[One Shot] A lesson in psychology for this otome world

[UnholyExcaliber456]

—A Time Between Everything—

​

The familiar *taka-taka* of the railways greets me as it does everyday. You'd think that at a certain point you'd just tune it out, but no, so long as you aren't actively blocking it with music or something, you'll know you're on one of Japan's finest modes of transportation.

If there is anything different about this trip, it's that I'm not squished like a sardine. Normally on my commute to and from work I won't have any room…

Actually, come to think of it, isn't this place a bit empty…?

Taking a quick glance around me, I see that I'm in an empty cart. Nothing but the starry night sky to accompany me, not even the moon.

I guess I must've taken the last train home… again…

…

Was I working…?

Last thing I remember doing…

I was playing a game… what was it again…? The name is on the tip of my tongue. Al… Alte…

The game…

Gah…! You'd think for as many hours as I sank into the thing, I'd remember the title!

300 Hours, easy. At least for most games made by those devs. At…Atl… can't remember that either. I remember that they made a bunch of JRPG games that were hugely story driven. They almost always took at least 60 hours to beat, not counting any time you went back to fight the hidden bosses or got all the things in them.

I was a huge fan. How huge? I went back and completed the first two games, including the alternate routes and sequels. Then when 3, 4, and 5 were being milked to all hell, well I was one of the ones making the demand for the supply.

I will admit though, the games were mainly marketed towards men. Sure, there's something to be said about it taking place from male characters point of view, except those two times, not always making it geared towards men, but I feel like it was always subtly there.

But with the international releases and stuff, it just kind of made sense to eventually release a game that was told through the POV of a girl. It was technically a spin-off series, of what was already a spin-off series, but it couldn't be denied to be within the same ball park.

Essentially, all the dating sim aspects found in the series prior were cranked up to 11 and geared towards more Otome game like tropes rather than the usual 90's era harem-esque slapstick the series had become to be known for. Which is to say that a lot of it was just swapped genders, really.

I'll admit that I had originally didn't want to play it given that, but heard some interesting things about the story's second half and thought why not, so long as it had the same battle mechanics I could probably benefit from seeing things on the other side of it.

For what it is worth, it was fun. At first. However, things go way too frustrating at the turning point before things were supposed to get interesting.

That Black Knight and his monstrous Shadow were just the worst.

Not to mention that they brought back the third game's party mechanic of only being able to suggest what the party members aside from yourself could do. And you don't even get to fight until later on, instead starting out as a Navigator.

Which, hey, being the navigator was a pretty intriguing gimmick at first. I could see the appeal honestly, especially since they were going for the Otome game demographic.

But since the game was just unplayable at that point I put it down…

…

Wait…

If I put it down… then why did I have 300 hours? I could've probably just skipped until I got to the ending at 60 or so.

…

*Taka-tak—SCREEEECH!!!!!*

Ah, the train stopped.

I look up and see a woman with white hair and a blue outfit sit down nearby. I nod politely and she bows in return.

Given her outfit she must be coming back from a dance club or some kind of costume thing. Whatever, not going to ruin my day.

…

Ah, I just remembered. I did drop the game, but someone else found it. My sister.

Apparently, she'd been looking to hide some Yaoi in my room or something and then found out I had a game marketed towards women. She then immediately showed it off to our mother and got me some uncomfortable stares from our parents. I could just feel their desire to ask if I felt I was happy being a guy, or if they should worry about the family lineage dying with me or something.

So eventually I just moved out. Last I've heard my sister turned my old room into a closet for the clothes and stuff she'd been trying to put in there anyway…

Wait…

Wait no there was more to it than that.

Right, I remember. One night after I moved out my sister tried out the game and got hooked on it. She also heard something about those who completed the game could get the voice actors to personally thank you if you did it in time. So, she made me an offer: If I completed the game on time for her, then she'd come clean to our parents.

Since my building was going to be demolished pretty soon and I didn't have anywhere good or affordable to go, I took the offer. I then spent several nights in a row trying to complete the game…

Only to realize after I had that I could just rat her out to our parents by using the texts she sent me.

…

Am I on my way to my parents' place now?

…

I'm missing something…

"Excuse me."

I look up and see the woman again. There's something immediately eye catching about her almost ethereal appearance… but I feel no lust nor yearning for her upon seeing it, rather… I feel like I'm in front of… like I want to say my grandma or something.

"Do you have your ticket?" asked the woman.

Ah, she must've been one of those costumed train operators or whatever they were called. I look for my ticket in my pockets or at least my phone, but I find myself bereft of anything. Damn, how the hell I'd even get here?

The woman smiled, "I'd hate to kick you off the train. Here, how about you sign this, just a short document stating that you agree to take responsibility for all your actions."

That's a bit vague, but I guess it makes sense. I take a quick look at the legal stuff: Velvet Room inc. Taking a quick look around the cabin I see the same logo covering the floor and ceiling. Must be legit. But also, I don't see why I should put my actual name just for a ticket.

So what should I put…?

Hm…

What about…

Leon Fou Bartfort.

Something about that seems right.

I hand over the contract back to the woman.

She smiles, looking upon the piece of paper fondly for some reason. Almost wistful if I had to say. But then she gestures to the next cabin.

"Apologies, but I believe that you may want to go to the next cabin." She said.

"Oh," I said as I got up, "was the women's cabin or something? My bad."

"Something like that, yes." Said the woman.

I started walking towards the next train cabin, taking one last glance at the woman, "Well, thanks for not freaking out miss…"

"Elizabeth." She said, "and think nothing of it. Good luck in your future endeavors."

I smiled and waved.

When I walked into the next cabin, I found it strangely red and black rather than the dark blue of the other cabin.

"Passenger…" greeted a synthesized voice that made me jump, "Welcome to the Red Velvet Room."

What greeted me there would go on to change the course of my life. My next life to be specific. As my life in Japan had already come to an unfortunate end. But, through some strange happenstance I managed to slip onto this train on my way there, and therefore was granted the privilege of one of humanity's secret weapons.

And well, I'd have to use it in a way that I never expected.

—Present—

​

"Mister Leon!"

With the shout of a feminine voice that usually is very soft Leon finds himself broken from his recollection of things.

That voice belongs to his companion, a lovely young lady with short blonde hair and a buxom body. Olivia. She currently is pouting in Leon's direction thanks to him zoning out during such an important time.

"Were you about to fall asleep right before the duel? That's a big no-no!" said Olivia as she wagged her finger in Leon's direction.

"A 'big no-no' is putting lightly." Chided another voice. This time it belonged to another buxom blonde, however, while Olivia could be described as friendly in appearance and peppy in nature, this one was more poised and elegant. Angelica Rapha Redgrave. "Honestly, if you wanted to sit out the duel, I had extended the opportunity earlier. To try and sit it out now by sleeping through it is just plainly disgraceful."

Leon just chuckled, "Sorry, I just had some… strategies to consider. Needed to make sure I knew what I was doing before I went down there, y'know?"

"Well," said Angelica in a voice that offered no leeway, "if that's true then I suppose I can understand. You did volunteer to fight the five heirs to the founding houses after all. It's only going to be an uphill battle, and that's before considering their Personas."

Angelica seemed to soften a bit.

"…I did say that it's too late but if you truly want to leave…" What was left unsaid was the circumstances of this duel.

For you see, this was not a Leon had made. No, this was one proposed by Angelica. Her fiancé, Crown Prince Julius Rapha Holfort, had been seen courting a daughter to a viscount. Marie Fou Lafan. Not only that, but Marie had been sighted with the other four heirs.

Spurned by Julius' rejection of her affection and devotion, as well as outrage of Marie's seduction of the five, Angelica had challenged her to a duel during the end of term ball. However, rather than Marie defending herself, the five heirs had volunteered themselves to fight on her behalf.

Angelica had hoped that someone would also back her up, but when she needed assistance her followers, people that should have backed her up due to her coming from the family of a Ducal Household, had looked the other way. In that moment, Angelica had been alone.

In that moment, Leon had stepped up.

Despite there being no benefit for him or his family, it'd be a detriment if anything, and despite that Leon and Angelica had hardly interacted, Leon had offered to fight on her behalf.

Although Angelica's heart still lies with Julius, it'd be a lie to say she hadn't been moved in some regard. Even after finding out it was in part thanks to Leon having his own grievances with the high nobility and seeing this as a chance to freely vent them upon the heirs.

"I said I'd fight, so that's what I'm going to do." Said Leon, looking admirable before he continued, "besides I bet a lot of money on myself, so it'd be a bad idea to quit now."

Both girls simply shook their heads at him.

In the middle of their antics they hear an announcer from the arena. "Will the combatants please make their way to the arena?"

