Chapter 53 Meeting Tusk and Ange

On an undiscovered island, the wreckage of a para-mail lay battered along the shore. Beside it, a young girl lay unconscious, gently lapped by the waves that whispered secrets of the sea. The sun, a fiery orb, was on the verge of disappearing beyond the ocean's horizon, casting hues of red and orange across the sky.

A solitary figure emerged from the dense forest, stepping onto the beach with cautious curiosity. The figure halted abruptly, struck by the unexpected sight before them. Rushing towards the girl and the damaged para-mail, their eyes widened with astonishment.

As the fading sunlight touched the figure, it transformed into a young man named Tusk. His brown hair and eyes complemented his casual attire, and his face bore an air of unassuming normalcy. Tusk, the last of the ancient humans in the World of Mana, gazed in disbelief at the mysterious scene before him.

Tusk's astonishment deepened as he recognized Villkiss, the para-mail once piloted by a girl named Ange who had led a rebellion against Embryo, a being with god-like abilities. The rebellion ended in tragedy, claiming the lives of all ancient humans, including Tusk's parents. He was the sole survivor.

Shaking off the haunting memories, Tusk approached the unconscious girl. Concern etched across his face, he realized the urgency of the situation. Determined to prevent her from falling ill due to the damp clothes, he try to carefully remove them.

In his focused efforts, a sudden misstep caused Tusk to lose his balance on the sandy ground. As he lurched forward, perilously close to falling onto the girl's crouch, his descent was abruptly halted. An android-like hand clasped around his neck, preventing the unintended contact just before he could accidentally collide with the girl's vulnerable position.

Startled, Tusk attempted to free himself, swatting at the mechanical hand with a quick backhand motion. The unexpected intervention left him bewildered, his mind racing with questions about the mysterious circumstances unfolding on the secluded island.

The grip on Tusk's neck was suddenly released, and his face continued its descent toward the girl's crouch. However, just as contact seemed inevitable, a knee swiftly arced towards his face, sending him flying away from her. He plunged into the water and struggled to return to the shore.

As he reached the shore, coughing up saltwater and catching his breath, he raised his head to see the person who had assaulted him. Before him stood a strikingly beautiful girl.

(Lucia's POV)

A few minutes after the battle concluded, Villkiss and Ange drifted towards an island and reached its shore. I was on the verge of heading there when, unexpectedly, a young man emerged from the forest. It was Tusk, who, if the story were to continue, would become Ange's lover.

Fate, it seemed, wasted no time in intervening. I observed in silence, curious about Tusk's reaction. Surprisingly, he displayed no overtly perverted tendencies, his expression reflecting pain instead. Perhaps memories of his parents flooded back upon seeing Villkiss.

Moments later, he shook his head and approached Ange. However, a sudden slip caused his head to fall forward, dangerously close to Ange's position. What on earth? Did the lucky pervert skill activate right away? It certainly seemed that way.

I rushed toward them and grabbed his neck with my hand, attempting to prevent the impending contact. However, he swiftly slapped my hand away. Logically, there was no way he could overpower my grip with just his strength, yet somehow my hand inexplicably released.

'What the…'

As soon as my hand was released, his face continued its descent towards Ange's crouch. In a panic, I instinctively struck him with a knee to the face, sending him plunging into the water. It didn't make sense, but it seemed like some force in the world, or perhaps the workings of a lucky pervert skill, were at play.

'This kind of skill or phenomenon isn't really good. Unless one forcefully creates distance, it seems to persist.' I observed Tusk, who had just been thrown into the water, and thought about the strange events unfolding before me.

If you watch it in an anime, it might be amusing, but when such a thing happens to your lover, courtesy of a stranger or another man, it's genuinely revolting. Even though Ange wasn't my lover yet, I didn't want anything of that sort to happen to her.

I never thought that the lucky pervert skill or a phenomenon like that would activate right away. Tusk swam back to the shore, coughing up water, and cast a gaze in my direction.

