Tales of Destruction: Part 4

Hansel, the Sword Wizard and Gretel, the Cursed Sword

Your most faithful regulars at your candy shop

Art by: Kurotarou

Man, my guy Hansel might just have one of the coldest designs in the whole manga by a mile. Both of his designs, both in human and transformed form, are just immaculate.

Life was an ugly thing years ago. In a land ravaged by a crisis, many children were either met with an early grave or with misery. However, one managed to raise above all else, an observant boy named Hansel. One day, he decided to play a game, but he didn't do it alone, he had Gretel, his sister and magical sword by his side. The game they played was destroying the country and deciding who they'd let live. Their game was a success, and so they established their dictatorship, although there's rumors that they're occasionally seen neer the border of their country.

YOU - 23

Ever since you were young, candy has always been a central part of your life. Born to a family of prestigious candy makers, you've been learning all that there was to know about the art of making candy ever since you were little. One day, your parents told you the story of how your family became so famous. A long time ago, a strange customer visited your great grandfather's candy shop, bringing a bizarre request with them: an entire house made of candy. Though impossible sounding, he still carried out the request to completion.

Later that night, you heard strange noises coming from the kitchen. Armed with just a broom, you walked downstairs to check up on the noise, but instead of finding a robber you found a pair of siblings looking for something to eat. They introduced themselves as Hansel and Gretel, siblings who had been trying to survive the crisis that loomed over the country. You took pity on them, so you gave them each a bag full of candy just before your parents found and kicked them out.

Many months passed since then. You never had to endure the crisis thanks to your family's money and the business' location near the border ensuring that you always had everything you could ever need, but still, you couldn't but to worry about those two siblings. One day while you were helping around the shop, the front door opened to reveal Hansel standing on the other side, holding a sword that looked like it was made of flesh.

Before you could even ask him where Gretel was and if he was alright, the sword began to talk with Gretel's voice, nearly making you faint from shock. Hansel told you what he and his sister had been up to for the past few months, including how Gretel became a sword and how they had destroyed the candy house your family had made years ago, all the while he helped himself to some of the store's candy.

Since then, the siblings stop by the shop every few weeks to restock on candy and do some basic catching up. It didn't surprise you all that much to one day hear that they overthrew the country and turned it into their dictatorship, but so far, they have never done anything to you. If it's because they're on good terms with you or if it's just because of your candies, you'll never know.

I once heard someone say Hansel's uniform looked like it came out of Chained Soldier. I have no idea what that's supposed to mean.