"I guess that's me then." Leon said as he looked back at the girls. "But before I go… could you both repeat what Olivia said earlier?"

"Eh? What I said?" asked Olivia.

"The no-no thing. Please?" Leon asked while clapping his hands above his head.

Angelica quirks a brow as she shifts her weight and folds her arms below her chest. "You'd like for me to do it as well?"

"Once in a lifetime request, no, it's possibly my last request. Please." Begged Leon.

The two girls look at each other and shrug. Olivia giggles a bit, while Angelica is more resigned.

"Mister Leon," Olivia began as she put her hand on her hip and wagged her finger again. Angelica joined in and mirrored her actions as they both said, "that's a big no-no!"

Angelica and Olivia both blushed, but figured it was fine to do at least once given Leon was likely to get really hurt during the duels with all five heirs.

Leon clutches his heart with a big smile. "Okay! Let's go!"

Leon then began to walk out to the duel arena as the girls left to take their seats amongst the audience.

—Vs. Brad—

​

As I walk to the arena to fight the first of the five idiots, Brad, I make sure to give myself one last check on all my equipment.

Let's see…

Go-hom's…check.

Soma's… Don't think I'll need them, but check.

SP tea… check.

Beads of life… check.

Homunculus… Jilk's the only one dumb enough to spam the insta kill moves, but he shouldn't have access to any right now.

I've got a ton of items to deal elemental damage and buff myself too, but I probably won't need those here. I'll just use the Persona abilities.

Oh speaking of.

Persona's…

Orpheus Telos… check.

Izanagi-no-Okami… check.

Raoul… check.

Magatsu-Izanagi… check.

Athena…check.

Kaguya Hime… check.

Messiah… check.

Black Frost… check and now equipped.

…

I put one hand on my holster and the other on my sword… well, it's more like a chunk of iron if I'm being honest. Not quite a Buster Sword or Guts' Dragon Slayer, but still definitely a Claymore type sword. Forged from my original persona after… that happened.

…

I couldn't bear to look at myself and summoning him didn't feel right anymore.

…

I mean he was weaker than all the others anyway, so turning him into a weapon was just a practical way to free up the space for stronger personas but still hold onto him…

*Tsk*

Who am I kidding.

I raise my hands and lightly slap the sides of my face as I walk out. No sense in getting despondent now.

I make my way to the center of the arena and see Brad Fou Field waiting for me. The purple haired fop is known for looking good… and well yeah, the ikeman has that going for him I guess. But that's it. From what I remember on Brad's route, because the five boys had routes on top of the social links, most of it was dedicated to superficial stuff like going on shopping and spa trips or even helping him do his hair.

I skipped most of the dialogue.

Also, he was the weakest as a teammate. Luckily, they kept the "only 4 team members" thing from the mainline games so I always ended up benching him. Oh, and once Livia became a party member on the battlefield I benched Jilk too.

For what it's worth Brad had good magic stats, he just never used them since he spammed Marin Karin more than what's-her-face from Persona 3.

…

I wonder why I can't remember anyone's name from the games anymore? I know I wrote them down in those journals.

"Bartfort." Brad called out to me from his spot across the arena, flipping his over the shoulder ponytail a bit. I think it looked okay as a sprite but seeing him do it in real life makes it look hella stupid. "I must commend you for finally working up the nerve to appear. But I'll warn you now that you are out here there is no running away."

"I know that. I was about to say the same to you." I said with a smirk growing on my face. "After all, once I wipe the floor with you it won't matter how good you look, all everyone will remember is what you look like on the ground."

Brad frowned but bit back anything he was going to say. I'll say this, he may be an idiot but he's probably the one with the highest charisma (not counting Julius who was the canon route and therefore got like every modifier) so Brad probably knew when to not make himself look worse. At least when he's by himself, I think.

Who knows, maybe he'd be the type to cause an international incident because someone told him "no balls" or something.

Finally, Brad shot back "I hope you remember those words once I defeat you."

I just shrugged.

Both of us took our proper places across the arena as the ref raised his hand.

Brad's main weapons consisted of a gun, a revolver to be exact, and a dagger that he kept concealed with the fan he usually carried around.

Although that dagger usually isn't used given that he has to "break" it to summon his Persona.

How do you break a dagger? Throw it at the ground real hard. It always looked cool in games when people buried their sword in the ground but in reality that usually just chips the blade if you do that. And for what it's worth, I say 'break' but really it's more of a thing that they throw it in the ground and it shatters more than it should so that their 'persona' will emerge.

"Both contestants are ready. The match of Brad Fou Field vs. Leon Fou Bartfort may now begin!"

With the referee's signal the both of us we began. Brad immediately pointed his gun at me and fired with a loud "BLAM!* echoing throughout the arena.

I stood still.

The familiar *RRRM* of an attack being absorbed plays in my head as each of the shots do less than nothing to me. Unfortunately, that sound doesn't play in real life, but Brad can see me glow with every shot he took.

"I see… I suppose I'd be remiss if I didn't summon my persona for such a momentous occasion." Brad puts his gun away and then throws his dagger to the ground, it shatters upon impact and a black inky substance comes forth from the ground. It wells up like a small fountain before revealing the shadow Narcissus.

A character from Greek mythology known for being self-absorbed, to the point we have the term 'narcissistic' derived from his tale. Fitting.

Don't fact check me on this, I don't have access to the internet anymore.

"This is my other self!" shouted Brad, "Persona! Heed my command and blow Bartfort away! Magarula!"

Unfortunately, I didn't fuse Black Frost so he'd be immune to wind so I have to dodge. Not sure how much it'd hurt since I'm not weak to it, but I'd rather not get hit by strong winds if I didn't have to.

"So you can dodge that can you?" stated Brad. "Then let's try this on for size. Persona! Charm him!"

Narcissus then began to use its 'Sexy Dance' ability.

…However, unlike in the games, it's kind of hard to be charmed by something that doesn't fall in your strike range.

"You stop that." I said as I swung at Narcissus, causing him to fly back into Brad.

"Gah!" shouted Brad as he and Narcissus gathered themselves again, "How didn't that work? Surely even you can see the beauty of my Persona! He has never failed to charm any man, woman, or child!"

No, you actually failed a whole lot. It was rarer for you to ever land it despite the fact Narcissus had a passive ability that would allow him to land it more often.

And honestly, Narcissus? The guy that's weak to slash attacks? I can't believe the devs went with that for one of the main characters.

Plus, "I really hate how you keep calling it a persona."

"What?" asked Brad incredulously.

"That thing you have," I said while pointing at Narcissus, "That's not a persona."

Brad was somehow even more incredulous, downright flabbergasted even. "What are you even on about? Of course it's a persona!"

I shook my head as I began to take out what I had in my holster. "No, if it was truly your Persona, then it'd be special in its appearance. A true reflection of yourself. That's what Persona's are. The manifestation of one's will used to overcome daily hardship. A façade, in other words."

Brad seemed to be following along. He's also reloading his gun with special bullets.

I decide to go on with my little lesson in Jungian psychology. "A shadow, meanwhile, is the true self. The version of yourself that you may or may not try to hide from people. The part of yourself that you don't want other people to know about." I chuckle, "How fitting then, that you have Narcissus as your shadow."

This causes Brad to pause. "You know my persona's name? His legend?"

Oh right, knowing all the names was a thing that only Olivia could do with her Persona's navi-like powers. Cost her SP usually.

I nod, "A young man of Greek myth. He rejected the nymph Echo, who faded to a whisper out of despair. Cursed by Nemesis, he fell in love with his own reflection and wasted away."

"…That…that's it?" said Brad, almost as though he's begging for me to start saying more. "You're saying that I… all I am is someone that will die being distracted by myself!? All because I turned down someone!?"

I say nothing, hoping that the Gold in Brad's eyes could fade. And for a moment, they do. He almost overcomes his shadow.

But then he doubles down, "You're just lying to me! You've probably been put up to this by my father haven't you! If you knew what my fiancé was like you wouldn't be making up such a story!"

I sigh, honestly I can admit how things are reflective of Narcissus, but that's kinda the point.

"I can see you haven't realized how his curse reflects your life." I said. "Oh well, nothing left to do but to end this duel."

I then take the gun, or rather the evoker and point it at my head. I hear a collective gasp and even some screaming. But I ignore it. Brad even tries to shoot it out of my hand.

"The life of an adventurer is one where you accept that you can die at any time. It's through this mentality does one finally live in life. Remember, one day you will die. But I will not die today." I change Black Frost for, "MAGATSU-IZANAGI!"

With a *click* that only I can hear but a shattering of glass that I'm sure everyone can hear, my paid dlc persona comes out.

