A/N: This chapter has a focus on how the relationships changed with the new events. I listened to some songs and was inspired I think, hell if I remember any more than one of them though. Because of that I figure why not rant in the end section a bit in how I interpret the Cid and Leon.

-Co-op-

The relationship Agent Daylight, aka Leon Fou Barfort, had with the entirety of The Shadow Garden was complicated to say the least.

Not to say that there was any animosity, at least more than a brief flash of annoyance every now and again thanks to Leon's general antics, but mostly it was due to trepidation. Having another male besides Lord Shadow when everything they went through was largely done to them by the men of The Cult of Diabolos had made them nervous.

It certainly didn't help that they all wore skintight suits and Leon's eyes would wander from time to time. Nothing more than a quick glance, and honestly given his age it was expected a bit, but it was still more than Lord Shadow did. At least, that's what the numbers and Nu had reported.

When it came to The Seven Shades, Leon didn't seem to view them in the same way. Rather… if one were to observe their relationship, they'd say Leon was something of a sibling to them. An older sibling perhaps, given that the first time they met Leon had given them the talk.

-Leon-

"…and that's why you need to use contraception." I concluded. I have to admit that when a fellow reincarnate with some kind of op cheat or something recruited me into his secret organization I didn't expect to give his demi-human-harem the talk. But at least thanks to the extensive… research I had on the subject I had plenty to say.

After mentioning what NTR was I ended up finding out that Cid's elf waifu's were a curious bunch that, 1. were women of culture that agreed it was a shit fetish (although I think the writer one mumbled some fantasies of being stolen by Cid, which hey, good for her) and 2. Didn't know what a contraceptive was.

I think Cid didn't understand everything either, because he was paying close attention. I guess he died early.

"Wait." Asked the dog-girl with a raised hand, "Why would someone not want to have babies?"

I look to Cid. 「 I've explained enough haven't I? I feel like you should do the rest. 」

「 Eh? 」said Cid. 「 What do you mean? 」

「 I mean, they're your girlfriends, right? 」I asked.

Cid shook his head. 「 No, we're just friends. 」

I leveled a flat stare at Cid. 「 So like did you not notice how they were constantly staring at your crotch when I explained what a penis does? Or how when I talked about what a kink is they asked you for examples? 」

「 They were just curious. 」dismissed Cid.

「 You… there's no way you're this dense. What are you, some 15-year-old harem protagonist? 」I snarkred.

「 Well, I am 15. 」replied Cid.

I eyed him suspiciously 「 Wait, how old were you when you died? 」

「 15, you? 」said Cid.

I laughed a bit. 「 Oh my gosh, you're a little baby! 」

At this Cid pouted and got up in my face. 「 Wha!? How old were you when you died! 」

「 I was in my twenties. 」I answered with a smirk.

Cid squinted. 「 Whaddaya mean "in my twenties"? That just seems like you're lying. 」

I shrugged. 「 I worked for a black company for a while so I lost track after I could legally drink. 」

「 Dude… 」Cid winced. 「 That's kinda sad. 」

"Um…" called a voice. The both of us turned to see Alice, or rather Alpha, interjecting. "What language are you two speaking?"

The writer girl and the clumsy girl had a bunch of books surrounding them.

"I can't find anything that sounded like what they were saying…" murmured the writer girl.

"A language known only to scholars of shadow wisdom…" The sleepy girl seemed to marvel. "They must be speaking the language of the gods!"

I glanced at Cid. He shook his head. I just shrugged.

"Okay, so you gave me a brief overview of this place but remind me, what is the purpose of this organization again?" I asked.

Cid smiled, "We are The Shadow Garden, we lurk in the shadow's, we hunt the shadows."

"Yeah, you said that." I said, making Cid pout a bit at ignoring his cool mantra, "But what does hunting the shadow's mean? How do you even do that?"

Alpha chimed in this time "We use the Shadow Wisdom to discover The Cult's machinations and stop them at every turn."

I looked at Cid again. He then whispered to me in Japanese that Shadow Wisdom was essentially all the knowledge he accrued from his past life that he was giving to the girls.

From there I was able to figure out that Cid wasn't one of the isekai protagonists that got a cheat skill, rather, he was one of those ones with a flawless memory that did their best to recreate the technology and anything useful from their past life into the new one.

「 Wait, so should we keep the whole reincarnation thing a secret? Nothing you just told me makes me think they know. 」I asked.

Cid shook his head. 「 No. As far as they know The Shadow Wisdom is something I gained on my own. I'd like to keep it that way. 」

"Hey," asked the twin tailed one, "Why is it that you decided we needed to recruit Leon anyway? Didn't we have to save him and Claire from that robot thing he was looking for?"

"I'm sure you have your reasons, Lord Shadow." Said the blonde cat girl, "and I'm sure that him also being a scholar of the shadow's has some kind of benefit. But he doesn't seem all that bright, unlike you."

"A bit rude there, Zeta." Said Cid, "But not untrue."

Cid then nudged me to signal for me to speak up, so I started to come up with some stuff. "I… was granted different wisdom than Lord Shadow."

"Different wisdom…?" questioned the sleepy one.

I exchange glances with Cid, and he nods in approval. From there I went on to explain (read: lie through my teeth) that I was granted a version of the shadow wisdom that let me know the events of the future. From there the girls were in—as Cid calls it—role playing mode. I'll admit, that if I were to run some kind of role playing group these girls would be the best at it. However, I couldn't help but notice that they didn't seem to be acting.

Cid was zoning out as I informed them of everything that was going on, but I wasn't. As I spoke to them I was hit with the full force of their planning and the thing is, as they connected what I knew about the future of politics, the forest of ladies, and the history of the Saintess to all their Cult of Diabolos stuff… It seemed less like someone adapting their role play group's story to someone else's and more like all of their stuff had to be real.

Later, Luxion would come back from the little recon mission I gave him and confirmed it for me.

-Cid-

It sucks, but Alpha and the other girls ended up deciding they were getting tired of playing the shadow broker games and left to go do other stuff. It wasn't like they abandoned me or anything though, like the friends I had in my past life, they just wanted to start preparing for their future. As therianthrope/elven women that were all basically orphans it made sense.

They did make sure to call back often or text me. The biggest upside to recruiting Leon was that we basically had phones now. The girls say that it helped a lot with their work, but it also helps us to communicate. I basically have a good morning and good night call with all seven each day, with some texts to answer during the day.

Thankfully, with the combination of Gamma's new business, Luxion's old humanity technology, and Eta's ingenuity we were able to create what was called "monster repelling towers' that were really cell phone towers. Apparently, they did help drive away monsters somewhat, something Luxion added to it, but their main purpose was still to allow us to speak from basically everywhere in the world.

There was an issue with Fanoss and some other nations not wanting let us set any up, but it wasn't like we couldn't still used pigeon mail or anything else.

Although this was just limited to those in The Shadow Garden, meaning that Claire and Olivia weren't given one. In fact, despite the fact that Leon visits our territory pretty often to hang out with me, he seemed to avoid those two. Claire was away at the academy, but before she left, she tried to spar with Leon as much as possible. Me, Momma, and Pops all agreed this was her version of flirting. Sucks for her that she doesn't know what Leon looks like after his growth spurt.

