Chapter 11: Spark in the Storm
The morning after Marikit's heart-tugging sleep-talk, I gave her the day off.
She didn't argue.
The shop felt oddly hollow without her—the clink of coins echoed too loudly, and every creak in the wooden floor seemed to ask where she'd gone. Her absence was a void, one that no amount of money could quite fill.
Still, by noon, we were sold out. Again.
It was becoming routine.
Profitable, yes.
But strangely... unsatisfying.
I slumped into a chair, counting the day's take.
"₱23,000," I muttered. "That brings the grand total to… ₱138,000."
One hundred thirty-eight thousand pesos in under a week. Back in Pasig, I'd be considering retirement. Or at least a Nintendo Switch.
Just as I leaned back to bask in my entrepreneurial glory, a crisp knock at the door jolted me upright.
Standing outside was none other than Lakanbini Susan Sumilang, looking like she'd just stepped out of a press conference and into a typhoon.
"Lakanbini Susan! Come to check on the town's favorite new startup?" I grinned as I opened the door. "We're out of stock again!"
She offered a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"That's not why I came, Pepito. I have… a request."
Her tone was serious. Way too serious for sales talk.
I stepped aside and invited her upstairs. The break room was still a bit of a mess, but it had chairs, tea, and a view of the bay. That's all a politician really needs, right?
I busied myself lighting the portable stove. The familiar hiss and warm scent of tanglad and chamomile helped calm the air between us.
Once we were seated, she got to the point.
"Do you know about the town's Adventurer's Guild?"
"The Whispering Seagulls? Of course. Some of them practically live outside my shop."
She nodded.
"They used to be part of a larger guild, but... things have changed. The Guild Master passed away last month. And last night, the Vice-Guild Master skipped town."
She paused.
"With the funds."
I blinked. "Wow. That's... impressively villainous."
She sighed. "The guild is in disarray. Half the adventurers are threatening to leave. Sarimanook may lose its protection and one of its main economic engines."
I let out a low whistle. "That's not a small problem."
"Which is why I'm considering a proposal from the capital," she said. "A new branch of a larger guild is interested in moving in. Until now, I've declined out of loyalty. But I can't afford to be sentimental anymore."
"Makes sense," I said. "Gotta keep the town safe and funded."
She nodded again. "An inspector from the capital guild will be arriving soon. They're investigating the area for rare monster activity. But I fear that if they don't find anything compelling, they'll pull out."
I frowned. "So you want me to... what? Fight a monster? I have exactly zero combat skills. Unless you count dodging tax collectors."
"No," she said with a faint but determined smile. "I want you to show them your inventions—specifically, the Pocket Inferno."
I paused.
"You want me to pitch a lighter to the Adventurer's Guild?"
"I want you to show them that Sarimanook offers more than rare beasts," she said. "If they see something unique—something no other guild can access—it might sway their decision."
I leaned back, absorbing her words.
She wasn't wrong.
The lighters were a hit.
No one else had anything like them.
"Alright," I said. "I'll do it. Not just for business. This town's been good to me. It's my turn to give back."
She exhaled, her shoulders finally relaxing. "Thank you, Pepito. Your help means more than you know."
I chuckled. "Don't sweat it, Lakanbini. Just make sure you remember me fondly when Sarimanook becomes the new adventurer hotspot."
As she left, the scent of tanglad tea lingered.
I looked around the shop—
My shop.
My home, now.
Time to make something that would really dazzle that inspector.
Something they'd never forget.