I have to admit that Magatsu-Izanagi has always been a favorite of mine, the red and black color scheme just appealed to the edgy bitch in me, as does most of the animations he had in the fighting games.

Speaking of, I start running to Brad with my persona close behind. Brad panics and tries to have Narcissus use magarula to scare us off, however I couldn't bring myself to care and had Magatsu-Izanagi fire a small Ziodyne through the spells, giving me the chance to close in.

Brad dismisses his persona so he can have his dagger back but it's too late.

I slash straight through his defense. "You think you're so damn cool, Cross…" and then from above Magatsu-Izanagi descends. "But it's all BULLSHIT! Slash!"

Brad doesn't even have the time to gasp.

"B-Brad Fou Field is unable to battle! The winner is Leon Fou Bartfort!" shouted the referee.

The arena was silent. I go to walk back to my waiting area when I hear one person clapping. I look up and see my tea master standing by himself as he applauds. I think I hear Olivia join in next.

You guys…

—My tutorial—

​

I wasn't always okay with shooting myself in the head with something shaped like a gun to summon a monster. I had to learn to get used to it.

I was told about evokers and offered one when I first visited the Red Velvet Room. Apparently it's one of Old Humanity's best inventions. But I was obviously uncomfortable with using one.

Besides, given that Zola wouldn't allow me to have a ceremony where I could gain a persona as all other nobles do, I didn't see a good way to hide that I had an actual persona.

For the record, it's less of a ceremony that allows you to gain a persona and more one that you contract a shadow based on whatever is nearby and agreeable to you. Nicks had gotten Jack Frost, and Jenna had gotten Yamamoto-no-Orochi. Although dad had taken their weapons away so that they wouldn't break them on accident.

I don't think I've ever seen dad's persona now that I think about it.

Anyway, me and my little siblings Finely and Colin weren't allowed to have a bestowal ceremony. Because Zola, dad's legal wife that hated us just for existing, said it cost us too much money to go back and forth between the capital for that.

Never mind that she used to frequently make said trip just to ask dad for more money. Zola also had two kids, Merce and Rutart. They were a bit older than Nicks, having been born around the time dad first got married to Zola. However, none of us are Zola's kids aside from those two.

See, dad has a lover, my mom. His marriage to Zola is purely political in nature, done because he needed her connections to protect the barony from pirates and other threats. He tried to make it work apparently, hence Merce and Rutart, but after Rutart was born things just went downhill. So he met mom and had the rest of us.

Zola didn't hate us because we were mom's kids, she hated us because we were taking away money that could be given to her.

Naturally her kids would extend similar grievances to us.

One day their constant bullying got bad. Real bad.

Because those two had their 'personas' unlike the rest of us.

I remember it clearly, that day Finely, who was even more of a smart aleck than me, and a girl living in a matriarchal society, had enough and tried to defend herself. I don't even remember what they were talking about at the time. I just know that after Finley spoke up for herself, Rutart had said…

"What did you say?" he demanded. He then took out his weapon, a dagger as well, but it looked more like a switch blade. "No, repeat it. Go on."

Finely didn't say anything. She was scared. She was 10.

Rutart, the at the time 17 year old, started throwing a tantrum, "OH SO NOW YOU CAN SHUT YOUR MOUTH! How about I pry it open!? Persona!"

Rutart threw his knife at the ground, From the inky depths of the ground came a Mokoi. Which considering Finley was again, a 10 year old child, was pretty scary for her. And it hadn't even used Evil Smile yet.

"Persona! Sonic Punch!" demanded Rutart.

Merce just cackled.

Since I was nearby, I did what I could do.

I jumped in front and took the blow instead.

"Gah!" I shouted as I clenched my stomach in pain.

"Leon-nii!" shouted Finley.

"Go!" I shouted back, "Go hide! I'll be fine!"

I ended up taking the brunt of Rutart's assault. Which was fine, since my persona [redacted] was pretty immune to all things physical, and that's all Rutart had available to him. Merce actually ended up getting apprehensive after the fifth time Rutart hit me and left early. Rutart just eventually used up all his HP and knocked himself out so I dragged him back.

But the thing was, Finley never came back. I ended up went looking for her with my other siblings. Colin obviously stayed home with mom, Nicks and Dad went their separate ways, but Jenna and I had to stay together as we looked.

Given that we lived on a floating island there was only so many places she could go.

Or, that's what I assumed.

"Leon… what's that…?" asked Jenna as she hid behind me.

I pursed my lips as I realized what stood before us, something that I knew existed thanks to the game, but logically shouldn't have been a thing till the war.

In front of us was what looked like a fairy circle from dark age fairy tales in Europe, but with a clear glow to the mushrooms creating it. If we stepped in this, we'd be on the other side.

Now in the climax of the story you did use this to go back and forth because Fanoss had been merging the two worlds but you needed to actually start in the metaverse so that you couldn't be controlled like everyone else.

I guess that these things did have to exist beforehand.

"Jenna, go find dad." I said as I took out my sword and hung the lantern at my hip.

Jenna flinched, "What!? No! You dumbass I don't know what you're planning on doing but you don't even have a persona! I'll go, you go get dad dumbass!"

"Oh so now you can acknowledge that you're stronger than me! Nicks back me up here"

"Nicks! You tell Leon that he's…" Jenna turned around to find nothing as I quickly dashed into the fairy ring. "Hey!"

When I stepped into the fairy ring I saw that everything had distorted around me as though I had jumped into a large body of water. When the distortion stopped I found myself in a place that looked a lot like my home island, with some distinct differences.

Namely, that the trees here didn't have leaves, but instead money.

Actually, everything here seemed to just be made of money in some way or another. I didn't have time to think about it though, because I heard a voice to my right.

"Ah, young master." Called out the voice of my attendant. "So you've finally decided to do something worthwhile have you? Perhaps there is hope for the last of Old Humanity yet."

In front of a blue door with a red light was a gray orb with a red lens. Luxion.

…Well he didn't have a name, I just named him that because it felt right for some reason. According to him his creator never named him and kinda just left him in the velvet room for years. Which, given the naming convention of the velvet room attendants worried me for a bit. Because that made me think he was Frankenstein's unnamed monster.

But he's just a little robot thing so I shouldn't worry about him killing a whole bunch of people I think… well I mean he's suggested it to me a couple of times, but he says he can't leave the velvet room for too long so he won't do it himself.

Luxion's orb body opens a bit and shows his mechanical tentacles, one of which throws me something and I catch it. When I take a look at it I realize that it's an evoker straight out of Persona 3. It doesn't have any engravings though.

"As you haven't had an awakening, I recommend you use this should things come to the worst." Luxion explains before showing me a map through a hologram. "Using my superior senses granted by Old Humanity, I can tell you that your sister is in this direction. However, some shadows are approaching her as well, I'd be quick if I were you."

"Thanks Luxion!" I shouted.

Dashing into the direction of the place, where I had actually found Finley being picked on earlier, I saw her in the same position. But this time Rutart and Merce had unsettling glowing yellow eyes. These were shadows.

I realized then that we must be in a place of some kind or something, or maybe mementos? P5 never did mention how far it reached since you always started at the place rather than driving Mona to there.

In any case, I couldn't let them keep picking on Finley.

"Finley!" I shouted, getting everyone's attention. Finley looked grateful as the two let go of her, I could tell they've probably hit her a few times thanks to the bruises on her face. "What have you two done to her!?"

Rutart's shadow scoffed. "We were just showing the piece of trash her place."

"Trash is meant to be discarded, yes?" asked Merce's shadow, who was oddly more talkative than her real life counterpart. "What does it matter we get rid of something that's going to cost us money?"

"She's a person. I could hardly say the same for you both." I replied as I walked closer. One hand with my sword, the other on the evoker in my pocket.

"What was that?" grunted Rutart's shadow.

"You're a seventeen year old man who's picking on a 10 year old girl. Surely you can see how wrong that is! Or what, is it because you don't see us as people? Why? Because your mom told you to? Have you never come up with a thought for yourself? That's a little bit worrying you know, you're about to graduate aren't you?" I then smirk, "Come to think of it neither of you have fiancés do you? So, if you're going to claim you're so much better and deserve to be treated specially, shouldn't other people have agreed with your worldview? Why is it that you're alone? Do you two even have any friends?"

"Shut up!" shouted Rutart's shadow.

"What do you know!?" demanded Merce's shadow.

"I know that for as much as you make fun of us, at least we can claim our mom and dad love us." I sated with finality. "You're just an accessory to your mom. A piece of art like a statue she bought just to show off."

"…" Rutart just started to growl like a dog.

"I mean seriously, when's the last time she's ever hugged you. Helped you when you got sick? Has she ever done anything but buy you stuff and told you to hold your head up and look down at everyone else?" I asked.