With Olivia, however, Leon basically did his best to make sure he friend zoned her. He'd hang out at her family's bakery, take her to my place to spar and study for a bit, then walk her back before coming back to my place to stay the night. His guest room is right next to Claire's by the way. Momma and Pops aren't going to force anything, but that's mainly due to the fact that Leon's journey started with someone trying to force him into a marriage.

Right now it's after dinner and Leon and I are hanging out in my room. We're having a conversation that we've had a couple of times in the past.

"There's no way." I said while shaking my head. "I've known those girls for years now, and I can tell you that everything they know about the cult of diabolos is just stuff I made up."

For whatever reason Leon has been super insistent on the cult being real. That the girls are super traumatized and doing their best to tough through things to a level that's unhealthy. He noted that Zeta in particular was practically worshipping me as a god or something.

That of course had to be stupid. Look, I could accept that we were isekai'd to an Otome game world. I mean, I was reincarnated and I had to be reincarnated somewhere. Why wouldn't it be an Otome game world?

If anything, since I was a guy that wasn't born a 10/10 with a tragic back story or a gold spoon in my mouth, I was in the exact kind of position I wanted to play my Shadow Broker games. After all, an Otome game world protagonist had to be a girl, and any love interest had to have some kind of interesting background.

Speaking of, it turned out that Olivia was supposed to be the protagonist. I was a bit concerned that the protagonist was born in my family's territory, but then I realized that was perfect. After all, according to Leon in the actual game we basically know nothing about what Olivia's home was like. So having the cool shadow broker come from the same territory and forcing her to realize that she should have paid more attention to home or something similar sounds really compelling.

Snap-snap*

I looked at Leon who was snapping in front of my face.

"You back?" he asked, to which I nod. "Okay, look. What would it take for me to prove that the cult is real to you?"

I huff at this, but I figure I could humor him.

"Okay… well if the cult is real then we should be able to go to a random place and explore some kind of connection with them." I said. After all if it was a random place then it'd make it unlikely that Leon or the girls could have set something up beforehand.

"Alright, name a place." Said Leon.

I did my best to think of a place that would have tons of information but that Leon and the girls wouldn't have access to.

Finally, I snapped my fingers. "We're going back to the royal palace."

-Angelica-

I had no obligation to study any more today, but I couldn't help but do my best to sneak out of my room in the palace and sneak out so that I could study just a bit more. After all, I could only hope that if I became impressive enough Julius would eventually have to notice me.

Why wouldn't he? After all, as the adventurer Barfort put it, I'm fun to talk to and beautiful to boot! If I add genius to that list then I'll be irresistible!

…

Sigh*

Although I wish that I didn't have to wear my maid outfit just that I could sneak out. The last time I had worn it was roughly a year ago when I had run into the adventurer Leon.

…

I know I am sneaking around, but I can't help but feel as though the hall is an awful lot quieter than normal. Normally I can at least hear the quiet chirping of crickets or the crackle of a torch as the ones of each end of the hall are normally kept alight. Yet it's too dark, and too quiet…

I should go alert-

Gasp*

As I turn around to go and alert Mylene or the knights of my bad feelings, I can't help but find myself surprised by the lantern in my hand changing from a regular red flame to a strange violent blue light. I can't get a good grip on how the thing makes me feel before I find myself interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

Although I can't see them, I hear the unmistakable sound of the library door open.

The torch in my hand goes back to the normal flame. With it I can see the library door shut slowly, and just barely make out what seems to be a dark coattail peeking out before the door shuts once more.

…

I ready my knife.

But before I can do anything I feel my arms seized and am roughly shoved to the ground.

"Tch it's just a maid." Said the muffled voice of one person.

Another chimes in. "Then just get rid of her we can't have any distractions or witnesses."

My eyes widen in fear so I immediately cast "Maragi!" to have fire balls fly at my assailants. They back off and take out weapons as I nurse my wrists and get ready. My knife was unfortunately confiscated so I do my best to take in my surroundings.

There's two figures in front of me clad in dark clothing, both seemingly well built and perhaps used to this. Knowing I'm no match for them I take out the smoke bomb Cordelia gave me just in case and throw it down. The two assailants flinch as smoke fills the hall, and I cast one more agi—this time aiming where I remember a window being—and flee to the library.

I slam the door behind me and barricade it before taking a chance to get a better look at my surroundings. From what I can tell someone must've been here before me, as a door I know leads to a secret tunnel is open. I worry about it for a second before I realize the door behind me is being forced open thanks to constant banging and the crack of the doorway.

Not seeing a good option available, I decided to try and make my way to a window.

However, as soon as I take a step in that direction I see some dark figures in them. I grit my teeth, pick up my skirt and dash down the secret staircase. I hear some glass break behind me, so I imagine I took the right choice.

I dash as hard as I can, trying my best to remember the escape route that Mylene had taught me, and as I do.

"Angie!?" shouts a voice that is equal parts concerned as it is surprised.

"Mylene!" I shout in relief. I run up to her and the guards that accompany her. "I was trying to study in the library when some miscreants attacked me. Is everyone else okay? What about Julius. I-"

Mylene extends a hand to my face. "Julius and his father are fine. The only one missing was you. I assume that you're the one who took the secret passage from the library?"

"It wasn't you?" I whispered.

Suddenly the halls are filled with the sound of dozens of marching boots, sounds I know wouldn't be caused by any of the kingdom's men.

"This way, quick!" hissed Mylene as she roughly dragged me through the halls.

We ended up running for our lives, having to leave several men behind us at every turn and hear their lives quickly end if not just hear the sound of fighting fade behind us in the distance.

Eventually we reach where the exit is, but underneath the moonlight we find ourselves surrounded with no guards left to defend us.

We try to stand back to back so that we can get a view of everyone. I feel Mylene begin to silently buff the two of us, but even with all of that I'm unsure of our fate.

Suddenly, the moonlight is interrupted.

Everyone gasps as a new figure, clad in white that beautifully reflects the moonlight, emerges. The person has their back to us and glances briefly at us. A cloak and mask covers their face.

"Strange to see you two alone out here." Remarked the man. "I figured the two of you would have quite a bit of guards surrounding them."

One of the figures in black surrounding us chuckles. "I'm afraid our men have likely taken care of that."

I can't help but grimace.

"You… who do you and your men belong to anyway?" asked Mylene, "Fanoss, Rachelle, Midgar?"

"Sure." Chuckled the man in black.

Mylene narrowed her eyes, "What do you mean sure?"

"As an apology for having to kill you we'll let you choose which nation to blame it on." The man in black chuckled darkly. "We have connections to all of them after all. It wouldn't be difficult to fabricate evidence that they were after you."

"Who are you!?" I demanded.

"I'm afraid I see no reason to tell-"

"The Cult of Diabolos." Said the man in white. He then flourished his cloak open and readied a blade in one hand. I saw that his outfit was a mixture of black and white, and in the moment look every part of the hero he appeared to be. (a/n: Charlemagne from F/GO's outfit.) "That's who you are, right?"

"How do you know that name?"

But the hero was no longer listening. He simply said. "Given the mouth on you, I only need you alive for answers."

He then disappeared before my eyes and the moment he did

"ARGH!"

