What does being an adopted child in the Philippines entail? In countries much more developed than the Philippines, being an adopted child often comes with certain legal rights and protections. But like they say, "It's more fun in the Philippines," often sarcastically highlighting the stark contrast.

 

There's no such thing as adoption papers for the common Filipino citizen, only those who have the time and patience to navigate the complex and lengthy adoption process. They would just outright adopt a child, stating in the documents that they are the child's legal parents. What a farce!

 

For Isao, he would often compare Filipino families who might be mistaken to have a business in babymaking, having children one after another without considering the responsibilities and challenges that come with parenthood, to goblins. 

 

Not that handsome Korean goblin from that Koreanovela that Filipinos were obsessed with, but the mischievous and unpredictable creatures from folklore. That green-skinned goblin with boundless lust, always seeking to satisfy their desires without any regard for the consequences.

 

That is how Isao sees his own biological parents, who happened to be his aunt and uncle on paper. To think they would have a newborn when he's not even one year old. What's worse is that they'd name his biological younger brother Isaac in contrast to his own name, Isao. It was as if they were intentionally trying to forget that he even existed.

 

And in the adoptive family—his aunt and uncle—that took him in, Isao found nothing but expectations and pressure to live up to the money they had paid for him. He wasn't allowed to make mistakes or explore his own interests. Every decision he made was scrutinized and compared to what they believed was best for him. It felt suffocating, as if he was trapped in a never-ending cycle of trying to meet their high standards.

 

That's why... Isao learned a vital skill to cope with the constant pressure and expectations placed upon him: he became a master at wearing a mask. He learned to become anyone that others wanted him to be, adapting his personality and interests to fit their expectations. He became skilled at hiding his true thoughts and emotions, always presenting a facade of perfection and compliance.

 

For every person he encountered, Isao would carefully analyze their expectations and adjust his behavior accordingly. While in front of his adoptive parents, he would act as the ideal son, always obedient and respectful. To teachers and authority figures, he would portray himself as a diligent and ambitious student, eager to please and excel academically.

 

In recent times, years after the old man—the only person, aside from his true friends, who let him be his authentic self—passed away and the old hag lost her grip on reality, he finally felt a sense of liberation. He can be his meek and timid self, a nerd, and be passionate about his true interests without fear of judgment or rejection. He no longer feels the need to conform to societal expectations or please others, allowing him to embrace his authentic identity and find genuine happiness.

 

However, to protect his new home and family, his dungeon, and the monsters of his creation, he must once again put on masks of the different personalities he has created. And this time, in front of the heads of the organized crime syndicate that threatens his dungeon, he dons the mask of a villain, a mastermind who exudes power and ruthlessness.

 

"You won't mind if I join your meeting, will you?" he asked arrogantly, his frigid eyes glinting with calculated malice. "I mean, it is my dungeon that you are threatening, after all."

 

Without any forewarning, Isao suddenly materialized, sitting at the head of the table, his legs crossed while his chin rested on his knuckle. He used the placement function of the dungeon to create a dramatic entrance, teleporting himself directly into the heart of the syndicate's meeting.

 

No one was able to speak, as should have been expected; they are Filipinos of Earth, where such things as magic and teleportation were unheard of. Considering it's been only a week since the Philippines got transported to another world, shock and disbelief were to be expected.

 

"Isaw!?" Exclaimed the head of Alpha Kids, Oliver, his eyes widening in disbelief. In response to Oliver's exclamation, Isao's brow furrowed and his face warped in displeasure.

 

"Hrk!" In response to Oliver's outburst, Isao's Drake Iron Wire strangled him tightly around the neck. "I-sa-o. Not Isaw." Isao's voice was filled with irritation as he corrected Oliver's supposed mispronunciation.

 

In the Philippines, "Isaw" refers to a popular street food made from grilled chicken intestines. í-sá-ó is the proper pronunciation of Isao's name, which Oliver had deliberately said as "Isaw." When Isao was still working at the internet cafe, the scumbag Oliver would often come in and purposely mispronounce his name as "Isaw" to mock him. Since he didn't want to cause a scene or get into a confrontation, Isao would simply correct Oliver's mispronunciation and try to ignore his taunts.

 

With curious eyes like those of a scientist observing a rare specimen, Isao watched Oliver struggle for breath, his wires holding him firmly in place. "Hey, do you know? It takes 5 minutes for a person to lose consciousness from lack of oxygen," Isao said, his voice dripping with a mix of menace and amusement. "Perhaps you'll learn to pronounce my name correctly after this little lesson."