"Shut up!" screamed Merce. "SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!"

"Leon-nii! We should run, they're going to summon their personas again!" said Finley as she grabbed my sleeve and tried to lead me away.

"Finley take this." I said as I shoved a Go-Hom into her hand and activated it. Her eyes widened in panic as she warped away. I turned around to the two shadows of my half siblings. Rutart turned into Mokoi this time, while Merce had turned into Pixie. If I recall correctly Zola's was a high pixie.

Rutart tries to hit me with a sonic punch spam again, but this time I don't have to grit my teeth and bare it. I dodge and hit him back with my sword. Merce tries to heal him with dia but I grab a rock off the ground and throw it at her, causing her to fall down. Guess it counted as gun damage.

Rutart tries to use his Evil Touch and Evil Smile but I just dodged them both and slash at him again. However, my blade gets stuck in his and he manages to force me to stand still. I saw Merce get up and try to hit me with a zio. Luckily,

"Come out Snakey!"

Jenna's familiar shrieking comes out of the woods as her persona Yamato-no-orochi comes out and shields me, absorbing the lighting attack. I take the chance to force Rutart off of me and hit him with my shoulder so he goes back a few feet.

"Leon you dumbass!" shouts Jenna as she runs up to me, "I told you that I should go here but nooooo! You're lucky that Finley got out of whatever this place is and told me you were in trouble!"

"Actually I sent her out with one of my items." I pointed out.

"Whatever!" shouted Jenna, "Where's Rutart and Merce, I see their personas but I don't see them."

"That's them." I said as I pointed at the Mokoi and Pixie. "Or at least, that's what was pretending to be them."

Jenna blanched, "I don't like any of what you just said. Let's get out of here. Snakey can stall them."

Merce immediately landed a pulinpa on Yamato-no-Orochi and made Jenna confused. Knowing what to do I immediately slapped her across the face.

It was so damn satisfying. She slapped me back but still.

"Okay, so let's rough them up a little. If someone asks, we'll say it was some random monsters." Said Jenna. "Since you can't summon a Persona just wait for me to give you the opportunity and finish them off… knock them out with the flat side I mean."

"I can summon a Persona." I revealed.

Jenna scoffed, "Stop trying to look tough and let me finish this. You didn't have a ceremony so there's no way you have a Persona!"

"I do have a persona, watch." I said as I lifted the evoker to my head. In a pure act of sibling spite, I didn't even hesitate to pull the trigger, summoning—

.

.

.

Merce and Rutart lay in front of us, looking more exhausted than beat up.

"…Does mother truly not love us…?" asked Rutart.

"Isn't it too late to find someone to love us?" asked Merce.

I looked at them. I wanted to say yes. That there was no redemption… but…

"You're both only 17 and 18. I know that a lot of people say that's basically the end of things, but it's not." I said.

"How do you know?" asked Merce.

"I don't. But I do know this, if it weren't for that rotten attitude you'd both have probably been pretty popular." If there's one thing I can admit about my half-siblings it's that they were pretty good looking. I don't think I've ever seen a blemish on their faces, not to mention that they're both pretty fit. If I didn't know they were dad's kids you could tell me they were part elf and I'd believe you. "And that's something you can change starting today."

"…We can?" asked Rutart.

"Why not. As they say: the best time to plant a tree was yesterday, the second best time is today." I said with a smile.

"Yeah… you're right… brother."

With that both of them had changed into orbs of light. I grabbed at it and found some items that would allow me to reflect attacks.

"What was that?" asked Jenna in awe.

"A… change of heart. Something that can only be done by someone once they accept the ugly part of their heart. It takes a bit of work though." I explained.

—Vs. Greg—

​

Since this break was only about 10 minutes, just enough to go to the bathroom, Olivia and Angelica didn't visit me again, but they did wave at me when I went back out.

This time I had to fight Greg Fou Seberg. His 'persona' was Chimera. I'll be honest, I'm not sure why Greg had Chimera instead of anyone else. If I had to guess it was because Chimera was a monster just because of how it looked.

See, Greg's route was all devoted to adventuring and growing stronger. I.E. everything was based on pushing your body to the limits. If it weren't for Julius's route proceeding based off of story progression, then Greg would probably be the easiest route to complete.

"Hey." Called out Greg, "You might have beaten Brad but—"

Knowing what he was going to say I cut him off, "Teams are only as strong as their weakest link. Oh, and I'd never call a friend of mine weak, especially to an enemy."

Greg all but bit his tongue and glared at me.

The referee signaled for us fight and Greg threw down his Axe, immediately summoning Chimera. I dodge the bash it had been going for and immediately summon Magatsu Izanagi again. I want to clear this with a Magatsu-Mandala, but then Greg opens his mouth.

"Ugh, what even is that thing?" he spat.

"What thing?" I asked.

"The gun, how does someone who didn't even have a ceremony now suddenly have a persona." He asked.

I eyed him with suspicion, "How do you know I didn't have a ceremony?"

"Jilk brought it up last night." He answered.

"Right, well, this gun allows anyone with the potential to summon a persona." I said.

Greg's eyes open wide.

"The fuck!? Even I know how important something like that could be! Are you saying you knew something like that existed and you didn't share the way to make one with the kingdom immediately? What's wrong with you!?"

"I could say the same thing." I said, making Greg eye me cautiously. Greg was never good at looking at the bigger picture after all. "I mean you have the chimera as your shadow."

"…Brad did say you could learn our personas names." Said Greg as he adopted a fighting stance. "But he also told me that I should just stick to fighting you. Even if you're going to cheat I'm not going to let you get in my head. Side's, all I have to do is take that gun from you."

"I'm sorry, cheat? You're claiming summoning a persona is cheating?" I asked.

Greg sneered, "If you shouldn't be able to summon the damn thing then you shouldn't be able to use it."

"Well, one, I always had the potential I just didn't do it because my legal mom used to be a bad person and didn't want me to have one as the third son." I said before raising my evoker again, "And two, what's cheating is the fact I can do this."

With the sound of breaking glass permeating my brain again I summon a new persona, Black Frost.

The arena falls silent again.

Oh wait, I shouldn't be able to do this. Meh. I'm fucked anyways.

"Black Frost, Maeigon!" I shouted, surrounding Brad with curse energy.

"Coward! You should fight me with your natural strength like a real man!" he shouted.

…You know, I have the opportunity to do something funny here.

I dismiss Black Frost and switch to Izanagi-no-Okami just so I can really sell the bit.

"Sure man! Should I stay in place or is that still too hard?" I said before lifting one leg, "Do you need me to have one hand behind my back and hopping on one foot too?"

"Are you mocking me!?" demanded Greg with a blush from embarrassment and rage on his face.

"I just want to make sure you aren't going to say this duel shouldn't count because I had better gear or something. I mean, I know you're a sore loser and all." I then start laughing, "I mean, that's what you always said whenever someone beat you right? 'he just had better gear' or 'he had a head start' right?"

Greg's golden eyes were practically shooting lasers at me. Probably because this is all stuff he'd tell Olivia at roughly rank 6 in his social link.

"Or hey, how about this." I put the evoker back into its holster. "I'll stick to using my bare hands. Oh but you can keep using your shadow, I can tell you need the clutch."

The amount of venom I put into those last few syllables can't match the amount that I see pouring out of Chimera's snake tail mouth after he summoned it again.

It charges at me but I just throw down an Makarakarn charm and make it head back towards Greg. He can't lift his own persona and had to dismiss it. As soon as he does he sees me waiting across the arena.

"You good man?" I asked as I leaned on one foot and yawned for extra disrespect. "Need a moment to catch your breath?"

Greg tries charging at me so I throw down a bufu bomb and coat he arena with ice, he slides into an arm I stick out and gets clotheslined.

"Gah! Cheater! Give me a fair fight!" he shouts again as he struggles to get up.

"You want to talk about fair?" I asked with a darker tone. "How about listening to Angelica when she says that her followers were doing stuff when she didn't want them too? Aren't you supposed to be one of the most influential families? Your family specifically is one of the best knights aren't they? Shouldn't you have had the resources to investigate properly. Or what, you don't know the strength that comes from relying on others?"

"Dude, is this all about some girl? If you just asked Julius he could've helped you win her over." Said Greg.

"You are not going to lecture me about my love life when you have a perfectly good fiancé you haven't talked to in years and are sharing another with 4 boys. No this is not me trying to win over Angelica. I just hate you guys. Seriously…" I sigh and grab him by the collar before I lean my head back before headbutting him. "USE YOUR DAMN HEAD!"

Greg immediately blacks out.

"Greg Fou Seberg is unable to battle! Leon Fou Bartfort wins!"

I hear the sound of several people booing and trying to claim I cheated. But the thing is, Jilk specifically was the one to ask for us to use items. And I only used two.