The sound of a scream was closely followed by a splurt of blood, and where one of the dark figures stood now was the man in white.

"Kill him! Somebody-"

But it was too late, the figure in white began to dash about slaying men without pause. Mylene brought me in close and erected a barrier as people begin to attempt to take out their weapons, but within a minute there was only the person who spoke in the beginning.

The man in black attempts to swing a blade only to have the hand holding it cut off.

"You don't need that to talk." Said the man in white, his outfit still somehow pristine despite the carnage.

"Who-who are you…?" said the man in black as he clenched his hands.

The man in white smiled. "Call me Daylight."

"Daylight…? Who would go by a name like that?"

Daylight points his fingers at the man in black "Because it's the thing that destroys monsters like you. Dormina."

The man in black then slumped over.

"W-wait!" shouted Mylene. "Sir Daylight, I thank you for your intervention but can't you leave that man here? I'm sure you have your own reasons for wanting coming here but as Queen I can't just let him go."

Daylight chuckled.

"Wow. Smart and Beautiful. The king was right to choose you." Said Sir Daylight.

"W-what…? Flattery will get you nowhere." Huffed Mylene. "Please, I can compensate you for the trouble."

"Oh? Compensate me how? Surely you can tell it's not money I'm after." Said Sir Daylight with a light tone in his voice. "A woman such as yourself knows what I mean, yes?"

Mylene looked at me and showed me a look that seemed resolute. I then saw her swallow the spit in her mouth and then reach for the shoulders of her dress. "I… I understand… but can we at least go out of sight…? I don't want her… to see myself in such a state."

My eyes widen as I realize what she's talking about. "N-no! Sir Daylight if that's what you desire then…" My mind flashes to Julius, "As—as the daughter of the Redgrave family I swear that I can find you someone to your taste! O-or I could possibly arrange for you to have many female servants!" I then recall how kindly Mylene has treated me over the years "Or I'll even give up myself!"

"Huh? What are you two… Oh! No!" Sir Daylight became flustered, dropping the man he was holding up by his shirt. "I mean information! Information! I mean believe me, in any other circumstance should you have offered yourself I'd say yes with no hesitation but I'm not one to force myself upon a woman!"

Mylene and I both breathed a sigh of relief.

"What… what would you like to know?" questioned Mylene.

Daylight turned to Mylene, "Where could I find the castle's records of The Cult of Diabolos?"

With a quick explanation from Mylene, Sir Daylight vanished, leaving no trace behind him aside from the carnage.

Sir Daylight…

I'll be sure to remember him.

-Co-op/Cid-

Alone in a room, Cid sat on the steps before his throne, not feeling worthy of sitting on what the girls had prepared for him. Leon had left him alone, figuring he did enough damage.

Given Cid's current emotional state, no one dared to approach him. Thus, he was left alone in the room to think.

It's real.

The Cult is Real.

The papers the girls would give me, the ones in the royal family vault, the bases we stormed, and even the place we rescued Claire. Everything pointed to it all being real!

Possession is real.

The Cult is real.

The story of the three, and honestly more, heroes was all real.

I'm…

I'm so stupid.

This…

This isn't just a game…

No matter what I do to try and excuse it, it's real.

I stormed as many places as I could with Leon, picking random bandit dens that he had no way of knowing existed and found time and time again more people that were working for the cult.

Just how deep did this go?

How long have I been pretending to be The Eminence in Shadow when I've done nothing but play the role of a fool.

I want to scream.

I want to cry.

I know that I was surging with magic thanks to my fluctuating emotions so all I could do was run to the throne room in Alexandria where I sat on the steps before my throne, not feeling worthy of sitting on it.

It's cold.

But suddenly Cid finds a warmth upon his hands.

"Cid?"

Cid, who had been sitting with his head in his hands, raises himself and opens his eyes to find Alpha standing before him. For a moment, he finds comfort in her presence only to be reminded of how the two had met.

Alpha…

Oh god Alpha…!

Cid closed his eyes again.

I've viewed her as my best friend and second in command, thinking that this was all some game while she's been putting in the work to fight an actual threat in her life.

She was my first friend in this world, but that friendship wasn't really a choice for her.

Leon was right.

The shades must idolize me.

They idolize a bunch of lies.

..

Or…

Or do they…?

Cid stands up, to Alpha's confusion. He unknowingly still holds onto Alpha's hands, pacing around the room as though leading her around like he's about to dance with her. Alpha notices that his magic has stopped pulsing so she follows along, slightly happy at the sensation but still mostly concerned.

Yes, I had made up what I knew about the Cult, as I thought it didn't exist.

But that doesn't mean that my actions weren't real.

Cid begins to absentmindedly twirl Alpha around, she smiles and enjoys the motion.

Wasn't that my goal? To become The Eminence in Shadow?

What's the difference if it's not a game, if anything I had wanted that! I'm no longer pretending! I am The Eminence in Shadow!

"Cid, have… have you calmed down?" asked Alpha.

Cid peered down to see he had dipped Alpha, her heaving chest showing that he had been likely dancing with her quite vigorously.

"Ah…" Cid raises her up, holding her close. He attempts to let go but is stopped. "Alpha…?"

Alpha, who had raced over as soon as she saw that Cid was upset but then calmed down after dancing with her made a decision.

She took a deep breath and said 「The… Moon… has many… beauty… this time after day… does it not?」

Cid said nothing, his jaw having dropped and a small blush going across his face. However, Alpha had missed it due to being too nervous, knowing that she had flubbed the line somewhat despite how important it was to her to get it right.

Already close, Cid knew there was one thing he could do in response.

Cid cupped Alpha's face then turned it so that he could whisper in her ear. [I love you too.]

"Wh… you know Elvish?" asked Alpha as her face turned redder than an apple.

Cid, who wasn't much better, responded "Just a few phrases. I… I figured that phrase would be important to know at least."

Alpha and Cid smiled at each other, and then embraced each other lovingly.

Outside the door, Leon and Nu give each other a thumbs up.

-Leon-

Before we went to the academy, there was one meeting I needed to have. Namely, a debrief on the way Alto Liebe would play out, or at least how we'd want it to play out.

"So let me get this straight. According to the visions of the shadows," Nu was using the name Cid and I had come up with for my knowledge of Holfort's fate, "Olivia is the Saintess. And not only that, she needs to get with one of the five heirs to unlock her full potential and save the world."

I nodded.

"Well…" said Beta who was clearly wearing one of Cid's uniform jackets. "I will say that narratively and historically such cases show up a lot. Even in Holfort's founding it was theorized that The Saintess had been with one of the five if not more, resulting in leaving her blood among their bloodlines. Although there was nothing conclusive enough to say for sure."

"Right…" acknowledged Epsilon, who wore one of Cid's jackets over her shoulders. "Even the songs sung by the church and the bards just hint towards things, as far as we know she may very well have married all of them, for as impractical as that would be."

Nu and I couldn't help but glance over to where Cid and Alpha sat. Alpha, who was very pregnant, sat on Cid's lap. Cid meanwhile was surrounded by no less than 10 of the unnamed numbers, looking very much like the harem king he denied vehemently he was.

