Azul says, “There’s no harm in putting forth effort. It leaves an admirable impression,” while Jade says that “Azul will do anything to achieve his goals. In other words, he’s as hardworking as hardworking as it gets.”
Rook’s nickname for Azul is “King of Effort,” Vil says that he respects Azul’s spirit of self-improvement, and we repeatedly see Azul putting extreme effort into what he does throughout the game.
In Book 3 Crowley reveals that the study guides Azul provided to the students who contracted with him did not involve any illegitimate activity: “Nobody snuck looks at test questions or answers beforehand. It was crafted exhaustively by hand, after researching the past century’s worth of Night Raven College exam questions and their patterns,” which impresses even Jack.
Azul says he is “not particularly fond of games that hinge primarily on luck,” but Idia still manages to goad him into playing a dice-based boardgame as a club activity, saying, “Can’t brain your way into making dice do your bidding, right?”
But that is exactly what Azul then sets out to do, practicing his dice-rolling to try and become capable of rolling his desired number: “And I’d say the effort has been well worth it.” (Idia: “Good on you for being such a hard worker, though.”)
Azul seems to become frustrated with Silver’s vague praise for his cooking during Master Chef, explaining all the effort he went to enhance the dish.
Silver responds, “Well, it sounds like you went above and beyond. I hate to admit…most of that was lost on me,” And Azul is not pleased: “If none of that came across when you were eating, then all of that extra effort, from the labor to ingredients, was for nothing!”
When Azul considers going somewhere he has never been before for summer break, he decides to prepare by finding a traveler’s journal and using the opportunity to learn more about land culture, turning the vacation into an educational opportunity rather than using it for leisure.
Azul weaponizes the act of applying extra effort at the beginning of Vargas Camp 2, intentionally refusing help with setting up a tent. When Idia teases him for his apparent passion for camping Azul responds, “You’ll see why I’m doing this soon enough,” and he is shortly after selected by Vargas as an MVP.
Vargas explains, “As for Ashengrotto—you were clearly out of your element and didn’t show much skill. But you engaged your muscles and worked up a magnificent sweaty sheen! More so than anyone else. This is in recognition of your efforts.” Idia seems shocked (“Is that why you were going all out with the tent? Just so Coach Vargas would see you working hard?”) and Azul explains, “Strenuous effort and sweat are what score points with people like Vargas.”
Impressed by Malleus’ singing ability leading up to the Glorious Masquerade performance, Azul declares that he will simply have to push himself even harder.
His efforts seem to pay off in the end, with students from other schools complimenting him and leading to potential networking (“All that intensive vocal training has paid dividends. Good thing I brought plenty of business cards”), and Rook also praising him for his “positively magnificent” singing: “I noticed you had perfect pitch at our very first practice, and your voice only grew more refined and enchanting with every passing day. I’ve no doubt you’ve been practicing diligently, even in your free time…Your drive to reach greater heights is truly beauté! That’s what makes you Roi de l’Effort.”
Azul goes to the school store during new year’s to buy all the “hottest, deeply-discounted items” in bulk, with Jade explaining, “Azul did copious amounts of research before the sale and drew up a plan of action.
We knew exactly where to go when the store opened.” Azul says he “analyzed past data on customer traffic, products, and store activity during the New Year’s period,” and then used those findings to predict where the sale items would be located: “And as a result, I was able to efficiently traverse the crowded floor and purchase all of the goods I wanted.”
Jade says that if Azul missed even one of the items on his list he would “become so vexed he’d cause a major scene,” but Azul responds, I would never. If such a thing happened, I’d simply come up with an alternative plan.”
Prior to his third birthday interview Azul says he has “researched all the questions and have perfect answers ready for whatever (his) interviewer asks.”
When Jack comments on Azul’s less than impeccable history with flight magic Azul responds, “I take some issue with that phrasing. I’ve been putting forth a good-faith effort every day in class.” The third birthday interview ends with flying on a broom, which Azul also invests effort in readying himself for, checking wind speed and directly and performing a simulation in advance.
When Jamil comments on Azul potentially wasting both time and effort on things he cannot predict the outcome of Azul responds, “True enough, but that’s no reason not to give it a shot. I need to do whatever I can to raise my valuation as much as possible before I make my way out into the world. So I can’t afford to be afraid of a little work.”
After being tasked by Jack to deliver a basket and compliment to Sally during NBC Sebek declares that the delivery alone is enough and that Jack can talk to Sally himself but Azul refuses, saying, “People could lose confidence in me if I abandon my work unfinished.”
When Ace suggests taking a break from boiling drinking water during the Stitch event Azul responds, “Do I look like the procrastinating type?,” and when Riddle and Azul make plans to go to a beach again I the future Floyd says he can “totally see Azul getting up early” to practice surfing in advance.
Azul is possessed by a ghost during Spectral Soiree who asks, “We’re all gonna be ghosts in the end, so why bother with needless exertion?,” surprising Ruggie, who says, “That’s the last thing I’d expect Azul to say. He’s all about the ol’ razzle-dazzle, and he’d take any opportunity to get ahead!”
An annoyed Riddle declares, “Azul may be a rotten schemer who constantly tries to prey on the people around him, but he always puts forth an unstinting effort. That’s the one thing I respect about him!”
Azul doe snot seem to like others implying that he is “on the same level as people who simply declare something impossible and give up from the start.”
Jade says that Azul’s hardworking temperament is “easily misunderstood,” and we possibly see this misunderstanding during Beanfest when Vil wonders why Azul doesn’t just “try putting in the work every day” to improve his PE grade.
Deuce makes the same assumption: after Azul reveals that he started putting in the effort of preparing for Beanfest a year in advance Deuce asks, “Why would you spend a whole YEAR preparing to earn extra credit, when you could just try harder in PE. and get the same result?” (Azul: “What would someone naturally athletic like you know of my suffering?! NOTHING!”)
When Idia seems to insinuate that he and Azul are equally poor at flight magic for the same reasons, Azul is not amused (“Don’t assume l’m a slacker like you! I put in a great deal of effort, thank you very much”).
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 