Read Fate's Worst Children: Destruction :: Episode 6

They put on the hooded cloak again. Arete noticed that Han was not wearing loosened robes. The man wore a fit and tight sleeveless turtleneck, high waist loosened pants. On the cloth that serves as the belt of Arete's clothes, she put Faier there. The flute does not move. And that's a good sign because there is no opponent near them.

Han cooked a lot of food and poured it into the bucket they were carrying. The only thing missing is water and liquor. Arete is upset why Han keeps drinking liquor. The opinion of the other is that he can say what he thinks without hesitation. That's his way out.

They walked back to town. People are lively, especially children and vendors. Arete smiled and remembered the times when she accompanied the head of the orphanage to buy groceries. Often they end up with difficult people to talk to and they intend to bully their buyers. Arete would no longer trust the vendors in the market because a group of vendors that helped them when they got lost always pointed out the wrong way. And lead up in a dead end they were really nervous if they could come back alive.

"I want to eat!" Arete stretched.

"You have finished the two pots of garlic rice. Don't fool me." Han pushed her.

"Huh? It's your fault why I have two pots. Imagine, your strict teacher, cooked you your favorite dish."

"I'm not strict. I'm just very chill. Most of the time, you just do self study inside the library."

"That's what you have said!"

"You must obey." Han grinned.

"Argh..."

Arete sped up her walk due to annoyance. She knew she should be used to Han's teasing but she was still in the mood to eat. As she turned into an alley, she saw Lily beating a man mercilessly.

"Dame Lily?" She called.

The woman turned and was shocked to see Han and Arete.

"You are the ones who destroyed the market!"

"Yo, Sir Lily." Han waved but his voice was nonchalant.

"Why are you here?! You're already on the wanted list!"

Han and Arete looked at each other. They both laughed because only a day had passed and there was already a list of people to catch. Arete said that even if there is concrete evidence that a person is guilty on earth, it will take days, weeks or even months before the authorities act. Han laughed because the head magicians of Iryankka were doing the same.

They just laugh at the corruption of the people who rule their world. Even if there are good people who dream of changing their habits, they also become rotten.

"What are you laughing at?! You could die if you get caught!"

"The Ridav officials moved so fast. They need to be rewarded." Han applauded.

"You give everyone a reward." Arete kicks his legs.

"My money is infinite. Just give something to them." He shrugged, "the question is... Can you give them something?"

"You've been teasing me for a while!" Arete targeted Han in the face but Han's hand immediately stopped it, effortlessly.

"Well, it's going to be a boring day if I don't piss you off!"

"....." Lily was stunned by the two. Even though they are on the wanted list, they are not afraid or show signs that they are nervous about what will happen to them. That's when she felt the person she was beating move. She could not react immediately and the man choked her.

"You think you're on top of the world, Lily?! If you can act just like what you think you're the official here! You're just a woman and a low-class —" the man couldn't finish what he was going to say when Arete appeared at the man's side. She pulled her arm back and grabbed the man's face to throw him off balance.

"Bark and bark. Do dogs like you get tired?" Arete looked coldly at the man and Lily got shivers.

"You are criminals too! We only have one enemy —"

Arete approached the man, sat on top of his stomach and forcefully opened his mouth with her two hands, "I don't want to explain to someone that I don't even know."

The man's natural response was to break free from Arete's grip, but the girl's weight increased so much that he felt his ribs gradually break. Arete continued to open the man's mouth. Even though it had reached its limit, she didn't stop opening it when,

"That's enough, Arete."

She turned to Han who was holding a thread and a needle. His eyes are lifeless again.

"But..."

"We have enough kit for injuries and wounds. Treat her away from here."

"He looked down at women. This pest even said it's a lowly creature. How can I control myself after hearing that?"

"I didn't say not to hurt him. You can do better, Arete. I trained and taught you for ten years. Now, get off of that man. I'll solve this in my own way." He gently pulls Arete to stand.

"All right... Sorry for causing you trouble."

"Not at all. His mindset can be on par with a rat. Now, go."

Arete turned to Lily, "uhh... Let's go?"

She nodded and let Arete guide her away from the alley. She looked at Han who smiled evil-y at the man.

They had a long walk until they reached the forest. They sat on the first tree they saw. Arete put down the bag and rummaged through the things.

"You are both scary." Lily said.

"In what way?"

"How can you guys talk to each other after almost killing a person, huh? Even with a witness on the side?"

"... To be honest, I've already killed someone." She took out the bandages and herbal ointments.

"?!"

"I was chased by a group of men. I knew what they were going to do so before they could destroy my dignity that I had built since I was young, I made that action."

"... Killing is wrong."

"There is no right and wrong when you are in a situation where your life is at stake, Dame Lily."

"Just call me Lily. I was suspended for a month because I didn't catch you."

"Even if you want to capture us, Han will make sure our mission is completed before agreeing to prison."

".... When the boys chased you, that's when you met Han? The one with you now?"

"Yeah. Let's just say that the chances of us meeting are small but it was possible."

She nodded as she understood, "..... Thanks for saving me earlier."

"You're welcome. No matter what state you are in, if you are innocent of the bad things that happened, I will try to defend you."

"... Your way of thinking is honorable. It's just the opposite of your actions."

"Ironic is the best description for me." Arete put a pin on the bandage, "I'm done treating your injuries." She sighs, "it's over. I need to call Faier later."

