I held my fork and knife without putting them to the extravagant cooking that I beheld for the first time. I was hungry. But if I ate crudely here, Rias would completely lose face. Ah, Kiba and Akeno-san were eating gracefully. As expected of the [Queen] and [Knight].
Asia and Xenovia were also having a hard time, though they still looked good. These two had, like me, introduced themselves in this place not that long ago, because we were newcomers.
Even little Millicas was eating skillfully.
When I casually turned my gaze to Gasper in front of me, he was eating with watery eyes that were squeezed shut. Today may have been a tough day for the hikikomori, after coming to a place with lots of people here in the Underworld.
Koneko hadn't started eating at all. Even though, usually, she would have been the first to heartily dig into the meal... Koneko had been acting strange; it seems like I need to talk to her about her sister.
Our eyes met, and I waved my hand, but she averted her eyes while remaining expressionless. She always showed little emotion on her face, but there was even less reaction than usual.
Azazel hadn't made it for the meal. It seems that the meeting couldn't help lasting a long time.
"*Clear throat*. Members of Rias' group, please think of this place as your home. Having just come to the Underworld, you're in an environment you don't understand. If there's something you want, please say so to the housemaids without reserve. They'll prepare it right away."
Rias's father cheerfully told us this. Can you show your treasury? "Is" is what I wanted to ask, but I held back.
"By the way, Hyoudou Issei-kun."
Rias's father turned to face me.
"Yes."
"Have your parents been well?"
"Yes. They say their house was so wonderfully rebuilt. Told there Gratitude."
"Oh, I see Then I should give my thanks as well. Then how about a souvenir?"
Rias's father rang a hand bell beside him. A butler then immediately approached.
"What is your order, master?"
"Yes. Prepare a castle for Hyoudou Issei-kun's parents."
"Yes. Shall it be Western-style? Or Japanese-style?"
The butler also responded normally. Don't flux too hard, old man.
"What a worrisome choice."
"Please wait a moment. Going that far for a souvenir is a little too much."
I quickly tried to restrain Rias's father.
"Dear, since the land in Japan is too small, it's impossible for a commoner to have a castle."
That was the voice of Rias's mother.
"What? Certainly, Japan is small. Hmm, if a castle is no good, I wonder what else would be a good present..."
"Father, worrying about it that much will just trouble them. Ise's parents don't possess strong worldly desires anyway."
So said Rias.
Rias's father also said, "I see," and nodded deeply.
"Hyoudou Issei-kun."
"Yes."
"You may call me "father-in-law" from today on."
Oh. Fuck
"Oh." I give a minimalistic response. I can't do that.
"Dear, you're being too fast. There's such a thing as order first."
Rias's mother scolded her husband.
"Yeah. However, it's even crimson and red. Doesn't it make you happy?"
"Dear, I said that it's still too early to celebrate."
"That's true. It seems I just tend to be too hasty."
Rias's father let out a deep breath. It seemed that he was completely dominated by his wife.
So the words of Rias's mother had a lot of power in this household. I didn't know that.
The person in question, Rias, was in a state of embarrassment and didn't continue eating.
"Hyoudou Issei-san. Is it fine if I call you Issei-san?"
Rias's mother asked this.
"Issei is fine; I don't like honorific titles." I said. Normally, I won't mind honorific titles, but since she is the one who asked me, I said my preference.
"Will you be staying here for a while?"
"Yes. While...Rias is here, I'll be here too... But what about it?"
"I see. That's perfect. Since I have to have you acquire gentlemanly behavior as well. You'll study manners a little while here."
Ah, I remember this; they also forced Issei to study the etiquette of the underworld in the original timeline.
The sound of the table being hit. When I looked over, Rias had stood up at her seat.
"Father. Mother. I've been listening quietly until now, but what kind of thing are you trying to advance while leaving me out of it?"
Rias's mother narrowed her eyes at those words. There was none of the smiling face from when she had pleasantly greeted us before.
"Be silent, Rias. You already canceled your engagement with Raiser, remember? The fact that we just permitted it should be thought of as special treatment. How much effort do you think your father and Sirzechs had to put in in order to take care of things with the other high-class devils? Do you know that he told one noble that "my selfish daughter canceled her engagement using the legendary dragon"? You may be the younger sister of the Maou, but there is still a limit."
"Onii-sama has nothing to—"
Rias's face became clouded by anger, and she tried to speak out, but Rias's mother didn't let her.
"You mean Sirzechs is unrelated to what you do? Officially, that is true. However, everyone sees you as the Maou's younger sister. Right now, when the three great powers have formed an alliance, your position is known even by the lower classes of the other powers. You can't behave selfishly as you have in the past. And, above all else, everyone will pay attention to you from now on. Rias, you have been placed into that kind of position, you know? There will be no second instance of that kind of selfishness. Do not carry any spoiled thoughts. Understood?"
Rias seemed to be mortified by those words and couldn't retort back. Still looking unconvinced, she forcefully sat down in her seat.
After letting out a single breath, Rias's mother turned to us with a smile.
"I've shown something ugly to Rias' group members, haven't I? Getting back to the topic, you will go through special training during your stay here, Issei-san. Since you have to experience the upper society and nobility even if only a little."
Given that, I plan to make my own peerage after I become a high-class devil; a little etiquette won't do harm.
~~~
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