Chapter 6

The next day would be club day. While taking part in a club wasn't mandatory, clubs had many benefits offered to their members. Numerous clubs promoted their activities, trying their best to draw in newcomers.

“So the student council also counts as a club, huh?”

“So is the disciplinary committee…”

Meline and Kade walked down the hallways together, looking around at the various booths. There were more clubs here compared to their high school.

“Is there anything that catches your attention?” Kade asked.

Meline shrugged. “Not yet.”

The clubs occupied the various facilities scattered throughout the university, and also the first and second floors of the main building. They start the day with homeroom, then they’re free to roam around the university.

So far, Kade and Meline had only seen the clubs on the second floor. They hadn’t visited the student council’s or the disciplinary committee's booths yet; they only heard about them from one of their classmates.

“Whatever it is, we need to join one of the less strict ones,” Meline said.

They’ve received this tip directly from Linda, right before they left class. In general, the clubs in this university could be divided into two. The strict clubs and the less strict ones. The popular clubs were often strict with attendance, thus their members showed up often. Not attending would threaten their position in the club, causing them to be kicked, inviting even more unnecessary attention. Interacting with a lot of people would also increase that risk.

On the other hand, the less popular clubs, the ones that struggled with gaining members the regular way, would often promote the fact that they’re not so strict. As a result, they have a lot of members, but a majority of them aren’t active.

“Besides, you’re not too interested in the popular clubs, right?”

“Not really.”

Like other universities, most of the sports clubs had strict rules. Most of the cultural clubs were more relaxed, but not all. The music club and the art club were more of the popular ones, if their booth is anything to go by.

“Get a chance to be picked up by a comic publisher. Whoah, that’s a lot of names…”

Ever since the invention of printing technology, comics have become mainstream media. For a lot of young boys and girls, having their work published by large publishers is their dream. The art club had a long list of authors who had their works published by large companies, thus they naturally drew attention.

Meanwhile, the music club was known throughout the country. Their orchestra division and traditional music division had won competition after competition. As a result, their name was known far and wide. Like the art club, the music club also promoted the names of their past members who had gone professional.

“Art and music have been booming in the human lands, huh?”

“You’re interested?”

“Not really. A lot of these things existed long ago over there.”

Printing technology had existed in demon land half a century before the humans picked it up, and music-recording devices had become a common item in demon households. While Meline did enjoy a good song and could appreciate good art, it no longer became something mind-blowing. Simply another part of everyday life.

They moved on, checking out other things.

“You’re not going to join the cooking club?”

“I already cook. It’s not like I’ll learn anything new from a bunch of babies.”

“The golem club?”

“We had mechanical golems everywhere in the castle. Not interested.”

“How about the history study club?”

“I’m not interested in human history. They have a lot of bad things to say about us.”

Even after reaching the first floor, they couldn’t find anything they were interested in. Beyond this would be the sports clubs, something they both had no interest in.

“Besides, you are forgetting something, are you not? You’re supposed to be the one choosing, not me.”

“Wouldn’t it be more fun if we joined a club we both enjoy?”

“Well, I’m not interested in any.”

Just as they were discussing it, a senior approached them. She had short light purple hair and dark blue eyes. She had dark circles underneath her eyes, but she still tried to smile as she approached them.

“Hello… Are you two new students?”

“Hmm? Yes. What business do you have with us?”

“I… would like to promote my club… Well, it’s kind of in danger… But we just need two more members.” From the way she spoke, it was clear she had been going around for a while. The stack of papers in her hand proved her lack of success.

Meline wasn’t interested. It couldn’t be a good club if no one joined, but Kade nodded.

“Sure, we’ll listen.”

“Desperate, are you not?”

“I mean, there’s no harm in listening.”

“Thank you. Anyway, my name is Tila, and I’m from the Demon Culture Research Club.”

Meline’s eyes shot wide open. She took a step forward. “Say that again.”

“Hmm? Tila?”

“No, your club.”

“Oh, I’m from the Demon Culture Research Club.”

Meline jerked her head back at Kade, pointing at Tila with a bright smile on her face. At that moment, Kade understood that they had found their club.

•••

As its name suggests, the Demon Culture Research Club, or the DCRC for short, is a club that researches the history and culture of demons. Even at a glance, it’s obvious why the club wasn’t popular.

Humans and demons used to be at war with each other. Even after the war ended, prejudice against the demons didn’t immediately disappear. Many humans still see demons as evil, as their enemies.

