Lambert Balance

Grade: First-year student

Affiliation: Student Council Treasurer

Owned Beast: Sphinx (Earth attribute)

Lambert Balance possesses keen intellect and outstanding academic performance, quickly mastering his student council duties. However, he harbors a strong rivalry with Anna Doll, often acting harshly towards her, ever since she outscored him in the entrance exam for the top spot.

Originally the third son of a fallen noble family from the remote provinces, practically a commoner, Lambert was adopted into the prestigious Marquis Balance family due to his exceptional intellect and magical talent. This allowed him to enter the Royal Magic Academy, and this background, similar to Anna Doll's, fuels his intense, unilateral rivalry with her.

While Grace Auvergne was originally meant to be Anna Doll's primary antagonist, Kenzaburo Tondabayashi's consciousness inhabiting Grace shifted this dynamic, making Lambert Anna Doll's initial main rival. After Anna Doll received Kenzaburo Tondabayashi's advice through Grace, including the tip that "tsunderes are easy," their relationship improved significantly. Consequently, Lambert became the first character to successfully complete Anna Doll's romance route.

Kenzaburo Tondabayashi had even assessed him as "easy to capture," stating "the flag is already set," and "tsunderes are usually easy to win over." After various interactions, including Anna Doll teaching him how to use an abacus, they developed a healthy rivalry where they mutually acknowledge each other's abilities. Anna Doll, initially unaware of the "tsundere" concept, came to understand it by observing Lambert's behavior, even perceiving it as "honest," and learned to persuasively communicate with him.

He states that his parents "spared no expense in investing in the education of him and his brothers." He still cherishes *Introduction to Magic Circles*, a book he received in childhood. His two older brothers, incidentally, are said to be gifted with martial talent.

Lambert has a strong affinity for flower-related magic. His first successful spell was "making flowers bloom on a withered tree," and he used a "rose blizzard" spell during his Beast's initial appearance. Inspired by Anna Doll's suggestion after seeing Grace Auvergne's Magic Wand Fan, Lambert had Walt, a craftsman serving the Auvergne family, create a Wand Book for him. This cherished tool integrates his *Introduction to Magic Circles* with a magic wand.

Despite frequently emphasizing his intellectual prowess, his tsundere nature and slight chuunibyo tendencies often prevent him from truly making his desired cool impression. This often earns him warm, slightly amused glances from his classmates, Grace Auvergne, Anna Doll, and Lucas Vierge. However, he possesses a deeply humane side. In the Trial Labyrinth of the Academy Labyrinth Arc (manga volume 3, anime episode 9), he chivalrously crawled on all fours himself for a puzzle, unwilling to humiliate Grace Auvergne and Anna Doll.

During the Academy Dungeon Arc (manga volume 5), when student council members praised his seemingly careless actions as contributing to the dungeon's conquest instead of reprimanding him, he was deeply moved. He shed tears, declaring his joy at being part of the student council. He has peculiar ways of addressing people, such as "Miss Grace," "Miss Anna," and "Master Walt." He also habitually touches the temple or bridge of his glasses.

His family name, "Balance," means "Libra" in French. His Beast is an Earth-attribute Sphinx, which he named "Zuben Elgenubi." This name refers to one of Libra's alpha stars, meaning "the southern claw" in Arabic, as Libra was once part of the neighboring Scorpio constellation. Its nickname is "Zubie." This Sphinx can freely manipulate rocks and earth, and also wields flower-related magic. Incidentally, Kenzaburo Tondabayashi expressed disappointment when Lambert failed to solve the classic "Riddle of the Sphinx" ("What goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening?") posed in the Trial Labyrinth.

From Bureaucrat to Villainess

Magical Academy Love & Beasts