Shin High School DxD - Volume 1 - Chapter 1.1

Life.1 High-class Devil Hyoudou Issei 

Part 1 

A few days later—. 

We went to the world of Devils the Underworld, during our school holidays. Although the Underworld was different from the human realm, the vastness of it was roughly the same, but there was 

no ocean as only vast land spread across the realm 

. The Underworld was formerly divided into two parts, the Devils’ and Fallen Angels’ (Angels who were banished from Heaven as they held wicked sentiments) territories. However, since all mythologies, including Angels, started to form an alliance last year, they all started interacting with each other and the feeling of tension caused by crossing the national border had almost disappeared as well. 

The place we were at was the Gremory territory in the Devils’ Underworld. It was the territory that the feudal lord High-class Devil Gremory household managed. The engagement press conference was held at the most gorgeous hotel in that castle town. And as the press corps throughout the Underworld had gathered at the hall that was prepared for the press conference, I and — the beautiful girl who was sitting beside me at the conference seat, Rias Gremory, were dazzled because of the flashes of light being fired off. A crimson-haired woman with blue eyes overflowing with elegance! A clear-headed woman who excelled in using the power of a Devil. magic, she was indeed the genius woman who was accomplished in both literary and military arts! Plus, she had an unrivaled style and big oppai! 

Yes, the beautiful crimson-haired girl sitting next to me was my Devil master, as well as the next head of the Gremory household, a princess, Rias Gremory. She was currently a university student and had retired naturally from the Occult Research Club, giving her position of president to Asia as she graduated from Kuoh Academy this autumn. Rias and I lined up and started the press conference as we told the press corps—. 

“—And as such, I would like to report that I, Rias Gremory, am engaged to this man, Hyoudou Issei.” 

As the press conference started, she announced the engagement news alongside a light greeting. In an instant, Rias and I were dazzled by the simultaneous flashes that intensified. Because this press conference was held to tell the public that I was officially engaged with Rias, I also… 

“I’ll take part in the introduction as well… Uhm, but I think everyone already knows about me…” 

I started my speech that way and continued with [I am engaged to Rias Gremory]. Rias was a celebrity as she was a High-class Devil princess, and her brother was also the Maou Lucifer. Being her servant, as well as the reputation that I got through fighting against the terrorist organisation [Khaos Brigade] who had been harming Devils and other mythologies, I was not only known by the Underworld but also by other mythologies. Coupled with the power of the legendary Dragon, the [Welsh Dragon], Red Dragon Emperor Ddraig, who dwelled inside my body, 

the interest of the upper echelons towards me kept increasing. 

…And a-above all, the reason why I was popular was… It was when the reporter gave out his question. The first reporter asked. 

“This is a question directed to the celebrity of the Underworld, Oppai Dragon, otherwise known as Hyoudou Issei. I would like to ask about the start of your romantic life with the Switch Princess, Rias Gremory—” 

—Oppai Dragon, Switch Princess. Such ridiculous words came out of nowhere… [Oppai Dragon] was a superhero SFX program with the official name [Breast Dragon Emperor (Chichiryuutei) Oppai Dragon]. Whenever I encountered a problem, I would always say [Oppai! Oppai!], and because of the mysterious power up that I got as a result of those oppai, people started calling me the [Oppai Dragon], and it was even made into a TV program. Thanks to that, I became popular among the children in the Underworld. 

And the reason Rias was called [Switch Princess] was because of her oppai being the trigger for my power-ups. 

I would get a power-up if I…uhm, touched and poked Rias’s oppai. …Thinking about it calmly, I surely didn’t know what I was saying. But thanks to that, I had escaped from a pinch several times, as well as making progress in terms of power, so I guess it can’t be helped! Did my way of growing change as a result of my excessive demand for oppai as well? 

And as there were such things, the fact that Rias and I experienced various circumstances until now made us famous not only in the Underworld, but also among the other mythologies. Well, it might also because of our engagement that we attracted this much attention in the press conference. As I answered the reporters’ questions, I thought about such things. However, the reporters kept on asking us questions one after another. 

“There is a rumour saying that the marriage will occur soon after Princess Rias graduates from university. Is this true?” 

“Hyoudou-san! Please tell me what your proposal speech was like! While your proposal to the other girls in the tournament was popular, I would like you to tell me your proposal to Princess Rias as it hasn’t been made public yet!” 