Oh well, I'm used to people needing to be convinced to change the hard way.

—I Had to Make Life Change—

​

"So, you're saying that if we give mother this letter then she should be able to change as we had?" asked Merce. "Little brother, are you sure? The last time we tried something similar she came back here and beat up father."

Man, it's so weird how much those two have changed.

In any case I shook my head, "This isn't blackmail. This is… well it's a promise she'll have to take seriously."

"Threats? I know you're strong, and I've considered it myself, but killing mother won't help anyone. Your father would likely need to marry someone else and trust us when we say mother is pleasant in comparison to some of them." said Rutart.

"Look, just let me try this, okay?" I asked. "We have to try something, right?"

The two ended up nodding and I met with Jenna outside.

"You give it to them?" she asked. I nodded. "If it weren't for us seeing that weird floating light thing, I would have never believed you that you needed to send a calling card first."

"As opposed to everything else we saw in there?" I quipped as the two of us walked towards the fairy circle.

"Oh shut it. By the way, how are we going to know it works?" Before Jenna finished asking the mushrooms started to glow red. "Ah. That's probably it huh?"

I just nodded as we went in.

Zola's palace could be described as some weird merger of Alice in Wonderland type architecture but everything was made out of money. I think that was because she viewed everything in our territory as outlandish but able to be sold for money. Including our family.

Seeing the counterparts to us as having prices listed on them made me sure that I had to try and steal her heart. And not sorry if we did it wrong.

What's funny is that unlike the phantom thieves we didn't need to actually fight Zola's shadow. I guess she's that dumb. Or we were way sneakier… or it's just that she didn't have all the stuff to help detect us that the modern day characters would have since they didn't exist.

It was more that we had to get Jenna's shadow 'Snakey' to carry the large sack of money out while we fended off all the weird card person shaped shadows that stood in our way while Zola tried looking for us. Spamming the DLC persona skills made it pretty easy all things considered.

As for whether or not it worked…? Well, she didn't die because of us.

—Changes are Felt by Everyone—

​

As Leon went to fight Chris, using Kaguya-Hime to spam a torrent of light attacks at Chris and not even allow him to summon his shadow, Olivia and Angelica found themselves discussing what was going on.

"*sigh* I wish that Mister Leon would be a bit nicer. I know that his mood is affected a little based on the tarot card but I can't help but feel like most of this is him." Muttered Olivia as she watched Leon all but dance around Chris who tried to chase him with a sword.

"You keep saying things like that." Said Angelica who looked over at Olivia, "Could you maybe start explaining a bit about it? I feel like we don't really need to worry about Leon anymore."

Olivia opened her mouth only to be cut off.

"Indeed, I too would like to know more about this boy and his strange abilities that have been hidden to the kingdom until now."

Angelica's eyes widened as she looked back. "Father!? Elder Brother!?"

Duke Vincent Rapha Redgrave and his son Gilbert had both walked over to where Angelica sat. The students that previously sat next to them had since been escorted out. Both men took a seat next to Angelica. A palm on Angelica's shoulder told her that her father still had words for her, but for now his inquiries were directed at Olivia.

"I had been nearby just in case of anything particularly bad happening, but I decided to see things for myself when I heard things about the person who decided to defend you." Revealed Vincent. "Now, you're the scholarship student yes? Could you inform me of what you know of that Bartfort lad."

Despite the fact Olivia had her Persona equipped, it's Fool Arcana allowing her to be able to adapt to things more easily, and even though she attempted to swap to one of the Jester Arcana personas she had thanks to her bond with Leon that would allow her to act like things don't matter, Olivia immediately burst into nervous tears.

"I—I—I uh *sniff* I… P…pwease… pwease don't hurt me…" sobbed Olivia.

Vincent and Gilbert fretted a bit, feeling bad at the sight.

"We wouldn't do that. We just wish to know a bit about your lover." Explained Gilbert.

Being rank 7 with Leon on their social link and therefore willing to die for him, Olivia reached for her evoker underneath her skirt and pointed it at her heart. She was trembling more than a chihuahua and looked about as threatening but still the others couldn't help but back up a bit. The guards readied their weapons but Vincent told them to stay.

"We have no desire to share these secrets. If anything its in his best interest to have someone in the high court understand his abilities. After all, if he's deemed too much of a threat then the kingdom may do something drastic." Explained Vincent.

"You just want to use him…" said Olivia as she put her finger on the trigger.

Vincent nodded, "Yes, as a Duke it's my responsibility to make sure I employ the strongest people available. It's not as though there aren't any benefits awaiting Bartfort should he join with us…" Vincent softened his gaze, "Such as being able to elevate his lovers position so that she can marry him."

"…I can marry Mister Leon…?" whispered Olivia, causing her to put her finger off the trigger.

"Yes, as I understand Sir Bartfort had been elevated to a Baron thanks to the money he's made through slaying shadows yes? We did hear about an adventurer who had a higher rate of killing shadows than others, and therefore qualified for the position of baron although he held no land. Should he join our household it'd be easy to provide him some land and ask a noble home to adopt you so that you could both marry." Gilbert carefully informed Olivia of all the logistics.

Olivia put the evoker down. "…I'll hear you out. But I'll be telling Mister Leon everything you tell me."

"Of course, of course!" laughed Vincent, "I wouldn't expect my wife to hide anything from me either. That's what relationships are all built upon, communication. Romantic or not, you can't expect anything to happen if you don't communicate."

Angelica felt like she'd been slapped.

"…What do you want to know?" said Olivia as she cautiously sat back down.

"That device, for starters. Does that allow you to summon multiple personas?" asked Vincent.

"Um, no…" said Olivia as she carefully considered her words. "Mister Leon can just do that. I think he said it was an inherited trait or something…?"

"Is it now." Said Vincent who took a quick glance towards Angelica.

"Mhm. What The Evoker, the gun here, allows someone to do is summon an actual Persona if they have the potential. No need for a ceremony." Explained Olivia as she showed off hers. "You need to point it somewhere that would be a fatal shot, and once you pull the trigger your persona comes out."

"Fascinating, could you give us a demonstration?" asked Gilbert.

"Brother? Is that wise?" asked Angelica.

Gilbert gestured to the many guards before pointing at his own weapon. "What could she really do?"

Olivia nodded and then pointed at her heart once more, "Come on out Jeanne!"

With the sound of crashing glass and a woosh of wind, the appearance of a woman tied to a flag with a wooden pole emerged. She glanced in the direction of the ducal family before going back.

"Amazing, and the gun—apologies, The Evoker, doesn't disappear during." Noted Vincent.

"Did Sir Bartfort build this device?" asked Gilbert.

Olivia, who switched to a jester arcana after Jeanne went away, narrowed her eyes, "I may be a commoner, but I'm not dumb."

"Yes, I suppose that going down that route would be asking you two to give away your hand." Vincent chuckled. "Perhaps you can answer this then, why did the lad decide to defend Angelica? I can't imagine you'd be so willing to defend him if was due to some infatuation with my daughter."

"Father!?" balked Angelica, "Of all the questions…! Mother would scold you if she heard you right now!"

Vincent winced slightly.

Olivia giggled, catching everyone off guard.

"Sorry it's just…" Olivia turned back to the arena where Leon had taken Chris' sword and began to beat him with it, using Dia every now and then to make sure Chris suffered through it. "Leon's not doing this to save the princess—so to speak."

Leon finally tossed up the blade, grabbed it with his hands and then hit Chris straight across the jaw with the cross guard like he was hitting a golfball off a tee. He laughed slightly, but that quickly turned into a frown.

There was no true joy in Leon's eyes.

"This is Leon's revenge against the dragon."

—The Cost of Changed Heart—

​

For all those who knew of the Bartfort family and its circumstances, they would claim that it'd be impossible for Zola to be mourned once she had died.

But she was.

Because for one year, shortly after her treasure was stolen and her heart changed, Zola did everything she could to atone.

It was rough on everyone, hardly anyone but Jenna, Leon, Rutart, and Merce could believe what was happening. But Zola truly had changed for the better.

She did whatever she could to make amends with Balcus, her husband that she'd tormented for the past 20 years.

Farmwork.

Selling her designer clothes.

Selling her home in the capital and moving back to their territory.

Selling her slave.

Admitting to her infidelity with said slave and her uncertainty as to whether or not her children were Balcus's or the slave's.

Apologizing to each of the other Bartfort children.

She went around and started helping the people of the territory. She helped improve the land by making investments that she knew she could make. Something stung about how easily she did it but it was hard to ignore the benefits.

What really sold it was that Colin had felt safe enough to sleep on her lap.

Everything was good.

