I glanced at Olivia as she bowed at me while I got her a cup of tea. "I apologize again for my impertinence. I shouldn't have just done that when we weren't even introduced. I am Olivia, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Leon. Leon Fou Bartfort. And I wasn't offended, so it's fine. Really." I assured her, hoping some tea would calm the girl down. "I would like an explanation for what you said though."

The future Saint took the cup in her hands and closed her eyes. "I can't really find the words to explain it. Ever since I arrived at the Academy, I kept seeing–feeling–a faint gentle green light coming from somewhere. The first time I did was back at the Entrance Ceremony."

"It didn't happen all the time so I just thought that it was just nerves from being around so many Nobles." She continued before opening her eyes and looking at me. "But I was trying to find where the Tea Party I was invited to was located when I sensed the same faint green light coming from this room and I got curious."

"That's when you ran into those girls." I completed the events that led to our meeting. She nodded and I sat down across the table from her. "Am I still glowing now?"

Olivia took a sip of the tea and smiled. "I can't really say that it is a glow. It's more like faint traces clinging to you and coming from within? Sorry, I'm not really explaining it well."

"No, it's fine." I answered distractedly. Could it be because of those Getter Rays Control was talking about? "It's not distracting or distressing you though, is it?"

"Oh not at all." I sighed in relief as she said that. Last thing I wanted was somehow giving the main protagonist radiation sickness or something. "In fact, I've felt a great deal of comfort ever since we started talking."

Her face suddenly went red and she quickly looked away from me. "I mean, the light! The light is comforting! I didn't mean to imply anything else!"

Ah, of course. The only way a mob like me would ever get the attention of someone like the future Saint would be because some weird beams were literally coming out of my body.

"I understand. Please be at ease." I used every bit of the etiquette lessons taught to me up to this point to keep my face straight. "Actually, I wanted to ask about that other Tea Party you were supposed to go to."

"Oh! I was invited by the heir of the Field family. He said that he was interested in talking to the Special Scholarship Student, but it seems like the other nobles didn't share his opinion." Olivia's smile became strained as she finished her story.

Brad Fou Field. Son of an Earl and one of the love interests. Pretty foppish playboy with long purple hair and matching eyes. He was the weakest among the five physically but was pretty good with a lance. His greatest asset though was his impressive talent at magic.

"Well, that's fine. The girl I invited pretty much blew me off anyway." I said, pushing a platter of sweets towards Olivia. "Might not be what either of us expected, but there's no reason not to enjoy the tea and company anyway."

"Are you sure? This tea and these snacks look quite expensive." She pointed out but I waved off her concern and poured myself a cup to drink. The girl that all this was intended for didn't deserve it, so might as well use it for someone who would actually appreciate the effort I put in.

"Still, I don't even know why I'm even here at the Academy." Olivia continued as she nibbled on a cookie. Man, she really liked to put herself down. "I can barely keep up with everyone else in studies and I don't really have any friends either."

Wait a minute.

"None at all? None of the other male students approached you? I mean, aside from Brad Fou Field." I asked and was puzzled when she shook her head. That didn't make any sense. Olivia struggled in the early game because of her bad stats, but that was to incentivize the player to pick a love interest so their respective specializations would boost her stats depending on who she went with. Even without any early flags with any of the love interests, Julius should have been looking out for her as part of the Common Route that let her be introduced to the other guys she could pick from.

I wasn't paying attention at all because we didn't share any classes and because I didn't want to be part of the plot of the game.

"I apologize for burdening you with my problems even though you went out of your way to provide me with hospitality." The girl said miserably and made to stand. "Thank you for your time, Leon."

Honestly, did this poor girl suck up all the humility from her peers?

"You deserve to be here." The confidence in my statement made her pause right as she was about to leave the table. "We've never had a Special Scholarship Student, especially a commoner. Not to mention that your enrollment here was facilitated by the Royal Palace. That probably made everyone worry as to why. But the fact is that you're here because someone who is probably more important than anyone else in the Academy wanted you here. That counts for a lot."

