High School DxD: Fox of Ill Omen

Issei

“Good day,” he said. “I am Reynaldo, the conductor in charge of this train. And it’s a pleasure to meet the new servants of the Gremory household.”

The change of pace from Akeno-san teasing me, to Akeno-san teasing Yuki-san and staring a whole argument, to Buchou ending the argument, to an old guy, who apparently is the train conductor, very politely greeting us has thrown me through a loop.

A second ago, Akeno-san had been flirting, Asia had been blushing, Yuki had been trapped in the blast radius of that flirting, and the next an older servant of the Gremory family was bowing to us.

It felt like far too much had happened in too small of a window of time.

I got up in a hurry along with Asia, Yuki-san, and Xenovia who had already stood.

As I stood, I glazed at Buchou.

And her eyes definitely still had that dangerous look from when she saw Akeno-san on my lap.

I was definitely in trouble.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Reynaldo-san. I am Shiramine Yuki, one of Rias Gremory-sama’s [Pawns].”

Yuki-san greeted him first and with practiced elegance and a perfect bow that almost made me forget that she had been defending herself from being labeled a pervert a moment ago.

I rushed to greet him next

“Yes! I-It is nice to meet you!” I bowed stiffly as I spoke. “My name is Hyoudou Issei. I am one of our Buchou, Rias Gremory-sama’s, [Pawns] as well! Please treat me well!”

I quickly raised from my bow to prevent myself from embarrassing myself or Buchou any further.

Asia stood beside me and bowed with a natural ease.

“Hello! I am Asia Argento! I am Rias Gremory-sama’s [Bishop]! I hope we can get along well!”

Asia finished with a warm smile.

Xenovia gave a short, direct bow.

“I’m Xenovia. Rias-sama’s [Knight]. Please treat me well from now on.”

Reynaldo-san smiled pleasantly, as if the panic that I was showing or the strange conversation he had walked into hadn't happened.

As a servant of a noble Devil family he had probably gotten used to ignoring things.

“A pleasure.” He said with a kind smile.

I glanced at Akeno-san who was back in her seat again.

She looked sad that her entertainment had been taken from her by Reynaldo’s arrival.

When she saw me looking at her she smiled at me again.

I looked away before I could get in any more trouble.

Reynaldo-san turned to Buchou.

“Princess Rias,” Reynaldo-san said, touching one hand to the brim of his hat before removing it. “It is good that you are close with your servants, but perhaps you should remember that you will be attending important social events soon. You will need to follow proper protocol and be careful of what is said around other families.”

Buchou’s face flushed lightly as she looked away from him.

“A-Ahem,” she said, recovering with admirable speed. “You’re quite right.”

It was strange to see Buchou getting reprimanded by a servant of her family, but if he was trusted with the family’s transport to the Underworld then he probably was a well trusted individual.

Plus, Buchou had always talked about the Gremory family valuing and caring for its servants.

Reynaldo being able to talk to her that way proved it to me even though I already knew that Buchou had always treated us well.

I looked to Yuki-san who had watched the interaction with interest.

I hope that seeing it makes her more comfortable during our trip.

If Buchou acts this way, then her parents probably will as well.

Reynaldo-san then took out a small device from inside his coat.

It looked like some kind of mixture of an old timey camer and a flip phone.

It lit up in his hands as it powered on. 

He turned it toward me first.

“U-Umm… what is that?”

Buchou answered before my panic could fully bloom.

“It’s a device to register and check your identity. It can detect your demonic energy signature and compare it to a previous recording to verify your identity. Since it’s your first time heading to the Underworld properly it’s mainly to record your identity for our records. It is required for all entry to the Underworld to prevent people from fabricating an identity to enter. The security of the underworld is taken very seriously.”

I stared at the device.

That made sense.

It also made me worry about how I had entered the Underworld last time when I came to rescue Buchou.

I know that Akeno-san had said it was fine since Sirzechs-sama had allowed it, but it still made me nervous. 

“So this is like…” I swallowed. “Underworld immigration?”

Yuuto nodded from her seat. “Essentially.”

“Why does that sound so normal when you say it?”

“Because it is.”

