When Kousuke opened his eyes, he found himself standing under a vast blue sky. He was slightly disappointed, it looked just like the same sky he was used to. Yet, the peculiar air carried a faint demonic energy, a unique trait that existed only in the Underworld. In the distance, an endless field of dark brown soil stretched beyond sight. Towering black trees with silver leaves swayed soundlessly atop the small floating island.
"Welcome to the Underworld," Grayfia announced as the portal behind them closed.
Morgan stepped forward beside Kousuke, her eyes narrowing slightly as she surveyed the strange horizon with faked enthusiasm. "How curious… it's not as desolate as I expected."
"This area is part of Gremory territory," Rias explained proudly. "Unlike the old Underworld of legend, this land thrives. My family ensured it prospered even after the Great War."
Her words proved true. The Gremory Estate stood proudly in the distance, a grand manor of deep crimson stone, adorned with banners bearing the sigil of the house. Wide fields surrounded it, where servants and lesser devils went about their work, tending to strange glowing crops and floating beasts that drifted lazily in the skies above.
Kousuke's eyes followed the view with genuine fascination. Even back in Otherworld, he enjoyed visiting strange and peculiar places. "So this is the Underworld…" he murmured. "I expected fire and brimstone, but this feels… well, how do I say it? More lackluster."
Grayfia, who walked slightly ahead of the group, spoke without looking back. "The Underworld has many layers, Mister Igarashi. Some layers remain chaotic and barren, while others, like House Gremory sitting in the surface layer, embrace harmony and prosperity."
"Well, seeing Rias, I can understand that," Kousuke muttered, glancing at the red-haired girl and nodding. If her home were chaotic, she wouldn't have grown up so... spoiled.
"What do you mean by that?" As if reading his thoughts, Rias furrowed her brows. Akeno giggled at the insinuation in his tone. The Ruin Princess turned her glare toward her Queen. "Your boyfriend is making fun of your friend, and you're laughing?"
"Fufufu, I mean, he's not wrong." Akeno smiled teasingly, her arms linked around Kousuke's left arm while leaving his right to Morgan. In short, he currently had two beauties clinging to him on either side. A sight that still makes Issei green in envy. However, his thought is currently occupied with protecting his girlfriend's dignity as her rightful boyfriend.
"Hey now, don't bully my girlfriend—"
"Issei…" Rias perked up at her boyfriend's sudden intervention, but his next words froze her smile in place.
"Only I'm allowed to do that!" he said proudly.
Kousuke nodded approvingly, like a master watching his apprentice grow, before giving the Red Dragon Emperor a well-deserved fist bump. Rias eyed her boyfriend suspiciously. Their synchronized reactions made it seem as if they had planned this from the start.
"It seems the Crimson Satan's little sister is an easy target for bullies," Morgan muttered jokingly, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Rias gave a hollow laugh in response.
"Ha ha ha, real funny."
"Are you done teasing Rias?" Grayfia interjected at the perfect time before continuing, "Well then, follow my lead and don't get lost. This might be within Gremory territory, but not all devils have good intentions. Though I'm sure you are all well aware of that."
"Sounds fun. Are there any sane devils that look like the ones in books? You know, the scary-looking type?" Kousuke asked curiously. He had seen how hideous stray devils looked, but they didn't seem particularly intelligent. They attacked him on sight after all.
"No. Most stray devils that look grotesque do so because they've lost control of their Evil Pieces, causing their bodies to mutate," Rias explained. "There are no records in our history of devils being born monstrous. Even the first devil and our progenitor, the original Lucifer, was said to be exceptionally handsome. So humans likely depicted us as ugly in fiction out of fear, or envy."
"Aww, what a shame. I thought I could capture one and use it to scare off some annoying kids," Kousuke replied nonchalantly with a shrug. He hadn't been serious, so he wasn't disappointed by her truthful answer.
"You're thinking of capturing a stray just to scare kids?" Issei muttered in disbelief. He couldn't understand his friend's thought process. If Kousuke did have one, where would he even keep it? In his closet as a Halloween decoration? Or locked up in a basement like an exotic pet?
"Whatever you're imagining, it's nothing like that. I have ways to keep something like that hidden from sight," Kousuke said with a mysterious smile. Then he added in a low voice, "Do you want to know where it is?"
