ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 118: Just Another Day ( )

After hours of thundering hooves and the wind biting at their cloaks, Faria finally saw it.

Smoke—curling lazily into the sky.

Her eyes narrowed. "There," she pointed, voice sharp.

The knights urged their horses forward. As they crested a rise, the ruined remains of a carriage came into view. Splintered wood, scorch marks—a trail of devastation.

And standing in the middle of it all... was him.

A disheveled young man with black hair, holding a sword slung across his back.

Beside him—

"Ellyn..." Faria breathed.

She saw the girl—no, the princess—clutching Hazuki tightly, sobbing with relief. Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, her cat-like ears drooping while her tail curled around her leg.

Faria raised her hand sharply. "Stop."

The knights halted their horses immediately.

"Mrs. Faria?" one of the younger knights asked, confusion etched on his face.

"You all stand by," Faria ordered quietly. "Do not approach. Do not speak unless spoken to."

"But—Mrs. Faria—shouldn’t we secure the area? Is the princess safe?"

"Just do it." Her tone left no room for argument.

Faria dismounted with practiced grace. She pulled off her military cloak, shoving it into a saddlebag, then quickly untied her waist sash and tugged loose the armor plating beneath. A few swift tugs later, and she looked nothing like a knight. Nothing like a noble.

Now, she was just... a mother.

To Hazuki, she was Ellyn’s mom from Yumia Town—and it had to stay that way. For now.

She softened her expression, took a breath, and stepped forward.

Suddenly, Ellyna’s body shimmered—her skin pulsed faintly with a magical light before shrinking, compressing back to the smaller childlike form Hazuki was familiar with.

"Wha—!?" Hazuki stumbled back, nearly dropping the sword. "Which is the real you!? The kid or the adult!?"

"Tehe~ Uncle~" she replied with a playful grin, tilting her head innocently.

"Oi! That’s not an answer!"

Before Ellyna could respond—

"Ellyn!!"

Both turned toward the voice. Ellyna’s eyes widened. "Mother!"

From the path ahead, a woman came running—dressed in plain clothes, her hair slightly disheveled, but her presence was graceful and strong. It was Faria.

Ellyna sprinted toward her and threw her arms around the woman’s waist.

"Mother!"

Faria knelt and wrapped her arms tightly around the girl. "Ellyn..." she breathed, relief pouring from her voice.

Behind her, several knights approached—dusty and alert—playing their part as the search party that had accompanied a worried mother looking for her lost daughter.

Faria looked up at Hazuki with a warm, grateful smile. "Thank you, Mr. Hazuki, for saving my daughter."

She offered a polite bow, still holding Ellyna close.

Hazuki, scratching the back of his head, chuckled awkwardly. "Eh, it’s nothing... just happened to pass by. Not like I was aiming to save anyone."

Inside, though, his heart was doing cartwheels.

Ellyn... no, Ellyna... had transformed right in front of him. That kiss, that glow... and now this sudden reunion.

And still—somehow—he felt like the only one not in on the big secret.

"...Oi, seriously," he muttered, eyeing both of them. "What’s going on?"

"Nothing, Uncle~!" Ellyna chirped.

Hazuki barely had time to process the chaos behind them before Ellyn tugged on his sleeve again, her eyes shimmering with excitement.

"Uncle~ you should visit Beastkin Town first!"

"Huh? I’m busy!" Hazuki shot back, instinctively stepping back.

"Busy?" She tilted her head.

"Err... yeah..."

Ridan’s voice chimed in like a fly buzzing near his ear—only way more smug.

"Busy doing what? Chasing wild boars? Squatting like a beggar? Just go with your fiancée already."

Hazuki turned red. "H-Huh!? She’s a kid!"

Ellyn blinked. "Uncle? Who are you talking to?"

"Huh? This guy right here." Hazuki jabbed a thumb toward Ridan, who was floating in full view to him—arms folded, smug as ever.

Ellyn stared at empty space. "...Uncle?"

Hazuki’s expression froze. "...You don’t see him?"

"Nope~"

He looked around. The knights were watching silently, eyebrows raised. Ellyn’s tail flicked in mild confusion.

Ellyn squinted at thin air. Nothing. No floating spirit. No snarky voice.

"Uncle... are you okay?"

"Huh? Of course I’m okay!" Hazuki waved his hands wildly. "Look! He’s right there! Floating! With the smug face and glowing aura!"

Behind Ellyn, Mrs. Faria watched in silence.

Hazuki, who had just saved her from a burning carriage with a random burst of sword magic... and still had no idea who she really was.

And now he was talking to thin air.

Faria breathed out slowly. ...He’s either completely clueless... or divinely protected by sheer luck.

Faria stepped forward and gave a formal, grateful bow. "Mr. Hazuki... thank you again for saving my daughter."

"Ah... umm... yeah..." Hazuki scratched the back of his neck, still trying to act cool while Ridan laughed softly.

He couldn’t admit it—he had no clue the fireball would explode like that. Ridan had just said: "Pour mana in. Trust me." And next thing he knew, the forest lit up like a fireworks show.

Ellyn clung tighter to his arm.

"Uncle~," she whined, tugging at his sleeve, "at least walk around the town with me. Pleeeeease?"

"I really shouldn’t—"

"Pleeeeeeease~!" she tugged harder, her tail wrapping around his leg like a snuggly leash of guilt.

Faria silently observed, resisting the urge to smile.

Hazuki sighed. "Just for a little bit, alright?"

"Yaaay~!"

Before Hazuki could react, Ellyn leapt with practiced grace and landed squarely on his shoulders.

"March!!"

"Oi!! I’m not a horse!!"

"Tehe~" she giggled, kicking her little legs in the air like she was riding a festival float.

Hazuki grumbled as he tried to maintain his balance. "Ugh!! You’re heavy!"

"I’m not!!" Ellyn puffed her cheeks, her ears twitching.

"Haaa..." He sighed, but didn’t push her off. "Whatever."

They started walking down the trail toward the town’s outer road, sunlight filtering through the trees. Hazuki, despite all his complaints, felt a strange calm return. His boots crunched lightly on the dirt path, and with Ellyn perched on his shoulders, he took in the view. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

He didn’t want to admit it, but he missed this.

Back in Yumia Town, Ellyn always used to ride on his shoulders, tugging his hair and pointing at random stalls.

It was annoying. It was exhausting.

But it felt like home.

Behind them, Mrs. Faria walked quietly, her armor packed away, maintaining the guise of a modest mother. The knights trailed at a respectful distance, keeping watch without interfering.

"So this Beastkin Town," Hazuki asked, glancing up at Ellyn, "It’s big?"

"Yeah, Uncle! It’s huuuuge!!" she exclaimed, stretching her arms wide. "It’s like... ten Yumia Towns stacked on top of each other! There’s a big open plaza, stalls, parades, and—Ooh! There’s a melon store!"

Hazuki froze. "...Melons?"

"Melons?" Ridan echoed, suddenly floating down beside Hazuki with eyes glowing like twin suns.

Hazuki ignored him. "Nope. We’re not stopping for melons."

"But Uncle~!"

"Nope."

Ellyn pouted, her ears drooping slightly.

Faria chuckled softly under her breath. They really were a strange pair...

At the town entrance, the gate guards glanced their way. One blinked in recognition when he saw Ellyn—but after a sharp look from Faria, he quickly turned away, returning to his post with lips sealed.

Hazuki, as usual, noticed none of it. He trudged forward with a princess on his shoulders, a floating spirit beside him, and absolutely no clue how many people were watching them in silent awe.

( End of Chapter )