Leon even swears he saw Zola walk into his father and mother's bedroom close to the end of the year.

But then one day Zola had a faraway look in her eyes.

She left behind a note to Leon, knowing he was the one who sent her the calling card since he's the only one of the Bartfort men with the spine to do such a thing, explaining that she had a lot of connections to make, some of them bad.

She was going to go to the capital and report them to the crown.

Her ship never made it.

Jenna found the letter. She swore off ever changing anyone's heart.

Leon couldn't.

He felt it would spit in the face of Zola's efforts to improve herself.

But in his grief he fused away the persona that set him down that path, not trusting its influence over him. He believed that someone should at least keep an eye on the metaverse, so he still trained. But he wasn't going to change any hearts unless there was no choice.

He didn't deserve to change the world of his own volition anymore. He'd only mess things up.

The best thing he could do is try to live the life of a mob.

Although, as he had no one to vent his feelings to besides Luxion, Leon could only air his emotions by going on a ship bought by Zola for him and killing as many monsters as he could. He never really stopped to think about how many he killed until the letter announcing his status as a Baron came with his academy acceptance letter.

—When You're Considered a Threat—

​

I was in the waiting room assigned to me when I realized something pretty startling, someone took my evoker.

Well not the real one. Obviously when Jenna and her slave, someone she bought because she couldn't trust anyone, from what I've heard she's only used him as a butler, showed up to my resting room and asked to borrow my evoker I handed over the fake one.

Jenna always said we should keep our head down and not risk anything else happening, but all I can see happening if we do that is that we'll lose everyone to Fanoss. This duel is just me farming free exp really.

Although I'd admit if weren't for that Marie girl seducing the five I'd probably have agreed with Jenna. But I can't afford to just sit by when the five are so useless and I messed up Olivia's storyline.

I'll just have to do things the hard way.

"Mister Leon!" shouted my closest confidant. I looked back to see Olivia bouncing my way… I'm referring to her hair, although those weapons of mass destruction are too. "Um, I just wanted to check on you. Your sister said you might not be feeling well."

Well considering she stabbed me in the back I'm pretty alright.

"I'm fine Olivia, Jenna's just a big worry wort." I said as I patted the blonde capybara's head. Olivia leaned into it.

With a small pout she stated, "You know it's supposed to be Livia… we're already rank 7 according to mister Theodore."

"Then how about you stop calling me Mister Leon?" I teased.

"But I'm still just a commoner…" Olivia pouted even more. Her lips looking extremely—I mean her cheeks were puffing up so I poked both of them and she deflated them as though I poked a balloon.

Laughing I said, "Jeez, careful Olivia, you almost puffed up so much you were liable to fly away."

"Maybe you should stop teasing me then." Said Olivia as she got closer.

I smirked, "You love it."

"I do." Olivia then gave me a hug. Fun fact about Olivia's persona Jeanne, it had a special gimmick that if Olivia hugged her love interest she could share SP with them. Furthermore, she could gain SP from either using SP drain (naturally learned as well as the drain boost passive) or from sacrificing some health. "Feel better now?"

"Yup, all ready to go. You really should have bet on me, we could've used the money to buy some new dungeon equipment, or heck maybe even a ship for the two of us." I said before realizing what I just implied. "Er…"

Olivia smiles and pecks me on the cheek. "I hate gambling… but I like the sound of us getting a ship together."

With that Olivia walked out.

Or rather she tried to, but she walked straight into the door frame while awkwardly swinging her hips a bit more.

How did that seduce me even more?

Maybe Olivia was as conniving as I thought she was.

"Will the duelists please make their way to the arena!"

Questions for later, I guess.

I made my way down to the arena and saw the second to last character and the biggest pain in the ass.

If Chris Fia Arclight had the gap appeal of being extremely needy once you meet him, then Jilk Fia Marmoria had the gap appeal of appearing well put together before turning out to be a yandere.

I'll say this though, he was no Akechi.

He was just a pain to work through given how much of his route almost had you fall into Julius' given that before you got to the Yandere stuff Jilk doesn't really have much of a personality. Heck, even when his ex-fiancé shows up he just tries to push you away so you'd be left to handle the very jealous woman on your own.

It's through handling something that's makes you second guess whether he's worth all the trouble does he finally fall for you.

In short, he's a bastard of all sorts.

This is reflected in his shadow, Loki. They wanted him to be Akechi so damn bad.

"Bartfort, you've done well to come this far, but I'm afraid this is where your 'adventure' ends." Announced Jilk as he took out his weapon, a staff that had a hidden sword inside it. I didn't really get the purpose as both had to break to summon his shadow, but who cares at this point.

What was cool about Jilk is that he used grenades and a gun as his main weapons. Like the members of Strega from persona 3. They did shit damage and almost always missed, but the choice was still cool.

"Yeah? Can I ask as to why you think that?" I asked.

Jilk chuckled. "Surely you notice something missing?"

"Oh? You mean my evoker, I just left that behind because I felt like I didn't need it to beat you." I said.

Jilk just shook his head and waited for the referee's signal.

Now while I can't use my personas without my evoker (which is hidden in my jacket pocket) I can still switch them around. Of course, Izanagi-no-Okami and Orpheus Telos just kind of reduce damage against everything if not negate it. But that isn't fun.

So while Jilk tried to have Loki's wide range of spells to attack me I just used my personas to boost my speed and run around it all. Eventually I get in close to Jilk and force him to try and hit me with a bomb. Since Jilk had a custom shadow that nulled the bombs attacks he didn't worry about letting the loose so close to himself.

It was easy enough to equip a persona with a similar effect which just pissed him off so he went to trying to shoot at me, but second verse was the same as the first.

I eventually closed in and punched Jilk in the face.

"Gah!" shouted Jilk as he clutched his nose, "You damn miscreant! Don't you know what you're doing!? Surely you realize what's going to happen to you!"

"Is that a threat." I said in a dark tone of voice.

Jilk flinched.

"Keep in mind that I'm not even trying against you guys." I revealed to his horror, "Hell, if you're going to be like that why not align myself with Julius' actual enemies. And don't give me that garbage about Angelica being one, or your fiancé. They actually tried to be there for you jackasses."

"That's treason!" shouted Jilk.

"That's what you fucks deserve!" I shouted as I decked him in the nose again, hearing a satisfying crunch this time. "Honestly! Threatening my sister when the duke and his men are around!? What did you expect to happen? Me to beg for forgiveness? Pledge my loyalty to Julius?! I don't get why you're supposed to be his aide when all you do is make things worse when you get involved!"

Jilk didn't even put up a fight this time as I hit him in the solar plexus. As he doubled over in pain I opened his jacket and stole the fake evoker.

"Oh look at that, the fake I left behind."

"Fake?"

I took out the real evoker from my pocket and summoned Athena. I was going to have her hit Jilk with a couple of physical skills, but right as I opened my mouth Jilk shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Loki! USE EVERYTHING ON THE CASE!"

Loki ended up aiming straight for Jilk's case of grenades.

"Athena, Aegis shield!" I shouted as I realized how dumb Jilk was.

With a loud, and I mean loud *BOOOOOOOM!* The arena was covered in smoke. I felt everything get hot for a second but luckily Athena was able to save me.

And Jilk, the suicidal bastard.

"Look at you." I sneered. "You act all high and mighty but the second you lost you were just a loser."

I dropped him to the ground so the ref could call the match but realized that most of my clothes and even my evoker was caught in the explosion.

Man, I'm going to need another break to replace this.

In any case I walked back to the waiting area as Jilk was carted off. Once I sat down I heard a familiar healing voice.

"Mister Leon!" shouted the bouncy creature as she once again bounded my way. She quickly summons her persona to heal me with a diarahan and then dives into a hug after. "Oh my gosh I was so worried!"

"Hey, hey. C'mon there's no way that would've hurt me too badly. I had Athena and her Aegis shield after all. Not to mention the Enduring Soul ability." I explained.

Olivia, who still had tears in her eyes, just frowned at me and hugged me more.

*Ahem*

I try to separate from Olivia only for her to hold onto me even tighter as I see that we aren't alone.

"Oh, uh, hello." I then realize that it wasn't just Angelica but two men that bore a great resemblance to her. "My apologies your grace… uh…"

Angelica's Papa just chuckled. "Oh, think nothing of it. When my wife saw me get hurt back in the day it took a couple of knights to pry her off. I simply had a few questions about your time here at the academy. I don't see why you'd need to separate from that."

Neat, what does that have to do with me and Olivia though?

"Right, my sister said that you hardly ever interacted with her, so I was curious as to what your motivations were for participating in this duel." Said Angelica's Brother.

I shrugged, "Well, there's a bunch of reasons. But It's not like this is the first time I've helped her anyway."