 

"Ah, Sayako, could you brew me a tea? I need an accompaniment to this entertaining spectacle," Isao said, a sly smile playing on his lips. "As thou wish, mine master," Sayako replied, bowing slightly before turning to prepare the tea. The room fell silent, save for Oliver's labored gasps and Isao's sinister chuckle, as they awaited the completion of the steaming beverage.

 

A few minutes later, Sayako poured the freshly brewed tea into a delicate porcelain cup, its aroma filling the room. He took a sip, but immediately after, he reached for the milk and sugar to add a touch of sweetness and creaminess to his tea.

 

"There, much better," Isao commented, a sly smile playing on his lips. Sayako looked disapprovingly at Isao's actions, knowing that true tea connoisseurs would never dilute the pure flavor with additives. 

 

"Hey, let him go!" Meanwhile, one of Oliver's goons finally demanded Oliver's release, his voice filled with frustration and anger. "Oh," Isao said nonchalantly. "My apologies; it's a bit amusing watching his face change colors as he struggles."

 

Snapping his fingers in a dismissive gesture, Isao used his Blood Manipulation skill to release the Drake Iron Wire's tight grip on Oliver. The wire slithered away from Oliver's body, freeing him from its constricting hold. Oliver stumbled forward, unconscious but still breathing.

 

'Serves you right,' Isao thought to himself, a smug smile playing on his lips. He had grown tired of Oliver's constant arrogance and was satisfied to see him finally brought down a notch. Isao turned to the others who were watching the scene unfold, a mix of shock and fear etched on their faces.

 

"If you thought I didn't know what you're planning, think again," Isao declared, his voice filled with authority. 

 

"W, whatever are you talking about?" stammered one of the crime bosses, the River Rats' leader, a.k.a. Daga. Sweat glistened on his forehead as he struggled to maintain his composure.

 

Daga was the only one among the crime bosses who had immediately tried to make contact with their accomplices as soon as he regained composure. 'Dammit,' he thought, 'answer the radio!' But there was only silence on the other end.

 

Phones had lost all signal ever since the Philippines was transported to Erse, rendering communication devices useless. Only radios with limited range were still functional, and he was sure that their accomplices were equipped with them. Daga couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The lack of response from their accomplices made him wonder if something had gone terribly wrong.

 

"Haah, both your plans to take control of my dungeon and your incessant call for help to your underground allies since earlier have not gone unnoticed," Isao continued, his gaze piercing through each of the crime bosses. This sent a chill down Daga's spine as he realized that Isao had been one step ahead of them all along. The realization dawned on him that their failure was not due to a technical glitch but rather a meticulously planned trap set by the mastermind, Isao. 

 

"But, hm, seeing is believing, isn't it? Allow me to show you that no help will be coming to your aid." Through his dungeon interface, Dungeon Master Isao commanded a holographic screen to show a live feed of his own forces raiding the bases of criminal organizations.

 

The screen showed monsters from his dungeons moving like trained armed forces with the precision and coordination of a well-oiled machine. They held M4A1 rifles and moved with tactical expertise, swiftly neutralizing any opposition they encountered. And the bullets fired from their rifles were only rubber bullets, ensuring that the criminals were incapacitated but not fatally harmed. 

 

However, Isao's Dungeon Apostles and the new species of monsters that he had recently created were not among the monsters present. 

 

Isao took Sun Tzu's advice in his Art of War that he had recently read and decided to keep his most powerful creations hidden, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash them upon his enemies. If he could go back in time to punch his naive past self in the face, he would.

 

Most of Isao's monsters were created with Lesser Drake DNA, making them related to dragons. Those unfamiliar with games might only see them as fearsome creatures, but to gamers, they would easily know a good counter against these dragon-like monsters. 

 

Dragonsbane, or anti-dragon weaponry, was a common strategy that could be used to defeat dragons and monsters associated with them.

 

If he hadn't read The Art of War, this typical tactic might have eluded him. Isao could thank his lucky stars that he had studied Sun Tzu's teachings, as it provided him with valuable insight into the art of warfare.

 

That said, people might say that Isao was wasting such powerful assets if he hid them just for this reason. These monsters and his Apostles received training in combat, so it would be a shame not to utilize their skills in battles.

 

In truth, he was actually utilizing their skills in this instance and would continue to do so in future battles by making them operate the monsters through the dungeon interface. The method was similar to VR, though instead of virtual reality, they were using the monsters as physical extensions of themselves.

