<Authors 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 Sisters 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 couldnt feel the presence of anyone around us.

Other than the two of us, theres no one else.

Its only the two of us here.

Yes, even now, its 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 Sisters voice sounded frail.

With her like this, Id 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 Id be poisoned Gobfuuk.]

An S-Rank Hero has revolted.

If that Goddess had let her escape alive, she definitely wont 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 Thats 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 wouldnt spread]

If people are forbidden to even possess it.

They wont 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, isnt 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.

Thats how Elder Sister analyzed it.

Even so, does that mean we wouldnt 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 Im 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 cant be happening! D*mn it!]

Tears also began leaking out of my eyes.

[Theres no way this is happening!? Hey, Elder Sister!? Just like usual, you can do something about this, right With Elder Sisters cleverness, wed somehow be able to recover from this situa]

[Itsuki.]

Her gaze still on the sky, Elder Sister spoke.

[Listen well to what Im about to say.]

[Elder Sister?]

[It seems like this is the end for me.]

[ ! ]

Theres no way

[However I dont 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, thats what reality is In the end, we can only swing between joy and sorrow after we roll the dice Its just-]

Sluggishly raising her hand, I felt Elder Sisters hand on my cheek.

[We can at least increase the odds of getting the result we want.]

[Elder Sisteeeeer]

[Thats what it means for one to do their best.]

[Unnn Unnn.]

[If it werent for that miscalculation, that black ball I would have won. Well I guess thats just another excuse But Im sure the next time will be a victory- for you and your allies.]

Saying this, Elder Sister started telling everything to me.

As if shes 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 doesnt 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 didnt write down the details. The rest is up to her to decide what she thinks and how she wants to act.]

She completely didnt want to involve Sogou-san

Thats 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 Im not here anymore, heres 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 Im sorry]

Saying this, Elder Sister coughed up blood again.

So that Elder Sister doesnt choke on her blood, I raised her upper body and held it up.

[Its alright, Itsuki. Even with the Goddess gone, you all will definitely be able to return]

Elder Sisters breathing is getting thinner and thinner.

I cant remember the last time Ive ever seen my sister so exhausted.

No I dont think Ive seen it even at the last moment.

And to see my Elder Sister like this

[Elder Sister W- Wait Thats impossible As expected, if Im alone if Im not with Elder Sister Hey, Elder Sister!]

As if shes trying to relieve me, a small smile appears on Elder Sisters lips.

Thereupon, she leans her weight against my chest.

[Itsuki]

Closing her eyes, Elder Sister spoke.

[You are my one and only Youre the best little sister in the world.]

[! -Big Sister!]

I couldnt take it any longer.

[I I dont want this! W- Wait! If Big Sister isnt here If Sister isnt here, I cant do anything! Hey! If Sister isnt here, what would Itsuki What would Itsuki do!?]

[Its alright. If its you, you would be able to do it If its my little sister, ]

[Big Sister!? D- Dont die! I dont want this! Stop it! Dont]

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 wont remonstrate me at all.

Gently She only smiled.

She only quietly looked at me.

[Itsuki- Ill 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? Lets make sure to have a proper goodbye.]

[! Uuu Unnn A- Alright! I understand, Elder Sister I also I also definitely dont want to have a strange farewell! Thats why, thats 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 were separated by death Know that I will always be with you, okay?]

[! U- Unnn Thats right! Even before I die Ill 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 wont 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? Youre still alive, right? ..Elder Sister?]

[..Yeah.]

[H- Haha Im glad Dont scare me]

[Perhaps, it may be because of the status correction I received as a Hero]

Its quiet.

Very quiet.

A few moments after such silence-

[I love you, Elder Sister.]

[I love you too, Itsuki.]

[..]

[..]

[Elder Sister? W- Whats the matter?]

[My eyes.]

[Eh?]

[My eyes turned dark I cant see.]

[..Unnn.]

[Itsuki.]

[Unnn.]

[Thank you Thanks to you Im not afraid to die. With this, I can definitely die happy]

[Unnn.]

[Also Im 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 havent 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 weve 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 wasnt towards the Anti-Alion Mad Emperor.

The route leading there, the path leading to Mira, would apparently be in the Goddess control now.

Thats what she foresaw.

With that being the case

There was only one perfect place for us to hide.

Indeed, its dangerous.

But if we could meet her She could become a powerful ally.

The place were 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.