"Huh?" said Angelica, "But I don't remember… wait…!"

"Oh, did you forget that time we met in the dungeons?" I asked. "I'd figure it was pretty memorable."

"I mean I thought it was all a dream too Mister Leon." Said Olivia, although her words were a little muffled given she was speaking into my shoulder. It tickled a little honestly.

"Oh? Can I ask why?" asked Angelica's papa.

"I mean we did survive an encounter with the reaper." I admitted. Given the expression on Angelica's papa and brother's faces I figured I needed to explain a bit more.

—How to Know You've Made a Persona Game Your Bitch—

​

Perhaps the best place to start with what went down is to start with why both Olivia and I were there.

It went back to how we met. See, this was during the first round of tea parties. Olivia had been invited to Lord Field's tea party but because she's a commoner a bunch of vicious noblewomen tore up her invitation. This was right outside my tea room that some other similarly vicious noble women ate all my snacks, drank some of my tea before spilling it on the floor and told me to just buy the expensive stuff rather than try to pair it like my tea master taught me.

Anyway, I figured we were both having a less than good day and us lower class have to stick together… er, I mean, we were forced to… since that was why we were…

You don't need to explain the sentiment. Given the circumstances I understand why you'd feel such a way. If anything I'm sorry that you two had to suffer through that.

Right, thank you your grace.

Anyway since that day the two of us have been as thick as thieves. Studying, training, and the like together. I'm pretty sure Olivia is way smarter than I could ever hope to be so I don't know why she insists I need to help her study but whatever. I enjoy spending time with her anyway.

Ehehehe~ Mister Leon, what are you saying in front of everyone else?

Rumors eventually spread and the two of us were kinda just stuck together. Even my other friends didn't hang out with me as often since I started to spend time with her. I guess it's because Olivia's a commoner. Honestly that's part of the reason I don't make too much of an effort to mend bridges.

Oh? Not fond of class based discrimination?

I grew up in a barony, the only difference between me and a commoner was that the royal family army came for taxes directly from us. Especially because I'm the bastard child of my father and his lover. I even slept in a barn or an old shed whenever the legal wife came to visit.

But I digress, eventually as Olivia and I spent time together it came time for us to join the rest of our year in the mid-year dungeon expedition. Due to my reputation the teachers offered to pay me to serve as the vanguard and cull the shadows a bit before the heirs would go through.

Well I was kind of mad at being forced to do that so I thought it'd be funny to just get rid of all of the shadows instead.

I tried to convince him not to.

You were very easily swayed when I mentioned the idea of finishing up early and going out to get crepes.

T-that's just because I skipped breakfast!

Uh-huh. Anyway, Olivia and I cleared out the floors and basically got to the waiting area at the same time as the teachers who were going to wait for us there.

Impressive, you two must have quite the power in your personas.

Something like that. We were both also used to actually fighting shadows at that point, since when we trained I'd sometimes take Olivia to the outskirts of the academy to fight smaller ones.

Anyway, everyone showed up eventually. Most of them seemed glad to just get a free grade for walking three floors. But I noticed that not everyone came back.

…You are referring to me and my followers.

Yup. From what I heard from your followers as they ran up to me and Olivia, you wanted to prove yourself or something. Since your confrontation with the Prince and his new beau went a bit sour you were a bit more enraged than normal.

Why did the followers run up to you, and without Angelica no less.

Well that went into what had happened. See, do you know what happens if you take too long on a dungeon floor.

…No…

Right. The reaper had appeared. Angelica had apparently done her best to fend it off so her followers could run away. But if you ask me those followers just saw a chance to leave someone behind and took it.

Either way, Olivia and I immediately jumped into action. I could tell that the reaper was already using its fire break spell, likely trying to get rid of Angelica's resistance to it. I jumped in when it used mind charge and hit it with a debilitate and then some quick attacks from my different personas.

Olivia had went over to help heal Angelica from what attacks she seemed to have taken at the time with some items I lent her since at the time she hadn't summoned her persona.

I have to admit, after clearing the floors I was low on SP, so when the Reaper started to use spirit drain on me I felt really woozy.

Once Angelica felt better Olivia yelled for us to leave but the reaper apparently could hear that and fired up another concentrate, then using Megidolaon in their direction.

I jumped in its direction.

…How are you still standing?

Well that's thanks to Olivia. See things were woozy for me at the time, kind of like getting caught in the explosion of artillery.

Ah, like when our knights say they can't hear anything but the blood rushing past their ears?

Right. So, as you know I have to use the evoker to summon my persona. Olivia has one now but didn't back then. She had the potential to manifest a weapon according to her old tutor but it never came forth. Instead, when I was hit with the Reaper's strongest attack and barely standing, Olivia had taken the evoker from me and summoned her persona.

It was amazing actually, to see Jeanne appear and then immediately heal me up.

Surely you aren't about to claim that you defeated the reaper?

Oh no, but with a combined summoning I performed by having Olivia and my heads side by side when I shot the evoker next, we were able to make it go flying in the other direction so we'd have just enough time to get to safety.

Strange, why don't I recall this?

Well, you must've been pretty banged up by the thing considering it took us 3 minutes to find you. Either you had a concussion or just didn't register that you survived the encounter.

—Vs. Julius—

​

There's also to consider that I and Olivia had actually beat the reaper with a few well timed Theurugy's and Izanagi-no-Okami's Myriad truths, but I don't want to explain that, so I won't admit to it.

There's also the fact that I thought I was going to die and threw Olivia my evoker in the hopes she'd get the message to run away.

"Gilbert?" asked Angelica's papa. To which his son shook his head.

"I can't detect any lies." Said Gilbert.

I couldn't help but question this, "I'm guessing you have a navi-type persona?"

"Navi? Oh, short for navigation. Well, in essence yes. It's not good at scanning dungeon floors, but does allow me to read my opponents somewhat. I can tell you're not lying Sir Bartfort." Said Gilbert. He must have a persona like Mitsuru or Morgana then, one with navi abilities but better suited to combat.

Angelica's father bows his head and makes me nervous. Olivia even separates from me.

"To think you'd save my daughters life twice… I can't begin to thank you enough. I… can't ever do this in public, but I hope that you can understand my sincerity." Said Angelica's father.

"Father…" whispered Angelica before she bowed too. "Thank you two… really, thank you."

"Don't sweat it. Just doing what a persona user should and save humanity from the shadows." I said.

Angelica's father got up and chuckled. "heh, if only there were more nobility like you."

I smiled back at him.

"Would the contestants make their way for the final duel?!"

Angelica's father nodded his head, "I suppose that's your cue. Do well boy, I can't imagine that the prince would give you trouble when the reaper couldn't."

"One issue," I noted, "I don't have any good clothes. Or my evoker."

Everyone fell silent. But Olivia immediately lit up and opened her bag.

"Here, Miss Elizabeth said to give this to you. And to tell you to wear it proudly." Olivia told me. I took the clothes from her hand. It looked sort of like Minato's outfit from Persona 3, but the armband was changed to a shoulder armor thing. There was also a less school uniform and more a battle uniform vibe to it.

But of course, the brand "S.E.E.S." was still proudly sitting upon it.

"And here, you gave me this anyway, so it's only right you can use it when you need it." Said Olivia as she handed me her evoker.

I winced a bit. "But what if-"

Because I glanced in their directions Angelica's family nodded.

"We swear we shall protect your lover as though she were one of our own." Said Angelica's father. Okay cool, me and Olivia aren't like that though.

"Mister Leon… go kick his butt!" cheered Olivia.

Angelica shook her head but chuckled softly, "Although I do still harbor affection for Julius… I can't say I don't want to see him get a little roughed up right now… just promise you won't kill him please."

I nodded, not wanting to drag this on any longer.

From there they filed out and I got ready for my next match. I walked out to booing in my direction but cheering for Julius. Mainly because all of them were going to lose the bets they made. Funnily enough, I saw some of my old male friends with slips signifying they bet on me.

Julius looked every bit as Regal as someone befitting his station would be. However, in reality I think the white clothes he wore had the sole purpose of blinding the enemy because damn I can't look in his direction for too long.

Julius Rapha Holfort was the supposed 'canon' route. There was a harem ending too, but lore wise it didn't make sense. Also, the harem endings were never canon in the games or their anime's either, unless it was for a quick gag.

He was a prince that hated being a prince. He looked like a noble and the part of a hero but the fact is that he has to be forced to be one, otherwise he just sucks as a person. It's somewhat fitting that his shadow would be Eligor. Someone who looks the part of a noble and elegant knight but is in fact one of the 72 demons of the Goetia.

"Yo, prince. You ready to have the gold spoon in your mouth shoved down your throat when I kick your teeth in?" I asked in a somewhat jokingly matter.

