Starting from Zero to Build a Demon Family
Chapter 7 - It's Up to You, Shiha Beast

Chapter 7: It’s Up to You, Shiha Beast

The journey to Kuoh Academy was long, nearly two hours by train from Tokyo’s Minato Ward. As Lynn and Kasumigaoka Utaha stepped onto the platform in Kuoh Town, Lynn couldn’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy over the teleportation magic Rias had demonstrated in the anime.

Kasumigaoka Utaha took in their surroundings with curiosity.

“So, this place you brought me to is?”

Lynn hesitated. “Um… the territory of a demon family?”

She halted mid-step, blinking in disbelief. “The territory of a demon family?”

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she glanced around warily. “Are you sure we can just walk in like this?”

Lynn chuckled at her overly cautious demeanor. “Relax. I have a pretty good relationship with the owner here.” He paused, then added inwardly, Well… probably.

“That’s a relief,” she murmured, though a hint of unease remained.

After all, demons weren’t exactly everyday acquaintances. Aside from that stray demon from before, the only other demon she had met was Lynn himself. She had no idea what to expect from the rest.

At the entrance of Kuoh Academy, a girl with a high ponytail and flowing black hair that nearly touched the ground stood in quiet elegance. The moment she spotted Lynn, her eyes brightened. Moving gracefully toward them, she clasped her hands before her skirt and smiled warmly.

“You must be Mr. Lynn. I’m Himejima Akeno, a servant of the president. She instructed me to come and meet you.”

“Thank you, Himejima-san.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha, meanwhile, was entirely focused on something else. Her gaze fixated on Akeno’s figure, and an internal monologue of disbelief began.

Is this body type even real?

She glanced down at herself. Confidence had never been an issue for her, but in this particular round… she had lost.

Akeno, sensing the scrutiny, responded with nothing more than a gentle smile. However, she ever so slightly straightened her posture, making Kasumigaoka Utaha even more frustrated.

This girl… she must be Lynn’s servant.

After toying with her for a moment, Akeno led them toward the old school building, where the Occult Research Club was housed. Along the way, she pointed out the academy’s notable landmarks, ensuring the conversation didn’t fall into an awkward silence.

Inside the clubroom, Rias Gremory flipped her crimson hair over her shoulder as she rose from the sofa to greet them.

“Lynn, welcome to Kuoh Town.” With the grace of a hostess, she gestured toward the seating area. “As guests from afar, let’s sit and talk first. Akeno, prepare some tea for our visitors.”

“Yes, President.”

As they settled onto the sofa, Kasumigaoka Utaha’s gaze landed on a petite girl sitting quietly in the corner.

“This is my servant, Koneko Toujou,” Rias introduced. “She’s currently in middle school.”

Koneko gave a flat, emotionless greeting. “Hello, seniors.”

Lynn took a moment to glance around the luxurious room before asking, “Rias, do you only have two servants?”

Rias paused before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and smiling.

“Yes. I prefer quality over quantity, and it’s difficult to find suitable ones.”

Lynn’s thoughts stirred. No Yuuto Kiba? No vampire? Had they not appeared yet? Or was this some kind of butterfly effect from the crossover?

Rias, meanwhile, studied Kasumigaoka Utaha. “She must be your servant, then.”

It was a reasonable assumption. He had only received the Devil’s piece yesterday, yet today he already had a follower. They must have been close before, Rias speculated. No signs of a Sacred Gear, no indication of combat training—just an ordinary human, from the looks of it.

“Kasumigaoka Utaha,” she introduced herself with confidence, though her eyes couldn’t help but stray to Rias’ chest.

This master-servant duo…

Her emotions were complicated. But then she glanced at Koneko and instantly felt a sense of balance restored.

Koneko’s ears perked up. “?”

Cat senses tingling.

“I already know why you’re here,” Rias said, referencing their conversation from the previous day.

Since Lynn had grown up without formal education in the demon system of the Underworld, Rias pulled out a thick, black leather-bound book.

It was as thick as two bricks.

Lynn stared at it, his eyelid twitching.

“This is 360 Ways to Use Magic, the standard reference used in the Underworld. It contains fundamental techniques for manipulating magic,” Rias explained apologetically. “I’m afraid I can only offer you general skills for now. Advanced techniques are closely guarded secrets within each demon family.”

Lynn nodded in understanding. “This is more than enough.”

Even this one book would take ages to get through. Fortunately, he had someone for that.

With a smile, he slid the massive tome toward Kasumigaoka Utaha. “It’s up to you, Shiha Beast.”

A giant question mark might as well have appeared over her head.

“Excuse me?”

And what was with that ridiculous nickname?

She wanted to protest, but given their surroundings, she swallowed her words. Instead, she stared at the overwhelming volume before her.

No need to understand, no need to learn—just record.

Gritting her teeth, she picked up her pen.

Copy.