'What the... is he serious?' I thought in my mind as he looked at me with somewhat lustful eyes.

I knew Tusk was a good man, and he wasn't someone who directed his lust towards girls, at least not in an anime, of course. His eyes weren't like that even when he saw Ange earlier. However, he shook his head a few times, as if trying to dispel his thoughts, and then addressed me. 

"W-who are you?" Tusk asked.

"… just passing by…" I answered as I picked up Ange in a princess carry and headed into the forest.

(General POV)

In Tusk's perspective, the girl before him was a stunning sight that left him slightly shocked, a desire awakening within him. Her beauty surpassed any he had encountered in his lifetime. Even during his youth, when he had seen many beauties, this encounter felt like the first time he had witnessed true beauty. 

The girl adorned a knee-length black military overcoat paired with long black pants. Her silver-white hair was elegantly tied into a ponytail, and a single eye peeked out from behind a bang, revealing a captivating red gaze.

However, that momentary desire quickly faded as Tusk noticed the unfamiliar uniform worn by the girl. It dawned on him that she wasn't just an ordinary girl. After all, would a normal girl simply materialize on this uninhabited island and deliver a swift kick to his face? Moreover, based on what he knew, she might be one of Norma from Arzenal.

Tusk observed the beautiful girl lifting the Norma girl, who seemed to have misunderstood the earlier accident. Tusk acknowledged that it wasn't ideal for such misunderstandings to occur, but he reasoned that perhaps the girl wouldn't perceive him as a pervert if he demonstrated his reliable side.

Following behind the girl as they walked into the forest, Tusk was compelled to explain himself when Lucia stopped and turned to look at him, as if questioning why he was following.

"A-ah. I-I'm living on this island alone and have a place to stay. Well, that girl needs to take off her wet clothes too as she might get sick. Why not follow me to my place? I swear I won't do anything to you two!" Tusk explained, emphasizing that he had no ulterior motives.

"Okay," Lucia agreed.

"Y-yes, I understand but— What? Really?" Tusk hadn't expected the girl to agree so readily.

"Why not?" Lucia asked.

"P-please, follow me." Tusk led them to his hideout—a place built inside a cave. Tables, chairs, an old stone stove, and necessary items were neatly arranged. Even a bookshelf adorned the cave. While not overly spacious, it was enough to accommodate two or three people. At the innermost part, there was a bed, and a girl lay asleep on it. Of course, the girl was Ange, covered by a blanket. Unlike the original anime, there were no ropes tying her, and she was fully clothed.

Ange's eyes trembled slightly as she opened them, finding herself beneath a stone ceiling. Sitting up in a hurry, she felt the soft cloth on her body. As she hastily sat up, the blanket slid away, revealing a plain white dress with short sleeves. She was surprised to find herself in decent clothing instead of her usual tight combat suit.

However, her wariness returned as Ange realized someone had changed her clothes without her knowledge. She looked around and saw a young man entering the cave from outside. Ange panicked at the thought that he might have done something to her while she slept, and she stepped back, searching for a weapon to use.

"W-wait! I'm not some--ehh?!" Tusk, who had just entered, saw Ange being wary of him. He attempted to explain, but his legs slipped on the clean floor in an inexplicable manner, causing him to fall forward. His hands instinctively grabbed Ange's legs, and his face headed towards an awkward position, much to their mutual surprise.

"Kyaa!" Ange shouted in panic.

But before his face could touch Ange's crouch, his neck was gripped again, but this time he was thrown out of the cave instantly. Lucia embraced Ange before she fell backward to the ground.

"It's fine. Stay calm." Lucia tried to reassure Ange, looking at Tusk lying on the ground with cold eyes. Really, the Lucky Pervert skill is troublesome.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The night arrived slowly, with the moon casting its gentle glow upon the earth. The sky was adorned with countless stars, and cold winds rustled the trees, causing them to sway slightly.