“I’ve heard that Hyoudou-san is also engaged with other girls, but have the dates for the weddings been decided?” 

“Rias-hime, what’s the engagement order of the girls?” 

“There was also a rumour saying that there might be a possibility of marrying the daughter of the Phoenix household, Ravel-hime. What’s your take on this matter?” 

“Are you going to live in the Underworld after you get married? Or are you going to live in Hyoudou-san’s parents’ house in the human realm?” 

Both Rias and I responded with the answers that we had remembered before like ‘Let’s see, actually—’ or ‘We can’t give you any answers yet’. However, as we couldn’t answer all the questions, we signalled to the organisers at an appropriate time. 

[Now, we will end the engagement press conference.] 

As the organisers closed the event, Rias and I stood up from our seats and left the place. 

“Hyoudou-san!” 

“Princess Rias!” 

Behind us, the storm of flashes continued, and quite a number of questions were tossed out. As expected, an engagement with a princess sure is troublesome, huh… Or so I felt, but I took a deep breath and looked at Rias as soon as we stepped into the corridor and the doors to the venue were closed behind us. 

“Hahaha.” 

“Fufufu.” 

As if our nervousness had completely disappeared, both of us burst into laughter. With this, the press conference ended safely.  By the way, about the proposal speech that was asked in one of the questions… Nevermind, I will stop bringing it up, it’s too embarrassing! 

Rias and I were ushered in by our comrades as we returned to the dressing room. I quickly sat on the chair as I was worn out. 

“Ah, it finally ended… These kinds of things sure are tiring.” 

“Good work out there.” 

Ravel then presented me a glass of tea. Man, I was grateful that my manager was so thoughtful. Rias smiled wryly as she said. 

“We have no choice as I am the next head of the noble Gremory household and you’re the Underworld’s super famous man. It’s only natural that if we hold a press conference, it would turn out like this. We have no choice but to adapt. The life of a Devil is long after all.” 

I came to a realisation. …If one were to become a celebrity in the Underworld, that person must do something like this whenever something happens… By the way, just as Rias said, a Devil’s lifespan is long. It was said to be as long as ten thousand years, or even longer than that. If I had to do this kind of thing every year, did it mean that I would have to do it another ten thousand times? …Just thinking about it, I became annoyed. Xenovia was looking at her smartphone as she said. 

“Look, [Oppai Dragon] and [Switch Princess] are trending right now on the Underworld’s social media.” 

Xenovia then showed us her phone screen… It’s real, it seemed like everyone was clamorously talking about our engagement press conference. Rias smiled. 

“Fufufu, we need to be careful 

, eh? We are being followed by the media and many people.” 

…Yeah, it’s just as Rias said. We should be careful not to let any bad rumours spread out. Well, our activities were currently centered on the human realm as well, so I guess the media wouldn’t chase us that far, and that meant that I could rest easy as there wouldn’t be any direct news coverage. Suddenly, as if Xenovia had remembered something, she said. 

“Maybe it would be better if we held an engagement press conference as well?” 

Asia panicked in response to this. 

“Hauu! As expected, it would seem that I-I won’t be able to endure something like that…” 

Xenovia and Asia were frightened of the engagement press conference. Actually, there was a question that was asked during the press conference just now as well, but…I was engaged with girls other than Rias! 

Asia Argento, Himejima Akeno-san, Toujou Shirone (Koneko)-chan…and her sister Kuroka, as well as Xenovia Quarta, Shidou Irina, and Rossweisse-san! As of now, there were eight girls whom I had vowed my future with 

. Or should I say, I proposed to them (there were also cases of reverse proposal though?) Hehehe, I decided to make all of the girls who fancied me into my brides. After all, they had accompanied me through various things thus far such as daily life, and also in battle. Also, we’re talking about me, the one who aimed to be the Harem King, you know! If there was a girl who told me that she liked me, and I also liked her…I would want to make her happy as well! As it was possible for Devils to be married to a number of people of the opposite sex, that problem there is cleared. As my first lover, and also my fiancee, Rias was well aware of this. Since Rias was a pure-blooded Devil who understood polygamy, she agreed and gave her permission to have more than one bride. In fact, it was Rias who had the guts to manage the girls by herself. Rias said to the girls. 

