History Literature / TrappedInADatingSimTheWorldOfOtomeGamesIsToughForMobs

''The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs'' (also known as ''[[PortmanteauSeriesNickname Mobuseka]]'' for convenience) is a {{Shounen}} [[TrappedInAnotherWorld Isekai]] LightNovel series (and Manga adaptation) written by Creator/YomuMishima, that follows a Japanese salaryman who died of exhaustion after being blackmailed into playing an OtomeGame for two days straight by his bratty little sister. Reborn as Leon Fou Bartfort, a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mob_(video_games) mob]] (background NonPlayerCharacter) from a low-ranking noble family, he regains his memories at age five and decides to live a simple life away from the game's plot.

Creator/SevenSeasEntertainment has licensed the novels, and manga adaptation under the title ''Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs''. They would later bring ''That Otome Games is a Tough World for Us'' under the title ''Literature/TrappedInADatingSimOtomeGamesAreToughForUsToo'' in 2024.

The [[https://ncode.syosetu.com/novelview/infotop/ncode/n3191eh/ original web novel]] can be read in Japanese at Shousetsuka ni Narou.

As [[BreakoutCharacter the result]] of a fan poll, the novel's author created a spinoff within the pages of the later novels with six parts and counting: Marie Route Side Story. A WhatIf tale of if Leon had interrupted Marie's plans before they began. In this AlternateTimeline, the two focus on improving their otome game world lives together, leaving their main story LoveInterests to their own devices, which ends up having [[DarkerAndEdgier dark repercussions]]. This spinoff would later get its own official novel with expanded content, titled ''Literature/TrappedInADatingSimOtomeGamesAreToughForUsToo'', with the first published volume being released on December 28, 2022 in Japan.

Creator/SevenSeasEntertainment has licensed the novels, and manga adaptation under the title ''Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs''. ''That Otome Games is a Tough World for Us'' is set to be localized as ''Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of That Otome Game is Tough for Us''.

As [[BreakoutCharacter the result]] of a fan poll, the novel's author created a spinoff within the pages of the later novels with six parts and counting: Marie Route Side Story. A WhatIf tale of if Leon had interrupted Marie's plans before they began. In this AlternateTimeline, the two focus on improving their otome game world lives together, leaving their main story LoveInterests to their own devices, which ends up having [[DarkerAndEdgier dark repercussions]]. This spinoff would later get its own official novel with expanded content, titled ''Literature/TrappedInADatingSimTheWorldOfThatOtomeGameIsToughForUs'', with the first published volume being released on December 28, 2022 in Japan.

Dream Side Story tropes belong in its sections below the main one. ''Marie Route''/''The World of That Otome Game is Tough for Us'' tropes will be found on its own [[Literature/TrappedInADatingSimTheWorldOfThatOtomeGameIsToughForUs page]].

''The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs'' (also known as ''[[PortmanteauSeriesNickname Mobuseka]]'' for convenience) is a {{Shounen}} [[TrappedInAnotherWorld Isekai]] LightNovel series (and Manga adaptation), that follows a Japanese salaryman who died of exhaustion after being blackmailed into playing an OtomeGame for two days straight by his bratty little sister. Reborn as Leon Fou Bartfort, a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mob_(video_games) mob]] (background NonPlayerCharacter) from a low-ranking noble family, he regains his memories at age five and decides to live a simple life away from the game's plot.

As [[BreakoutCharacter the result]] of a fan poll, the novel's author created a spinoff within the pages of the later novels with six parts and counting: Marie Route Side Story. A WhatIf tale of if Leon had interrupted Marie's plans before they began. In this AlternateTimeline, the two focus on improving their otome game world lives together, leaving their main story LoveInterests to their own devices, which ends up having [[DarkerAndEdgier dark repercussions]]. This spinoff would later get its own official novel with expanded content, titled ''That Otome Games is a Tough World for Us'', with the first published volume being released on December 28, 2022 in Japan.

Creator/SevenSeasEntertainment has licensed the novels, and manga adaptation under the title ''Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs''.

Marie Route and Dream side story tropes belong in their sections below the main one.

!! Marie Route provides examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]

Spoilers for the first three Light Novels will be unmarked below.