"…Okay point taken. But you know what I mean. In the assumed situation of The Saintess it'd be very difficult to figure out the line of succession. At least in Lord Darling's position there's no way we can mistake who any of the parents are." Said Epsilon.

"…Why can't… you just marry her… Leo…?" asked Eta, using the nickname she came up for me due to wanting to stick to one syllable out of laziness.

"I…" I frowned. I'm not completely stupid, I know that all those times Livia asked me to stay at her home for the night, the times where her family already had a seat for me at their table, all the times she fell asleep on me after training or studying… I know it all meant something. But I also know what happens in Alto Liebe when you fail to romance the five, even if you max out all your stats. "I don't see a future in which that ends well."

"Aren't you being a bit harsh on yourself?" asked Beta.

I sneered, "Questioning the shadow wisdom?"

"Cid already said… that the shadow wisdom… isn't omnipotent…" said Eta as she munched on some cookies.

Epsilon nodded, "Plus, there's a chance that you're misinterpreting it, right? I mean no offense, but you were just given information about the possible futures. Yet somehow none of them involved us."

"Leon." Called out Alpha from behind us. I turned to her and saw her wearing a fittingly motherly smile. "If you wish to pursue Olivia, then as thanks for helping Cid and us Shades, we will assist you."

I frown again.

I like Livia.

I could probably even say I love her.

But…

[How cowardly master. Were it not for the elf lover and his elf lover's progeny I'd fear that the Old Humans would go extinct.]

I just get up and walk out of the room.

No one stops me.

However, Cid ends up joining me in one of his many brooding spots.

"So… what was the absolute best ending in Alto Liebe? Besides the harem ending that you said was trash." He asked.

I tried thinking about it, and it hurt thinking about Livia with another guy, but I started to strongly consider it.

"It… it depends on Livia I guess. She kinda changes depending on which route you chose. Realistically I think we should at least avoid Prince Julius." I said.

"Then that's what we'll do." Said Cid, "We'll see which route she wants to go down and support it."

"Yeah… yeah that's for the best." I said.

Whatever makes Livia happy.

-Claire-

Over the past two years, I've gotten plenty of invitations to the tea party the men are required to hold. I've never said yes to any of them.

There were a bunch of reasons for it, mainly that none of the men here met any of my standards: weak bastards that they all were.

…

Plus…

Nina would make fun of me for this but…

I was waiting for someone to show up and ask me first.

So.

Imagine how I felt when I heard they guy I had been waiting to invite me to a tea party STARTED A BOYCOTT.

"My fellow men, let me ask you something. Just how much are you spending on these tea parties?" asked that infuriatingly now sexy farm boy.

All the boys started to shout out prices ranging from anywhere in between 10,000 Dia and 100,000 Dia. Per tea party. I'll admit I knew the men were constantly diving into the dungeon, I did too for training, but dang does it put into perspective.

I guess that explains why Leon and Cid are teaming up with Alice's sister's business and stuff, but…

I wanted my tea party!

I wanted to be fawned over by my cute farm boy!

Why does he have a six pack now!?

Since when did he and Cid work for Alice's sister?!

And why am I holding a sign to help them anyway!?

"Claire?"

I looked up and saw that Leon was being tossed up and down by the other men as they left the room. Cid was at a table and collecting signatures on some contracts for things like ships and armors. Livia and her friend Nicole (one of Luna's employees) were the ones talking to me.

"Oh… hey." I replied.

Livia smiled and handed me a letter.

I gave it a quick look over and immediately started blushing.

I knew what this was.

Of course I did.

I'd been looking forward to it after all.

"Try not to set your expectations too high," warned Nicole as she adjusted her swirly glasses, "Leon did say that he wanted you to be the first person he invited formally."

I pressed the letter to my chest.

I looked over to Livia.

"My turn's right after you," said Livia with a teasing tone of voice, "so make sure that you don't eat all of the cookies okay?"

I hugged Livia.

"Oh, and it goes without saying that this is private, yes?" said Nicole, to which I nodded.

-Leon-

I walk to my room in the partner and flop down face first.

Cid, who usually bums around my room to play the movies and stuff greets me from a nearby bean bag chair.

"So what's the issue this time?"

I don't even bother to look up from my bed.

"Livia loves me."

I hear the sound of a can cracking open and someone taking a loud slow sip from it.

I flop my head up and see that Alpha had walked in silently as usual, despite the fact that she's holding Minato who is babbling about. She's holding a six pack of soda and is joining Cid in judging me while taking a loud obnoxious sip. Minato glances at his mom and dad then grabs his bottle and starts drinking while looking at me.

"Go ahead and say it." I demanded.

Cid points at me. "Dumb."

Alpha points at me. "Dense."

Minato points at me and babbles something like "dudsbaddb" I don't know what he said, but I know it hurt the most.

"Whaddaya mean dense." I demanded. "I know that she loves me, dense means I don't get that."

Alpha nods. The points again, and her husband and baby join in. "Coward/Wuss/esdlihasodsig!"

I sit up, deciding to not take this while I'm already down.

"So what do you think I should do?" I ask.

"Lion should just mate with Livy already." Said Delta.

I rub my eyes and see more of the shades show up. They always do this. Why my room? I have a rec room on The Partner. Like I know it's mostly because Cid's here but sometimes they'll be like Hanabi and show up, steal my stuff, and then leave again even if he's not.

"That girl is so head over heels for you I'd wager you don't even need the royal airship." Said Zeta as she began to play with Minato by letting him bat at her tail.

"Yeah?" I asked "Did you already find it and find out how it works to be able to say that?"

"Unfortunately no…" said Epsilon as she subtly moved so she'd be sitting on the floor between Cid's legs. "Ever since the attack that you and Lord Darling intercepted, there's been tons of eyes for people like us. We've narrowed down where it could be at this point, but having the opportunity to make sure it's there, and then test it out requires more time than we could get."

"What about Fanoss?" I asked Gamma who was taking notes over the movie playing with Beta.

"Thankfully, Fanoss seems to be taking something of a defensive stance right now. I'm unsure if it has to do with us 'delaying the flags' as you had us do, but I do know that they are still amassing their army nonetheless." Informed Gamma.

"So we still need Livia to get with one of the heirs…" I said, pained as I was to say it.

"And how are you going to get her to take her eyes off of you? I've written characters less in love." Snarked Beta.

Sigh* they're right of course. It's not like Livia's really a charac…ter…

"Oh no…" said Eta, "He's… getting an idea… again…"

Livia's not just a game character.

I know that.

I've been able to move past the idea.

But.

But!

When I controlled her as a game character, I learned a few things that no one else would know.

I learned what kind of guys scare her.

I look around the room and see the happy family I've amassed over the past few years. They may be basically all my little brother and sisters-in-law, and nephew, but that's still family.

I think back to Claire, to Nicole, to Livia and even Nina.

…

If I want to avoid a bad end, then I have to be the bad end.

"Who's on Leon watching duty?"

"Seven Shades Rock Paper Scissors!"

"Baba!"

-Olivia-

I have to admit, when Senpai brought me to the academy I thought I'd meet royalty. But I always thought it'd be from afar. Heck, even talking to Miss Angelica was more than I ever expected, not to mention Miss Clarice who I met through Nina and Claire.

