Deal With The Devil

A young man wore a baseball cap that cast shadows across his face, pressing his hair flat beneath it. His tall frame moved with purpose—a sweatshirt and baggy pants dancing with each step as the wind caught the loose fabric.

He was walking fast. Really fast.

He crossed the zebra crossing as the traffic light changed. Few people shared the street with him since most were either at work or, more likely, in Evo. Empty streets like this had become normal during the day.

The city only came alive at night. That's when folks had to surface from their virtual lives to tend to their kids. No matter how much Evolution Online pulled people from the real world, some stubborn souls still found dignity in their work and refused to trade their lives for a game.

Those were the people who still taught at schools. Since the legal age for Evo was eighteen, every student had no choice but to attend real classes. Parents had to emerge from the game each evening to pick up their kids or cook dinner.

Lucien stopped at a roadside restaurant with sleek design and inviting atmosphere. He scanned the area quickly and spotted a young lady sitting cross-legged, a newspaper hiding her face.

He slipped toward her table and sat across from her. His head dipped low as someone walked past. Then he grabbed the coffee sitting in front of the lady and drank it down.

"Suuuuhhh… Ahhhh, that hit the spot."

The lady lowered her newspaper and shot him a sharp look.

"Who said you could finish that?"

Lucien smiled, leaning forward on the table.

"Don't be petty over a cup of coffee, Lorry. How about we get to business?"

She folded the newspaper and placed it neatly on the table.

"Business? Really? Is that what you came here for?"

Lucien fell silent for a moment. When he spoke, his voice cracked slightly.

"Uhm, well… if you put it like that… maybe not really business."

The lady studied him with sharp grey eyes.

"Figured."

They shared enough features to make their relationship obvious. What set the young lady apart from Lucien was her smooth, glowing alabaster skin. Her hair flowed like silk, and a small mole sat beneath her left eye like a beauty mark.

"Anyway. Talk. What happened? Why did you suddenly call me, saying you need my help?"

Lucien's head dropped as he muttered something under his breath.

"I didn't exactly use those words…"

"Huh? Did you say something?"

He shook his head quickly.

"Nothing at all, dear sister."

His sister nodded and fixed him with an intense stare.

"So, what is it?"

Lucien sat in silence for several minutes. He had thought this through carefully beforehand. She's my sister—how hard could it be? Even though he had never once in his life asked her for a favor, let alone begged her for money.

Still, Lucien had convinced himself it would be fine. Now that he sat here, though… shame crept up his neck like a slow burn. His throat felt tight.

Even so, his voice managed to break through the silence, trembling.

"I… need money…"

Liora's face stayed blank for a moment. Then she slowly uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, her eyes growing wide, her voice shaking…

—with excitement.

"D—did you just say… you need money?"

Lucien's head dropped lower. He sat in silence for a beat, then drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Yes. I did. As your junior brother who was banished from home, I've recently found a hobby and I need money to fund it."

Liora's eyes went even wider.

"Ah… you really are asking shamelessly…"

The words hit Lucien like a blade to the chest, but he held firm. A poor man doesn't have the luxury of choice.

"You're asking for my money, Lucyboy. While that's shocking—amazing, in fact—it's also pathetic. It fills me with this twisted joy. I want to make you suffer before you get it."

Lucien looked up at her, eyebrows raised.

"Uh? Why would you even do that?"

She shrugged.

"Laziel and I have suffered too. You don't know what you being the most intelligent, studious child has cost us—we who achieved far less than you did in school. Laziel even has it better than I do. At least he's good at what he does. But your father wouldn't let me draw in peace. I make pornhwa, so what? People love these things, you know? And I'm really very good.

"But what did that man do? He shut down my studio, banned my content from reaching the world, and forced me into the company. Ever since then, it's always ringing in my ears—Lucien this, Lucien that. It's always Lucien, Lucien, Lucien! Don't blame us if we hold a grudge against you."

Lucien's head stayed down. Beneath the shadow of his cap, he ground his teeth.

Then a rough voice crawled out.

"I'm sorry…"

Liora stopped mid-breath, her eyes widening as she realized what she'd just done when her brother's voice broke through.

Her face crumpled slightly. Then she sighed, clearly regretting her words.

"It's not your fault you're so clueless anyway, so who could really blame you."

She leaned back in her seat, folded her arms, and crossed her legs.

"So how much do you need?"

Lucien's eyes lit up immediately.

"One million!"

A vein in Liora's temple pulsed. She clenched her fist to hold back another outburst.

"One what?"

Lucien smiled with satisfaction.

"One million dollars."

Liora unclenched her hand and motioned to Lucien.

"Come here. Come closer."

As he leaned in, she delivered a sharp knock to the center of his head, making him recoil and clutch his skull with a grimace.

"Ahh! What was that for?"

"I'm sure since you've never had to suffer want in your life, you must think money grows on trees. Do you know how much I was getting for allowance when I decided to change my major because of passion? One hundred dollars, brat. One hundred dollars. Your damned father told me to feed myself with my passion. What's the least amount he's ever given you?"

Lucien thought for a moment.

"Well, I can't remember, but usually one hundred million. There's not much I do with it anyway, and he sends it every month…"

Liora's eyes went wide. She clawed at her face like she wanted to go mad.

Then she exhaled sharply and lifted her head.

"That man… well, he got what he deserved. And you—money is precious. Everything I have, I work tooth and nail for. So no, I'm not just going to give you one million dollars. I can lend it to you instead. You're smart, aren't you? If you can return it in one month, then no problem. If you can't, however, you'll owe me a favor—one you have no right to refuse."

Lucien sat quietly for several seconds.

'This feels like a deal with the devil. Right now, I don't know any way to make money… I could try to learn how people make money on Evo, but I really just want to enjoy myself… That favor, on the other hand… it sounds so sinister. But she's my sister—really, how bad can it be? She can't ask me to steal.'

Lucien let out a breath.

"Alright. Let's do it."

And he made a deal with the devil.