[[folder:Marie Route A-F]]
* ActionDad: In addition to Balcus having a PapaWolf moment on the battlefield, Angelica’s father also gets in on the action launching a BoardingParty during a BigBadassBattleSequence. Duke Redgrave did earn renown as an adventurer in his youth.
* AdaptationalExpansion: The Light Novel release of the Marie route has additional scenes which manage to give the story a much darker tone compared to the Web Novel:
** The Light Novel shows what are the final moments and thoughts of Leon and Marie in their past life.
** It also showed the hardships of Marie before she was found by Leon and its revealed that she was still severely traumatized by the abuse that caused her death.
** Olivia's point of view is also shown here especially about her suffering and helplessness under the 5 Capture Targets.
* AerithAndBob: ConversedTrope. Leon and Marie are surprised to find that the Saintess that Olivia is descended from, has the simple name of Anne.
* AgentProvocateur: This story provides an excellent example: [[spoiler: The Saintess, after possessing Olivia, does everything she can to manipulate the dateable cast into angering every noble in the Kingdom against the Holfort Dynasty and destroy the faction supporting Julius. Meanwhile, she puts GlorySeeker noble teens into an UriahGambit meat grinder, which Julius also takes responsibility for. This has the ultimate goal of the Kingdom being completely torn apart by CivilWar.]]
* AirstrikeImpossible: Justified in the sixth part. It’s actually Leon, Arroganz’ A.I., and a crew of smaller A.I.s that work together to make it possible. Arroganz even got a LockAndLoadMontage to prepare for it. [[spoiler: It’s Leon breaching, and destroying the heart of the corrupted WorldTree that destroyed Alzer, while surviving TheSwarm.]]
* AlasPoorVillain:
** The death of [[spoiler: The Black Knight at the hands of Leon is mourned by Fanoss Dynasty loyalists, and Hertrude hates Leon over it.]]
** Leon feels sympathy for the unfortunate situation of his BastardBastard "brother" Rutart, who's a laughing stock and beholden to his mother Zola.
* AlphaBitch: The noblewoman who shuts up the crying Yulia, which [[CuteBruiser gets her pulverized]] by Marie. She has multiple followers and was proposed to by multiple men, not that she cares about them.
* AltarDiplomacy: Leon forms an alliance with House Roseblade by [[ArrangedMarriage setting up]] his older brother Nicks with the [[BunnyEarsLAwyer BDSM themed Dorothea]], in order to both [[spoiler: take down House Lafan and House Offrey, and to help Nicks [[HypercompetentSidekick manage]] the former Offrey territory, which he hasn't been educated properly to rule.]] It winds up being one of Leon's [[GondorCallsForAid best decisions]], although [[TheChewToy Nicks might disagree.]]
** In the sixth part, [[spoiler: Marquess Frampton tries to set up Princess Hertrude with a member of his faction to end the war with the Principality and make her his puppet ruler. But The Saintess has Frampton and Hertrude killed before that could happen.]]
* AmazonBrigade: There are few female Knights in the kingdom, but they are gathered together to serve as Olivia’s guard after she is declared saint. They’re noted to be of substandard quality, but noblemen in the Kingdom HadToBeSharp while the women didn't.
* AnAesop: The first two parts have ''both'' Leon and Marie learning that, [[TrueBeautyIsOnTheInside partners shouldn't be chosen based on looks.]]
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Leon’s sarcasm and tormenting of Nicks for his own amusement, which is a RunningGag.
* AngerBornOfWorry: In the sixth part, both Marie and Balcus show some of this for Leon, due to his recent reckless actions.
* AngerMontage:
** Angelica wrecks her cabin in anger at Leon ThrowingTheFight for her duel challenge.
** Julius does this in frustration about The Saintess' sudden coldness towards him and [[spoiler: [[VillainousCrush obsession with Leon]].]]
* ApocalypseHow: [[spoiler: The Alzer Republic gets destroyed in a Type 0, [[DeathFromAbove bombarded]] by Ideal and then savaged by TheSwarm from the corrupted WorldTree. There are too few refugees to rebuild, and Leon takes them home with him.]]
* AppearanceAngst: Marie suffers from this a lot thanks to Leon, even asking Luxion to give her plastic surgery, which he refuses. She was [[IWasQuiteTheLooker confident in her past-life body.]]
* AppropriatedAppellation: Leon gets labeled ''The Upstart'' by bullies, but adopts it in pride.
* AscendedExtra:
** Happens to Leon’s older brother Nicks who was originally mostly just MrExposition. Elements of his treatment here [[RecursiveAdaptation got adapted]] into the main story in the eighth volume.
** Zola’s BastardBastard son Rutart, went from only appearing in one scene in volume 3, to having FirstPersonPerspective scenes here, revolving around his SiblingRivalry with Nicks.
* AuraVision: Due to having this this, Kyle is able to see [[spoiler: that something about Olivia changed, after she was [[DemonicPossession possessed by the First Saintess' spirit.]] However, she placates him. After she absorbs the Scepter’s spirit he realizes, but she’s prepared and holds his mother hostage.]]
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Despite Leon’s older brother Nicks being constantly angry at him for arranging his marriage to the dominatrix-themed Dorothea, he’ll still help Leon when the chips are down.
* TheBabyOfTheBunch: Luxion uplifts Leon’s mech Arroganz into an A.I., who is introduced playing with crates like toy blocks, and bumping into things, prompting Marie to train and raise him. Arroganz is LiteralMinded, and Leon grimaces more than once from accidentally teaching him things he shouldn't.
* BattleDiscretionShot: [[spoiler: The conquest of house Lafan and house Offrey's territories [[MisfitMobilizationMoment by Leon's ragtag coalition]]. There was enough action for Julius to desire [[CoolAirship Partner]] as his flagship.]]
* BelligerentSexualTension: This is bread and butter between Leon and Marie. They both enjoy teasing one-another, and a RelationshipUpgrade doesn’t get in the way of it.
* BenevolentConspiracy: [[spoiler: Both Master and Duke Redgrave seem to be running these against Julius and The Saintess, although it’s not yet clear if the two’s plans align.]]
* BigBadassBattleSequence: The Principality of Fanoss’ invasion of the Kingdom plays as a huge EpicShipOnShipAction, which in a case of TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive, Leon and Marie participate in to keep Leon's family, who’ve been levied for the battle, safe.
* BigBrotherAttraction: JustifiedTrope and PlayedWith: Marie gradually falls for Leon after reincarnating, not realizing he was her previous life brother. [[spoiler: During a HeroicBSOD, she realizes that her brother was the only person among her family and partners that truly cared for her in her past life. Marie then realizes that Leon could be said past life brother, and after [[RashomonPlot a mishmash of biased recounting of their past lives]], they both agree they weren't previously related.]]
* BigGood: Instead of Mylene and Duke Redgrave serving as this, in Marie Route, it’s Leon’s tea ceremony teacher, Master. He has [[IHaveMyWays his ways]], and his MysteriousPast.
* BlastingItOutOfTheirHands: This is done by Leon and allies, to [[spoiler: a group of private soldiers assigned to [[HeKnowsTooMuch silence]] a [[FrameUp framed up Clarice]] permanently, in hopes of taking them alive. [[CyanidePill They had other plans]].]]
* BlingOfWar: Leon’s BastardBastard fake brother Rutart wears these because he’s compensating for being overshadowed by both of his younger "brothers". His peers and subordinates just snicker at him.
* CListFodder: {{Subverted}} in part six: [[spoiler: Every single named character from the Alzer Republic in the main story except Lelia dies. No matter how major. And that’s not the end of it.]]
* CallingTheOldManOut: In the second part, [[spoiler: Marie tries to confront her father and family like this for supporting SkyPirates, starting by planning to punch her father, who’d used her as a bargaining chip, but her bridegroom to be interrupts before she can by taking her hostage.]]
* TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: Leon and Marie stay out of the game plot as much as possible, focusing on improving their own and each-other's lives. Despite their best efforts, [[ForWantOfANail their presence has cascading effects on the world]]. The fact that they're both nobles, subject to things like ArrangedMarriage, and their families being called to war by the Kingdom, can't be avoided.
* CassandraTruth;
** [[spoiler: Subverted with Hertrauda’s pleading to Hertrude. They’re only pretending to argue, to keep their puppet masters out of the loop.]]
** Angelica is this, regarding The Saintess.
* CerebusRetcon: Olivia retains her in-game role as the main heroine but she hates it. She only wants to focus on her studies, but the attention she receives from the LoveInterests takes up all her time and leads more bullying on top of the prejudice she already faces as a commoner. And as it turns out, many of her questionable decisions in the game [[spoiler: were done on purpose by the vengeful Saintess possessing her.]]
* TheChewToy: Leon's elder brother Nicks is made into this as an AscendedExtra, constantly complaining about, and being teased over, his BDSM themed marriage to [[BunnyEarsLawyer Dorothea Roseblade]].
* {{Cliffhanger}}: The sixth part ends in one: [[spoiler: Leon going into an inferno to calm a rampaging Angelica alongside the SpiritAdvisor version of Anne, while Marie has [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling a bad feeling]] like those she and Leon felt during horrible events in the past.]]
* ChangeTheUncomfortableSubject: Marie demonstrates a mastery of smoothly doing this, with Leon. She might look like a ClingyJealousGirl otherwise.
* ChildSoldiers: DiscussedTrope. Leon remembers from his past life education why it's such a bad idea, but ignorance, arrogance, and hunger for status drive many of their classmates to join the [[RedShirtArmy volunteer army]]. [[spoiler: They end up being CannonFodder.]]
* ChekhovsGun: In Volume 10 of the main story, Angelica stumbled a diary on an ancient ship with the name already faded, written on the page is the owner's joy of obtaining the items needed to make someone hers. [[spoiler: It foreshadows the eventual appearance of Saintess Mary, the sister of Saintess Anne who happens to be [[{{Yandere}} crazily in love]] with Lea too.]]
* CivilWar: [[spoiler: Both Holfort Kingdom and the Principality of Fanoss break into civil war. Holfort breaks into one after Leon rescuing Princess Hertrude lights the kindling The Saintess [[AgentProvocateur set up]], starting with Julius sending Rutart to destroy Leon's home island, and Leon's allies retaliating. The Principality breaks into war due to the WarHawk faction trying to scapegoat their lost war with the kingdom on the Fanoss Dynasty, selling it as a revolution.]]
* CockFight: Due to Marie dragging [[TheShutIn various shut-in girls]] out of their dorm, to help Leon's fellow poor nobles, due to their desirability compared to the typical RichBitch RoyalBrat girls of the academy. Said young nobles, often get into scuffles and duels over merely getting the chance to talk to these girls. That is because, in their [[LadyLand female-dominated]] society, leaving the Academy without a wife would leave them in dire straits.
* CultureClash: Holfort’s MartyrdomCulture eventually infuriates Marie past her RageBreakingPoint.
* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:After Julius arranges for Leon to [[ThrowTheFight throw their duel]] that timeline for Angelica, [[ILied Julius goes back on his word]], leading to Leon doing this after officially losing. Leon [[GrievousHarmWithABody crushes Brad's mech using Greg's]], [[FinishingStomp stomps Chris' mech to pieces]], [[WhatADrag drags Jilk along the arena wall at high velocity]], and gives a terrified Julius a MetronomicManMashing.]]
** The sixth part has multiple:
*** [[spoiler: Ideal's assault on the Alzer Republic was an apocalyptic one-sided massacre.]]
*** [[spoiler: Leon crushing Garrett’s WarHawk faction in the Principality’s CivilWar with a MacrossMissileMassacre.]]
*** [[spoiler: Rutart's attempt to burn down Leon's father's island into a sea of flame ends up as this, when his task force arranged by Julius, is ambushed by Nicks and Gilbert with their forces.]]
* CyanidePill: Used by [[spoiler: Frampton's private soldiers to avoid interrogation, after failing [[HeKnowsTooMuch to silence Clarice]], and having their [[BlastingItOutofTheirHands guns blasted out of their hands]].]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: Very much so compared to the main timeline. Doubles as a BadFuture.
* DeathByIrony: [[spoiler: Marquess Frampton, in the main timeline, conspired with Duke Redgrave’s vassals to pin the planned execution of 1/3 of the academy’s children during the field trip on him, by making sure Angelica was the only survivor. In Marie Route, Frampton’s own vassals conspire against him and cause his death.]]
* DeclarationOfProtection: [[spoiler: Leon, at the LastRequest of Hertrude, swears to protect her little sister Princess Hertrauda, which Marie can’t believe.]]
* DefiedTrope: The PointOfDivergence is caused by Leon defying Marie’s attempts at pulling a HijackedDestiny and HostileShowTakeover against Olivia. Via AMatchMadeInStockholm.
* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler: It turns out, each of the Holy Relics, houses a part of the First Saintess' soul. She can only possess a descendant of her original body, but has been messing with people's minds for centuries, leading to the items being scattered. She fails to possess Marie from the necklace, because of Marie's closed heart. Then, from the bracelet, succeeds in possessing Olivia, who was more open-hearted and had built up resentment against the five princes who wouldn't leave her alone, who happen to be the descendants of the adventurers the Saint wants revenge against. The Saint proceeds to become the BigBad, [[PlayingBothSides manipulating everyone against each-other]] to destroy the Kingdom.]]
* DesignatedParents: Leon and [[TeamMom especially Marie]], for their combined group of friends, but especially for the uplifted Arroganz, who Leon worries about teaching the wrong things, and whom Marie teaches and is protective of, [[LikeASonToMe outright calling him her child.]]
* DesolationShot: In the sixth part, [[spoiler: we’re shown the burnt and ravaged remains of the Alzer Republic.]]
* {{Determinator}}: Clarice’s followers, who ignored injuries while fighting due to their UndyingLoyalty. Then of course, there’s still The Black Knight.
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: [[spoiler: Marie to the VengefulGhost who tried to possess her, who is a soul fragment of the most powerful magician in the Kingdom’s history. She continues the insults after that unconscious conversation.]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: The five idiots expelling anyone no matter their level of involvement in Olivia’s bullying, [[spoiler: after the Saintess possessed Olivia pushes them to compete with one another for her affection doing this.]] Being expelled from the nation’s only education institution means their life as nobles is over.
* DramaticIrony:
** This happens when the perspective shifts from Leon and Marie to Olivia, which first happens after Leon suspects that she’s been living it up all the while he’s struggling. Olivia’s actual circumstances resemble a horror film.
** The enthusiasm Julius and his volunteer army have, completely unaware that they’re fighting all for nothing.
* TheDreaded: The Black Knight makes his presence felt here even harsher than in the main story, [[EyeScream stabbing Leon in the eye.]]
** This also applies to Leon after his RoaringRampageOfRescue and increased by his dueling accomplishments. Particularly shown during the sixth part’s MookHorrorShow.
* DynamicEntry: How the Black Knight enters the battlefield, smashing straight through a kingdom airship.
* EmbarrassingNickname: After seeing her envy of Olivia being dubbed ''The Goddess of Victory'' by the PropagandaMachine, Leon dubs Marie ''The Goddess of Material Transport.''
* EmpireWithADarkSecret: It's revealed that, the five adventurers who founded the Kingdom with The Saintess, [[spoiler: were actually six. The sixth was [[SecretLegacy Liia Bartfort]], the Saintess' love, who got betrayed by the other five, and withdrew to a small countryside island. The Saintess left fragments of her soul as VengefulGhost inside the Holy Relics, waiting to possess her descendants and take revenge.]]
* EverybodysDeadDave: In the sixth part, [[spoiler: of all the Alzer Republic characters, everyone dies except for Lelia.]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: The reaction Leon gets from his friends and family to his interactions with Marie. This causes Leon to repeatedly state SheIsNotMyGirlfriend. Until their RelationshipUpgrade.
* EveryoneHasStandards: Despite all of their quirky antics, TheShutIn girls Marie befriended all pull Marie down to keep her from going on a rampage through the arena audience when Leon and Arroganz [[BerserkButton are called ugly.]]
* EvilCounterpart: The BigBad is this [[spoiler: for Marie in the main story. Both pretend to be TheCutie Olivia while manipulating the capture targets. Marie just wanted wealth and comfort, while Saintess Anne is a MisanthropeSupreme who wants to kill everyone but the target of her VillainousCrush, Leon.]]
* EvilLaugh: Julius and especially the Saintess do this.
* EvilPowerVacuum: Downplayed. [[spoiler: The death of Vandel allows Earl Garrett to seize control of the WarHawk faction within the Principality of Fanoss. Since Garrett doesn't share Vandel's affection for the Princesses, Garrett decides Hertrauda has outlived her usefulness and uses her as a scapegoat, starting a CivilWar.]]
* ExactWords: Leon notes that Angelica's fate after losing her duel with the protagonist's ReverseHarem in the Otome Game, was to be forced to marry ''an ugly noble from the countryside''. In the Marie Route timeline, that nobleman turns out to be none other than Leon himself, who's considered ugly after his [[DuelingScar face is scarred]]. He manages to talk it down to just keeping her safe while pretending to be in talks.
* FalseFlagOperation:
** [[spoiler: Frampton sends a black ops team, using tactics and weapons to disguise themselves as bandits, to [[HeKnowsTooMuch make sure Clarice can never prove]] her [[FrameUp innocence.]]]]
** It turns out that in the original Otome Game plot, Marquess Frampton hires a bunch of SkyPirates and other forces to launch a large number of uprisings across the Kingdom, as an excuse to tie down his own factions forces, leaving Duke Redgrave and Frampton's other political opponents [[UriahGambit to be crushed by the Principality's attack.]]
* FamedInStory: Leon’s fame, while beginning the same before the PointOfDivergence, is different here. Due to his public TranquilFury, he’s known as a feared and dangerous warlord and WildCard, as well as leader of his own political faction.
* FantasticallyIndifferent: Marie's first reaction to seeing a ghost is to laugh scornfully at, and mock it.
-->'''Marie''': ''"There are things even scarier than ghosts in this world. Reality is far more scary."''
* FixingTheGame: A group of three bully girls cheat playing cards against Olivia, having their Exclusive Servants block off her escape and threatening her family, to bankrupt her and drive her out of the Academy. Leon steps in and gives them ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine.
* FixFic: In a way, the Marie Route serves as this for what if Marie didn’t seduce the dateable cast, and what if she knew that her knowledge of the first dating sim was [[WrongGenreSavvy woefully insufficient.]]
** One could also say this for how the Fanoss Princesses are handled.
* ForcedToWatch: [[spoiler: The Black Knight brags that he'll force Leon to watch his father die, stabbing Balcus in front of him. Fortunately, Balcus barely holds on but is left in intensive care.]]
* ForWantOfANail. The Marie Route is built on this. Leon choosing to watch the first game event, stops Marie's seduction of the cast. But it also leads to new problems that make this story truly DarkerAndEdgier than the original.
** The Marie Route shows another part of the game's story that was prevented by Marie and Leon's actions in the main timeline: [[spoiler: The Redgraves would lead a group of the Kingdom's forces against the Principality, only to suffer a major loss. However, in the Marie Route, Leon gets involved because his father and brother were among the nobles called up to assist the Redgraves, resulting in the battle being a hard earned victory for the Kingdom.]]
** Marie and Leon's non-interference with the plot not only brought tragedy to the Holfort Kingdom but also [[spoiler: brought disaster on the Alzer Republic. As it turns out their interference with the plot of the second game is also beneficial as Lelia's and Ideal's schemes brought destruction on the place and killed every main cast of the Alzer Republic except for Lelia herself.]]
* FounderOfTheKingdom: It's revealed that [[EmpireWithADarkSecret the truth is]], [[spoiler: there was a sixth adventurer who helped found the Kingdom: [[SecretLegacy Liia Bartfort]], the love of The Saintess, who was betrayed by the five, and left to live a quiet life on a remote island. And the original saint remains, as a vengeful spirit, trapped in the holy artifacts, waiting to [[DemonicPossession possess one of her descendants]], and begin [[PlayingBothSides her revenge.]]]]
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Leon's duel in the main story turns out to be this in regards to the fates of Greg, Brad, Chris and Jilk.
** Greg's reason that he choses to use a mass production armor is that he finds AceCustom mechs too bothersome to maintain and he believed that [[WeakButSkilled he can make it up by his skill]]. [[spoiler: He met his death at the hands of Gilbert who happens to be similarly skilled but with a better armor. Gilbert even notes that if Greg had better armor they would have been evenly matched.]]
** Chris's CripplingOverspecialization of having no ranged weaponry [[spoiler: also caused his end when he faced Nicks who happens to be also a CombatPragmatist. It doesn't help that he declares himself that he is the sword saint also made Nicks to be wary of him. He was shot to death by the Rosenblade Army since Nicks isn't "stupid enough to face him head-on"]].
** Brad's BoisterousWeakling, flair of dramatics and trying to one up his fellow targets [[spoiler: gave him undignified death when he tried to secure a passage way for Olivia to escape from, It only earned him mortal wounds as he exposed himself open in the battlefield.]]
** Jilk's M.O of being underhanded mirrors [[spoiler: his death when betrayed by the Saintess by blasting him inside his Armor when tried to save her, killing him instantly]]
* FrameUp: [[spoiler: Frampton tricks Clarice' followers into ambushing Julius without Clarice' knowledge, at the behest of The Saintess. Then, Frampton tries to have [[HeKnowsTooMuch her and the followers silenced]], but Leon saves them [[AlmightyJanitor with the help of Master]], hiding them on his island. Only for them to be discovered [[SiblingRivalry by Zola's son Rutart]].]]
* FreudianSlip: Leon has one of these, in his InnerMonologue no less, about giving his brother over to the Roseblades, or as Leon would put it, playing cupid.
* FreakOut: It turns out that the original version of Angelica ThrowingDownTheGauntlet was part of one of these.
* FriendsAreChosenFamilyArent: This is a major part of Marie’s character arc. Since her second-life family are neglectful at best, she carves out a place to belong by helping others and creating a [[TrueCompanions pseudo family]] to take their place.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Marie Route G-P]]
* GambitPileup: The Marie Route turns into this more and more as the parts go on. [[spoiler: There is [[TheWomanBehindTheMan the Saintess]], Julius and Jilk going behind The Saintess' back, Marquess Frampton and his faction, the Fanoss Dynasty and their loyalists, the Principality’s [[WarHawk War Party]], and finally Leon’s close allies.]]
* GameplayAndStoryIntegration: One of the more interesting aspects of the Marie Route, is how it sheds light on differences between the game and the main story:
** Why did the main character of the game, Olivia, need to dungeon crawl? [[spoiler: She needs to fund her extra expenditure in the form of Kyle who was forcibly gifted by Julius to her without considering how she will take care of him.]]
** Why does Olivia get more powerful as she gets the Holy Relics? [[spoiler: The first Saintess takes greater control of her body the more relics she gets.]]
** Kyle acts stoic and a bit cold in the game, while in the main story, Leon and Marie where taken aback with his rude and snarky way of talking? [[spoiler: He discovered that Olivia was not the same person and was blackmailed into serving her, forcing him to act like that, in contrast to his coming to trust Marie.]]
** Why the game is said to be NintendoHard while in the main story Leon was able to win battles himself with minimal losses? [[spoiler: The units that were deployed in the game where nothing more than young cocky nobles who thought that WarIsGlorious and did not consider the [[WarisHell consequences of the war itself]]; they only exist to be CannonFodder for Julius.]]
** It seems odd why in the original game, Luxion can be used by Olivia despite the former's FantasticRacism towards the New Humans. The reason Luxion was willing to serve a New Human was because [[spoiler: Olivia was possessed by a VengefulGhost MisanthropeSupreme Saintess Anne, who shared Luxion’s goal of annihilating the country.]]
** In the final battle in the capital, the white ship that was supposed to be used in the capital wasn't activated against the forces of the Bartford and Redgraves[[spoiler: Olivia or rather Saintess Anne didn't develop her relationship values with any of the targets because she was focused on Leon so she didn't even bother to even use it.]]
** In the main story, Leon is disgusted with Olivia's [[BitchinSheepsClothing manipulative scheming]] in the dating section that when meeting her personally, he was surprised how sincere she was: [[spoiler: He wasn't playing as Olivia; he was playing as the Saintess Anne who sought to avenge her beloved Liia after he was betrayed. Due to Marie stealing Olivia's role, it turned out to be a LifeSavingMisfortune for Olivia and the Holfort Kingdom as a whole.]]
* {{Gendercide}}: [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]]: [[spoiler: Julius' volunteer army of ChildSoldiers being CannonFodder, results in Holfort Academy looking like an all-girls-school except for the boys Leon kept safe, and the princes.]]
* GenderRarityValue: [[spoiler: A mild type 1 situation occurs balancing out the marriage situation in the Kingdom after most of the male noble students die in Julius’ volunteer army, leaving the girls competing to get men to call out to them, and expecting invitations to Daniel and Raymond’s tea parties despite them already being engaged.]]