“I guess that makes sense.” I muttered.

Reynaldo-san chuckled pleasantly, which somehow did not make me feel less like I was about to be arrested.

He held the device out toward me.

It made a short, sharp ringing sound.

I froze.

Asia froze too.

“B-Buchou! It made an alarm!”

“It’s fine.”

I looked at the conductor.

He was still smiling.

That was reassuring.

I guess that means that I was worried for nothing.

Then the machine gave a softer dinging sound.

Reynaldo-san nodded. “Hyoudou Issei. Verified. New entry record confirmed.”

I exhaled so hard I nearly slumped over.

“I’m not going to prison.”

“No,” Xenovia said. “Not for that, at least.”

I stared at her.

Asia made a  sound that might have been a laugh trying not to be one.

The machine turned toward her next.

She stood up straighter at once.

It made the same sharp sound first, and I could see her shoulders tense before the softer confirmation followed.

“Asia Argento. Verified. New entry record confirmed.”

Asia put a hand to her chest in relief. “Thank goodness…”

“My, Asia-chan,” Akeno-san said gently, “you look as though you thought you were going to dragged away.”

Asia’s cheeks turned pink. “I-I didn’t think that exactly…”

“You did,” I muttered.

She glanced at me and flushed a little more. “Ise-san thought that too.”

“I had reasons!”

The machine turned toward Xenovia.

Unlike the two of us, she didn’t seem nervous at all.

She simply sat there and let the device scan her with the expression of someone waiting for a weather report.

The alarm sounded.

The confirmation followed.

“Xenovia. Verified. New entry record confirmed.”

She nodded. “Understood.”

“Shouldn’t the former exorcist be the nervous one here?” I muttered. 

Then Reynaldo-san moved to Yuki-san.

She looked calm as usual.

However when the device scanned her it made a different sound.

“Shiramine Yuki, previously registered as Kusari. Do you want your entry record updated to the new name?” Reynaldo asked.

“Yes, as long as Rias-Buchou finds it acceptable.” Yuki-san replied, looking at Buchou.

Buchou nodded.

“Of course it is. I already submitted the paperwork to have your name be registered as Shiramine Yuki. This is just the last official step of the process. So if you want it to be your official name in the Underworld from now on instead of Kusari you’ll just need to tell Reynaldo so. It’s up to you Yuki.”

Yuki-san turned back to Reynaldo-san.

“Then I would like my registration to be updated to Shiramine Yuki.”

“Understood.” Reynaldo replied.

He pressed a few more buttons before the confirmation sound dinged for her too.

Buchou turned to Asia, Xenovia and I.

“Your records now include your piece designations and entry data,” she said. “Since you’re all new Devils, or at least new to my peerage, this first formal entry matters. You’re registered properly from here on.”

That made me sigh in relief. 

“I told you that last time was a special case,” Akeno-san said at once, smiling at me while leaning her head on her hand. “Since you were brought in with Sirzechs-sama’s magic circle, your unregistered entry to the Underworld was fine.”

I sighed as I sat back down in my seat next to Asia.

Reynaldo-san, still very patient, turned the device toward the others as well.

They still needed to be scanned to confirm their identities before we entered the Underworld. 

Not for new registration in the same sense, but for confirmation.

All of the others were completely calm during their inspections, which only made me realize how nervous I had been during mine.

Then only Azazel-sensei was left to scan.

But, Azazel-sensei was asleep.

At the far end of the carriage, the Governor of the Fallen Angels had somehow slept through the very loud conversation fore Bucho had arrived.

He had leaned back in his chair and had his legs propped up on the chair across from him as he snored quietly.

He seemed far too relaxed for entreating what had been enemy territory only a short while ago.

Reynaldo-san looked in that direction.

Buchou followed his gaze and stared.

Then she pinched the bridge of her nose.

“…That man is far too carefree.”

Akeno-san giggled softly.

Yuuto-san smiled.

Even Yuki-san’s eyes shifted toward Azazel-sensei for a second with something that looked suspiciously like quiet disbelief.

Reynaldo-san let out a pleasant little laugh.

“The Governor of the Fallen Angels is a peaceful one.”