In front of the cave, where a small campfire crackled, three people sat on a tree log, forming a circle around the warm flames. Lucia, Ange, and Tusk were among them. Despite Lucia's efforts to calm Ange down, she still shot angry glares at Tusk.

"Aren't you the one who said you just went to piss? Why did you come back alone?" Lucia asked bluntly, without a hint of shame.

"W-why are you talking so bluntly like that?" Tusk replied with embarrassment, aware that another girl was sitting not far from him as well.

Earlier, Tusk and Lucia had been inspecting Villkiss on the shore when Tusk mentioned he needed to go to the restroom. However, as time passed without his return, Lucia decided to walk back to the cave. To her dismay, she found Tusk attempting to touch Ange's crouch with his face, even if it seemed to be an accident. Such incidents were never good for the girls.

Lucia stared at him, waiting for Tusk to explain himself. She understood that Tusk wasn't the kind of man to engage in inappropriate actions, at least not based on anime portrayals. Yet, the world had become real, beyond the confines of a television screen. Plots changed, and unexpected events unfolded. Lucia needed to know why Tusk had returned to the cave, where Ange was sleeping alone, without informing her, who had been waiting at the shore. 

"I-I just wanted to check if she was ill or not. You know, the night here is quite cold," Tusk explained, avoiding Lucia's gaze as he spoke.

'Hmm… is he telling the truth? Was I mistaken about Tusk being the same kind man from the anime?' Lucia pondered, recalling the events of the Cross Ange anime.

'Well, at least he is useful...' Lucia thought, considering Tusk's skill in repairing Villkiss. That was the primary reason why she had taken him to the shore and asked if he could fix it. However, Tusk hadn't questioned how Lucia knew about his repair abilities. Perhaps he had misunderstood, thinking Lucia was affiliated with Jill's group—a clandestine organization secretly preparing for another rebellion against Embryo.

Lucia chose not to press Tusk further and shifted her gaze to Ange, who was now staring at her while sipping hot tea. Ange sat on a tree log, a blanket covering her body, holding a cup of tea in her hand.

[Ange: Affection - 66%] (+2%)

'Hmm…' Lucia glanced at the affection meter and then back at Ange. Normally, Ange would be wary or dismissive, given her character as a stubborn princess who looked down on Norma. However, there was something unusual. The affection meter had been rising unexpectedly for a while now.

Salamandinay's significant rise in affection could be understood as Lucia being a potential savior for their leader, Aura. However, Ange had only met Lucia a short while ago, and Lucia couldn't fathom why Ange's affection was increasing so rapidly. The most positive action Lucia had taken toward Ange was ejecting Tusk, who seemed to have ill intentions. Nevertheless, based on Ange's past behavior, it was unlikely for her to instantly warm up to Lucia just from this.

'It's strange… Maybe the charm on females got an upgrade?' Lucia thought to herself.

"Okay, it's already late. Go to sleep," Lucia said.

"Can I talk with you for a moment?" Ange asked.

"Sure," Lucia agreed.

Tusk gave them space and went into the cave. Lucia initially thought they would talk there, but Ange walked out from the campfire, barefoot.

"Ah, wait," Lucia said, realizing Ange's lack of footwear. Ange's suit didn't require shoes, and now without it, she had none.

Lucia reached into her inventory, producing a pair of black low-heel shoes. Kneeling slightly in front of Ange, she presented the shoes. Ange was taken aback, surprised that Lucia seemingly conjured a pair of shoes out of thin air. Even though Ange hadn't heard the sound of mana being used, she understood that the girl in front of her could manipulate mana.

"L-light of Mana?!" Ange asked in surprise.

"For now, just wear these," Lucia said, handing Ange the shoes.

"Ok…" Ange put on the shoes and found that they fit perfectly.

"It looks good. So, aren't we talking here?" Lucia said.

"I just want to walk for a while… can we talk while walking?" Ange asked in a gentle tone.