* GildedCage: [[spoiler: Princess Hertrude is kept in a mansion like this after Duke Redgrave takes her captive, due to being royalty.]]
* GirlInTheTower: Angelica is imprisoned like this due to doubts about her sanity. [[spoiler: Doesn’t [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening hold her for long.]]]]
* AGlassOfChianti: The Saintess often holds a glass in her hand during her plotting scenes.
* GlorySeeker: The Beaudon brothers Alan and Allen. The former [[spoiler: dies as CannonFodder in Julius's volunteer army]], and the latter dies as a LeeroyJenkins at the beginning of the [[BigBadassBattleSequence fleet battle]] against The Principality.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Angelica gets these as part of her FreakOut TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening. It also symbolizes [[spoiler: her becoming Not SoDifferent from the VengefulGhost that tormented her in the first place, feeling betrayed by everyone around her. Said ghost has them as well.]]
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler: Louise, thinking that she’s been reunited with her dead brother and that he kept his promise to protect Alzer.]]
* GrievousHarmWithABody: [[spoiler: Leon does this using Arroganz when dueling on behalf of Angelica, after he finishes [[ThrowingTheFight throwing their official match]], defeating Brad by hitting him with Greg as part of a wider CurbStompBattle in revenge for Julius [[ILied breaking their agreement]].]]
* GrewASpine: Thanks to Leon and Marie's help, the poor male nobles stop [[ExtremeDoormat being afraid of]] the noble girls, in part because the two's actions gained many of them fiancee.
* HasAType: Marie not fitting Leon’s type is a recurring element. While Leon [[CharacterDevelopment develops past]] caring too much what his partner looks like, his continued attraction to Olivia furthers Marie’s AppearanceAngst and causes some arguments.
* HenPeckedHusband: Leon's brother [[TheChewToy Nicks]]' relationship with Dorothea Roseblade. Since her character is [[PropertyOfLove very overtly into BDSM]], there is clearly more going on behind closed doors.
* HeroicResolve: [[spoiler: The thought of The Black Knight killing Marie by sinking Partner, helps Leon’s resolve in killing him.]]
* HistoryRepeats: Leon collecting a RagtagBunchOfMisfits alliance is just like [[spoiler: what his ancestor Liia did to found the Kingdom. Both were helped by a girl of the same lineage (Anne and Marie), with WhiteMagic, who they bickered with.]]
* HoldingHands: It’s a repeated occurrence for Leon and Marie to do this after their arguments.
* HonestAdvisor: Like in the main story, despite her abrasiveness, Jenna provides pivotal advice to Leon. This time, about the obstacles to Leon marrying Marie.
** Master gets upgraded to being Leon’s full political advisor in this timeline, helping Leon manage his faction. Of course, due to Master being styled like a QuintessentialBritishGentleman, he’s polite in his forthright advice.
* HopeSpot: [[spoiler: Leon ThrowingTheFight in his duel for Angelica, only to mop the floor with the princes 1 on 5, serves to crush the last remaining hope in Angelica, after her hopes were raised just before he revealed the sham.]]
* HowWeGotHere: The sixth part starts like this, with Leon in a chaotic battlefield.
* HumanoidAbomination: [[spoiler: During Marie’s BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind, her hair turns into tentacles and her eyes shine. Even despite all of that, she [[CallOnMe still summons a representation of Leon]], to handle the intruder. Some things never change.]]
* HypercompetentSidekick: The feared and [[BunnyEarsLawyer BDSM themed]] House Roseblade, are this for the protagonists.
* IdenticalStranger: It's revealed that [[spoiler: Angelica is this for the first saintess, Anne. As well as, [[IdenticalGrandson more logically]], Leon is this for said saintess' love, Liia Bartfort. In both cases, they're described as similar personalities more so than in appearance.]]
* IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn: Nick’s InsultBackfire against Dorothea Roseblade, which makes her fall for him.
* ImpossiblyTackyClothes:
** Luxion’s suggestion for what Marie should wear in the second part.
** Jilk’s copy of The Masked Knight’s mask. Julius thinks it’s cool, probably because his dad designed it, him being the original Masked Knight.
* InformedAttribute: Dorothea Roseblade is called cold and sadistic by Leon, in what may be a bit of UnreliableNarrator. In contrast, later Dorothea [[spoiler: is shown crying and sympathetic, when hearing about Marie's rough childhood.]]
* InLoveWithYourCarnage: [[spoiler: The Saintess [[DemonicPossession possessed]] Olivia cannot contain her joy when Leon stops ThrowingTheFight in his duel with the five princes for Angie, and gives them a CurbStompBattle, due to Julius [[ILied breaking his word]].]]
* InstantlyProvenWrong:
** Leon thinking that the Roseblade sisters are angry from Nicks aggressiveness, is proven to actually be arousal.
** [[spoiler: Leon saying nobody would launch a family feud over the Bartfort estate to Clarice, right before Zola and Rutart show up to do just that.]]
* InsultBackfire:
** A girl bullying Olivia calls Leon [[RagsToRiches an upstart]], but he makes it into an AppropriatedAppellation.
** Nicks tries to foil his marriage interview with Dorothea Roseblade and her sister, by insulting her enough to make her cancel it. [[TheChewToy Unfortunately]] for Nicks, both sisters greatly [[IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn enjoy this]].
* {{Intangibility}}: Ghosts can freely fly through walls, which only makes Leon [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes more uncomfortable.]]
* InternalDeconstruction: The Marie Route deconstructs the series’ take on LadyLand, in showing that many of the noble boys in the kingdom are just as bad a RoyalBrat as the girls, introducing several as minor antagonists, while introducing several decent noble girls such as Yulia as Marie’s friends.
* InternalHomage: The scene where Leon and Marie escape the party, is a homage to the main series’ elven ruins scene where Marie also injured her foot in the dark. The scene [[{{Motifs}} also has echoes]] in the form of their romantic scenes involving night or the dark.
* InterruptedSuicide: [[spoiler: Olivia tries to strangle herself to end her [[AndIMustScream suffering]] from DemonicPossession, but fails to keep control long enough.]]
* InTheBlood: Noted for certain characters who share personalities with their ancestors:
** [[spoiler: Leon, being IdenticalGrandson to his ancestor Liia Bartfort, has almost the same personality. His [[LikeAnOldMarriedCouple interactions with Marie]], remind Anne's VengefulGhost of her own arguments with Liia, and Marie is Anne's descendant.]]
** [[spoiler: Angelica has similar appearance and personality to Anne, and she’s descended from Anne’s sister.]]
* ItemGet: Marie reacts like this when looting [[spoiler: The Principality’s second monster summoning flute.]]
* ItsAllAboutMe: The five capture targets pushing themselves onto Olivia, and being more interested in the affection they can get from her, rather than her own wellbeing, makes them each an example. But Julius and Jilk take the cake. Jilk with his treatment of Clarice and stated willingness to throw Julius under the bus to have Olivia for himself, and Julius with his not caring about anyone else whatsoever.
* LampshadeHanging:
** Leon and Marie being unable to remember enough details about their past life to confirm the other was their sibling is lampshaded as "seeming somehow deliberate".
** During the WeddingSmashers scene, events are explicitly compared to a TV drama.
* LargeHamAnnouncer: One is employed for this timeline's version of Angelica's duel event.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Leon’s suggestion to make Marie the TeamMascot, and sell merchandise of her. Marie is the character who ships the most tie-in merchandise.
* LeeroyJenkins: Allen Beaudon does this, by breaking formation and charging the Principality fleet, dying a senseless death in front of everyone. The main impact of this, besides lowering Kingdom morale, seems to be to undermine Duke Redgrave's authority, and reputation, as he was the commander of the fleet.
* LikeASonToMe: Marie sees the uplifted Arroganz like her child, him being TheBabyOfTheBunch, and her the TeamMom. This leads to Marie causing embarrassment cheering for him in front of the whole academy during a duel. Marie had to give up her daughter to her parents custody in her past-life.
* LikeFatherUnlikeSon: Arroganz’ A.I. is LiteralMinded, honorable, and reckless, unlike his creator Luxion, who’s a ServileSnarker, RoboticPsychopath, and overprotective of his creations.
* LockAndLoadMontage: Arroganz gets one preparing for an AirstrikeImpossible that Leon marvels at as TechnologyPorn, while Marie is less impressed by what’s happening to her [[LikeASonToMe good child]].
* LoveRuinsTheRealm: To a much greater extent than it did in the main story, with the dateable cast. The key differences being, the cast aren't disinherited, so have their full political power, and [[spoiler: the woman they love being possessed by a MisanthropeSupreme AgentProvocateur manipulating them to make the kingdom destroy itself.]]
* LovingBully: Leon shows shades of this with his teasing of Marie.
* LowCultureHighTech: The Marie Route goes into more depth with the clash between feudal values and high lethality of war in the setting, with Holfort Kingdom’s MartyrdomCulture, and the prevalence of a WarIsGlorious mindset among the nobility. The governing system also makes the Kingdom uniquely vulnerable to the BigBad’s manipulations.
* MagicPants: Averted in the sixth part. [[spoiler: When Angelica goes on a super powered RoaringRampageOfRevenge covered in flame, all of her clothing burns off.]]
* MassOhCrap: TheDreaded Black Knight appearing, causes Kingdom airships to crash into one another trying to get away from him.
* MartyrdomCulture: This kind of sentiment is one of the biggest differences in values between Holfort Kingdom and reincarnators. Many girls in the Academy happily celebrate WhileRomeBurns unconcerned about all the dead and wounded from the ongoing war, eventually crossing Marie's RageBreakingPoint.
* AMatchMadeInStockholm: This is the form of Leon and Marie’s MeetCute. Leon only kidnaps her long enough [[DefiedTrope to stop]] Marie [[HijackedDestiny from stealing]] Olivia’s event, before comforting her and buying her dinner.
* TheMatchmaker: Marie’s handling of TheShutIn girls from the Academy is a large-scale example. At least she gets paid for it (she only charges a token fee, when she could get away with charging an arm and a leg due to the boys desperation). She has to [[DysfunctionJunction put in a lot of work dealing with these girls quirks.]]
* TheMedic: This version of Marie seems on her way to becoming a doctor, skipping classes to heal kids wounded in war, and getting covered in blood helping refugees. Despite this, she still keeps all of her traits that separate her from healer stereotypes.
* MetronomicManMashing: [[spoiler: Leon does this using Arroganz, to a terrified Julius, after Julius [[ILied dishonored their arrangement]] for Leon [[ThrowingTheFight to throw their duel]].]]
* MisfitMobilizationMoment: [[spoiler: Leon gathers all the poor nobles who Marie has been helping find wives, the [[BunnyEarsLawyer eccentric House Roseblade]] (at the cost of [[ArrangedMarriage wedding off Nicks]]), and other allies. The goal being, to stop Marie from being [[NobilityMarriesForMoney sold off]], conquering involved Houses Lafan and Offrey in the process, [[WeddingSmashers crashing Marie's wedding]]. This confrontation is what cements Leon's political faction, which later forms most of his personal Volunteer Army.]]
* MookHorrorShow: In the sixth part, [[spoiler: Leon defeating Earl Garrett and the Principality’s WarHawk faction on behalf of Hertrauda, is presented like this.]]
* MoreDakka: The uplifted Arroganz equips himself with [[GatlingGood several chainguns]] to fight TheSwarm of monsters, and [[ThrowAwayGuns sheds them]] as he runs low on ammo. Handling so many guns at once pushed his processing power to its limit.
* MurderBySuicide: [[spoiler: The Saintess forces Princess Hertrude to drink poison in order to continue the war between Holfort and the Principality. Leon [[YouAreTooLate arrives too late]], and the poison was magic so Luxion can’t cure it.]]
* MurderTheHypotenuse: JustifiedTrope. [[spoiler: After Leon publicly beats the princes in a CurbStompBattle dueling them for Angie, Leon was discovered to have [[NotWhatItLooksLike embraced Olivia, who hushed it up]], and [[FrameUp they think]] that Leon is harboring someone who attacked them and Olivia. Thus, Julius and Jilk decide to murder Leon and crush his Household.]]
* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: Usually called a "bad premonition". Experienced by Leon and Marie several times when something is going on with Olivia.
* MysteriousProtector: The Masked Knight played this role, in a game scene that’s shown in the third part. The saintess worries that he’s a WildCard. Of course, he’s just King Roland, and Julius has to save his dad’s bacon from being arrested.
* NeckLift: Daniel does this to Raymond, after hearing about Raymond's success courting a noble girl, Daniel being the last [[ThoseTwoGuys of the three friends]] still single. Daniel later [[ThrowTheDogABone gets engaged too]].
* NobilityMarriesMoney: PlayedForDrama. [[spoiler: Between Marie's [[TheGamblingAddict gambling addicted]] ImpoverishedPatrician family who want to erase their debts, and the Offrey House, who are rich merchants who usurped their titles, and are in desperate need of noble blood to help their legitimacy. Marie [[ArrangedMarriage being forced into it]], gives her a HeroicBSOD, then launching Leon into a TranquilFury, and MisfitMobilizationMoment to conquer both Houses, [[WeddingSmashers crashing the wedding]].]]
