Starting from Zero to Build a Demon Family
Chapter 12 - Starting a Club—A Service Club?

Chapter 12: Starting a Club—A Service Club?

The next day.

Private Shuchiin Academy.

“A club?” Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head, clearly puzzled.

It was Monday morning, and she had arrived at school alongside Lynn. The two walking in together immediately drew attention from nearby students.

“Isn’t that Kasumigaoka-senpai from the second-year? Why is she with Lynn-kun?”

“No way… don’t tell me they’re…”

Kasumigaoka Utaha was, after all, one of Shuchiin’s most recognized figures. Her beauty and figure were well-known throughout the school, and her reputation was only amplified by the fact that she frequently slept in class yet still maintained top marks. It was something of a legend.

Lynn, though just a freshman, had already gained similar notoriety. His appearance was almost inhumanly handsome, and the unique aura he carried made him instantly popular with girls from all grades.

So when these two showed up together, it naturally caused a stir. But neither of them paid any attention to the whispers around them.

“Why the sudden interest in starting a club?” Utaha asked, genuinely curious.

“Rias mentioned it,” Lynn replied, his tone casual.

He went on to explain. “She said that if I’m going to form a retinue, it’d be best to establish a base of operations somewhere we’re frequently active. That way, managing things becomes easier.”

Utaha nodded thoughtfully. It did make sense. For now, she was his only dependent, so everything was manageable. They even lived together, after all. But once the clan grew and members were scattered across different places, gathering everyone would become a hassle. They couldn’t just keep meeting at Lynn’s house for every little thing.

Imagining the house crowded with people, Utaha quickly voiced her agreement. “As expected of the Demon Princess—how thorough.”

Lynn smiled faintly. He thought so too. Recruiting more dependents was one of his top priorities. And considering the nature of this crossover world, Shuchiin Academy was home to many with the potential to join his retinue. Forming a club would make it far easier to gather them under one roof.

“Have you decided on a name for the club?” Utaha asked.

“Hmm…” Lynn paused, thinking. Then his eyes lit up. “What about the Service Club?”

Utaha stopped in her tracks and gave him a long, unreadable look. “…Of course. I should have expected nothing less from you.”

Service club… serving who? The answer was obvious. And yet, no name felt more fitting.

After all, it would be a club for a demon and his servants.

“You approve, don’t you?”

“Heh…” she gave a low laugh.

“Still, just in case someone’s already registered that name, we’ll need a backup,” Lynn added.

Utaha scoffed. “Seriously, who else would come up with a name like that?”

“You never know. It’s a crossover world, after all. What if Yukinoshita Yukino is at this school too?”

That silenced her for a moment.

“Alright then. As a backup, how about the Supernatural Research Club?”

“That’s just plagiarizing Rias and her crew!” Utaha rolled her eyes.

Lynn furrowed his brow. “Should we think of something else then, in case that’s also taken—?”

“No need!” she interrupted quickly, raising a hand to stop him. “Just the Service Club is fine. No one else would pick such a weird name anyway.”

…

“The Service Club? That name’s already taken.”

It was 3 PM.

In the teacher’s office.

Utaha looked like she’d just been struck by lightning.

“A club like that actually exists? That strange and shady name wasn’t just some fantasy?”

“You think it’s strange too, huh?” Nangong Nayue, seated behind her desk and dressed in a sleek black lolita outfit, glanced up at them with a subtle smirk. “So why is it that everyone seems drawn to that name?”

The unspoken words danced in her eyes. Isn’t that the name you two wanted as well?

Utaha looked away, a sheepish smile forming as her toes curled into the floor.

Lynn, on the other hand, remained unfazed. The only thing he took from this revelation was that Yukinoshita Yukino did, in fact, exist in this world.

“In that case,” he said, “we’ll go with the Supernatural Research Club.”

“Fitting for you,” Nayue commented lightly.

She stamped the club registration form with practiced ease. “Just remember—every club needs at least three members. Make sure to find a third soon, or the school will repossess your clubroom.”

“Thanks, Nayue-chan.”

“How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t add ‘chan’ after my name!”

She shot him a sharp glare, clearly not amused.

…

“Are you close with Teacher Nangong or something?” Utaha asked as they walked down the corridor toward their newly assigned clubroom.

He’d called her Nayue-chan, after all.

Mr. Pervert… Lynn threw her a sidelong glance. “She was one of my clients.”

“Client?” Utaha raised an eyebrow. “You mean… the exorcism thing you mentioned before?”

“That’s right.”

“Then the Supernatural Research Club really is perfect for you,” she concluded.

She seemed to miss a small but important detail, though.

Nangong Nayue had said “too.” That meant she also thought the Service Club was an appropriate name for Lynn. She knew what he really was.

After all, she was a human demon hunter.

“There really are a lot of cursed spirits at school, huh,” Lynn mused aloud.

Most of them were just low-level nuisances—not worth the effort to deal with. And besides, ordinary people couldn’t see them anyway.

…

The door creaked open with a sharp metallic groan.

Dust immediately wafted out in a thick, dry cloud as Lynn pulled open the door to their assigned clubroom.

“How long has this place been abandoned?” he muttered.

Utaha fanned away the dust, took a sweeping glance around the room, and gave a satisfied nod.

“Even though it’s a bit dirty, the desks and chairs are all here.” She paused, frowning slightly. “Just, inevitably, there are these filthy things…”

Her gaze dropped to a corner where a cursed demon crouched with its back to her, looking small, pitiful, and helpless—like a kicked puppy, if the puppy were a festering bundle of spiritual rot.

Lynn noticed it too. Without missing a beat, he declared the first official activity of the Supernatural Research Club.

“Cleaning up the family stronghold. And, by the way, getting rid of the little fry.”

He pointed dramatically. “It’s your turn, Utaha Beast!”

“I knew it.” Utaha sighed, a resigned look settling on her face, but her body was already in motion. There was no point protesting—this was her domain. Times like this were what magic was for.

As the classroom door swung shut, a white flash burst through the room.

Magic: Clear.

In the span of a breath, the transformation was complete. The classroom gleamed like new, dust and grime erased as though they’d never existed. The tiny evil spirit had likewise vanished without a trace.

Sliding into a now-spotless chair, Utaha brushed an invisible speck from her skirt and murmured, “Magic is really handy.”

From across the room, Lynn clapped his hands. “On to the second task for our family stronghold: recruiting new members for the club.”

“Okay, leave it to me.” She didn’t need his instructions—this part was practically scripted. Rising, she tapped a finger to her chin. “First, we need a recruitment flyer.”

The Book of Demons, ever faithful, flared to life and flipped open with a papery rustle.

Magic: Graffiti.

Moments later, a flyer bearing the club’s name and crest fluttered against the recruitment board. With a soft clap of her hands, Utaha stepped back and admired her work. “Mission accomplished.”

It was then that she noticed a girl standing nearby, her gaze fixed on the flyer.

Yotsuya Miko—long black hair, wary eyes—stood silently, her expression tight. She’d seen too much.

Supernatural Research Club.

The words were enough to make Miko tense. Clubs like that made her think of the things she desperately wanted to escape. Evil spirits never left her alone, no matter how many charms she bought or shrines she visited. A student-run club wasn’t going to change that.

She turned to leave.

“Do you want to join the club?” Utaha’s voice stopped her. Smooth, assured. She stepped into Miko’s path, eyes narrowed with interest. “You seem to need help right now, don’t you?”

Yotsuya Miko froze. Her breath caught in her throat.