[There is a 20% discount in my Patreon, where you can read all the chapters I posted till now. Use the Code: B618C . Hope, you will enjoy it. Last date July 12.]
---
Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of my newly renovated room—if you could still call it a "room." At this point it looked more like a luxury suite in a six-floor, three-basement mansion. The renovations Sirzechs approved had basically turned my house into a devil-class fortress disguised as a modern home.
And currently, it was filled with devils, angels, and occasional chaos.
Rias stood in front of me with her arms crossed, scarlet hair spilling down her shoulders like a storm about to hit. "You're returning to the Underworld!?"
The shout came right after breakfast, which meant I hadn't even fully digested yet.
Everyone—Asia, Xenovia, Koneko, Kiba, and even Gasper—was packed into my ridiculously spacious room. They were all still dressed in a half-awake, half-comfy way. Asia rubbed her eyes, Xenovia stretched like a cat, and Koneko was nibbling on a cookie because, of course, she was.
Gasper, on the other hand… had already crawled inside a cardboard box in the corner of the room. Wearing girl clothes again. Classic Gasper.
Rias exhaled and nodded. "I go home every year during the summer. And this time, all of you will accompany me."
I leaned back against the sofa, lazy and unhurried. "Oh. Then have a good vacation."
Rias' gaze snapped to me instantly.
"You will also be coming with me," she said, slow and threatening.
Ah. There it was.
"Do I have to?" I asked, putting in the bare minimum effort to sound bothered.
Rias planted her hands on her hips. "Absolutely. You're a member of my household, and you will greet my family properly. Asia, Xenovia—this will be your first time. My mother has been waiting to meet all of you."
Asia jolted upright, nervous energy radiating from her. "M-Me? Going to the Underworld… alive…!? I-I'm honored! Terrified, but honored!"
Xenovia lifted a hand thoughtfully. "To walk through hell as a former believer… there is a certain poetic irony to it. I have been curious about the Underworld for a long time."
"You make it sound like a sightseeing trip," I muttered.
"It is sightseeing," she replied.
Rias clasped her hands in front of her, smiling brightly. "We'll be there until the twentieth. Training, social events, family meetings—everything to help you grow. It'll be fun."
Fun. Right. If I remembered correctly, in the original timeline, this was where I'd meet a certain overpowered dragon who would throw me through mountains for training.
Before I could say anything, a voice cut through the room:
"Going to the Underworld, huh? Count me in."
Every head turned.
Azazel was sitting casually on one of the couches, legs crossed, looking like he'd been there the whole time.
No one—not even Rias or Kiba—had sensed him enter.
"W-Where did you come from!?" Rias sputtered.
Azazel shrugged. "The front door."
"I didn't feel any presence…" Kiba murmured.
"And that," Azazel said, pointing at him, "is why you all need more training. Anyway, I'm coming with you. I am your teacher now."
Teacher. Fallen Angel Governor. Legendary troublemaker. Professional slacker. Somehow all these titles fit him perfectly.
He flicked open a small notebook. "The schedule says: first, introduction of all servant devils to the Gremory family head. Then the annual gathering of new young devils. After that, training sessions. I'll be handling that part."
"T-Training?" Koneko asked.
Azazel nodded with a grin. "Of course. Especially for the Sacred Gear wielders. You three"—he pointed at me, Kiba, and Gasper—"still have a long way to go."
Gasper whimpered from inside his box.
"Come out of there," I sighed.
"N-Nooo… the Underworld is scary…"
"You lived with Valerie. You've seen scarier things," Koneko said flatly.
That shut him up.
Azazel closed the notebook. "Anyway, I'll meet Sirzechs while you're all cozy at the Gremory home. Then afterward, we get to break your bodies a bit with real training."
Rias smiled sweetly. "See? Isn't it exciting?"
Asia raised her hand timidly. "Um… Ise-san… I'm actually looking forward to it. Meeting Rias-oneesama's family, that is…"
Her cheeks turned pink. She looked so hopeful that I couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah. I think you'll be fine. Everyone will like you."
She beamed, relieved.
Xenovia clenched her fist. "I will challenge myself to adapt to devil society as quickly as possible."
"Just don't challenge anyone to a sword duel during dinner," I said.
"…That is not a promise I can make."
Rias cleared her throat. "We'll also be using the Underworld facilities for intense training. Since Issei has grown rapidly this year, we want to keep the momentum going."
~~~
Give me a comment and thought on this fanfic. Support me by giving me a power stone.
I have posted 100+ advanced chapters on my Patreon. If you are interested, join my Patreon.
Support me:
patreon.com/BlackBolt517