“That is not the word I would use,” Buchou said.

Still, she was smiling a little too.

Reynaldo-san approached Azazel-sensei, scanned him while he slept, and the machine accepted him too without trouble.

I stared.

“He doesn’t even have to wake up?”

Akeno-san tilted her head. “Would you prefer he did?”

I imagined Azazel-sensei waking up mid-check and immediately making the whole situation ten times worse.

“No,” I admitted. “This is better.”

With that, Reynaldo-san closed the device and bowed once more.

“With this, both the inspection and the formalities for the entry of the passengers here are complete. Please rest and relax until arrival. There are beds and dining facilities further along the train should you need them.”

Then, with the same polished courtesy he’d entered with, he departed.

The door slid shut behind him.

Once he did everyone began to relax again.

I sank back into my seat.

“We’re really almost in the Underworld.”

Asia folded her hands in her lap. “It feels much more real now.”

“I am looking forward to seeing it myself,” Xenovia said.

Buchou smiled.

“It will only be a little while longer before we arrive in the Underworld. Then I’ll get to show you my family’s home and land.”

For a while, the ride settled.

Buchou lingered in our carriage instead of returning to the front.

She was supposed to sit in her own train car ahead of us, but she said she had gotten bored and lonely by herself and decided to ride with us.

The dark tunnel outside the windows kept sliding past.

The train moved smoothly enough that if not for the occasional low vibration underfoot, it would have been easy to forget we were running at all.

Yuuto-san brought out a deck of cards and we killed time playing cards after that.

Or rather, some of us did.

Asia tried her best and still somehow didn’t manage to win more than one hand.

Xenovia played well and it was obvious that she and Yuuto-san had played together before.

Probably after multiple shogi losses.

Gasper decided to watch us instead of joining the game, but he wasn’t with us and talked as we played so it was progress for him. 

Koneko-chan didn’t play either.

She continued to look out the window and didn’t really say anything for a while.

Yuki-san was suspiciously lucky at cards and it felt like she won more than she should have.

Yuuto-san was just as competitive with cards as she was with other games.

I think she’s just naturally cut throat when it comes to games.

Akeno-san seemed to be more focused on flustering me and annoying Yuki-san than she did at winning the game. 

Buchou was her natural competitive self and was bickering with Akeno every chance she got.

And Azazel-sensei kept sleeping.

I don’t know how.

We weren’t even trying to be quiet, and there was a decent amount of shouting. 

A little while after departure, the announcement came.

[We are approaching the dimensional wall. We will soon be breaking through the dimensional wall.]

Everyone straightened at the announcement.

Buchou stood and looked at us.

“You should look outside as we pass into the Underworld.”

That was all the invitation I needed.

Asia and I leaned toward the window at the same time.

Xenovia followed more slowly and went to her own window to watch.

For a second, there was still only darkness beyond the glass.

Then the scenery changed.

Purple.

The first thing I saw was the sky.

A huge spread of purple over everything.

Then mountains.

Then trees.

Then more trees.

Then a whole landscape opening up like someone had peeled back the world and shown me another one hidden beneath it.

“Whoa! That’s amazing! The view is incredible!”

Asia pressed closer to the window beside me, eyes wide and sparkling in a way I didn’t think I’d seen enough yet.

“Amazing…amazing…”

Because of course it was.

This was a different world.

A whole different world, and I was seeing it from a moving train with everyone for the first time.

Granted I had been to the Underworld before, but I hadn’t really had time to appreciate the views. 

Buchou’s voice came from just behind us.

“You can open the window now that we are out of the tunnel.

I slid it open immediately.

Wind rushed in.

The air of the Underworld touched my face again, and even though I’d breathed it once before, it still felt different.

Not wrong, just peculiar.

Clean in a way that didn’t match the human world.

It was the perfect temperature as well.

Neither hot nor cold.

When I pulled back and looked behind the train, it seemed like we had come out of what looked like a black hole hanging in the distance.

That had to be the dimensional wall.

Or the dimensional tunnel.

But whatever it was, we had come out of it.

We were really in the Underworld.

I looked back out at the landscape.

Mountains. Rivers. Forests. 

