Chapter 86: Reception
*tooo-too-too-too-toot-too-tah-toot-tah-tah-tah-toom!*
Just as Rias had said, a massive crowd and procession awaited Vahn and the members of the ORC when they disembarked the train. Alongside the sound of trumpets, soldiers in stylish red, white, and gold-trimmed dress uniforms arranged on both sides of a wide, brick-paved, carriage-lined street, firing magic rifles into the sky, triggering a cacophony of colorful fireworks that formed cartoony images of Rias's and even Vahn's faces...
"Welcome back, Rias-ojou-sama! Welcome, Vahn-waka-sama! Welcome, Rias-ojou-sama's Peerage!" exclaimed a group of more than a hundred Maids and Butlers, each speaking and bowing in concert as they formed neat rows and columns like rank-and-file soldiers with Grayfia standing at their front.
"Hiiiiii—this is way too many people..." whined Gasper, concealing himself behind a wide-eyed Issei.
Though she briefly looked back out of concern, Rias exhaled faintly from her nose when she saw Issei immediately comforting Gasper. She didn't approve of Issei trying to convince him to use his power to allow him to look up girls' skirts and grope their breasts without their knowledge, but she trusted him to take care of Gasper as she grasped Vahn's hand, gave him a reassuring smile, and led the group forward.
"Welcome back, Ojou-sama, Waka-sama. It pleases me to see you have returned safely..." hummed Grayfia, closing her eyes and offering a steep, courteous bow. Vahn was a little puzzled by her referring to him as Waka-sama, meaning Young Master, but he assumed it was a precaution against misunderstandings. After all, her actual Goshujin-sama was Sirzechs, the literal King of Hell. After that, she was the Head Maid of the Ducal House of Gremory, making Rias's father, the current Duke, her Master in name—if not practice...
"Thank you, everyone, for gathering to welcome us. You may raise your heads and see to your responsibilities," stated Rias, prompting Grayfia and the detachment of Maids and Butlers to rise and answer, "Yes, Rias-ojou-sama~" in perfect harmony. Then, the Maids and Butlers forming the front row turned simultaneously to their left and split off from the larger group, triggering a chain reaction where each row, in turn, moved in the opposite direction of the one preceding them.
"The carriages that will transport you to the central palace and estate have been prepared. Please, follow me," said Grayfia, half-turning and gesturing with her right hand to the procession of massive, extravagant, horse-drawn carriages. Instead of ordinary horses, however, they were nearly twice as large and comprised of pitch-black armor, hazy black mist filling their interiors, and fiery red orbs crackling where their eyes should be.
"Alright, then, come along, Akeno, Asia," chimed Rias, prompting Akeno to offer a slight bow and Asia, who had been awed by the scene playing out before her, to startle and respond, "Y-Yes, Rias-sama...!" as she hurried to catch up. She was technically still a Maid Trainee, but she had been given the role of Vahn's attending Maid and servant, a duty she intended to take very seriously...
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