I woke up inside a straw-thatched hut in a medieval fantasy world—classic Truck-kun transmigration from modern Earth. No mind-boggling cheats, just a simple system: every ten levels I get to pick one skill from three options. Basic, but I'm fine with it. Level zero, one spell unlocked: Fireball.
I stepped outside. The village was small, peaceful, and prosperous; humans lived alongside elves, dwarves, beastfolk, and others in perfect harmony. I nodded to myself.
Name's Ace, by the way. I started walking toward the guild. I asked a kind-looking old man for directions; he rattled off a string of turns and landmarks. I nodded, grinned, and said, "Thanks, pops," before heading off.
Along the way, Mother Nature was showing off: emerald fields, fat fruit trees, crystal streams. No one looked hungry. Children laughed as they chased glowing butterflies, adults worked with easy smiles, and every race mingled without tension. No skyscrapers, no internet, no convenience stores… yet this felt like more than enough.
I smiled to myself. Yeah, I could live with this. Before heading to the guild, I decided to soak in the scenery a little longer. A massive ancient tree cast cool shade over the softest grass I'd ever felt. I flopped down, let the gentle breeze stroke my face, and just… drifted off.
For the first time since Truck-kun yeeted me here, I slept peacefully, no alarms, no trucks, no worries. A black blur landed on my chest. Before I could register the soft warmth, a tiny paw went pow-pow-pow across my face. My eyes snapped open; heart in my throat (cute little bastard nearly gave me a heart attack).
The cat leaped off and vanished into the bushes like a ninja.
I sighed, rubbed my stinging cheeks, and hauled myself up. Guild time. No more naps. I was strolling down the road, finally relaxed, when a tiny fox-eared girl with massive fluffy tails bounced up to me.
"Big bro~ther! Wanna buy cookies? They're super yummy!" She held up a basket of golden-brown treats, eyes sparkling, tails going swish-swish-swish. The cuteness level was illegal.
The entire street turned to stare. Pressure: maximum.
Problem? My pockets were emptier than my pre-transmigration social calendar. Zero coppers. Negative coppers, even.
I crouched down, trying to look gentle. "I'm really sorry, kiddo… I don't have any money right now."
Her ears drooped. "They're only one copper each… just two cookies, please?" Puppy—no, fox—eyes activated.
Crowd glare intensified. I could practically hear them labeling me Demon King of Child Disappointers.
"I'm sorry," I repeated, voice cracking a little.
She puffed her cheeks, spun on her heel, and marched off. "Hmph! Loser!"
Oof. Direct hit.
My inner monologue exploded: I literally got isekai'd a few hours ago! You want me to pull coins out of my ass?!
The villagers shook their heads in collective disappointment and went back to their lives. I stood there, broke in every possible way, then sighed so hard my soul almost left my body.
Guild. Now. Gotta make money before another adorable kid roasts me alive. I can't even afford cookies—pathetic.
The little fox girl scampered straight to her big sister, ears flat, tail drooping dramatically.
"Nee-chan! Some broke-looking guy totally rejected my cookies!" she wailed, as if I'd turned down a multi-million-copper deal.
Her big sister (same age as me, level zero, also heading to register at the guild) was the kind of beauty that could start wars or topple kingdoms. Nine snow-white tails fluffed up like angry clouds behind her, each one radiating "touch and die" energy.
"How DARE a mortal reject my precious little sister's cuteness?!" she growled, golden eyes narrowing. "Point me at him. Now."
"He's probably going to the guild!"
The big sister cracked her knuckles, tails swishing like war banners. "Perfect. I'm heading there anyway. Let's go. Nobody disrespects my baby and lives to tell about it."
The little one's tails instantly perked up. Revenge arc: activated.
Meanwhile, completely unaware, I was still sulking toward the guild, muttering about being too broke for cookies… and walking straight into a fluffy, furious storm. I was already sulking hard enough to qualify for a part-time job as a rain cloud when a cat-eared girl my age slammed into my path, eyes blazing, claws half-out.
"You! Where. Is. My. Precious?!"
I blinked. "Your what now?"
The entire street screeched to a halt. Forks froze mid-air. A dwarf dropped his ale. Someone whispered, "He took her Precious and just ghosted?!"
Cat-girl stepped closer, voice cracking, tears already loading. "Give me back my Precious, you absolute scum!"
Crowd: full murder mode. An old lady clutched her pearls so hard they turned into diamonds. A kid asked his mom what a "one-night stand" was.
I panicked, hands up. "Lady, I swear on my empty pockets I've never touched your—whatever it is!"
Fox big-sister stormed in at that exact second, nine tails flaring like she was about to nuke the village. "First you break my little sister's heart, now you deflower cat-girls and steal their Precious?! Die!"
Little fox nodded furiously. "He rejected my cookies and ran!"
Cat-girl sobbed louder. "He used my Precious and left me!"
The crowd was two seconds from grabbing pitchforks. Someone started a chant: "Trash! Trash! Trash!"
I opened my mouth to scream I've been in this world six hours and the only thing I've penetrated is a nap under a tree—when a tiny black blur yeeted itself through the air, landed on cat-girl's shoulder, and started licking her tears.
The cat. The same ninja assassin from earlier.
Cat-girl instantly brightened, nuzzling it. "Precious! There you are!"
She turned and walked off without another word, like the last five minutes of pure societal execution never happened.
Silence.
Fox sisters stared. Crowd stared. I stood there labeled as the village's combined cookie-rejecting, virginity-stealing, heart-breaking final boss.
A random guy in the back slow-clapped. "Man's got negative rizz."
I looked at the sky and asked whatever god truck-kunned me here why comedy hates me.
Then I shuffled toward the guild, officially the most misunderstood broke dude in fantasy history. The nine-tailed fox goddess planted herself in front of me, arms crossed, tails fanning out like a furious peacock. Her little sister clung to her leg, glaring daggers.
"You're not going anywhere," big sis declared, cheeks puffed so adorably I almost forgot she was about to execute me. "How dare a mere mortal reject my baby sister's cuteness!"
"I'm broke!" I yanked both pockets inside-out. Two sad moths fluttered out and died of shame on the spot.
Silence.
Then, like a perfectly rehearsed choir, the fox sisters, the cat-girl (who'd circled back for the drama), and the entire damn village opened their mouths and sang in flawless harmony:
"What a broke-ass loser~♪"
They even added harmonies. Someone threw in a beatbox.
Critical hit. My pride dropped to 0 HP. I literally heard the Game Over sound.
Big sis flipped her hair, grabbed her sister's hand, and marched off. The crowd dispersed, still humming the chorus.
I stood there, pockets flapping like surrender flags, taking 9999 emotional damage.
…Bury me. Just dig the hole and roll me in.
Ten seconds later my shamelessness kicked in, respawned me at full health, and I shuffled toward the guild muttering, "Whatever. Money fixes reputation. Probably."