 

This unique approach not only allowed him to keep his trump cards' existence a secret but also adhered to another of Sun Tzu's principles: to appear weak when you are strong. By making it seem like Isao's forces were merely composed of mobs, he was able to deceive his opponents into underestimating their true strength.

 

The criminal organizations' members didn't last long against Isao's forces. It was kind of surreal watching goblins and skeletons move like Special Ops units, swiftly and efficiently taking down their enemies.

 

"Perhaps you finally understand the extent of my power," Isao sneered, his voice dripping with satisfaction.

 

"W, w, we promise not to cross you again," one of the criminal organization's leaders stammered, fear evident in his eyes.

 

"Tsk, tsk, too late for that now. But don't worry, none of you will die. Because..." he paused, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

 

"Because I need loyal spies to infiltrate and gather information for me," Isao finished, his tone filled with sinister delight. "Sayako, you know what to do with them," he said, turning to his Dungeon Apostle, Queen of Vermin Sayako.

 

"Thy decree shall be carried out, mine master," Sayako responded with a bow, her eyes gleaming with a mix of loyalty and sadistic pleasure. "They shall serve as your eyes and ears, spreading fear and chaos in the name of the dungeon." 

 

***

 

Day 8

 

In the replicated villagescape of First Tree, at the open-air basketball court in the center of the area, Wilab, Isao's adoptive mother, was once again doing her daily lunacy. Shouting nonsensically and waving her arms wildly, she commanded the townspeople to bow down and worship her as their supreme ruler.

 

"I am the Daughter of God! I have been chosen to lead you all to salvation!" she proclaimed, her voice echoing through the streets. The townspeople looked on in a mix of confusion and concern, unsure of how to react to her delusions of grandeur.

 

Usually, the townspeople would ignore Wilab's antics and go about their daily lives, knowing that she was harmless. Sometimes they would offer her food and other necessities out of pity, and they never took her claims seriously.  However, today was different. They ignored her, and instead focused on Isao.

 

The evacuees from First Tree, Second Tree, and Riverside Area were gathered because the dungeon master, Isao, had called them here. Hushed whispers filled the air. The talk was that he took down the criminal organizations with the monster from the dungeon and had an important announcement to make. The townspeople couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and curiosity, wondering what Isao's revelation could possibly be.

 

"Ahem, thank you all for coming," Isao began, his voice echoing through the crowd. The tension in the air was palpable as everyone leaned in, eager to hear what he had to say.

 

"A week has passed since our country, the Philippines, was sent to another world," Isao continued, his eyes scanning the crowd. "We are lucky that I have been chosen by the gods to be the first Filipino Dungeon Master, giving me the ability to create this safe haven for our people. But not all of our fellow Filipinos were as fortunate. Outside this dungeon, monsters roam freely, posing a constant threat to those who have not yet found refuge."

 

A holographic screen, wide and large enough for the many people in the crowd to see, flickered to life behind Isao. It displayed a live feed of the situation beyond this dungeon. Humanoid monsters made their dwellings in their former homes, tearing through the once vibrant neighborhoods. Beastly monsters prowled the streets, searching for any signs of life. And enormous monsters could be seen towering over buildings, their roars echoing through the desolate city. 

 

"As you can see, the outside world has been completely overrun by these monstrous creatures," Isao explained, his voice filled with concern. "However, fear not. This dungeon that I built is a safe haven from the chaos outside. But I knew most of you wish to liberate Kabuyao City—or possibly the entire country of the Philippines—from these monsters."

 

"Hundred years ago, our ancestors managed to expulse the Spanish colonizers from our land. Then the Americans and the Japanese occupied our country, but we never lost hope. Now, faced with this new threat, it is our duty to fight back and reclaim our freedom once again," Isao declared passionately. "But please, I don't want you, modern Filipino citizens, to be the ones who have to endure the same struggles and sacrifices that our ancestors did. Let me, and the monsters of my creation, take on this burden for you."

 

Isao's 13 Dungeon Apostles—monsters he had created with Synthesis—stood in a row behind him, all of them wearing military uniforms and displaying unwavering determination. None of them assumed their monstrous form, instead choosing to present themselves as human-like beings, blending seamlessly with modern Filipino citizens.

 

"They are strong and resilient, ready to face any challenge that comes their way," Isao declared proudly. "With their unique abilities and unwavering loyalty, they will protect our people and ensure a brighter future for all." As the crowd looked on in awe, hope filled their hearts, knowing that they were not alone in their struggles anymore. 