"Sure," Lucia agreed, and they began to walk through the forest. They walked in silence for a while before Ange broke it. 

"Earlier, was it the Light of Mana?" Ange asked as they walked.

"No. It wasn't. It's magic," Lucia answered.

"Magic… is that so…" Ange said.

"It is…" Lucia replied.

"…how did you end up here?" Ange asked, stumbling slightly.

'Well, Ange seems to think of me as someone from the capital city,' Lucia thought.

"Well, a lot of things happened," Lucia replied.

"I see…" Ange said in a low tone as memories from the past flooded back.

"You know that I'm Norma, right?" Ange asked.

"Yes, but does that matter? Also, aren't you wary of me? A stranger?" Lucia asked.

"Well, I don't know why, but I feel at ease when I'm near you. It's been quite some time since I felt like this," Ange answered.

Ange felt the warmth of her mother in Lucia, the mother who had always supported and gently taught her. She didn't understand why she sensed her mother's presence in Lucia, but she liked this feeling.

"You must have faced quite a lot of difficulties," Lucia said as she turned to look at Ange.

"Umm… it's…" Ange nodded.

Ange also turned to look back at Lucia. They gazed into each other's eyes, standing there. The night winds grew colder, causing the leaves to sway. The once-silent forest became somewhat noisy with the sounds of insects.

Lucia slowly moved her hand, gently gripping Ange's waist and pulling her closer. Ange didn't resist, drawing nearer to Lucia. Their faces approached, and as their eyes met, the distance closed. Their eyes closed slowly, and soon their lips touched.

They didn't kiss passionately, just a light and tender kiss. After a few seconds, they parted and looked at each other. Ange didn't know why she had done this, but she didn't hate it. It reminded her of a time when she was discovered to be a Norma, a reality she hadn't even considered at the time.

Countless things had happened to her since then: her beloved mother being killed before her eyes, the citizens she loved accusing her of lying, her brother's misunderstanding, her little sister fainting from shock, being thrown into the den of Norma, being treated as one, and the harsh truth of being a Norma. The worst parts were the near-death experiences and the intense battles with dragons.

However, at this moment, she finally felt peace. It was as if she had found where she belonged. Here, there was no fighting, no worries, no dragons, and no Norma. Ange looked at Lucia's gentle smile under the full moon. She already knew the truth that she was a Norma; she just didn't want to admit it. But in this moment, she had openly acknowledged it, and the other girl didn't seem to care.

It was strange for a human to show affection to a Norma. However, the girl in front of Ange hugged her in a warm and soft embrace. Even though the night air felt somewhat cold, the warmth from Lucia overrode it, providing Ange with a sense of safety and comfort.

'Ahh… I hope this moment lasts forever,' Ange thought in her mind.

She closed her eyes and rested her head on Lucia's shoulder. A few minutes passed, and they still held each other in the embrace.

"Let's go back to the cave. You need to sleep; it's already night," Lucia said, gently stroking Ange's back.

"Okay," Ange answered.

They returned to the cave and found Tusk sleeping, leaning against the cave wall. He had chosen not to sleep on the bed, leaving it for the two girls.

'Girls would treat him like a gentleman if he doesn't mess up with the lucky pervert skill,' Lucia thought.

Lucia and Ange climbed onto the bed, and Ange snuggled into Lucia, falling asleep. As the night passed, Lucia felt that something was missing.

'Ah… right. We haven't introduced ourselves yet,' Lucia thought in her mind.

'Forget it, we can do that tomorrow,' Lucia decided as she looked at the sleeping Ange.

At this moment, inside the Arzenal island, a group of females gathered to discuss Ange. Among them were Commander Jill and her most trusted comrades.

"Indeed, the behaviors of the dragons were strange, but we must find Ange at all costs for now," Jill instructed the women in front of her.

"Understood," the younger girls replied, while the older women simply nodded.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------