My life as the Protagonist of Highschool DxD

(Chapter 25) I Dug This Grave Myself Part 4

The second their cheer finished, numerous fireworks went off in the sky. As if they were celebrating a hometown hero, everyone cheered. There were soldiers standing in a file line across the platform that raised their guns in the air to give a gun salute. Band members also broke out into song all at once, nearly overwhelming me.

This was one hell of a way to welcome someone back.

Gasper covered his ears before shrinking behind me, clearly overwhelmed by the numerous people and loud noises.

"T-There's too many people!" My hand found its way to rest on the top of his head in an attempt to comfort him. Gasper still hadn't completely overcome his shut in tendencies. Even inside the clubroom, Gasper would sit inside his favorite cardboard box, albeit with the top open. But, suddenly being exposed to a festival-like greeting, I could understand why he'd shrink back.

"Thank you everyone." Rias greeted them all as the sea of people parted, and down the middle walked a silver haired maid.

"Welcome home, Lady Rias. I see you're early. I'm delighted to see that you and your peerage made it here safely. Now, if you all would board the carriages we have waiting, we will take you to the main residence." Grayfia gave her own greetings before guiding us to the carriages she had mentioned. The horse tied to the leash was at least twice the size of a normal one, which made me whistle in amazement.

As expected of the King of a peerage, Rias and Akeno rode in the first carriage, followed by Xenovia since it was her first time in the underworld. The rest of us took the second leading carriage.

It was my first time in a horse drawn carriage, so the sudden jerk caught me off guard for a moment, but the rest of the ride was pleasant. There was a whole train of servants behind us that had offloaded our stuff from the train while Rias and Grayfia rode ahead of us. The paved road we were on was smooth to the point I barely felt any bumps as the wooden wheels ran along the ground. Off in the distance I took notice of the native wilderness and the trees. Rias had explained on the train that the majority of the underworld was unclaimed nature with no oceans at all, making it closer to a Pangea kind of world.

The ride was blissful as we came across a tall building off in the distance. The framework and structure instantly reminded me of the castle I saw on the seventieth floor of the tower. It was a nigh one to one replica.

"I-It's huge." Asia said in an amazed tone as she walked outside of the carriage with me. It might have even been bigger than my house is now.

"This is the main residence." Rias explained to Asia before turning around and preparing to walk inside.

Besides the pathway inside the castle, there was a golden seabed of flowers scattered all over the place. Regal fountains spewed out water as birds and butterflies roamed about freely. Had someone taken a photo of this and told me it was Hell, I would have laughed in their face.

We had hardly gotten close to the massive doors when they swung open from the inside. On the other end a butler stood with a ramrod straight posture. His frame didn't seem all that impressive, but he was the one to have opened those massive doors without much issue. Other servants flanked both sides as Grayfia bowed while guiding us inside.

"Lady Rias, everyone. Please, step forward."

"Come now everyone, let's enter." As if this were an everyday occurrence, Rias walked forward with grace and perfect posture. The rest of her peerage followed after her, along with Asia and I. We traversed the long hallways that reminded me of my own home before coming across a small boy with similar crimson hair to Rias and her family members.

"Aunty Rias! You're back home!" The young boy shouted at the top of his lungs before running up to Rias to hug her. Rias accepted his rough embrace happily with a smile on her face.