"Nope! Not interested!" Issei immediately refused. He didn't know why, but he had a gut feeling he wouldn't like the answer. Maybe it was Kousuke's tone, or the glimmer in Morgan's eyes that made his instincts scream danger. He wasn't about to let his curiosity kill him like the cat.
"We have arrived," Grayfia announced as she led them into the living room. When everyone stepped inside, their gazes instinctively moved toward the two figures sitting on the couch. It was a red-haired man in his mid-thirties and a flaxen-haired woman in her mid-twenties, Zeoticus Gremory and Venelana Gremory respectively.
"Father! Mother!" Rias called out to them before diving into her mother's chest as the latter stood up. Venelana smiled softly as she embraced her daughter, gently brushing a strand of crimson hair from Rias's face. "It's been a while, dear. You've grown even more radiant since the last time you visited."
"Mother…" Rias murmured fondly, her voice tinged with warmth and nostalgia. She reluctantly pulled back, still holding her mother's hands. "It's good to see you too."
Zeoticus Gremory rose from his seat with a welcoming smile, his demeanor calm and composed, exuding the grace of a noble who had seen much of the world. "Welcome home, Rias," he said before turning his gaze toward the group standing behind her. "And these must be your companions?"
"Yes, Father," Rias said, straightening her posture as her tone shifted to something a little more formal. "You already know my peerage members, but allow me to introduce our guests properly." She gestured first toward Kousuke and then to the woman beside him. "This is Igarashi Kousuke, and this is Lady Morgan. They've come with us to visit the Underworld at my brother's invitation."
"Igarashi Kousuke…" Zeoticus repeated the name thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly in curiosity. "Ah, yes. Sirzechs mentioned you in his message earlier. He spoke quite highly of you, which, I assure you, is not something he does often."
Venelana's expression softened, but her curiosity shone through. "Indeed. For my son to personally prepare for a guest's arrival is… rare." Her gaze lingered on Kousuke for a moment before she smiled graciously. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mister Igarashi."
Kousuke bowed politely, his tone respectful but easy. "The pleasure's mine, Lady Venelana, Lord Zeoticus. I'm honored to be welcomed into your home."
There was a composed confidence in his bearing, neither arrogance nor subservience. It was the kind of poise that came from someone who had walked through countless battles yet still remembered how to be courteous. Issei looks at him with gaping mouth, he had never seen his friends acts this noble.
Morgan followed suit with a graceful nod. "I must say, this estate is quite beautiful. I've read of devil architecture before, but seeing it in person… something about it feels ancient."
Venelana's eyes brightened at that. "How flattering. We've taken great care to restore the lands after the great war that leave the surface layers tattered. Our home is a reflection of stability, as much as it is of lineage."
"Then you've done well," Morgan said with a faint smile. "After all, it's not an easy thing to do and likely takes a lot of time and planning."
Zeoticus chuckled lightly. "Coming from you, Lady Morgan, I'll take that as high praise. Sirzechs did tell us you were quite the mysterious woman."
"Did he now?" Morgan replied with an amused smirk, her tone playful yet unreadable. "I do hope he didn't exaggerate."
Before Zeoticus could respond, Rias tugged Kousuke's sleeve slightly, whispering, "See? I told you my parents are surprisingly easy to get along with."
Kousuke gave her a small grin. "Yeah, they seem more normal than I expected. Guess it runs in the family."
Rias pouted. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Venelana giggled softly at their banter, exchanging an amused glance with her husband. "How charming. No wonder my son and daughter both seem fond of you, Mister Igarashi. It's refreshing to see someone who can keep up with our Rias without losing composure."
Zeoticus nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Most men tend to… falter or charmed by her."
Kousuke shrugged modestly. "I've had practice dealing with peculiar and eccentric personalities, and she was the easiest of them all."
Morgan chuckled, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "That's one way to put it."
The sound of distant footsteps echoed through the grand hall, and moments later, a familiar cheerful voice followed.
"Ya~hoo! Did I miss the reunion?"
Serafall Leviathan stepped into the room in her usual dazzling energy, wearing a playful smile as her presence immediately lightened the air. She waved dramatically before spotting Kousuke. "Ah! So you're the famous human I've been hearing about~!"
Her sudden appearance made both Rias and Akeno sighed in tandem.
"Here we go again…"