* NotWhatItLooksLike: [[spoiler: When Leon visits Olivia's house, Olivia snaps out of her DemonicPossession to grab him and beg him to free her from it, only to collapse in Leon's arms just as the guards show up. The Saintess possessing Olivia [[RevealingCoverUp tries to hush it up]], making it look even worse, and contributing to Leon earning a [[MurderTheHypotenuse death sentence]] from Jilk and Julius.]]
* OfficialCouple: As the route’s name indicates, it's Leon and Marie.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: A lot of these happen, due to the route’s tighter focus and faster pacing than the main story. For instance, [[spoiler: Leon [[MisfitMobilizationMoment rallying his fellow poor nobles behind]] him to [[RoaringRampageOfRescue save Marie]], or [[FrontLineGeneral Duke Redgrave capturing]] Princess Hertrude.]]
* OffWithHisHead: Leon mentions in the fourth part, that there are some Holfort nobles who collect heads, comparing them to ancient samurai.
** [[spoiler: Julius beheading Marquess Frampton at The Saintess’ order, for trying to pull a YouHaveOutlivedYourusefullness on her.]]
* OhCrap: Leon, when the BlackKnight tears through [[CoolAirship Partner]]'s DeflectorShield.
-->'''Leon''': ''[[ThatOneBoss Official cheats are the worst, aren't they?]]''
* OneHitPolykill: The [[GatlingGood chaingun]] Arroganz uses kills multiple monsters from TheSwarm per hit, but since there are tens of thousands of them, Arroganz decides he needs MoreDakka via more chainguns.
* PaperDestructionOfAnger: The Saintess likes doing this. Kyle always has to pick it up and sort it.
* PassingTheTorch: [[spoiler: Leon’s father Balcus abdicates, and makes Leon dynastic head of the Bartfort Household.]]
* PassiveAggressiveKombat: After this is mostly one-way from Leon against Nicks, as part of their SiblingRivalry, the message Nicks has Deirdre give Leon shows that Nicks can hit back just the same. On Leon's part, he's even passive-aggressive in his InnerMonologue.
* PeerPressuredBully: Jilk instigates this on a large scale, to force students into Julius' Volunteer Army. It ends up [[spoiler: driving Leon to [[StartMyOwn create his own]], for his faction of poor nobles to escape both the bullying and the battlefield, by doing logistics missions.]]
* PimpedOutCar: The Beaudon brothers Alan and Allen have a luxury cruise airship equivalent to this they think can handle anything. Jilk turns down their offer to make it Julius’ flagship, and it’s blown to smithereens when Allen goes LeeroyJenkins using it.
* PlayingBothSides: We see that in the game's original plot, [[spoiler: Frampton, with the aid of [[DemonicPossession The Saintess possessed Olivia]], was to put all of his political rivals, mainly Duke Redgrave and other supporters of Julius' succession, into one fleet with the most incompetent ships, and have them massacred by the Principality. Despite Leon and Marie twice foiling this, by stealing the SummonMagic flutes, and by singlehandedly turning the battle around with Partner and Arroganz, the plotters still manage to weaken Duke Redgrave and get him incapacitated, allowing the annulment of Julius' engagement to Angie.]]
** An example that's technically playing three sides, [[spoiler: is The Saintess possessing Olivia. She tricks Julius and the other princes into conflict against Julius' allies to weaken them, [[TheWomanBehindTheMan cooperates with Julius' rival Frampton, and through him, the Principality]]. All in the hopes of destroying the Holfort Kingdom in revenge for the [[SinsOfOurFathers betrayal of her love by the five's ancestors.]]]]
* ThePowerOfHate: A running theme, the other side of the coin to ThePowerOfLove.
** This is what we’re often reminded sustains TheBigBad.
** The Black Knight mentions it’s what makes him so powerful, stemming from his FamilyExtermination.
** Angelica’s TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening is fueled by it.
* PreMortemOneLiner: In Marie Route 4, [[spoiler: Leon gives one to the BlackKnight, that's an almost verbatim ShoutOut to Film/AvengersInfinityWar.]]
* PretenderDiss: Echoing Marie’s original instances of it in the main timeline version of the duel, The Saintess does this for Leon, for resembling someone she knows from the distant past, instead of from a past-life, before she's later impressed by him.
* PromotedToLoveInterest: Marie, which technically makes her an unusual LittleSisterHeroine.
* PropagandaMachine: The news articles Leon reads in the fourth part, tell huge lies about how well the war is going.
* PropertyOfLove: It’s a RunningGag that Leon forced his brother Nicks into an ArrangedMarriage with Deirdre’s dominatrix-like older sister Dorothea. She insists on both of them putting on SlaveCollar instead of rings at their wedding, says chilling wedding vows invoking this, and is into bondage play. The humor comes [[TheChewtoy from Nick’s]] bickering with Leon over it, and being a HenPeckedHusband.
* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Since here, Marie doesn't interfere with Olivia's romances, [[spoiler: Olivia is ''still'' a genuinely kind girl, and only ends up with the capture targets against her will due to a mixture of bad luck, coercion by their superior status, and DemonicPossession by the Saintess.]]
* PublicExecution: In the sixth part, [[spoiler: Julius publicly executes Marquess Frampton on the Saintess’ order, thanks to her exposing his treason after he double-crosses her. Julius chops off Frampton’s head with his sword before giving an EvilLaugh. The audience celebrates except for Master.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Marie Route R-Z]]
* RageBreakingPoint: Seeing many girls of the Academy happily celebrating WhileRomeBurns in the middle of a bloody war infuriates Marie. This builds up until a girl telling Yulia she should be happy her lover died, and [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend calling Leon ugly]], makes Marie snap into an UnstoppableRage.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Leon collects a very strange group of allies. It starts off with Marie, most of the poor noblemen, Marie's collection of [[TheShutIn dysfunctional shut-in girls]], and the BunnyEarsLawyer House Roseblade. It then expands to [[spoiler: a fugitive Clarice and her BadassBiker followers, a [[SpiritAdvisor ghost of a long-dead saintess]], and a disgraced and bent-on-revenge Angelica.]]
* RashomonPlot: Both characters being an UnreliableNarrator is what causes Leon and Marie to believe that they ''weren't'' past-life brother and sister, despite the fact that they actually were. This results in them each unknowingly ''[[TakeThatMe badmouthing themselves.]]''
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: [[spoiler: It's revealed that the leader of the party who [[FounderOfTheKingdom famously founded the Kingdom]], was Leon's ancestor Liia, before he was betrayed and [[WrittenByTheWinners his accomplishments covered up]], making the Holfort Dynasty usurpers.]]
* RedBaron: The Saintess becomes known in Kingdom propaganda as ''The Goddess of Victory''. We also hear that another of The Black Knight’s monikers is ''The Tyrant of the Battlefield''.
* RedShirtArmy: Julius' [[ChildSoldiers 'Volunteer Army']].
* RelationshipUpgrade: [[spoiler: Leon proposing after violently crashing Marie’s forced ArrangedMarriage ceremony.]]
* RoaringRampageOfRescue: [[spoiler: Leon uses every connection, skill, and weapon in his arsenal to save Marie from being sold off against her will to Offrey House by her greedy family, conquering both houses, and [[WeddingSmashers crashing Marie's wedding]] in the process.]]
* RoleSwapAU: Although it’s a bit of an oversimplification, the route swaps the roles of Olivia and Marie, and builds on that.
* RoyalBrat: The Marie Route shows that there are plenty of boys in Holfort Kingdom to match the brat girls of the main story, most notably, Earl Offrey's son, Zola's son Rutart, and the Beaudon brothers Alan and Allen.
* RunningGag:
** Marie being a BigEater, which is a bit unladylike.
** The HypocriticalHumor of Leon and Marie both unknowingly insulting their past life selves, due to the RashomonStyle nature of how they stay in the dark regarding their past-lives as siblings.
** Leon’s sarcasm and selfishness toward Nicks, after forcing him into an ArrangedMarriage with Dorothea, and pushing fame and hassle onto him.
* SafeUnderBlankets: After Leon sees a ghost, his InnerMonologue says he wants to go home and do this, and then Marie teases him with the idea.
* SceneryDissonance: Leon being told devastating news by Marie while audiences are cheering for the [[HoverBike air bike]] race.
* SelfServingMemory: Why Leon and Marie [[DramaticIrony never realize they were brother and sister]], rationalizing that they couldn't ''possibly'' be that mean older/younger sibling in each other's backstories.
* SequenceBreaking: InvokedTrope. [[spoiler: Instead of waiting for the otome game's FinalBoss to appear, and deal with it how it was there, Leon and Marie decide to just steal the AncientArtifact that summons it. That [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle hardly makes things a cakewalk, however]].]]
* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: {{Subverted}}. The beginning scene is presented as this. But what’s really going on is DisasterDominoes.
* ShootTheHostageTaker: [[spoiler: Luxion using a laser on the bridegroom’s arm at Marie’s forced wedding, after he took her hostage to save himself from Leon, resulting in him whimpering pathetically after she runs into Leon’s arms.]]
* ShoutOut: The fourth part references Film/AvengersInfinityWar:
-->[[spoiler: '''Leon''': ''[[PreMortemOneLiner You should have gone for the cockpit!]]]]''
* TheShutIn: Marie finds a number of women like this, to drag out of their dorms and take care of, in exchange for cash or sweets from Leon's fellow poor noblemen. Having quirks like [[CuteBookworm reading all day]], {{laz|ybum}}iness, [[ShrinkingViolet social phobia]], and obsession with hobbies, actually make these girls extremely desirable compared to the RichBitch and RoyalBrat types of women common in the academy. [[CockFight Multiple duels ensue]].
* SiblingRivalry: There is a three-way one of these, within the Bartfort family. First, Nicks holds a grudge against his teasing younger brother Leon, for setting up his ArrangedMarriage, mostly PlayedForLaughs. [[spoiler: Nicks partly forgives Leon, after learning about what Marie's parents, who that the marriage alliance was formed to crush, put her through.]] [[CainAndAbel The second rivalry]], is between both Leon and Nicks on one side, and their older half-brother [[EvilStepMother via Zola]], Rutart, over who should control Nicks' territory. Nicks planned to end the rivalry with some UnfriendlyFire on the battlefield, but Rutart didn't show up. Then Rutart [[spoiler: tries to take advantage of Balcus being severely injured to [[SuccessionCrisis take over control of the Household]], only to be stopped by Roseblade House, thanks to Nicks' marriage.]]
** [[spoiler: It ends with Rutart gaining backing from Julius to raze Balcus' floating island, and Rutart’s task force being ambushed and killed by Nicks, with the help of Gilbert Redgrave.]]
* SinsOfOurFathers: It turns out, [[spoiler: the First Saintess, who's soul dwelt inside the Holy Relics until it could [[DemonicPossession possess her descendant]], wants to destroy the Holfort Kingdom and [[FounderOfTheKingdom the descendants of its founders]], the five dateable cast. This is revenge for their adventurer anscestors betraying The Saintess' unrequited love, Liia, [[EmpireWithADarkSecret who was the sixth adventurer.]]]]
* SixthRangerTraitor: InvertedTrope with [[spoiler: Liia Bartfort, the unknown ''sixth'' adventurer and founder of Holfort Kingdom until he was betrayed and exiled by the other five.]]
* SlaveCollar: Mundane collars are used by [[TheChewToy Nicks]] and the [[PropertyOfLove BDSM themed]] Dothea Roseblade, in place of rings for [[MyOwnPrivateIDo their private wedding]], before a more traditional one.
* SpiritAdvisor: [[spoiler: The part of Saintess Anne's soul trapped within the Saintess' Necklace, after failing to possess Marie and recognizing Leon as a [[IdenticalGrandson surprisingly similar descendant]] of her [[TheLostLenore lost love]], becomes this, playing a similar role to Luxion who is away.]]
* StartMyOwn: Here, instead of Leon piggybacking on Duke Redgrave like in the main story, Leon and Marie assemble their own political faction from scratch, with most of the poor noblemen, the [[TheShutin shut-in marriage candidates]] Marie finds for them, and [[BunnyEarsLawyer House Roseblade]] as a base.
** In another case, [[spoiler: when the Kingdom goes to war, and Prince Julius [[RedShirtArmy starts a volunteer army,]] Jilk [[PeerPressuredBully creates a campaign of harassment]] to force people to join. Not wanting to interfere directly with the Otome plot by joining, and to keep their friends safe from both the harassment and the battlefield, Leon and Marie decide to make their own volunteer army and have it do logistics missions. This results in the boys of Leon's faction making up most of the surviving boys in the Academy, due to Julius' army being CannonFodder.]]
* StraightForTheCommander: Duke Redgrave’s strategy during the BigBadassBattleSequence against the invading Principality fleet, had him boarding Princess Hertrude’s flagship in an OffscreenMomentOfAwesome.
* StrongerThanTheyLook: According to Luxion, despite her appearance, Marie’s bones and muscles are denser than average for a human.