 

"Nonetheless, I can't stop you if you wish to fight alongside us, my fellow Kabuyeños," Isao continued, smiling wryly. "Filipinos are known for their indomitable spirit and bravery, and I understand that many of you feel a deep sense of duty to defend our homeland. Therefore, I shall not stand in your way if you choose to join us in this fight."

 

The ground shook, sending tremors through the air, and the clubhouse behind them began to crumble. Screams filled the air as people scrambled to find safety amidst the chaos. "Please be at ease," Isao shouted over the noise, his voice calm and steady.

 

"I am using my mana to build a structure that would grant the volunteers the power they will need to protect our homeland," Isao continued, his dexterous hands operating his holographic interface with precision while he nonchalantly manipulated the mana for this task. The earth became malleable beneath his touch, responding to his every command.

 

Eventually, the structure began to take shape, towering over the Filipinos with its majestic presence. It was a Church, but its design was different from the Catholic churches that dotted the country. Their Filipino heritage was evident in the intricate carvings of indigenous symbols and the vibrant colors that decorated the walls.

 

And instead of the saints of Catholicism, the Church was adorned with anitos, the indigenous deities worshipped by the Filipinos. Bathala, the supreme deity in Filipino mythology, was in the center of the altar, surrounded by other anitos representing the other deities in the pantheon.

 

"This is a Church, as obvious as it may seem, but it is wholly different. It may not be apparent to most of you, but this world the Philippines has been sent into is a game-like fantasy world, with its own set of rules and beings. And to struggle in this world, one needs to be blessed by the deities to acquire the system of powers and abilities that will aid them in our fight to liberate our homeland from wild monsters."

 

"Those who wanted to volunteer and join the fight should pray to the deity Apolaqui, the patron of warriors, and ask for his blessing. Personally, I'd prefer if people prayed to the deities Dumangan, the patron of Good Harvest, Dumakulem, the patron of Hunters, Tolus ka Gomanan, the patron of Smiths, or Idianale, the patron of Labor, to be honest. Instead of fighting, I would prefer that people focus on cultivating a prosperous and peaceful society."

 

"That said, the Philippines, even though it is now in another world entirely, is still a democratic nation. If it is your wish to join the fight and volunteer, you have the freedom to choose which deity to pray to for their blessing. And to that end, I announce the establishment of the Philippine Adventurer's Guild, where those who wish to join the fight can gather and support each other."

 

Immediately after this proclamation from Isao, a World System Notice was sent out to all corners of the globe, spreading the news of the Philippine Adventurer's Guild's formation. Isao and the evacuees received the notice as well, of course.

 

World Notice!




An Adventurer's Guild has been established in Kabuyao City, Laguna, Philippines. 
Player Isao with the title of First Filipino Dungeon Master will receive the new title, 
"Founder of the Philippine Adventurer's Guild." The recipient of this title will be 
granted the authority to provide Quests and oversee the activities of all guild members.




Due to the establishment of the Adventurer's Guild, the islands of the Philippines 
will be designated as neutral territory. Nations in the world of Erse are expected 
to respect this designation and refrain from engaging in any conflicts or hostilities 
within the guild's jurisdiction.

 

This notice was received with cheers and applause from the evacuees in Isao's dungeon, whom the dungeon master had been sheltering and protecting. They saw the establishment of the Adventurer's Guild as a beacon of hope, a chance for them to liberate themselves from the constant threat of monsters outside the dungeon and rebuild their lives.

 

But to Isao, the establishment of the Adventurer's Guild meant much more. 'This means that the nations in Erse will think twice before trying to invade the Philippines.' The country was in no state to repel an invasion on its own due to the hordes of monsters that attacked when it got sent to this world.

 

'One could say it is the silver lining in the midst of chaos,' Isao thought to himself as he glanced at the Adventurer's Guild building, which, in all appearances, looked like the stereotypical fantasy guild hall with its grand architecture and towering spires. It wasn't for this purpose that he founded the Adventurer's Guild, but it was a welcome benefit.

 

'Haah, finally some peace and stability,' Isao sighed with relief. But his musings were rudely interrupted when Wilab, his lunatic adoptive mother, began shouting at the evacuees entering the Church beside the Adventurer's Guild.

 

'Life's a bitch,' Isao muttered under his breath as he sighed and turned his attention towards the commotion. 'And here I thought I could finally enjoy a moment of tranquility in this chaotic world. But it seems like trouble always finds its way to me.' Isao reluctantly stepped forward, ready to intervene and calm the situation before it escalated further.