The following contains spoilers for Episode 7 of Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs
Trapped in a Dating Sim is a brand-new isekai series in the Spring 2022 anime season, and in an amusing twist, has not one, but two isekai leads who are at odds with one another. The main hero is Leon Bartfort, an underdog third born son, who has a very different strategy for surviving the world of otome compared to Marie.
The petite blonde Marie is Leon's real-life sister from their previous life, even if their new identities have no familial connections. In recent episodes, it's become clear that not only are they bitter rivals, but they also have different survival strategies and preferences in this new world. Leon is reckless and seeks glory, while Marie is cautious and calculating.
How Leon & Marie Each Approach Gambling
In Episode 7, Trapped in a Dating Sim explores the stark differences between Leon and Marie's survival methods, especially the reasons behind their tactics. Leon favors reckless scheming and adventuring to get ahead, such as when he challenged prince Julius combat arena with armored mechs. Leon also showed his love for reckless gambling in Episode 7, gleefully betting on the podrace-style racetrack to get money with Luxion's help. His friends, Angelica and Olivia found this exasperating, regardless of Leon's success. Leon is eager to climb the social ladder in this unforgiving world, believing having wealth to be to his advantage.
Marie, by contrast, has more to lose with wild risk-taking. She can't stand gambling, and refuses to bet on the racers. Instead, Marie wants her ally, Jilk, to win and claim the prize money for her. What's more, Marie reflects on her previous life, revealing her previous boyfriend suffered from ill-advised gambling. This soured Marie on making bets, and she holds onto this belief in the otome game world, too. Besides, if she can use that gilded tongue of hers, gambling won't ever be necessary. She and Leon are unlikely to end up gambling against one another anytime soon.
How These Strategies May Shape The Future
So far, Leon and Marie's respective approaches to gambling and risk-taking have set them apart, and that should continue throughought the remainder of the season. Leon may have earned serious cash betting on races, but he still has a long way to go, even though he has Angelica and Lady Clarice on his side. He must build strong relationships and gain influence to succeed, and has no time to waste. Bribing and impressing people with money might help, but eventually, Leon will need to take bold risks to get ahead and see results. He doesn't have the time or the wits to slowly concoct a brilliant scheme to conquer the world, and his reckless attitude reflects that.
Meanwhile, Marie has the charisma and wits necessary to manipulate others and orchestrate elaborate schemes to get ahead as an isekai villainess, once again, gambling reflecting that. Marie has too much to lose by risking it all, so she plays it safe using time and influence to her advantage. Marie aims to patiently build her way toward her end goal, and choosing low-risk routes will help her.
She won't throw money away betting on racers -- instead, she games the system as a whole until everything is in place to achieve victory. Marie's personal aversion to gambling from her past boyfriend's gambling mishaps is just one reason she won't bet money down on an outcome she can't control. While Marie's plans as a scheming himedere have been foiled thus far, her patient, careful strategies may pay off in the future. At least the very least, she challenges Leon to stay on his toes. Marie's not out of the game just yet.