ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 106: Whims of Fate ( )

Ellyn rested her chin against the windowsill, her eyes gazing far into the clear blue sky stretching endlessly above the Beastkin Kingdom. The breeze fluttered gently through the curtains, brushing against her cheek like a soft memory.

"It’s just..." she murmured, voice quiet, "I miss him."

Her ears drooped slightly, and a soft smile tugged at her lips—bittersweet and full of longing.

"I wonder..." she whispered, her fingers gently tracing the edge of the pinky promise ring, "if he misses me too." freewēbnoveℓ.com

Faria stood silently nearby, watching the young princess as the wind carried her words into the open air.

In that moment, Ellyn wasn’t the royal heir of the Beastkin Kingdom. She was just a girl, staring at the sky, hoping someone far away was thinking of her too.

Meanwhile...

Hazuki finally reached a proper road, lined with footprints, wooden wheels, and signs of civilization. A few carts rolled past, merchants chattered, and beastkin villagers strolled under the morning sun.

He stretched his arms. "Finally! People! A town can’t be far now—maybe I can grab a proper meal, get a bed, and—"

ZAAAAAAP!!

"Gyaaaahhh!!!"

A bolt of magical electricity shot through his hand, surging up his arm from the pinky promise ring on his finger. His whole body jerked, smoking slightly as he dropped to a crouch.

Even Ridan, the sword strapped to his waist, jolted with him.

"WHAAAA!!! THE HELL WAS THAT!?" Ridan shouted. "Why do I feel it too!?"

Hazuki flailed. "LIKE HELL I KNOW!"

Ridan’s spirit buzzed with residual static. "D-Damn! That’s the curse, isn’t it!? The pinky promise thing! You messed it up, didn’t you!?"

"I didn’t!!" Hazuki protested, gripping his throbbing hand. "I was just walking! Minding my business! No melon-ogling, no forgetting anyone! I swear—!"

A group of halfling girls passed by, chatting and laughing.

Hazuki’s eyes inched to the side.

"...Oh wow~ Nice melo—"

ZAAAAAAP!!

"GYAAAAHHHHH!!"

Hazuki convulsed mid-commentary, smoke rising from his hair.

"AGAIN!?" he wailed, clutching his chest.

Ridan, also sizzling with residual lightning, screamed back, "I’m not the one who looked at the melon!!!"

Hazuki groaned, twitching. "This is hell... this is actual fantasy world hell..."

A few passing villagers glanced at them like they’d just seen a madman yelling at his sword.

Ridan’s voice echoed in Hazuki’s mind. "You better stop messing around with that sacred oath, dumbass! Next time we might both catch fire!!"

Hazuki lay twitching on the dirt road, his hair frazzled from the electric shock. Smoke curled lazily from the pinky promise ring still glowing faintly on his finger.

"Damn... I forgot I can’t ogle other girls..." he muttered, groaning.

Ridan’s voice buzzed from his sword. "Next time, remember it, idiot! I got punished too!"

Hazuki sat up and shrugged casually. "Well... whatever. If I can’t, so do you."

"Oi! Why me!? I’m just a spirit! I can stare at thos—ohhh... niiiice melon girls..."

Hazuki’s eyes widened. "Wait, you just—"

ZAAAAAAAAP!!!

A massive bolt of lightning cracked from the sky, striking Hazuki and the sword strapped to his waist.

"GUWAAAAHHHH!!!"

"WHY AGAIN!?"

Hazuki collapsed on the road, flailing like a fried fish. Ridan’s voice echoed in his head, equally fried.

Passersby watched from a distance, concerned.

"...Is that man yelling at his sword?"

"...Maybe he’s cursed?"

"...Or crazy?"

Hazuki pointed dramatically to the sky. "Damn it! I didn’t ogle the melons this time!! It wasn’t me—it was this cursed sword!! This pervert spirit did it!!"

Only silence answered him, save for a few confused villagers slowly backing away.

Ridan coughed inside the sword, crackling with static. "...Worth it."

Hazuki glared at the weapon. "I swear, one more melon and I’m burying you."

"Now... where are we?" Hazuki muttered as he dusted off the charred bits of his shirt, still twitching slightly from the last divine shock.

"Like hell I know." Ridan grumbled from his place strapped at Hazuki’s waist.

Hazuki narrowed his eyes at the sword. "Oi, aren’t you supposed to be some ancient spirit or something?"

"I am," Ridan shot back. "But I’ve been sealed for over a thousand years! Of course everything’s changed, dumbass! You think roads and towns stay the same for a millennium?"

"...Yeah, okay, fair point."

Ridan sighed. "Just ask a passerby, then. But avoid the girls, unless you want both of us to get roasted again."

"Okay, okay! Chill..." Hazuki waved a hand. "Well, at least now I remember—as long as I don’t ogle melons or asses, I won’t get punished."

"Good to know." Ridan’s voice sounded like he was trying not to laugh.

Hazuki adjusted his sword and cracked his neck. "Right. Let’s find out where the hell we are."

He took a step forward.

A halfling girl walked by.

Hazuki immediately spun around, facing the opposite direction like he’d seen the face of death. "Nope. Not even glancing. I am a holy man today."

Ridan chuckled. "Good boy."

Hazuki squinted ahead as the road widened into a proper entrance. A stone gate stood tall—and beyond it, he saw a lively blend of humans, beastkin, and halflings moving about. Market stalls, colorful banners, and the distant scent of grilled meat made his stomach rumble.

"Finally," Hazuki muttered. "A proper town."

As he approached the gate, two halfling guards stepped forward, spears in hand.

"Identity card."

Hazuki nodded and pulled out his adventurer card, handing it over.

One of the guards took it to a glowing orb set in a pedestal. It shimmered briefly, revealing lines of information only the guards could read.

After a few seconds, the guard grunted. "Hmm... No criminal record. Newbie rank. Level 21."

He handed the card back. "You may proceed inside."

Hazuki accepted it with a grin. "Thanks."

He strolled past the gate, adjusting the sword at his hip.

Ridan’s voice echoed quietly. "Hey... this place looks decent."

Hazuki grinned.

"So... where we going?" Ridan asked, his voice echoing faintly from the sword at Hazuki’s hip.

"Don’t know..." Hazuki stretched his arms. "First things first, better find a bank or adventurer guild. I need to withdraw some money."

"Good start," Ridan replied. "But do you even know where that is?"

Hazuki blinked. "Hmm? No clue. We can ask someone. Or better yet—you can use one of your spirit skills, right?"

"Hell no! Not in public!" Ridan snapped.

"Huh? Why not?"

"Haaa... this idiot..." Ridan grumbled. "Look around you!"

Hazuki looked. People were definitely staring.

"What? I’m too handsome?"

"NO!" Ridan yelled. "It’s because you’re TALKING to me! They can’t hear me, remember!? To them, you’re just some weirdo chatting it up with your sword!"

"Huh? So?"

Nearby, a little halfling boy tugged at his mother’s sleeve.

"Mommy! That uncle is talking to himself again!"

The mother grabbed her son and quickened her pace.

"Shhh!! Don’t look! Just keep walking!"

( End of Chapter )