Roque_Popa

“All I wanted was a good deal on a used power bank. Instead, I fell into another world wearing pambahay and a hoodie that still smells like Tondo.”

Sixto “Pepito” Espiritu wasn’t planning to become the next Isekai poster boy. He just wanted to survive Manila, help his Lola, and maybe start a small online business. But one unexpected delivery later, he finds himself in Sarimanook, a coastal town filled with talking bracelets, mysterious shell-sellers, and fairies who can summon lightning with sass.

Armed only with his wits, solar chargers, and an uncanny ability to make friends in weird places, Pepito sets out to build a life in this new world. But in a land where myth and magic are currency, and dragons cry for their missing children, his ordinary kindness might just change everything.

Pepito and the Portal to Progress

Chapter Eighteen: Seventy Silver and a Partner's Rage

The debt collector was gone. Crisis—averted.

And just like that, a palpable wave of relief washed over the dusty Guild Hall.

The air, once thick with the dread of impending ruin, felt lighter. Almost breathable.

Her face beamed with a radiant mix of exhaustion and triumphant joy.

> "And you too—Tak, Daks, Mina, Yara! Thank you so very much!"

She looked at us like we were the heroic cast of her favorite shoujo anime.

Tak shrugged, jerking a thumb toward me.

> "No need to thank us. This guy's the reason anything happened. We just sold our loot like any normal adventurers would."

> "Even so," Tina insisted, nearly bouncing, "you've all made me so happy!"

Tak laughed—but it came out a little tight.

"Anyway, we're done. Let's wrap this thing up."

> "Wait—now?" Tina blinked, her fox-like ears tilting in confusion.

Tak's eyes narrowed, and the temperature in the room dropped a degree.

Tina's happy expression melted into dread, her smile twisting into panic.

> "Why are you sticking around for this, Pepito?" she asked me, voice barely above a squeak.

> "What? Am I not supposed to be here?"

> "Tina," Tak cut in, voice sharp, serious. "He's our client. If the client isn't here when we report, how do you sign it off?"

> "...Ah. Well, I guess that makes sense."

> "He's fine. Not a scratch," Tak said, giving me a once-over.

> "Scraped his knee a bit when he tripped. Awoo~," Yara added cheerfully.

He turned back to Tina, rapping his knuckles on the counter.

She fidgeted, clasping her hands behind her back, eyes darting anywhere but at Tak.

> "Don't tell me you spent our reward money."

> "I—didn't! I swear!" Tina squeaked.

> "Then what's the holdup?! We finished a three-day mission! You owe us 30 silver coins!"

> "Thirty?" I echoed, tilting my head.

> "I paid 100 silver for this mission. But if you're only giving 30 to the team… does that mean the guild's keeping the other 70?"

A profound, echoing silence descended upon the Guild Hall.

Tak, Daks, Mina, and Yara turned to Tina in perfect synchronicity—like synchronized swimmers of righteous fury.

Tina broke into a weird little panic-dance.

Standing up. Sitting down. Flailing.

Her face contorted in pure, unfiltered terror.

Tears sprang to Tina's eyes, tracing glittering paths down her flushed cheeks.

> "I'm gonna set the fox on fire," Mina said calmly.

Magic shimmered at her fingertips—silent, deadly sparks of doom.

> "Wait, Mina! Don't cast a spell!" Tina shrieked, scrambling backward.

> "God has decreed that we must punish her," Daks intoned, voice as deep as impending judgment.

> "I swear I won't do it again!" Tina sobbed.

> "I don't care. I'm still going to kill you," Mina replied, completely casual.

As the Alimpatak crew jumped her like she owed them every coin they'd ever earned.

The air filled with indignant shouts, muffled thumps, and the sound of a small, terrified fox-girl being thoroughly chastised.

I watched the chaos unfold from the sidelines, one single thought echoing in my brain:

It's a damn good thing I didn't bring Marikit with me.