Olivia looked at me with hopeful eyes that I really wanted to look away from because of how pure they were. "But what good is that if everyone I talk to says that I don't belong here?"

"Ignore them." I quickly said before grinning. "Better yet, tell them to forward their complaints to the Royal Palace. That should shut a few of them up."

Probably due to the absurdity of my statement, Olivia actually started giggling. It sounded nice.

"We still have a bit more tea and snacks. Why don't you help me take care of the rest of them, eh?" She accepted and we continued our impromptu Tea Party, even though it really didn't have anything to do with its intended purpose of finding me a bride.

Olivia also brought up the desire to learn more about Magic but she said that she seemed to keep offending everyone because of certain "unwritten rules" in the Academy. Ah, yes. I knew about the Academy's version of the "Bro Code" and I can't even imagine what the super secret rules for the girls would be like.

I felt my eye twitch when I realized that I knew a person who would be perfect to help Olivia. It'd be like pulling teeth, but I wasn't heartless enough to leave her like that. I knew a thing or two about being looked down upon.

"Actually, I know someone who can help." I winced when I saw the beautiful smile that Olivia suddenly had. Yeah, no backing out of this then.

After calling for her and waiting several minutes, my older sister sat between me and Olivia. Her new cat-eared beast slave, one that mom got really pissed at her for getting, stood stoically behind her. I wonder if she knew why cats yowled all the time whenever they mated?

"Well, at least you had the good sense to call upon me instead of trying to give her advice yourself." Jenna imperiously after taking a sip of the tea I poured her. Physically, she takes after our mother pretty accurately. Long brown hair tied to a ponytail and sharp amber eyes that gave a tomboyish impression. Sadly, she was nowhere near as nice as mom was.

"Thanks for coming, Jenna. I really appreciate you taking the time to help Olivia with this." I replied with a smile through gritted teeth. My sister looked at the fidgeting Olivia then back to me, her eyes narrowing.

"Why are you even helping out the Special Scholarship Student? Don't you have your own things to worry about?" I chose to ignore the flinch that Olivia had at the question. "What do you even get out of it?"

Aside from ensuring that she becomes Holfort's salvation when the time comes? No, that reason was plenty. I live here after all.

"You know how I'm just prone to random bouts of altruism, dear sister. I mean, I put most of my treasure towards improving our family lands without a second thought." I answered with a much more natural smile. Jenna clicked her tongue and looked away. Yeah, all the extra income that had been flowing because of my contributions was the only reason why she was able to even afford her catboy and she knew it.

She then proceeded to educate Olivia about the proper courtesy in paying respect to the girls in her class. From writing a letter and providing a gift to the one with the richest family, making sure to do her proper research beforehand. Even going so far as asking for an intermediary from their entourage. Why was this starting to sound like political bribery?

"I don't have the kind of money to buy high quality sweets!" Olivia said in a panic when Jenna suggested the type of gifts that would work best. Jenna then gave her a sweet smile before gesturing to me. Wait–

"I'm sure Leon's random bouts of altruism will kick in and he'll finance your gift." As irritating as it was, I could respect the turnabout my sister pulled. "If the girl talks to you directly or reciprocates with her own gift, then you're good until graduation as long as you don't do anything stupid."

Olivia glanced at me nervously and I knew I was trapped. "I'll pay for your gift, don't worry."

"I'll pay you back for it eventually, I promise!" I waved off her concern and noticed Jenna eating up the remainder of the snacks I set out. Well, that was fine. She gave good advice without giving Olivia a hard time for being a commoner.

Jenna left soon after finishing up the snacks, with Olivia leaving a bit later to research a suitable gift for her class' top dog. I closed the door and started cleaning up.

That girl Olivia could sense Getter Radiation.

Control finally spoke out once I was alone. "I was wondering if that was what she was talking about. Is it dangerous?"