* SuccessionCrisis: [[spoiler: House Bartfort goes through one, when Balcus is critically injured, and Zola and her son Rutart march in, only to be [[GondorCallsForAid kicked out by the Roseblades.]]]]
* SuperPowerfulGenetics: Multiple characters seem to have super powers carried in the blood here, compared to originally just Olivia. [[spoiler: Marie having it makes quite a lot of sense, considering she shares a power set with Olivia.]]
** [[spoiler: Angelica being descended from Anne’s sister, and thus having access to a similar amount of power.]]
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** Gather a group of inexperienced students and send them off to war under the promise that they'll gain accolades and be remembered fondly? [[spoiler: Don't be surprised when the majority end up dead.]]
** Receiving a servant that was [[UnwantedGiftPlot given to you in a whim and not considering your finances?]] [[spoiler: You will need to work harder for both of your upkeep as you need to provide for another mouth to feed. Olivia was forced to dive in the dungeons even though it would affect her studies as she doesn't have any money to provide for Kyle with her allowance alone. In the main story, Marie solved this issue by having Julius and Jilk provide the costs for him too.]]
** Due to Greg's distate of AceCustom mechs and his preference on using only mass-production due to practicality, [[spoiler: this bit him in the most critical time when Gilbert and the Redgraves routed them. Since his armor is mediocre, it's performance immediately dragged down its pilot causing him to be defeated by a similarly skilled but better equipped Gilbert who also mocked him for having a WeakButSkilled mindset.]]
** Having a fancy title maybe a good reputation but it also advertises their strength's,[[spoiler: Chris was shot to death by ranged weapons of the Rosenblade family lead by Nicks. Since Nicks is also a CombatPragmatist, the first thing he did was to order his troops to fire at Chris who kept saying he is the "Sword Saint".]]
* ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine: Three bully girls cheat Olivia at gambling into owing more than she could possibly pay, using threats to her family to keep her from running away. Leon does the same back. [[spoiler: This actually backfires spectacularly, as the girls react like a CorneredRattlesnake, and try to kill Olivia.]]
* TeamMascot: While mocking her envy of Olivia, Leon suggests making Marie into this, and selling merchandise of her. Marie is not amused.
* TearsOfFear: Three girls bullying Olivia get these when Leon gives them ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine.
* AndThereWasMuchRejoicing: [[spoiler: This is the reaction of the Kingdom's troops, when Leon kills the BlackKnight during the [[BigBadassBattleSequence fleet battle with the Principality]].]]
** [[spoiler: Frampton's execution by Julius after The Saintess exposes him for betraying her.]]
* TenderTears: Nicks, Dorothea and their servants after listening to Marie's backstory.
* TiredOfRunning: Specifically, Leon gets tired of running from the spotlight, declaring to Marie that he's done letting problems fester by doing that any longer.
* ThrowAwayGuns: Arroganz, after being uplifted into an A.I., likes to apply and shed modular armor and weapons components from his form. This differs a lot from how Luxion would manage the Arroganz, as Luxion is over-protective of his creations.
* ThrowingTheFight: Leon goes to the princes to offer to throw the fight before signing up to be Angelica’s champion in [[AlternateTimeline this timeline’s]] version of the duel event. [[spoiler: After Leon does so, Julius [[ILied double-crosses and insults Leon and Angie]], which puts Leon into a TranquilFury, challenging the five to an unofficial match, and [[CurbStompBattle crushing them]] each much more excessively than in the main timeline.]]
* TookALevelInJerkass: The five dateable cast, who are at each-other’s throats, contrasting with their behavior in the main story. Julius has turned into an outright {{Yandere}} for Olivia.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Marie really loves steak and sweets.
* TrueBeautyIsOnTheInside: A [[AnAesop moral discussed]]. Marie realizes that despite at first liking them for their good looks, the five capture target's personalities aren't to her liking, with Leon having similar feelings about Dorothea Roseblade.
* TrueCompanions:
** Averted with the dateable cast in this timeline. Without a common threat to unite against, they come close to fighting each other over Olivia.
** Leon’s faction of poor nobles and the matches Marie finds for them bond like this, with an element of FireForgedFriends. Along with Leon and the uplifted Arroganz, this makes Marie the TeamMom of a FamilyOfChoice in her second life.
* UnfinishedBusiness: [[spoiler: Noelle’s ghost stays around to see the corrupted Sacred Tree destroyed, and pass on a message to her sister to live on without her.]]
* UnknownRival: Marie is this for Olivia, in multiple ways, resenting Olivia’s success, as well as the attention that Leon sometimes pays to her.
* UnstoppableRage: [[spoiler: Leon goes into one, after seeing the BlackKnight stab his father, and taunt him about it. Leon kills the Black Knight with the help of Nicks distraction.]]
** A noble girl telling Yulia that she should [[MartyrdomCulture be happy her lover died]], and [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend calling Leon ugly]], drives Marie berserk.
* UnwantedHarem: Olivia just wants to study, but due to the five dateable cast being [[UnequalPairing high nobles and her a commoner]], she can't refuse their constant date requests, and she starts [[LeaveMeAlone to resent them]].
* UnwittingPawn: [[TheChessmaster Who isn’t one?]] For [[spoiler: The Saintess' VengefulGhost possessing Olivia.]]
** [[spoiler: The dateable cast are being manipulated into angering as many nobles as possible, as well as getting as many noble children as possible killed, to weaken the ruling dynasty and make sure there’s a large CivilWar.]]
** [[spoiler: BigBadWannabe Frampton is used as a proxy for the manipulation of other parties but ultimately a disposable pawn.]]
** [[spoiler: Everybody on the Kingdom’s side of the BigBadassBattleSequence against the Principality was a pawn meant to be thrown away to make Frampton’s faction stronger as an UriahGambit.]]
** [[spoiler: The Principality of Fanoss as a whole is being manipulated into war to see both it and the Kingdom’s armies slaughtered to make it easier to destroy both nations. They’re further manipulated to keep them at war after losing.]]
** [[spoiler: Julius and Jilk plot behind The Saintess’ back to get rid of Leon out of jealousy, but she can see right through them and their plans just drive the Kingdom closer to CivilWar as she wants.]]
** [[spoiler: Rutart’s attempt at annihilating the Bartfort Household was devised by Jilk to make Rutart a martyr, to help rally against Leon politically.]]
* UriahGambit: It turns out that originally in the game, Marquess Frampton's EvilPlan, was to put Duke Redgrave and other political opponents into the Kingdom's defense fleet to go up against foreign invasion, while his own forces are fighting a FalseFlagAttack organized by himself. [[spoiler: Despite Leon and Marie [[SequenceBreaking stealing]] the FinalBoss summoning [[MagicalFlutist flutes]], Leon killing the Black Knight, and [[CoolAirship Partner]] turning the tide of the [[BigBadassBattleSequence fleet battle]], Duke Redgrave is severely injured, and Frampton's influences increases.]]
* WallPinOfLove: Leon uses a double-pin [[DefiedTrope when stopping]] Marie’s [[HijackedDestiny attempt at stealing]] Olivia’s introduction event with Julius.
* WarHawk: In this timeline, the two Princesses of Fanoss are exposed to TheConspiracy within the Principality, and take counter-measures.
** The overall attitude of the Royal Academy becomes like this when war breaks out, spearheaded by the five idiots.
* WarIsHell: The Kingdom is filled with characters with a WarIsGlorious mindset, and that has graphic consequences.
* WarRefugees: Leon ends up taking a number of these home to his territory, after rescuing them. Marie gets covered in blood healing the ones she can. They’re led by a middle aged Knight named Oliver.
* WeaknessTurnsHerOn: Leon’s phobia of ghosts seems to get this reaction, from Marie and [[spoiler: Anne’s spirit from the Holy Necklace.]]
* WeddingSmashers: [[spoiler: After Marie is sold off to House Offrey against her will to get her family [[TrappedByGamblingDebts out of gambling debts]], Leon breaks into the temple and puts a stop to it, conquering both Households while he's at it. The groom tries to take Marie [[HostageSituation hostage]] to [[DirtyCoward save himself]], but Luxion [[ShootTheHostageTaker snipes him]] non-lethally.]]
* WhamEpisode: The sixth part of Marie Route can only be described as this, with its several deaths and allegiance shifts.
** The eighth part tops it, as several named characters get killed and a twist is thrown in at the end.
* WhamLine: In the sixth part:
-->[[spoiler:'''Leon''':''"That was Master’s second request. [[EnemyMine To join hands with the Principality.]]"'']]
* WhatTheHellAreYou: Leon’s reaction to The Black Knight’s incredible power.
* WhileRomeBurns: Seeing many girls at Royal Academy happy and excited about an upcoming party while the Kingdom is in the middle of a bloody war drives Marie to the edge of her RageBreakingPoint. Then, a girl tells Marie’s grieving friend to QuitYourWhining, explains TheSocialDarwinist philosophy she uses to pick lovers, and calls Leon ugly, snapping Marie into an UnstoppableRage, followed by Marie deciding to skip classes to volunteer at hospitals.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Leon has a phobia of ghosts that he epically fails to hide.
* WildCard:
** This is how Leon is seen after his RoaringRampageOfRescue, as directly stated by Julius.
** The Saintess worries about The Masked Knight being this.
* WolfInSheepsClothing: It turns out, Leon's impression of Olivia [[spoiler: was entirely accurate, based on the fact that she'd been [[DemonicPossession possessed by the First Saintess]] living in the Holy Artifacts, early in the game's timeline, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating the five]] with the goal of weakening and destroying the Kingdom for revenge.]]
* WrittenByTheWinners: [[spoiler: At the [[FounderOfTheKingdom Kingdom of Holdfort's founding]], Liia [[SecretLegacy Bartfort]], after being betrayed by the [[SinsOfOurFathers ancestors of the five dateable cast]]. He escaped to a rural island to live a simple life, while his LoveInterest, The Saintess, swore revenge on his behalf, living on as [[OurGhostsAreDifferent grudge spirit, inside the Holy Relics]].]]
* XanatosSpeedChess: TheWomanBehindTheMan creates and survives a GambitPileup despite being a target of plots herself. [[spoiler: When Marquess Frampton double-crosses The Saintess to make peace with the Principality of Fanoss, she was prepared to have him killed for treason, and ensured war would continue by killing the captive Princess Hertrude. As well, Julius and Jilk going behind her back just plays into her earlier plans as an AgentProvocateur to start a CivilWar.]]
* {{Yandere}}: In the main story, the prevalence of {{Polygamy}} seemed to act as an antidote towards this kind of obsession in the kingdom. Not so in Marie Route. There gradually develops [[LoveDodecahedron a chain of]] Yandere: [[spoiler: Angelica for Julius, Julius for Olivia, and The Saintess (possessing Olivia) for Leon. The Saintess is perhaps the best example in the franchise, and it was her being this in the game that caused Leon to suspect Olivia in the main story.]]
* YouAreTooLate:
** [[spoiler: Leon and Marie only arriving in Alzer after it’s been annihilated.]]
** [[spoiler: Leon rescuing Hertrude from her execution by The Saintess only happens after she’s been forced to take poison.]]
* YouKillItYouBoughtIt: [[spoiler: TheDreaded Black Knight, swore to protect the two Fanoss princesses, before Leon killed him. Leon himself, ends up swearing to one of the princesses to protect the other, and while being known by his own RedBaron title (The Masked Knight), he perpetrates a MookHorrorShow on Principality rebels reflecting the MassOhCrap moment the Black Knight gave to Kingdom forces.]]
* AndYourLittleDogToo: In the second part, three [[TheBully bully]] noble girls make sure that Olivia stays and continues to get cheated at cards after she has nothing left to wager, by threatening her hometown. This blows up in their faces, when Leon intervenes, and [[ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine cheats them into owing more than they can pay, and threatens their noble Households]], driving them to tears.
** In the fourth part, [[spoiler: when the BlackKnight [[CrusadingWidow Vandel]] encounters Leon's father Balcus on the deck of [[CoolAirship Partner]] during the [[BigBadassBattleSequence Principality's fleet battle]], he gladly tells Balcus that he'll make him watch both of his sons die, crippling his mech before attacking them. After that, Vandel stabs Balcus, and asks Leon how it feels to watch his father die. This drives Leon into an UnstoppableRage, killing Vandel with the help of Nicks, while Balcus barely survives.]]
* YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo: [[spoiler: Julius said he would let the Redgrave household go if Leon threw the fight in their duel, before going back on his word after Leon does so. Cue TranquilFury one-on-five CurbStopBattle.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Dream Side Story]]