"... Who is that?"

"Ah. Faier is a boy. He will help us with the mission we will do today. We can also ask the townspeople."

".... But you are on the wanted list. If you want to get information, you need to be in a place where you are not known."

"As if Han will be afraid of what you say. But thanks for the warning."

"Hey." Han appears, his legs are crossed in the large branch of the tree, hanging upside down basically.

Lily, "MOTHER OF SWEETNESS!"

Arete looks up, smiling at the man, "Done already?"

"Yeah. We should hang this at the center of Ridav!" Han spins and balances himself. After he regains balance, extends his arms, presenting the head on his hand, blood dripping.

Lily gasped and was horrified, "That.... That's the man's head I was trying to arrest!"

"Yeah. He didn't excel in anything. It's a one-sided fight in that small alley."

"Man, you're powerful as hell. No one can beat you." Complimented by Arete.

"Hmm? Thanks to your fast reflexes and a little portion of punishment, I will think of a proper way of killing this one." He pats the girl's head.

"I was told that I will arrest him for life sentence! What am I going to do?!" Lily panicked.

"Isn't it in your rules, the rules of the knights, that you will have authority if something happens that is not under your control?"

"... We will wait for the knight commander's orders."

Han sighs, "well, I've done it. I saved your dignity as a woman, but it's a good thing you know how to fight."

"....."

"Well, after I hang this head, we'll be on our own way." Han waves at her and the two walk away.

"Wait, can I know your mission? Arete told me that you have something to take care of." Lily said hesitantly. One of the cruel actions she saw, done by the two. She didn't know if they were telling the truth but she would follow her hunch.

Han, "Ho? Interested? Alright, just follow our walk and I'll tell you."

Lily nodded and walked beside Arete.

"Arete and I have a mission. Find the person who plays the music from Iryankka."

"Iryankka?! That's the world that exploded a long time ago!"

"You know stuff, huh?" He grinned, "Well, there's a flute who plays the instrumental version of that song. If you listen carefully, your emotions will get confused and you won't be able to think properly."

"... That's..."

"It's dangerous for civilians who haven't studied magic. They have no defense against what can happen. And the flow of energy when it plays causes a negative effect on your muscles and organs."

"When did you experience that, Han? You didn't tell me." Arete's eyes widened in shock, “It’s too specific.”

"Hmm? I will connect what happened to my body first before I speak. It's hard to conclude without going through a process."

"What if you are being controlled? Who will take care of you or bring you back to yourself?"

"You."

"......"

"Your description of what our knight commander assigned us is correct. Ridav is peaceful because we are focused on business and the growth of plantations. According to people, you can hear the sound of it when midnight comes. There are witnesses that civilians become... What word is that..." Lily furrowed her eyebrows as she thought of it.

"They follow where the sound is coming from, right?" Han added.

"You're right, Han... I've been taking that case for a long time but the knight commander won't let me."

"Well, suit yourself at our stopovers." He tossed the head to Arete.

Arete withdrew her right foot and stepped away, "you two stay away. Blood will splash on your face."

"Eh—" Han pulled her away and saw Arete throw the head at the area where people were eating. Chaos and shouting can be heard. Han laughed loudly and slapped Lily on the back.

"Come on! We'll be caught!" Arete held the hands of the two and ran away from the town.

"WHY DID YOU THROW THOSE HEADS AT THE EATING PEOPLE?! IT'S DISGUSTING!" Lily shook Arete aggressively.

"I noticed that people were already recognizing us when we saw you in that alley. Maybe someone has already reported."

"THAT'S STILL DISGUSTING! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY HOURS THE FOOD COOKS?! THAT WILL BE A WASTE!"

"Eat it then.”

"HUH?!"

"You’re having regrets about the food. Once it touches the ground, it's dirty and inedible. I'm speaking facts and you should stop forcing it on other people."

"Why do you have that mindset?! It's like you're about to die!"

Han, "I am."

Arete, "me too."

Lily was silent and she felt bad for both of them when the two laughed.

Lily, "when were you two going to be serious?!"

"We're just laughing at the past, Lily." Han shrugs, "if we don't do that then we will be more cruel and rotten."

"... But it's dark and complicated."

"In your case, you're making it an inspiration, while we're making fun of it. No need to feel bad about us."

"....."

Han prepared tents while Arete cooked. Lily was in charge of maintaining the fire in the wood. Faier automatically came out of his flute.

"Hi."

"WOOAH!" Lily recoiled from her seat, "THERE'S A GHOST!"

"Technically yes but he remembers his life in the past." Han answered, "he is one of those who will help our mission. Now that you are with us, you will take care of the defense."

"You... You're treating me as one of your companions?"

"Yeah. Trust may not be gained at this moment but we'll get there."

"I hope so."

"Faier, welcome back!" Arete waved.

"I slept well, Arete! How are you feeling? You had a fever last night."

"Han got me to take medicine. I'm feeling a little better. Thanks for asking."

The boy turned to Lily, "what's your name?"

"..... Lily. You are?"

"My name is Faier, Miss Lily." The boy bowed.

"Oh.. How gentlemanly you are." Lily bowed back.

"I will help Han and Arete in solving the problem. Are you also their friend or travelling together?"

Lily looked at the two and they gave a knowing look.