“But what a lot of people don’t know is that demons aren’t actually that different from humans. The word ‘demon’ actually came from the ancient word ‘dararemon’, which means capable. This is because the demons have capabilities that humans didn’t have.”

“Yes! Yes! You understand!”

The demons were born from an ancient nation’s experiment with magics. Some receive improved senses, while others receive stronger physical abilities. In the case of Meline’s lineage, she received extreme regeneration that allowed her to live for hundreds of years.

“Oh, pitiful humans. When they realized the people they created were more powerful than they, they chased them away. Then, when they realize these people are more advanced and prosperous, they attack. Oh my oh my, what a sad species.”

“I know, right? I’m so embarrassed by what my ancestors did!”

The war was started when the humans invaded and attempted to steal the Demon Lands’ resources. Before the demons took up residence there, the humans had abandoned those lands, calling them useless and infertile. When the demons managed to utilize their natural resources, the humans suddenly wanted it back.

“And they dare call us ‘demons’, as if we’re closer to daremons compared to them!”

Daremons are forces of evil that tempt the human heart to do evil and nasty things. Sometimes, they manifest into monsters capable of destroying entire villages, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes they took on more subtle forms, whispering darkness into human souls that opened their hearts for them. They’re the worst of the worst. Nothing good comes from interacting with them. When human hatred was at its peak, they called the ‘changed’ people demons, comparing them directly to daremons, unaware of the evil deep in their own hearts. Many humans also forgot the fact that the demon's name derived from dararemon and not daremon.

“It’s a great thing that we won,” Meline said proudly. After the demons’ victory, the demons could finally live in peace. For some time, the human history books told the story through the human lens, treating them as victims of demon oppression. But then, the research papers of the ancient nation surfaced, and the people were forced to face the bitter truth. There were no victims in this ordeal.

As a result, humans were forced to admit the mistakes they made. That said, becoming friends with the demons was still a tall order, at least, that was the case until Meline started invading the kingdom.

“The current demon lord is truly a kind person. The fact that she gifted our people so much money after what we did to them, oh, what a kind person she is.”

“Hahaha! Truly! Truly a kind demon lord!” Meline laughed, completely oblivious to the fact that Tila called her kind.

“It’s unfortunate she disappeared ten years ago…”

Even in demon land, only the people closest to Meline knew of the true state of things. To prevent widespread panic, she was listed as ‘going out on an international trip to garner support for her cause’. Everyone believed her at first, but she had yet to return after five whole years. Her retainers even called her over for a meeting to discuss what excuse to use next. Unfortunately, saying that she had been ‘defeated’ by a ten-year-old child is simply way too embarrassing. That would absolutely destroy whatever dignity she and her people had.

So, from that moment on, her reason for missing was ‘to seek enlightenment on top of a mountain’. Of course, everyone struggled to believe it, but they weren’t provided with any better reasoning.

“Truly… truly unfortunate events…” Meline nodded solemnly, as if she wasn’t the center of this all.

“Meline… I’m truly grateful to meet a true demon aficionado like you here. Someone who understands the true nature of this world, and isn’t afraid to look the facts in the eye.”

“Right back at you. Truly, demons are such misunderstood people.”

The two exchanged a nod.

Kade sat in the middle of this all, hearing the story silently. He already knew about it. Meline would tell him the true history from time to time. Tila, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious to the true nature of the person sitting in front of her. She didn’t even question the way Meline acted.

Throughout their talk, not a single person entered their booth. Despite the rather eye-catching posters attached to the windows, no one batted an eye. They might no longer hate the demons, but they clearly weren’t interested in getting involved with them.

“So, how about you? Are you joining as well?” Tila turned the conversation to Kade.

Kade reacted with a nod. “Sure.”

“My, two new members. Truly a miracle.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what would we be doing?”

So far, it didn’t seem like neither of them seemed to lack any knowledge regarding the demons. If there’s no lack of knowledge, then there’s no need to research. If there’s no research, then their club couldn’t be called a ‘Demon Culture Research Club’.

“There are a lot, actually. Deciphering ancient texts, looking for ancient remnants, oh, retracing and correcting timelines.”

Apparently, there are still a lot of mysteries that she hasn't understood yet.

“Let me see. I might be able to help.”

“How about we meet tomorrow in the clubroom? It’s much smaller, but that’s where I kept all the documents.”

Incidentally, the reason they weren’t at the clubroom right now was because the student council wanted all the clubs to be gathered together as closely as possible, thus the usage of the university building instead.

“I can’t wait,” Meline answered with a smile.