[[/folder]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bhvv2s89dcj81.jpg]]

* CockFight: Due to Marie dragging [[TheShutIn various shut-in girls]] out of their dorm, to help Leon's fellow poor nobles, due to their desirability compared to the typical RichBitch RoyalBrat girls of the academy. Said young nobles, often get into scuffles and duels over merely getting the chance to talk to these girls. That is because, in their [[LadyLand female-dominated]] society, leaving the Academy without a wife [[ChristmasCake would leave them in dire straits.]]

* YouKillItYouBoughtIt: [[spoiler: TheDreaded Black Knight, swore to protect the two Fanoss princesses, before Leon killed him. Leon himself, ends up swearing to one of the princesses to protect the other, and while being known by his own TheRedBaron title (The Masked Knight), he perpetrates a MookHorrorShow on Principality rebels reflecting the MassOhCrap moment the Black Knight gave to Kingdom forces.]]

** Nicks tries to foil his marriage interview with Dorothea Roseblade and her sister, by insulting her enough to make her cancel it. [[TheChewToy Unfortunately]] for Nicks, [[PowerfulPeopleAreSubs both sisters]] greatly [[IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn enjoy this]].

* ChekhovsGun: In Volume 10 of the main story, Angelica stumbled a diary on an ancient ship with the name already faded, written on the page is the owner's joy of obtaining the items needed to make someone hers. [[spoiler: It foreshadows the eventual appearance of Saintess Mary, the sister of Saintess Anne who happens to be [[{{Yandere}} crazily love]] with Lea too.]]