But to sit at table with Princess Alexia and Princess Rose…

"My, my…" said Princess Rose as she ate with the dignity and grace befitting her station while munching on some cookies, "To think Cid-kun was already a father…"

Princess Alexia, who had learned this after they already broken up, simply munched quickly as she could while she was slumped on the table.

"M-may I see another photo?" asked Miss Angelica. Claire smiled and had her Luxi-phone display a different image for Miss Angelica and Miss Clarice to fawn over.

"Oh my gosh~!" crooned Miss Angelica.

Miss Clarice blushed slightly. "So he makes cute babies huh~"

Claire pulled back her phone. "He's already got like, 8 girls."

Miss Clarice shrugged, "He said that it didn't matter how many guys I've been with, why should I care for the reverse."

"He's in love with them!" hissed Claire.

"And I want to feel loved." Declared Miss Clarice. "Besides, aren't you and Livia trying to tag team that Leon guy?"

"That's different!"

"Different how?"

"It just is! Besides, I'm pretty sure one of the other girls said they were pregnant, you sure you want to join in?"

If Alexia began to sob, none of us commented on it.

Vrr-Vrr*

I fish my Luxi-phone out of my bag and see that Senpai texted me.

[Senpai: Where are you?]

I giggle a bit in happiness at the sight but cut it out when I see Alexia begin to glare at me.

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: Hey, where are you right now?]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: Livia?]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: Livia answer me.]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: Livia.]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: Are you with someone?]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: You have battery right?]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: Are you ignoring me?]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: Where are you right now.]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: You're making me worry.]

Vrr-Vrr*

[Senpai: I'm going to come find you.]

"Hey that's vibrating a lot, is it broken?" asked Alexia.

I did my best to not show any emotion as I got up.

"Sorry, I have to go really quick." I said.

"Oh?" said Miss Clarice, "Do you need someone to walk you back? It's already sunset."

I smiled, "No, someone's already here."

I basically skip into the hall once I'm out of the room. It's not until I'm outside that I finally see Senpai.

My darling Lea senpai~

He rushes up to me quickly and immediately grabs my cheeks. Sadly, I'm referring to the ones on my face. He smushes my face as he begins to ask me stuff.

"Where were you?" asked Senpai with a strong gaze in his eyes that gives me butterflies in my stomach. "Why didn't you respond? I was starting to get worried."

"I was with-"

"Were you with a guy!?" snarled Senpai.

"I don't even know any guys." I explained. "Unless you count Cid, I guess. And I didn't answer because you text faster than I can. I prefer phone calls remember?"

"That's no excuse. Whenever I messaged you, you could have called back." Said Leon.

I nodded, "You're right, but I was just so happy when I saw you texting me so much." I smile happily, "I love the Luxi-phones so much, I wish I could print out all the little digital letters you send me so I can reread all of your conversations whenever I want."

Lea~ How I wish those letters we exchanged survived the passing of time~!

Senpai struggles for a moment before he seems to find some resolve.

I find his arms go from the cheeks on my face to the one I see Senpai stare at all the time. I don't even have time to let out a squeal before I feal Senpai's tongue roughly in my mouth, and before I could even moan or melt into his embrace he pulls away.

I was momentarily disappointed before he pinned me against one of the pillars and started to all but growl into my ears.

I always loved it when Lea lost control like this.

"Do you really think you can just say sweet things like that and get away with it?" he demanded.

"N-no…" I whispered, barely able to speak through my excitement.

Smack~!*

I touch my face and feel where Senpai hit me.

It hurts so good~

"Did I say you could speak back to me!" growled Senpai. He then lifted me more against the pillar and pressed himself against me in such a way that I could feel his…

Lea called it his Balmung.

I could feel his Balmung against me as he kissed me roughly once more. I turned completely red. I wanted to buck my hips against him but then Senpai let me fall to the floor and held me by my hair so that my face would be against him now.

It's so hot~!

I turned my gaze upward as I started to breathe heavily and met Senpai's fervent gaze.

"You're going to apologize to me." Explained Senpai.

Then he let go of my hair and pointed to tea room where I was in a second ago. I briefly glanced and saw that Claire and Angie were watching us. I don't think Senpai noticed.

Lea was always so oblivious to Ann—Marie who's Mary, shouldn't you be Mary? But I'm you, and I'm Ann and Nonna's feelings.

"Or you can go back over there. But know that you'll—"

I didn't even bother listening to what the other option was and ripped off Senpai's pants.

-Leon-

I wake up in my bed feeling thoroughly sore.

I look at the ceiling of the bedroom on The Partner I know belongs to Livia. I look over to my right.

The weird dog plushy we made of Lord Shadow for the magical girl "Highest Dream" series sat on the ground, thrown due to everything that happened. Somehow, I know that Cid is smiling smugly from it at me.

I look over to my left where Livia is snuggling into me.

Neither of us are wearing clothes.

I'm happy.

I'm more satisfied than I've ever been.

But like…

How?

I was specifically trying to get Livia to hate me.

See, my plan was simple.

Fool proof.

Even I could have implemented it.

See, Alto Liebe has a bunch of bad endings. Most are when the war takes everyone's lives, but others are when you mess up and say the wrong things during routes. Since I had to 100% the game for Hanabi, I know what happens in those bad endings.

Namely, the boys will turn Yandere. All of their bad traits are just set to the extreme.

During said endings, Livia is clearly scared and disgusted.

So if I acted like all of those men with all of their bad traits, surely Livia would hate me.

I acted clingy like Chris by sending an insane amount of messages.

I forced myself upon her like Brad by grabbing her ass and grinding against her.

I was abusive like Greg by slapping her across the face.

I was manipulative like Jilk… or at least I was going to be but Livia didn't even let me give her a choice.

And finally, I was treating her less like a person and more like an object like Julius. I mean, when we got to her room, she even made me put a dog collar on her at some point! I didn't even suggest it! She just wanted it!

"Senpai…" mumbled Livia as she snuggled into me. "Wuv you…"

I place an arm over my eyes.

"Fuck…" I moaned.

[Haven't you done enough of that Master?]

I lower my arm and glare at Luxion. I open my mouth but then see Livia start to get up. I enjoy the sight of the blanket falling off of her while she stretches. Bits of her bouncing and capturing my interest. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and then smiled at me.

"Senpai, Luxy, good morning…" she whispered.

Okay.

"Eh? What?" Livia flustered as I held her.

Heh, how cute.

Despite everything we did to each other last night she'll get shy when I hug her.

I give up.

Consider my route completed.

But still, I can't help but ask.

"Was… wasn't I a bit too rough with you?" I asked.

"Hm?" hummed Livia as she patted my back.

I separated from her a bit so that I could look at her face. "I mean yesterday… weren't you scared with how I was acting?"

"oh." Livia shook her head with a bright smile on her face. "You were more forceful than I expected you to be, but that's just because you've tried really hard to hold yourself back right? I don't know what caused your feelings to finally explode, but I'm glad they did."

"But like…" I struggled as the guilt of my actions catch up with me. "That… I didn't exactly treat you like I… like really should. I mean, I hit you, I forced you to… service me in a hall outdoors. Someone could've seen us."

