Chapter 131: Ange 1
In the days that followed, aside from training, Tolle either rested with the women or occasionally went out to hunt dragons. Life in this world was just that blissful.
When no one was around, he secretly released Zola several times. Each time she saw the body identical to her own, she was utterly shocked.
But Zola quickly accepted it, and very cooperatively joined Tolle in his games. After all, she had suppressed herself for a long time, and finally had the chance to let loose.
Every time, however, she would cling to him and play for a long while before being willing to return to the battleship's core space.
Tolle also felt that, in Zola's heart, his position had probably dropped by a notch. After all, when she played with him, she often flipped the tables and took charge herself.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye more than two months had passed since he arrived at Arzenal. Tolle then received word from Jill that several new recruits were about to join his team.
Not long after, Coco and Miranda were introduced into his First Troop.
Tolle knew that the heroine, Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi—Ange—was finally about to arrive at Arzenal.
There was no way he would miss the scene of the heroine being… well, he corrected himself—the scene of the heroine's first arrival into the big family of Arzenal.
Tolle immediately activated the neo DG cells implanted in Jill, observing the situation in secret, waiting to see when Ange would arrive so he could join the fun.
And true to Zola's style, he couldn't resist giving Coco and Miranda a round of "special education," enjoying himself quite a bit with them.
While they weren't paying attention, he implanted the neo DG cells into them as well, ensuring that at a crucial moment, he could save their lives.
A few days later, on a stormy night, lightning streaked across the black sky as if the heavens were cheering in excitement.
Ange, her face dazed, still wearing her bloodstained princess dress, was escorted into Arzenal.
Several female soldiers pushed her into the interrogation room, where Emma began to verify her identity information.
"Number 120377, Norma, Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi, born in the Misurugi Empire, 16 years old.
Sixteen years old. From today onward, you are conscripted into Arzenal as a soldier."
Ange was still overwhelmed with doubt and disbelief over her capture. She had once been Princess Angelise, first princess of the Misurugi Empire.
Just the day before, she had lived a carefree life, admired and loved by the people.
But once it was discovered that she was a "Norma" incapable of using Mana, she was immediately hunted down by her own kingdom's soldiers.
Her parents, in trying to save her, were chased down and shot to death by their very own soldiers.
Her name and status were stripped away, and she was exiled to Arzenal, to become nothing more than a soldier fighting against dragons—"Ange."
Staring in confusion, Ange refused to accept this reality. She questioned Emma.
"What is this place? What on earth… has happened to me?"
Ignoring her, Emma coldly continued.
"At sixteen, you are specially exempted from the educational curriculum…"
But Ange, still refusing to recognize her situation, cut her off.
"My mother—what about my mother? I want to see her. Right now!"
Emma looked at Ange with contempt. She loathed Normas the most, and this one had even dared interrupt her reading of the decree. And she was still covered in priceless finery.
Enraged, Emma rushed forward to confiscate everything Ange carried.
Frightened, Ange stumbled backward a few steps, only to feel Emma's hand seize her body. Terrified, she cried out:
"W–what are you doing?!"
"Confiscating all possessions!" Emma snapped, stripping away her earrings, necklace, bracelet, one by one. Ange struggled desperately, but it was futile.
As a Norma without Mana, she had no strength to resist.
When Emma reached for the last item, a ring, Ange clutched it fiercely, glaring with anger.
"This is the Misurugi royal family's heirloom of the Ikaruga line! You lowly official aren't worthy to touch it!"
To hear a Norma insult her so brazenly made Emma furious. She drew her whip, ready to lash Ange.
"You worthless Norma—"
At that moment, Jill recognized the ring. Suddenly interested, she stepped in to stop Emma.
"I'll handle this, Inspector Emma Bronson. To deal with a Norma, of course, we should use a Norma."
Jill approached Ange, releasing her shackles while speaking calmly.
"I am Jill, commander of Arzenal. Sorry for the rough treatment earlier."
Ange thought Jill had come to save her, rubbing her sore wrists as she insisted:
"I am not a Norma! There must be some mistake! Soon the Misurugi Empire will send someone—"
But instead of sympathy, Jill's boot crashed into her, sending her sprawling to the floor.
"My, my, astonishing. To survive sixteen years without ever using Mana."
Grabbing Ange by the collar, Jill hauled her up.
"Didn't it strike you as odd? Not once did you use magic. A personal maid who could use it for you—ah, I see. Sixteen years of effort wasted. Your mother died for nothing."
Ange trembled in terror, refusing to believe her mother was dead.
Snatching away her ring, Jill sneered at the feeble princess.
"You want this? Then take it from me. Use your magic."
But Ange, desperate, only kept chanting: "Light of Mana… light…" with no result at all.
Jill shattered her delusion, pressing a dagger to her throat.
"You've lost everything—your royal authority, even your dignity as a human. Welcome to hell!"
She slashed open Ange's dress, stripping her bare, and forced her down on the interrogation table, her hands cuffed behind her back.
"Inspector Emma Bronson, care to assist?"
Struggling frantically, Ange kept crying, "Why me… why…"
Jill pinned her down tightly, speaking to Emma.
"Didn't you want this over quickly? Then help with the dirty work."
Reluctantly, Emma complied, using Mana to lock Ange's wrists securely into the shackles on the table.
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