Julius grits his teeth but says nothing.

"Guess you won't fall to any goading. So how's about you answer a question I have?" I asked.

Julius still looked at me warily but humored it, "If I have an answer."

"Why'd you never try running away? Or going on an adventure?" I asked.

Julius seemed stunned. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged, "As the crown prince you surely can recognize the amount of sway your words have. The only person who could stop you from getting what you wanted would be your parents. Everyone else would just have to follow your orders, even if they didn't want to. I shouldn't have to tell you this since you used that to issue the gag order on the school at the start, right?"

"Gag order?"

"When you said that everyone should treat each other as equals—didn't work by the way—and that everything that happens in the academy is our business."

"I just didn't want our fellow students reporting every little thing to their families."

"Okay, so what about the first thing, why didn't you run away?"

"Why would I do that?"

"If you hate being the prince, then just stop being part of the royal family. That's why you hate Angelica, right? Because she represents your future as the king? Ignoring her feelings, y'know like you have been, if you don't want to be king, then just stop."

"It's not that easy."

"Sure it is, everyone knows how many bastard kids your dad sired, just find one of them and have them take your spot. I'm sure there's probably tons who'd kill to be in your position."

"And run this kingdom into the ground."

"And you'd do better?"

"I'll have you know that my tutors say I have a bright future."

"Tutors that are scared of saying anything wrong you mean?"

Julius grit his teeth again.

The referee who was silent out of nervousness decided to signal that we could begin to fight with our swords this time.

Julius immediately throws his sword to the ground and summons his shadow. "Persona! Hit the bastard hard! Go for cruel attack!"

Eligor immediately tries to run me down but I summon Magatsu-Izanagi again. He manages to clash blades with Eligor and then directs him away, allowing me to go up to Julius who draws a second blade to meet me. We exchange blows but he's clearly not used to someone trying to hurt him.

Which is funny considering his supposed friend Chris's whole schtick is being good with a sword. You'd think they would've sparred at some point.

I get Julius' blade to hit the ground and then let go with one hand so I can punch him in the face. He takes it like a champ and gets his sword loose, doing his best to go on the offensive. His other blade manifests in his hand again so he throws it at me, I swipe at it and then summon Raoul. I then use Phantom Show to knock out Eligor. Fun thing about Persona's falling asleep, they go back to their weapons and slow down the wielder.

"No!" shouts Julius before I knock out the blade from his hand when it goes back. "Damn it, my persona!"

"Want to stall by talking a bit more?" I taunted.

Julius not having a better option simply stared at me while we circled around one another.

"Your highness, are you even sure you love Marie?" I asked.

"Of course I do!"

"And how's that different from your feelings for Angelica?"

"…What's your aim?"

"I mean, I just couldn't help but notice that you five don't ever seem to talk about her like a person…"

"Marie or Angelica?"

"Both."

Julius charged at me but I just side stepped him and hit his back with my foot.

"I'm serious, do you even know what Marie's hiding behind that persona of hers?"

"Behind… her persona? Do you mean the bombs that Alice commandeers?"

I shake my head, "I mean what do you actually know about Marie? How do you know your feelings aren't one sided?"

"Marie sees me for who I really am!" shouted Julius as he tried to charge at me again while swinging both swords. "Of course she loves me! I won't let anyone take her away from me!"

"I mean sure, she sees your shadow." I said, then I took my evoker and pointed it at Julius' head. "But what about your actual persona?"

With the sound of crashing glass, the blade in Julius' hand that would control his shadow disappears and behind him what looks like a knight mixed with a sentai ranger on a motorcycle emerges. But rather than acting normally he begins to thrash around.

"GAAAAAAHHHHH!?!?" Julius clutches his head and screams in pain.

I guess I should thought this through.

Julius' persona then starts doing donuts in the arena while setting things on fire.

Shitshitshitshitshit

You always do this! You always think you know everything but just mess things up for everyone! Stupid, stupid, stupid

"Leon you dumbass! You better fix this right now or I'm telling mom!"

I look up and see Jenna in the crowd. Miauler is with her, hoisting her on his shoulders so I can see her clearly.

I can't help but laugh at the absurdity of everything.

"Okay, just gotta fix this before it gets any worse." I mutter.

I summon Messiah this time and have him use Salvation, Julius stops screaming but his persona is still running wild. Suddenly it stops doing donuts only to quickly fire some Agidyne's in my direction. I dodge most of them but have to tank some of the debris they throw my way.

I summon regular Izanagi this time.

"Cross-slash!"

Julius' persona has to guard and nearly is knocked of the motorcycle but manages to fend it off.

"Bartfort!" Julius shouts and runs up to me with his blade again.

"Hey man! How's it feel to have your actual persona now?" I asked as I flinched with every blow.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but no matter the case I'll use whatever power I have at my disposal to stop anything in me and Marie's way!" Julius' eyes still glowed yellow and he started to go for more lethal strikes.

I tried to use my evoker only to have something grab it.

I look back to see that Eligor was still in play. He looked as though he was melting, but his arm was solid enough that I couldn't break free.

"Persona! Use Agidyne on Bartfort!" commanded Julius.

Given Magatsu-Izanagi was still busy with Julius' persona I couldn't stop the new shots from hitting me. I got up only to immediately see the persona no longer distracted by mine since I was damaged and dismissed him as a result. Julius' persona performed a hit and run strike which sent me sliding towards Eligor. Eligor then grabbed me by my neck and started to strangle me.

Worse, I felt as though I was starting to melt into whatever Eligor was now. Not like seriously, but more like I was falling into quicksand.

Is this it?

Am I really so useless without my personas?

Since Jilk ruined my outfit I lost my items too.

It's just me.

I can't get Eligor to let go.

Even if I do Julius' persona, that only exists thanks to my cockiness, is waiting for me.

Do you regret it?

​

What?

You signed the contract. You must take responsibility for your actions.

​

Are you just going to run from that?

​

Are you going to let your mistakes rule the world?

​

Are you going to abandon those you care about?

​

If so, you may as well have killed them all yourself.

​

No way in hell I'd do something like that! I'm not going to let anyone hurt them!

Then you know what you must do.

​

You have severed our bond once before, back when I was incomplete.

​

But now vow to me…

​

I am thou… Thou art I…

​

Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice!

​

Call upon my name and release your rage in full power

​

Our power!

​

I feel a flame coat my body and suddenly am able to breathe.

I take a look around and see that I'm surrounded by smoke.

I touch my face.

There's a mask.

It belongs more in a masquerade than it does a battlefield.

I should take it off.

…

It hurts.

It hurts taking it off but still I feel it.

I feel alive.

I feel free.

"Lea! Let's take back everything they've taken from us!" I shout as I find myself without a mask but now accompanied by my persona. The persona I got rid of. But now he's seemingly gone through a second awakening. His cape now with a distinct angel feather aspect to it rather than the tattered cloak from before.

The smoke fades thanks to pressure from Lea's summoning.

I see Julius.

He sees me.

I lift my blade above my head and feel Lea channel his power into it.

I hear everyone's voices.

"Leon" called out Mom.

"Leon" called out Dad.

"Leon" called out Nicks.

"Dumb brother!" called out Jenna.

"Leon-nii" called out Finley.

"Leo-nii" called out Collin.

"Brother" called out Rutart.

"Little Brother." Called out Merce.

"Brat." Called out Zola.

"Leon" called out Elizabeth.

"Master." Called out Luxion.

"Mr. Barfort" called out my tea master.

"Bartfort." Called out Angelica.

Finally, I hear Olivia's voice. "Mister Leon… kick his butt!"

I slam down my sword in tandem with Lea and force what was a giant laser that hit the clouds to cut the arena in half in the direction of Julius. I make sure to angle it a little so it doesn't hit him dead on, but it does basically incinerate his persona and what was left of Eligor.

Julius is also sent flying by the huge explosion the sword beam causes.

Smoke covers the arena one more time.

But this time, I'm standing while Julius lays unconscious.

I raise a hand in victory.

"J-J-J-Julius Rapha Holfort is unable to battle! The winner is Leon Fou Bartfort!!!!!!!"

I then see everything start to turn black.

—Epilogue—

​

Although there was much to consider with the fall out of the duel, Olivia and Angelica only had a few things to consider. The boys they loved.

Angelica went to go check on Julius. Olivia went to check on Leon.

Leon had just enough consciousness to follow Olivia as she led him to her dorm room. Likely the safest place she could take him in the moment. He fell asleep right away, leaving Olivia to sit with her feelings.

She wasn't sure how to feel.

But…

*chu*

Olivia felt that even if Leon just wanted revenge on the dragon, he still deserved a hero's reward. But perhaps he'd be awake next time.