* Chekov's Gun: In Volume 10 of the main story, Angelica stumbled a diary on an ancient ship with the name already faded, written on the page is the owner's joy of obtaining the items needed to make someone hers. [[spoiler: It foreshadows the eventual appearance of Saintess Mary, the sister of Saintess Anne who happens to be [[Yandere crazily love]] with Lea too.]]

* Chekov's Gun: In Volume 10 of the main story, Angelica stumbled a diary on an ancient ship with the name already faded, written on the page is the owner's joy of obtaining the items needed to make someone hers. [[spoiler: It foreshadows the eventual appearance of Saintess Mary, the sister of Saintess Anne who happens to be [[Yandere crazily love]] with Lea too.

* EveryoneHasStandards: When Milene for some reason turned into a timid little girl, [[ManChild Roland's first reaction]] is try to tease her as a petty revenge because he can't beat her any argument as an adult. After Leon's violent reaction when he saw Roland, he immediately tried to use his authority to arrest Leon for attacking him, but the Royal guards, who were disgusted by Roland's pettiness instead handcuffs and hauls him out of the room.

As [[BreakoutCharacter the result]] of a fan poll, the novel's author created a spinoff within the pages of the later novels with six parts and counting: Marie Route Side Story. A WhatIf tale of if Leon had interrupted Marie's plans before they began. In this AlternateTimeline, the two focus on improving their otome game world lives together, leaving their main story LoveInterests to their own devices, which ends up having [[DarkerAndEdgier dark repercussions]]. This spinoff would later get its own official novelun release, titled ''That Otome Games is a Tough World for Us'', with the first published volume coming on December 28, 2022 in Japan.

As [[BreakoutCharacter the result]] of a fan poll, the novel's author created a spinoff within the pages of the later novels with six parts and counting: Marie Route Side Story. A WhatIf tale of if Leon had interrupted Marie's plans before they began. In this AlternateTimeline, the two focus on improving their otome game world lives together, leaving their main story LoveInterests to their own devices, which ends up having [[DarkerAndEdgier dark repercussions]]. This spinoff would later get its own official novel release, titled ''That Otome Games is a Tough World for Us'', with the first published volume coming on December 28, 2022 in Japan.

* Foreshadowing: Leon's duel in the main story turns out to be this in regards to the fates of Greg, Brad and Chris.

** Brad's BoisterousWeakling and trying to one up his fellow targets [[spoiler: gave him undignified death when he tried to secure a passage way for Olivia to escape from, It only earned him mortal wounds as he exposed himself open in the battlefield.]]

An anime adaptation was announced for an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWI9DRlSvx8&ab_channel=KADOKAWAanime April 2022 release]] and premiered on April 3. It is currently available outside Japan on Website/{{Crunchyroll}}.

As [[BreakoutCharacter the result]] of a fan poll, the novel's author created a spinoff within the pages of the later novels with six parts and counting: Marie Route Side Story. A WhatIf tale of if Leon had interrupted Marie's plans before they began. In this AlternateTimeline, the two focus on improving their otome game world lives together, leaving their main story LoveInterests to their own devices, which ends up having [[DarkerAndEdgier dark repercussions]]...

* PoisonousFriend: Subverted. Jilk was clearly supposed to be this for Julius in the game’s storyline. But the man he’s protecting TookALevelInJerkass so much that there’s hardly any contrast in their methods.

** In the fourth part, [[spoiler: when the BlackKnight [[CrusadingWidower Vandel]] encounters Leon's father Balcus on the deck of [[CoolAirship Partner]] during the [[BigBadassBattleSequence Principality's fleet battle]], he gladly tells Balcus that he'll make him watch both of his sons die, crippling his mech before attacking them. After that, Vandel stabs Balcus, and asks Leon how it feels to watch his father die. This drives Leon into an UnstoppableRage, killing Vandel with the help of Nicks, while Balcus barely survives.]]