”

“Ahaha, I’sa-chan also says that oftenn. She says that no matter how much it’s to make people let down their guard, onee-sama is playing innocent too much. Ymy-sama, you also think that?”

The Cadres Guard smiled embarrassedly with her tongue poking out.

In response to that childish way of feigning ignorance.

“Yes, if you had asked me up until yesterday, I would have thought so but──”

Ymy shook her head with a smile.

“When you’re fighting is the exception and '''this right now is your true self, right'''? It’s not you playing innocent.”

A moment.

“…………”

Her eyes suddenly sharpened.

“I remember our conversation back at the hotel quite well.”

 

“''I’sa, you meaaan? Yes, she’s Ishtar’s only family in any case.''“

“''I’sa-chan used to have a weak constitution long ago and would immediately get a fever, you know? On top of that, she was very spoiled and would cry while saying, ‘''It’s lonely when onee-chan isn’t here!''‘ when Ishtar went out to get her medicine.''“

 

She took one step towards Ishtar who was staying silent.

The tall woman stared down at her and she stared up at her expression.

“It might have been really hard to look after the previously sickly I’sa-chan that well. ……That’s what I thought. It’s not something that can be done easily with a simple reason like her being your precious little sister. Your happy face as you talk about I’sa-san can’t be you playing innocent.”

In place of a mother, a heartwarming smile was needed to comfort her little sister who was sickly as a child.

In place of a father, dignified strength to protect her frail sister was required.

Both sides could be said to be her. However, if it came down to a question of which one was her true self──

“There are probably a lot of people that are mistaken.”

 

“''……That’s why I don’t like you; just when you’re playing innocent, you suddenly reveal your true colors.''“

 

Those words that Sheltis said.

A large amount of the Guards thought the same.

“''The Guards probably have great respect for the position of Cadres Guard. They can naturally imagine that you’d ‘''be like this''‘. That might be why they feel a sense that your usual carefree attitude is out of place. They think that it doesn’t suit the image of a Cadres Guard, it’s to have the enemies let down their guard.''”

“………………”

“But that’s wrong. '''When you’re fighting is the exception''' and I think that the motherly and kind Ishtar-san when with I’sa-san is closer to your true self.”

……I somehow have a feeling that I understand.

She was good at looking after kids and also at making meals and snacks.

Even if the given reason was to look after I’sa-chan, the truth is……isn’t the truth just that she likes those things?

“I just want you to answer me one thing. This is……a really personal question but, Ishtar-san, you didn’t really want to become a Guard, did you? For example, maybe you would have rather been a kindergarten teacher, a housekeeper, cake store owner or something similar?”

But she had chosen the path of a spear user.

Because there had been something more important than the road she wanted to take.

“I want to confirm that more than anything else.”

“…………”

She said nothing, her lips remaining a line.

And──

“Who knoows? Ishtar’s an idiot so she’s already forgotten things from so long agoo.”

She slowly turned her back towards her with a half-spin.

“Ah, w-wait! Wait──”

“See ya, Priestess-sama! Here’s one more thing from me. I understood over the four day period we were together but he really does suit Ymy-sama like I thought.”

“……Who’s he?”

Who is that?

“That’s right, I wonder how many years it’s been. I’ve heard Ymy-sama’s name before, you know?”

The Cadres Guard looked over with a sharp gaze and the corners of her mouth tilted up.

“‘''She’s an apprentice Priestess right now, but Ymy will definitely become a Priestess. That’s why──''’“

“Y-yeah. That’s why……?”

 

“‘''It’d be the biggest issue for the tower if there were a mischievous, scatterbrained Priestess, so I have to be a Sennenshi to look after her.''’“

 

“…………Sc-scatterbrained!?”

“E-he-he. It’s a secret as to who said it〰. Well then, Ymy-sama, see ya─”

The Cadres Guard started to leave. She watched her go without being able to say anything.

It was then that the airship door behind her opened.

“Ah─……jeez! Monica and Kagura and Vaiel! How unfair of them to leave their luggage behind because they’re tired! Does this mean I have to carry this all myself!?”

“''It’s your last job.''“

Four peoples’ worth including his own and his three comrade’s. The boy she knew ran down the steps with nothing but travel bags loaded on his shoulders.

“Oh, Ymy?”

She looked at him blankly and blinked.

“Just standing there like that, did you forget something?”

“…………”

“……Ymy?”

“I found him.”

In front of her childhood friend who was looking at her face, she clenched her fist.

Then.

“Sheltissss!”

Ymy shouted with her face bright red.

“You’re the one who said it! J-just……who’s a scatterbrain────!?”