"I didn't mind." Said Livia without hesitation. "I… I felt like the protagonist of one of the books I used to read when dreaming of coming to the academy with you. You're normally so gentle and doting to me that seeing you be so… forceful and domineering." Livia gave me a bit of a coquettish look, "Well, it did something to me."

"There's no way you could really enjoy a man treating you like that…" I mumbled.

Livia smiled. "It wasn't just a man. It was you. I loved everything because it was you."

Thump-thump*

"Livia…" I whispered.

"I love you Leon." Said Livia as she hugged me, "and I'm never letting go again."

"Livia?"

"By the way, I know you have room in your heart for more than just me. Who do you want to go after next?"

"Livia!?"

-Angelica-

Ever since the incident in the hallway, as well as the brief kiss I shared with Leon in my excitement during our adventure (which thankfully Cordelia kept a secret from father), I've had a difficult time spending time with Leon without blushing.

It certainly doesn't help that Livia, Claire, and Nicole have begun to invite me to their "girl's nights" in which we mostly spend time doing other things, but almost always end up talking about Leon at some point.

But now…

"Your answer Angie…?" asked Leon as he knelt in front of me.

I looked around to see our surroundings. Everyone was giving their approval, especially Livia. With one hand I clenched the hem of my dress.

And the other I extended to Leon.

"I accept, Sir Barfort." I said.

Leon smiled, kissed my hand, and then brought me to the dance floor. If I squealed like Livia in happiness as he twirled me around, everyone watching me like I was the center of the ball, then that was my business.

To think that even though I had no qualms about missing the end of year ball thanks to us all going on an adventure, Leon and those at Mitsugoshi would arrange for another.

Leon and Sir Kagenou had claimed they made plans for this ball ever since they first drafted the contracts with the men of the academy, but Livia and Miss Alice had informed me that this was something that only had things set into motion once I accepted to go on the adventure.

I know that Leon had set this up for me.

"What are you giggling about?" asked Leon as we began to waltz. Concern evident in his voice that was absolutely adorable.

I kissed his cheek quickly, "Nothing~"

Leon had used his connections to set up a ball that puts the one the school sets up to shame.

The venue? Picturesque thanks to Lady Eta Lloyd Wright's design. Word is that Lady Natsume Kafka's Beautiful Elf and the Beastly Man had inspired the way it looks.

The food? Divine. Lady Luna of Mitsugoshi was able to provide high quality and delicious cuisine from all over.

The music? Like it's straight from a heavenly choir. Lady Shiron's scores either being played live herself or by some of her subordinates. And if they all get tired then they use one of those record players.

The guests? Only the men in the little club that Leon and Sir Kagenou were a part of were allowed. This meant that our guests largely consisted of frontier nobles that wanted to do everything they could to find a suitable partner. As for the women, they were chosen by Nicole and vetted by Lady Zetan, who both served as census takers and do other civil servant type roles for Mitsugoshi. All goes to say that only the most pleasant of company was present.

The security? I'd wager only the royal family would dare taking a step to far. Lady Sara is a powerhouse according to Sir Kagenou, not to mention Luxion's own promise to be at the ready.

I'll admit that most of these connections are tied to Sir Kagenou, who is dancing with all his wives on the terrace. Currently it's Sara's turn from what I can see. The wolf therianthrope's eager movements look silly but utterly adorable in particular.

But I know that Leon was the one to make this happen.

Cid told me himself that he had no interest in any of this.

But Leon had convinced him to do all of this for me.

Julius would never.

"Angelica!"

Ugh, speak of the devil.

As Leon raises me from the dip he had me in, missing the chance to kiss me as I would have probably let him, we see that several Mitsugoshi employees are apologizing to us as the 5 heirs and their strumpet march in.

"Angelica! Where you have you been!?" demanded Julius.

"Redgrave, I can't believe the gall of you! All that posturing and demands for His Highness to act like a noble only for you to leave it all behind!" shouted Marmoria.

Field flicked his hair in that gaudy way he always does as he sneered at us. "I suppose all high noble women are the same. You're just like how my own ex-fiancé was in the end," he focuses his gaze on Leon and my joined hands. "In every possible way."

I gripped Leon's hand harder in spite and search of support.

"What riff-raff you've chosen as well. Are not these all the men and women rejected by their betters?" said Arclight as he adjusted his glasses.

Seberg guffawed, intimidating the people around us, "I heard there was some super exclusive party you were throwing because of how much all the people not invited were complaining, and all it is, is some gathering of wealkings!? Bwahahaha!"

"Why are you even here?" I asked, my tone so flat that it seemed to surprise them all.

The strumpet, Lafan, came forward while gripping Julius' sleeve. Normally that would have enraged me, but after the past few months with all my friends, not to mention living my dream of going on an adventure…

I grip Leon's hand again, and he rubs his thumb over my hand.

I once dreamed of adventuring with Julius, but it wasn't by his side that I made accomplishments that made my family proud.

"Oh?" I said, quickly but calmly so that Lafan wouldn't be able to take control of the situation once more, "You're Julius' lover right?"

If Julius was ashamed he didn't show it, although I knew he felt none.

"I… I want you to get your followers to stop harassing me." Said Lafan.

I raised a brow, "My followers? I'm afraid I've long since abandoned them."

"To cover your own hide no doubt." Spat Jilk.

I shook my head, "No. I just felt no loyalty from them. They used my name to harass many people, and only got worse when they started to realize no men would court them, especially the men from said following. Seeing as how they were only going to keep getting worse, I abandoned them."

"Lies!" shouted Jilk.

"I'm afraid not." Clarice called out, her face less neutral than mine but I can ell that she won't allow her emotions to overwhelm her. "Since you were all too busy trying to stuff the teapot pig right there, you must've missed the memo. Princess Alexia and Princess Rose had caught on to the actions of Angelica's past followers, and when they attempted to levy Angelica's family against them—as they didn't know who they were threatening at first—Angelica had abandoned all of them. It was a rather public event."

Clarice swished around the wine glass she held.

Taking a sip she smiled, much like a cat that caught a canary, "Although since you all don't care about anyone but yourselves I suppose you wouldn't see anything other than what you wanted to?"

Greg marched forward only to find himself blocked by a face he didn't recognize, but everyone here did.

"Rushing in like a raging bull in the middle of a ball? That's not even a good idea during a battle, not to mention you were going to charge at a woman. I can't believe I was ever expected to marry you." Said the woman.

"Who the hell are you?"

The woman with pale hair rolled her green eyes. "Effie? Your betrothed?"

Effie was from a house that served as a vassal to the crown, she was renowned for her strength and loyalty. I've heard the only reason she hasn't had her own adventure stories to tell was due to her not being allowed to gain any before Greg could.

"Oh come now," said a different voice. From my left emerged Chris' fiancé, a woman by the name of Goldmary. "These are the boys' first time out of their gilded cages. We cannot expect them to shine so flawlessly as you and I."

While Effie was a woman with broad shoulders and built for adventure, Goldmary was just about the opposite, although no less capable. Goldmary was a rather vain woman, spoiled by the constant praise of her family yet still loyal to the crown and the expectations leveled at her.

Field, who has always disliked Goldmary despite copying her over the shoulder ponytail, moves to shout only for a cackle to interrupt him.

