The Devil Doesn't Lie, But Little Ari Dreams of Streaming

Female Elementary Schooler['Devil's Deal' doesn't lie. But it has a habit of trying to deceive people.]

For example, imagine you get in a taxi and tell the driver your destination. Sometimes, shady drivers ignore the shortest route and take a deliberate detour. That's the vibe.

The devil in front of me never lied. But that didn't mean it was an honest creature. It was like a money-grubbing monster that picks the long way around just to jack up the fare.

"It seems this doesn't please you. How about I make you forged IDs instead? One million won per person?"

...Had it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠read my mind? Thinking I wouldn't fall for its sales pitch, the devil switched tactics right there. Of course, I had no intention of agreeing. It had dropped from 100 million to one million—a huge cut—but there had to be a catch. Like handing over fake IDs that'd get busted easily. That way, it could still claim it "made forged IDs," keeping its word technically true. No lie, just a flawed truth. Then I'd have to come crawling back, and only then would it offer something solid—for two million more, no doubt.

...Money-obsessed bastard.

"Oh dear. Please don't get angry. I know how scary you can be when you're mad, customer."

The smiling devil. Through the skull mask's eye sockets, I caught a glimpse of its eyes. Our gazes met.

...Surprisingly normal eyes. They curved like crescent moons in amusement, genuinely delighted. So human-like that I was a bit thrown.

"How about this? I'll give you the identities of the deceased. Here's a sample."

With that, the devil pulled an ID from its pocket. As I reached for it, it yanked back with an "Oops."

"Better not touch you, right? I want to keep doing business."

...It knew about the Cute Girl Mod. "Devil's Deal" was a Rank 2 threat. But threat level wasn't the full measure of a monster's power—it was just how humans rated if they could handle it. Snakes kill people all the time, but orcas almost never do. Does that make snakes mightier? So even at human-rated Rank 2, this devil's true stature might be way higher than I thought.

...Come to think of it, that fox seemed to notice the mod too.

The "Fox That Devours Nightmares" had subtly avoided contact, wary of my cute girl punch maybe. High-tier monsters might sense the mod.

...Annoying thought. As I mulled it over, the devil carefully handed over the ID from arm's length.

"Korean woman born in 2001, orphan with no family, surname Po from birth, recently changed name to Ari. How's that?"

"...Aren't you supposed to give me the ID of someone killed by a monster?"

"Yes. Lucky timing—a perfect match. Amazing, right?"

"......"

I glared at the devil without thinking. As if. It shrugged.

"Kidding. You're too sharp to fool, so here's the truth: This ID belonged to a human killed by an anomaly."

"...Anomaly? Killed by a monster?"

"Exactly. Some lose their names and die. Others lose all defining info and perish. Some lose everything. And nothing at all? That's a blank canvas, customer. Perfect for 'this side' to fill in."

"We'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be seeing each other a lot. Thirty million won per person. Deal?"

"...Thirty million."

A bit pricey, sure. But it was just within my shaky budget—and felt oddly fair. The devil deceives, but doesn't overcharge. Buy a 500-won snack from it, pay 500 won. No more. It haggles dirty beforehand, but the deal itself is always square.

"...Fine. We'll do it that way."

"Excellent."

The devil grinned, and 60 million vanished from my account. Ari and Lisa's IDs landed in my hands.

"Thanks for the business. Come back if you need more."

"W-Wait, one more thing? How much to tell me where the 'Fox That Devours Nightmares' is and what it's up to?"

The devil was leaving, so I blurted it out. Felt like it would know.

"One hundred won."

"What...?"

"Pay 100 won, and I'll give you the answer you need."

100 won left my balance. Then:

"No need for you to know that entity's location. Nothing to worry about."

Easing my anxiety for pocket change. Lucky you, customer. The devil laughed.

...Still, what the hell is it doing where? I considered prying, but... there was probably a reason the devil said that. No need to worry, so maybe I should just let it go....

Anyway. Finally, Ari and Lisa were no longer illegal aliens.

......Super sketchy resident registration numbers, but whatever.

"Here, Ari."

"...?"

"This is a driver's license practice book."

I handed her the book I'd ordered online.

"If you wanna drive, study this first."

"Stu...dy...?"

Ari looked like she'd witnessed the apocalypse.

A day later:

"I can't do it......"

Ari sprawled on the office floor, moaning.

"Ari, your clothes'll get dirty. If you're gonna despair, do it on the sofa."

"Yeah...."

Ari obediently climbed onto the sofa and face-planted into a cushion. She stayed fused with it, motionless until lunchtime.

And it wasn't just that.

"Ari, what for lunch?"

"...Jjamppong."

"Which kind? Seafood, meat, cold, cream?"

"Just jjamppong. Medium size."

"......What?"

My phone slipped from my hand. Ari ordered plain jjamppong? Not extra spicy, just medium?

"Ari... you feeling okay...?"

"......"

No reaction. Wrong. She was just a corpse now.... I sighed.

"Hey... people fail at studying sometimes. I don't mind, Ari."

"......"

"...I'll order meat jjamppong, extra spicy."

She devoured it. Then fused back with the sofa.

Ari was clearly traumatized. I'd figured she'd flunk the written test from the start, but... trying for even a day was kinda admirable. Not rage-quitting at first sight of the book was progress.

That's what I thought, but Ari... seemed to expect hidden driving talent.

Now she was moping. Looked like three days minimum.

"Mayuri...."

Suddenly, teary-faced Ari clung to my back.

...The height difference made her heavy. Please stop....

"L-Life has stuff you're good ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at, Ari. You'll find yours. Don't mope too much."

I tried comforting her, but she wouldn't let go.

I got her mood a bit. Cat university logic let me understand Ari fully, but even cats don't just eat and sleep forever. As a former NEET king, I knew: endless lounging has limits. After years, even home play bores you. You crave active hobbies, and if you once loved your job, you might miss work.

So maybe Ari wanted to try something hands-on. She was fated to live independently someday. She didn't seem keen on reverting, probably staying human. Learning a skill like driving would've been smart, but if not, oh well. I wasn't heading back to my old world tomorrow. We had time to nurture her independence.

"I wanna be a streamer."

......That's what I'd thought. But a day later, fully recovered Ari hits me with that. Where'd she even learn about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠streaming?

"...Isn't that a total free-ride life attitude?"

Failed at chores, bounced from driving day one. Back in the day, kids dreamed scientist, doctor, teacher, president. Now? Top elementary dream: streamer.

What did that mean? Ari was actually an elementary schooler? lol