Chapter 50: Madam Is Very Pleased~ (Patreon)

Unlike the public trains operating within the port, the Gremory family's exclusive train didn't need to adhere to a strict schedule. So, as soon as the final approval for Asia's document was processed at the "Port," the group boarded the train together.

"Wow~ It's so luxurious!" As soon as she stepped onto the train, Asia couldn't help but whisper in amazement.

In complete contrast to the train's classic exterior, which seemed like a relic from Britain in the last century, the interior decoration, while maintaining a classical style, was meticulously executed in every aspect. Boarding the train led directly into a carriage resembling a home living room, complete with everything from a coffee table and soft sofas to a bar counter serving drinks. Warm light shone down from chandeliers shaped like budding lilies overhead, creating an atmosphere of stately elegance and luxury.

And this was just one carriage. Looking forward and back revealed accommodation carriages, a dining car, and even an entertainment car. It was almost like the custom private jets of the ultra-wealthy; because it didn't need to accommodate hundreds of passengers like a commercial plane, each person had significantly more space, allowing for the expansion of more entertainment and comfort features. To make a comparison, it was perhaps like the Astral Express Pro Max Ultra Deluxe Upgrade version from Honkai: Star Rail.

"Well, anyway, everyone just pick a spot and sit down for now," Rias said, gesturing with the air of a gracious hostess for everyone to make themselves comfortable. "We'll be departing shortly, and we'll arrive in the Underworld soon after."

"Eh?" The Sister looked dumbfounded. Arrive soon after? Does that mean the whole journey won't take very long? Then why go to the trouble of having so many carriages with such comprehensive facilities? Wouldn't there be no chance to even use them? Or is this just the kind of余裕 (leeway/luxury) the wealthy enjoy...?

Soon, once everyone in the carriage was seated, the train slowly began to move. There was none of the abruptness seen in sci-fi movies where spaceships violently accelerate to maximum power before suddenly vanishing from the screen during an interstellar jump. The entire process was incredibly smooth, almost like a driving school novice practicing reverse parking – the kind where the instructor shoves a soda can under the gas pedal to limit acceleration.

Gradually, the scenery outside the windows began to change. It was like transitioning instantly from a pitch-black tunnel into the heart of an arctic aurora. The view was filled with the brilliant, pulsating, and gradually shifting colors of a star sea, making one instinctively want to stick their head out for a panoramic view. But clearly, this was absolutely forbidden; the completely sealed, unopenable design of the train windows was proof enough.

A short while later, as the aurora gradually faded, the scenery outside transformed once again. Looking down from the carriage window revealed a boundless expanse of mountains and land below, covered in dense forests and crisscrossed by rivers. Aside from the sky color being slightly deeper than in the Human World, there wasn't much difference.

Of course, that wasn't entirely true. At the very least, trains in the Human World didn't travel straight forward hundreds of meters up in the sky.

"A-a-a-are we... flying in the sky?!" Asia stammered, too astonished to speak coherently.

"Don't worry, we won't fall," Rias reassured her with a smile. She then stood up from the sofa, walked over to the window, and pointed towards the far distance to their right front, where the outline of a castle town was already faintly visible. "See over there? That's the Gremory territory."

"Oh~" Hearing this, Hanakain Fubuki also glanced up briefly. How to put it... in every sense, it perfectly matched the description of a noble's domain: a castle town centered around the lord's castle, with the houses of commoners built around it. It was just that the residential area didn't seem particularly large, perhaps about the size of Tokyo's Central Ward.

The train continued its journey, gliding smoothly across the sky like a shooting star, drawing ever closer to the castle. From afar, a railway track could be seen extending outwards from the top level of the castle, leading directly inside – vaguely resembling the landing terrace on Stark Tower from the Avengers.

Several minutes later, after completing a perfect arc through the Underworld sky, the front wheels of the train precisely engaged the rails extending from the castle top, guiding the rest of the train smoothly inside. Just like its departure, the train came to a steady stop without any noticeable inertial lurch.

Someone was already waiting in advance on the castle platform outside the train.

"Mother!" As soon as the train doors opened, Rias eagerly disembarked onto the platform.

Waiting there was, without a doubt, Venelana Gremory, who was currently managing the Gremory household affairs in place of the family head.

There was no need for excessive formalities between mother and daughter. Venelana immediately greeted her daughter with a smile and a warm hug. "Welcome home, Rias. Right on time, it seems the journey was smooth."

"Yes, it was..." Rias nodded, about to say more, but Venelana's gaze had already shifted past her to the others emerging from the train carriage – Akeno and the rest.

"Welcome, Rias's peerage members. And... oh my, I didn't expect Lord Leviathan's sister to come along as well."

"Greetings, Lady Gremory," Sona Sitri, who had hitched a ride, offered a polite curtsy. "Due to certain circumstances, I came along with Rias and the others this time. Since school hasn't let out for break yet, I'll have to return in a couple of days. I hope I won't be too much trouble imposing on your hospitality during my stay."

"Not at all, not at all. It's been quite a while since you last visited us, Sona-chan. It brings back fond memories," Venelana replied with a welcoming smile, shaking her head to show she didn't mind. Her gaze then fell upon Hanakain Fubuki and Asia, the last two to disembark. "And these two are..."

"Ah, let me introduce them," Rias said, clearing her throat slightly. "This is Miss Asia Argento. She was formerly a Saint from the Church in Northern Europe, but due to certain reasons, she has left the Church. She now lives with me, Akeno, and Koneko in the school building at Kuoh Academy."

"And..." Before Rias could gesture towards the young man beside her, Venelana suddenly spoke.

"This must be Fubuki-kun, correct?"

Eh? Rias was taken aback. She vaguely remembered her brother mentioning he had told their mother about Fubuki when he visited the Occult Research Club, but she assumed it was just a mention. For her mother to recognize him on sight like this, could it be…?

"Oh, I forgot to mention, dear," Venelana said with a gentle smile. "Actually, the night Sirzechs came back, Grayfia-chan happened to return as well. She kindly used magic to extract the memory of her meeting with you all and showed it to me. You really are adorable when you get shy, Rias!"

"Ah… th-that was…!" Rias's pretty face instantly flushed crimson. She immediately realized exactly which "shy appearance" her mother was referring to. Wasn't that precisely how she looked when she was wrapped in a bedsheet, negotiating with Grayfia-nee-san after she and Fubuki had…! Mother saw that through a recording…!?

"Heeheehee~" Seeing her daughter flustered with shame and anger, completely at a loss, Venelana couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. Truthfully, there was another part she hadn't voiced: she had also thought Fubuki looked quite handsome sitting bare-chested on the bed, holding Rias while confidently dealing with Grayfia. However, considering it was rather inappropriate for a mother to praise her daughter's boyfriend's shirtless charm right in front of her daughter, she decided against it.