"Well now! I don't recall asking any pirates to show up!" I saw Stephanie walk up next. Apparently she had mellowed out some thanks to her house's fall to Barony as well as her friendship with Cid and some pink haired girl whose name escapes me currently.

"Pirates!?" Jilk all but screeched out.

Stephanie shrugged as she seamlessly took some wine glasses from a nearby server. She sips on one and then pours the other over her ex-fiancé's head. "Men who gang up on one woman while having another they share amongst themselves, not caring of propriety or public decency." Stephanie then looks at the elf slave accompanying Lefan. "Have slaves. What would you call that type of man, if you can even call him a man."

"Sounds like a pirate to me." Said Effie.

"Agreed." Said Goldmary.

"No arguments here." Said Clarice.

Julius takes a good look at his surroundings. Surprisingly, he shows awareness for the first time in his life.

"What is this?" asked Julius. "Why are all of our fiancés suddenly friends? Why… why does it feel like you were waiting for this?"

Leon lets go of me and stands in front of Julius, bowing slightly but clearly in jest.

"Why, this is a stage your highness."

"Barfort." Growled Julius. "You."

"Me!" cheered Leon.

I understand the animosity between the two. As I recall Leon would often upstage Julius in just about everything. As Leon explained, fear of the crown was something you could pay to resolve. While Julius would normally be pushed as the top of every field academically, the truth was that if he put his mind to it Leon was the one who could achieve that spot.

I did have to help him study alongside Livia, and the training he underwent was under the careful eyes of Claire, Rose, and even supplemented by Luxion's records of Old Humanity's styles.

But that's even better in my opinion. All of Leon's current strength was worked for.

Julius essentially borrowed all of his.

"What." Barked Julius, "Are you still simpering after Angelica?"

"I'm no simp." Said Leon, "I'm just devoted."

"Devoted he says!" laughed Julius, "Everyone knows that you and that commoner have been seen around the campus!"

"I'm aware." I said, "and I approve. It was presented to me from the get go, rather than hidden behind my back."

Julius flinches.

"And I haven't even done anything besides dancing and the occasional kiss to her hand. At best we've hugged." Leon then smiled in Brad's direction. "It'd be perverse to do otherwise don't you agree?"

"Enough!" shouted Jilk.

"I agree!" shouted Leon, who then slipped off his glove and then slapped it across each of the five's faces before throwing it back in Julius' astonished face.

"What… the hell are you implying here Barfort." Said Julius.

"I'm declaring to everyone here: Let's duel!" said Leon, his back to me and everyone else.

I swear you could hear a pin drop in that moment.

Julius, who seems to have been waiting for a chance to battle Leon again since he upstaged him in our dungeon exploring and The God of War Tournament, simply asks "What are the terms?"

"Simple. We'll fight, all of you versus me. If I win? Then you have to publicly apologize for your actions towards your fiancés., no matter what that entails."

As Leon took his place in front of the five of us, I couldn't help but be reminded of a white figure who stood before me long ago.

In front of me, I see a hero.

I see my hero.

"Well, when we win, you'll have to do the same." Said Julius with his arms folded. "All of you will apologize to Mary for your treatment of her, and do whatever she says is necessary for that."

I see Lafan's eyes widen momentarily before she goes back to that doe eyed look.

Hah.

I knew it, so fake.

Leon smiles and then looks at us, no, behind us.

"Hear that your majesty?"

I look behind me to see a nearby butler remove a wig to show a head of dark blue hair.

"Father!?" shouted Julius.

"It's not just him, prince."

It was my turn to be surprised as I saw several figures from the balcony emerge.

Aside from Stephanie, all of us saw our father's show up, all in similar disguises as King Roland.

Leon turns to Julius. "No backing out of this, your highness."

"Hah, no matter. Did you think I would hesitate just because you had our parents show up? They'd have found out about the duel regardless." Said Julius haughtily.

Julius…

You truly don't understand what is happening.

To be able to have all of our families show up, even disguising themselves… This goes so much further than a match!

"I bet you had to contact our parents to back you up because you have no one that would support you!" taunted Julius, not noticing how his friends began to pale.

"I-I-I'll back him up…"

We turn to see Sir Kagenou walk up, his legs clearly shaking but that doesn't stop him. Clarice smiles fondly at him.

Leon chuckles, "Okay, that's five versus two."

"How shall we handle this then?" said Julius.

"How about a no holds ba match in the arena?" asked Leon. "I'd normally want to do an armor duel, but I feel like if we did you guys would just accuse us of only winning because we had better armor thanks to Mitsugoshi's money."

Leon stared down Julius, unnerving him and impressing me.

"No, let's settle this with our own strength. That sound fair?"

"You're on."

-Co-op-

"H-how… how are you able to out class us at every turn?"

Leon smiled, then leaned down so he'd meet Julius' gaze.

"You're trying your best to be like an adventurer like your forefathers, right?"

Julius nodded.

"I. Am. One."

.

.

.

A/N: Honestly wasn't sure where to stop. Don't know if this was even the relationship thing I wanted to focus on either. Meh. I was focused on other stuff. Next update will be the first part of the Alzer the Lawless City arc.

Rant:

So here's a continuation of the Co-op Game version of the story. If you don't remember, the main idea for the story is that after obtaining Luxion Cid decided to recruit Leon into The Shadow Garden. This changes events and certain things such as Alpha getting pregnant earlier. Some pairings also change, such as Nu now being interested in Leon rather than Cid.

But as per usual there are some pairings that I won't ever change, such as Cid x The Seven Shades and Leon x Angelica x Olivia. Honestly, if I see fics that change those pairings I usually drop them. Which kinda sucks because neither fandom has that many fics.

I think The Eminence in Shadow has the worst problem with this honestly, and that's mostly due to how some people read Cid and his emotions, or presumed lack thereof. Which I guess if all you saw is the anime or manga, fair.

But from my memories of the WN and thanks to regularly playing the game, I can say that Cid does have emotions. Not to say the claims of him being a dangerous psychopath are exactly wrong per se, but that's just when it comes to violence. When it comes to the shades he does actually care about them, it's just he's extremely emotionally stunted.

From the game and chibi manga which are quasi-canon, as in stories told with the characters that show you how they would react if in any given situation, it's shown that Cid holds the shades as good friends at the very least. He gets extremely lonely or huffy if he thinks they're going to do something fun without him, hang out when he's not around, or otherwise leave him out of things. I think the best example probably comes from the Valentines event with Alpha (and Lambda, but she doesn't matter for the sake of exploring Cid right now).

In the climax of the event Delta storms the room and almost destroys the chocolate that Alpha had done her absolute best to make for Cid and had been struggling to give him for the better part of a week. Cid, who doesn't really understand what's going on but has been humoring Alpha every time she called him out without question, saves the chocolate because he could tell that it was important to Alpha. He then ends the event by saying that he did it because he wants to play his shadow broker games for years to come.

Essentially, Cid does have emotions. But he's about as emotionally mature as a child. I feel like it fits because he's a chunnibyou, which is also called 8th grader syndrome. He also only ever lived up to 15 or 16 in his first life and is the same age in his second. As both Minoru and Cid, he only ever focused on improving himself so that he could be The Eminence in Shadow, and his understanding of how romance and stuff works really relies on what he's seen in stories.