A town in the distance with buildings shaped similarly to the ones back in the human world.

It hit me all at once that I had never even been abroad before.

And now my first real experience of another country might be in another world entirely.

My life was ridiculous.

But this part of it was amazing.

“The area we are in is a part of the Gremory territory,” Buchou said.

I turned back so fast I nearly hit my head on the window frame.

“Then everything we’ve been passing through belongs to your family?”

She nodded.

Seriously!?

The tracks. The mountains. The rivers. That town in the distance.

All of that.

I looked at Buchou again with renewed awe.

My master really was rich on a completely absurd scale.

“How large is Gremory territory exactly?” I asked before I could stop myself.

I was still trying to imagine Tokyo district size or maybe something larger when Yuuto-san leaned slightly forward from across the aisle and answered me.

“If I remember correctly, it’s about the size of Honshu in Japan.”

There was a brief pause in my brain.

“H-Honshuuu!?”

I shouted so loudly that Asia jumped.

Buchou nodded.

Yuuto-san nodded too.

No one looked surprised by my reaction except maybe Gasper, who still seemed to have trouble believing I could be surprised by anything after everything he’d already seen me react to.

Yuki-san just looked annoyed that I was being loud.

“You see, the Underworld is roughly the same size as the human world.” Buchou explained calmly. “However, there are no oceans, so there is much more landmass than the human world.”

“Plus, the population of the Underworld is far less than the human world.” Yuuto continued. “Even with Devils, Fallen Angels, and the other races living here there are still far more humans that exist then all of these races combined. And with the fall of so many pillar Devil houses the lands that they previously owned were redistributed after the Great War.”

That explanation should have helped.

It didn’t.

It made me realize how vast the Gremory territory was and how much responsibility Buchou would have when she took over as head of the family.

“Even if you compare its size to Honshu,” she said, “most of it is still forest, mountains, and unused land.”

“Buchou,” I said honestly, “that doesn’t make it any less impressive.”

Asia was still staring out the window with a completely lost look on her face, like her mind had failed to comprehend the scale of the Gremory territory and stopped.

Across from her, Xenovia had somehow drifted into a side conversation with Yuuto-san about the kinds of swords that might be produced in the Underworld.

She seemed completely unconcerned with the bombshell that had stunned Asia and I.

Then Buchou clapped her hands once, like she had just remembered something pleasant.

“That’s right.”

That tone scared me a little.

“Ise. Asia. Xenovia.Yuki.” She smiled. “As members of my peerage you will be given some land in the territory. We can look at a map later and you can tell me what areas you like.”

For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

“W-Wait! We get our own land in your territory!?”

Buchou gave me a fond but slightly exasperated look.

“Yes Ise. Since you’re all the servants of the next family head you will receive your own land in the Gremory territory. Akeno, Yuuto, Koneko, and Gasper all have their own land in the Gremory territory already.”

I turned to look at them one by one.

Akeno-san smiled lazily.

Yuuto-san looked unsurprised.

Koneko-chan barely reacted.

Gasper looked embarrassed to be suddenly looked at so intently.

Then Buchou used demonic power to make a map appear in the air.

A huge one.

It spread out in front of us, red areas marking certain areas of the map.

“Here. The areas marked in red are the lands that already have an owner.” Buchou said. “You can pick out land from anywhere else. Go ahead and look for an area that you’d like. Once you’ve found something I can mark it as yours.”

I stared at Buchou blankly.

It must be normal to her, coming from a normal noble family, but to me this was insane.

Asia stared at the map like she was afraid of making a wrong choice for her land.

Xenovia was still talking to Yuuto-san so she would get to decide later.

Yuki-san glanced across the map with interest.

I eventually ended up picking an area with mountains and lakes for my own personal territory.

I figured that it would be easier to manage if it was remote and the area would look nice as well. 

Yuki-san looked like she had a similar idea when she picked a remote piece of land containing a different mountain. 

By the time the map was taken away, my head was still spinning.

A secret underground Devil train station.

A private train.

Getting scanned for entry.

The dimensional wall.

The size of the Gremory territory. 

I received a huge plot of land. 

And we still hadn’t even gotten off of the train yet. 

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