“I am sure that there are those who have to and those who don’t have to do it. Asia and Xenovia, you guys don’t have to do it. The same for Akeno, Shirone, and Kuroka.” 

Ah, so it was fine whether I do it or not. Although I thought so, the next press conference was going to be with Asia or Akeno-san… So it was okay if I didn’t do it, huh. The Japanese onee-sama with glossy long black hair, (what an outstanding style!) Himejima Akeno-san, disappointedly said. 

“Ara, ara, not doing the press conference with my husband…Ise-kun, even though I was unexpectedly looking forward to it.” 

“…I am fine whether we do it or not as the fact that I am Ise-senpai’s bride won’t change.” 

The one who sat on my lap while eating a snack as she spoke was my small loli junior who was a year below me, Toujou Shirone-chan. Although now, everyone calls her [Shirone-chan] rather than her former name, [Toujou Koneko]. Akeno-san was the [Queen], while Shirone-chan a.k.a Koneko-chan was the [Rook] of Rias’s peerage. Asia, Xenovia, and Rossweisse-san were also Rias’s servants in the beginning, but when I was promoted, a trade occurred and they became my servants now. There was a girl who raised her hand this way. A naive girl with light-brown hair tied into twintails — my childhood friend, Shidou Irina. Irina, who was a reincarnated Angel, said. 

“Ah, I will probably do it. It’s for the officials of Heaven. I received such an explanation from the higher-ups.” 

The current Angels couldn’t produce new ones as a result of the Great War that happened between the Three Factions in the past. As they formed an alliance, the Angels used the technology that was suggested by the Devils and Fallen Angels to create a system that made the targeted person become reborn as an Angel. Irina was Michael-san’s (a leader in Heaven) Ace. Because Angels imitated the Devils’ reincarnation system, the [Evil Pieces], they used playing cards as their form of reincarnation. And as Irina received the Ace card from Michael-san, she became a Reincarnated Angel. 

“Are you serious! Well, that’s right… Irina is Michael-san’s Ace after all…” 

As Irina said that to me, I nodded as I tried to show consent. …The engagement press conference with Irina was directed to Heaven? Or was it for the Christian church? A press conference that had a sacred atmosphere was…it was like scary from a Devil’s perspective, or it felt like something new… There was another one who raised her hand. —It was Rossweisse-san. 

“As I was born as a Valkyrie, is it better for me to tell the Norse?” 

Rossweisse-san was a former Valkyrie who was born in the Norse mythology. If that’s the case, should we contact her hometown Asgard and hold a press conference there…? Because our comrades came from a lot of places, we would be thinking about these things a lot. It was the same for the wedding ceremony, where would we hold it for each one, and I was sure that there would be many opinions from this stage onwards. Even though it was something distant, it was better to prepare it as fast as we could. 

“Hahaha…it seems like I really have no choice but to get used to this.” 

I laughed awkwardly as I scratched my cheek. …Even though it was nothing but hard work, it was full of happiness. I was really grateful that I was adored by a lot of girls. What a blessing indeed. 

This one and a half year, I had come close to death several times… no, I did fight in intense battles that would have destroyed my body, but when I thought that I promised my comrades and girlfriends, ‘is it really worth it to die?’ …It’s obvious that living was better. However, the incidents that fell upon me were all nothing but hardships that could’ve killed me! 

“Becoming the future Harem King sure is hard work.” 

The one who said that from behind was the handsome prince Kiba Yuuto! This guy was Rias’s [Knight] and my best friend. He became my best friend as he survived through death several times along with me. I laughed bitterly as I said in response to my friend’s words. 

“Well, I’ll somehow manage it.” 

Yes, I had no choice but to manage it. 

Compared to battles where I could have died, this kind of thing was nothing. Also, days without battles like these were extremely important to us. If it’s for the happiness of the future, this man, Hyoudou Issei, will stand up to do his best! —And, it was at the moment when I fired myself up. My manager a.k.a Ravel opened her notebook as she said to me. 

“And now, Ise-sama, It’s time for our next job. I have matched several requests that got in with our trip to Underworld. Uhm, there will be an interview as the Oppai Dragon from a kids’ magazine within two hours. And after that, you will be shooting for the next commercial—” 

…As I became famous, my private life became pretty much nonexistent. Having become a High-class Devil and moved a step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a Harem King, reality just kept overwhelming me—.