Basically, for Cid, romance isn't a priority, and he doesn't really understand it either. But he thinks it's nice if not at least a thing he'd want to do eventually. As I read it, any romance that Cid would go through is more like a little kid's, with Alpha and Delta being the best example of that. That's also why in my fic I have those two with the highest score with Cid, because they are also about as emotionally mature as him, at least when it comes to romance.

Delta is self-explanatory, as she doesn't get all the complicated stuff and just knows she likes Cid. And honestly, out of all the seven shades you can really say that Delta likes Cid just because he's Cid. Cid's strength is something that only he would have been able to accomplish so obviously you can say that Delta's loyal to him and him alone.

Delta's therianthrope brand of logic also compliments Cid's rule of cool logic as they're really just doing what they think is right and not caring about anything else… except for their family/pack. In the game, Child Delta runs away from home after an argument with Zeta and the other shades. She is then given the chance to start a new pack, but ultimately decides to go back to everyone. Cid isn't even brought up for most of it.

Alpha is different. I've seen that everyone seems to agree that Alpha thinks Cid is without fault and idolizes him completely. I don't think that's entirely true. As I see it, Beta, Epsilon, Gamma, and Zeta are the ones who idolize him completely. Especially Zeta. They don't think he's ever capable of doing something wrong, if he does, it's just part of his greater plan.

Meanwhile, while Alpha does exhibit this to a degree, Alpha seems to also consider Cid a person rather than an idol or god. Like don't misunderstand me, a big part of the relationship between Alpha and Cid stems from her believing that he is leagues ahead of them at all times with no hope of catching up. She even toys with the idea of him being inhuman if I recall correctly, but does know that isn't the case.

Alpha knows Cid is a person, and even gets frustrated with him sometimes. Heck, she even teases him at times. It's not like she's Alexia and trying to manipulate him to do what she wants, as the Valentine's event shows that Alpha can't be anything other than honest to Cid.

In main canon when she tells him to go to Lindwurm she specifically phrases it as "come if you want to have fun" or something similar. In the Jack the Ripper arc when she invites him for drinks and a debriefing, she does ask what's going on but for the most part is doing what she did in Lindwurm, setting up stuff for Cid. (Also in the manga there was apparently going to be a scene where she tells him to pick up the cards he threw in the bar to look cool but don't quote me on that.)

Anyway, this is just me explaining that I don't like it when people say that Cid doesn't have emotions and doesn't have chemistry with the Shades. He does, even if you ignore his Lord Shadow get up. If Cid didn't come up with the Cult of Diabolos story and set Alpha free, I don't doubt that they'd still have eventually liked him…

You know what, that sounds like a fun fic idea.

Now let's get to Leon, who is a bit less complicated, but I feel gets way too much flak for his imposter syndrome. I don't think that it's fair to Leon to say that he overreacts too much to things. Having read up to Volume 11 I know that he's completely valid in feeling the things he does. I had Leon explain he was reincarnated in my fic but he never does that in canon, because he knows that aside from those who also reincarnated everyone around him wouldn't understand what a video game is, and he's deeply worried about how'd they feel knowing that he didn't view them as actual people for most of the time he knew them.

I mean when Olivia learned how Angelica viewed commoners in the past she grew so insecure about her relationships with the two that she ran off in tears and didn't speak to them for 'a while' (Both series are pretty bad at telling you the timeframe of everything, which allows for spin off material to exist but still).

There's also the fact that Leon in canon largely relied on his knowledge of the games to dictate his actions. He also is constantly made fun of, even going as far to say that in his last life and the current one the only person who ever told him that they loved him was his mother from his last life. Then later on Angelica, Olivia, and Noelle: but again later on.

Leon clearly lived a life that wasn't the best, in both lives. It's overlooked and played for laughs, but it's still there. That's a real thing he acknowledged. Marie does point out that some girls liked him but never said anything, and Leon probably would've gotten stabbed from all the jealous/yandere girls he tends to attract. But as far as Leon knows, no one liked him.

Then in his new life he feels pretty alienated given that he still has his Japanese sensibilities. Daniel and Raymond, his closest friends for the first year, have opinions on things such as commoners that Leon just doesn't share.

Then when he gets along with Olivia in the light novel he gets to studying with her and admits that he mostly coasts on previous knowledge, and he can't even keep up with her when she gets to the advanced stuff. He gets average grades but almost never studies due to not seeing the point.

If I had to guess one part is that he tries to impress the noble girls but fails a lot (the manga has an omake of him doing this then being comforted by Olivia right after, so it can be assumed that it happened often). Another is that he probably is behind in studies given that he's been busy with other things, such as his adventure, setting up his territory, and even helping with the farm work. I can't imagine they were able to afford anything up to date in the Barfort territory.

Anyway, back to emotional response. Leon very much acts like he's removed from the situation, as I put it in my fic, he acts like he's in control, like he's still playing the game. I always viewed it as a defensive response. I mean, if you ignore the comedic way in which everything is presented, Leon's never been in control of his life. Neither one actually.

We don't see much of his past life but that also tells us a lot. He basically never mentions any friends or anyone else in his life aside from his family and I can't remember him every mentioning his father. So in his last life he was probably used to being alone, Marie being treated as the favorite, and then died because of his own choices.

In his current life Leon was born the third son of a family just rich enough not to starve but poor enough that he can't help but be desperate for money. Not as much as Marie, but it's there. Also as part of being born into his world is the whole situation with Zola; which abusive is the nicest way you can probably put the relationship he had with her. The he learns that's just how all men are treated, especially in the academy. He'll learn from Mylene later that this was done on purpose to dissolve the hierarchy, but that's at the end of volume 3.

This is all to say that Leon has lived his entire life without being in any control over it, and the one time he took control (or at least the first time we see) is when he rats out Marie for taking his and their mom's money and lying. Then he died. The next time he does this is when he grabs Luxion, only to be immediately punished for it by getting a rank he hates and forced to choose a wife from women that somehow hate him more than he hates himself.

The next time is when he steps up for Angelica, but he admits himself that was just him lashing out. Hell, most fics seem to ignore that Daniel, Raymond, and even Olivia tried to stop him from helping Angelica. Then he gets punished again for it, but not in the way he wanted. A lot of people ignore what Leon was going through because he does his best to do the same, but it all clearly affects him. I think the writing could mention stuff more, but I do think it's there, just presented as a joke most of the time.

Hell in later volumes every time Leon tries to help someone or do something good he ends up making things worse for himself to the point he just stops caring about it.

So, I don't blame Leon for acting the way he does, where he doesn't open up easily and tries to take a back seat to everything. Plus when it comes to romantic relationships, I'll admit he's a bit of a wuss, but I honestly think half of that's because he's a light novel protagonist. I know some of them regularly have sex, but most don't, at least usually not if they're said to be explicitly 15 or younger.

Speaking of that's part of the reason I changed the ages, with less teenage hormones they'd be prone to be a little less stupid. I mean technically I don't think I've seen 18 year olds that were really that much smarter than 15 year olds, but there's the expectation that it'd change at least a little bit.

Anyway, that's all I had to rant about. Maybe you agree with my view of the characters, I'm pretty sure I brought up some of this before but felt like it was necessary to say definitively at least once.