It should not be. I have been monitoring your health ever since you started piloting Black Getter F and there have been no ill effects. Proximity to other humans have not caused any issues for them either.

"Olivia is the main protagonist of the game. It might be her potential as a Saint that is making her notice, maybe." Though I had no idea what Getter Rays had to do with her specifically. Another change from what happened in the game?

Perhaps. Though I thought you said that you were going to stay under the radar, as it were?

"Well, you did say that I jinxed myself." I sarcastically said before thinking about it a bit more. "But this situation is something I can work with."

How so?

I then explained that Olivia should have already started getting the attention and support of the love interests. "But she said that she didn't have any friends. With Marie taking up Prince Julius' attention, she doesn't even have his support until she gets close to one of them."

Then are you suggesting that you would take on the role of Olivia's love interest?

I made a horrified expression at the implication. "No way! Don't even joke about that, Control!"

Why not? She clearly already sees you as a friend at the very least. Additionally, you are already supporting her and have the means to protect her if the need arises.

"I'm a mob character, Control. It doesn't matter if I have Black Getter and the Nagare." I grumbled as I explained my personal importance once again. As much as I had accomplished already, they were there to secure my own future. I didn't have any delusions that they were really all that impressive in the grand scheme of things. "Narratively and politically, I'm a nobody. No, the plan will be that I will use my new bond with Olivia to nudge her towards one of the love interests. They hit it off, fall in love, save Holfort, and I quietly fade into the background as they ride off into the sunset."

A viable strategy. Though I hope that you are not artificially devaluing yourself by thinking that way. You are worth more than you think you do, Leon.

I chose not to respond to that statement.

…

Olivia stood nervously in the personal quarters of Angelica Rapha Redgrave. After a few days of asking around, it turned out that all the girls had to pay respect to Angelica as the highest ranked girl in the academy. In hindsight, it made sense as she was going to eventually marry the Crown Prince.

"I acknowledge your effort to pay respect to me, Olivia." Angelica eventually said after she sipped some tea. "I have no personal grudge against you. Simply act as is appropriate for someone of your station and you should not encounter any issues."

Olivia breathed a sigh of relief. It was just like what Jenna told her. "I can stay at the Academy then?"

She knew that she had overstepped her bounds with how Angelica gave her a sharp look. She dismissed the other girls who were also in the room and waited until they were alone before speaking once more. "You were supposed to just partake of the tea, nod, and leave. Asking questions unnecessarily will just create complications if you are not careful."

"I'm sorry?" Olivia apologized, a bit surprised at the gentler tone that Angelica spoke to her with.

Angelica regarded the commoner in front of her. She wasn't anything special. Indeed, she looked rather plain as she gently started drinking her own cup of tea. She was certainly more pleasant than that girl who had been getting closer to the prince. Angelica closed her eyes and calmed herself down. This wasn't the time for that.

"I'd like to know how you were able to ascertain the proper protocol in the first place." She raised a hand when Olivia suddenly looked distressed. "I am not asking because I am upset. I am merely curious."

From what her followers had told her about Olivia, the girl didn't have any friends to speak of. The boys were all looking at other girls and the girls didn't want anything to do with her. Angelica wanted to know who decided it was worth their time to reach out to her.

"Oh, it was Leon. Leon Fou Bartfort." The girl helpfully answered.

"The third Bartfort son. I had heard of his eccentricities, though I don't dislike him." Angelica mused as she recalled what she knew about the boy.

"You know Leon?"

"I'm surprised you don't know more about him. He is rather gifted and is certain to become a knight." Angelica said. At the dumbfounded look Olivia gave her, she decided to educate the poor girl further. "To be able to attain the rank of Baron by himself, to say nothing of his accomplishments as an Adventurer. He has already achieved more for his age than most would ever even try. A very impressive young man."

Olivia just sat there as Angelica complimented Leon. Was her new friend really that amazing?!