ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 120: Floating Friends ( )

As Hazuki devoured his second skewer and tried to swat Ridan away with one hand like an annoying fly, Ellyn watched him closely from her perch.

Why does he keep talking to himself...?

He wasn’t just mumbling. He was making faces. Laughing. Arguing. Even pausing as if... listening?

Hazuki wasn’t the quiet type, sure, but even for him, this was getting weird.

Curious, Ellyn narrowed her eyes.

She softly whispered, "Absolute Eye—Activate."

A soft shimmer pulsed through her irises, like sunlight reflecting off glass.

Her vision shifted instantly—colors grew sharper, magical threads became visible, and... there it was.

Floating just behind Hazuki’s head—

A strange, cloud-like figure with glowing eyes, a mouth full of smugness, and lazy, floating energy that looked like condensed sarcasm.

Ellyn’s mouth parted slightly.

"...A spirit," she whispered.

The creature looked somewhat gooey but sharp-edged at the same time—an aura full of ancient weight, yet it wore a dumb grin like it had no real job in the world.

And it was staring directly at her.

Ridan froze.

"...Oh."

Ellyn blinked.

"...You can see me?" he asked, floating still for the first time.

She nodded slowly, unsure what to say.

He floated closer, inspecting her face. "You’re not supposed to see me. That eye of yours... that’s cheating."

Ellyn tilted her head, eyes glowing faintly. "...You’re the one talking to Uncle?"

"Unfortunately," Ridan muttered. Then sighed. "Name’s Ridan. Spirit of his sword. Guide of fate. Meat enthusiast."

Ellyn smiled. "You’re weirder than I expected."

"You’re smaller than I expected."

"...I’m using a disguise."

"...Oh."

The two stared at each other for a moment—Ellyn perched atop Hazuki’s shoulders like a queen on a throne, Ridan floating like a sarcastic jellyfish caught mid-theft.

"Don’t tell the idiot," Ridan finally said, his voice dropping. "He still thinks you’re just some clingy catgirl."

Ellyn smirked. "And I want to keep it that way."

From below, Hazuki blinked. "Hmm? Ellyn, you said something?"

Ellyn quickly deactivated her Absolute Eye and smiled sweetly. "Nope~! Just thinking~!"

Still perched atop Hazuki’s shoulders, Ellyn kept her smile sweet and innocent.

But behind those glittering gold eyes, her mind reached out again—this time, focused directly on the spirit she could now clearly see.

(Can you hear me?) she thought softly.

(Ohhh? Look at you! Telepathy too? ) Ridan’s smug voice echoed back into her thoughts.

(Not bad, Princess. Most people your age can’t even keep the line stable.)

(Hmph. I’ve had practice... and I’m not that young, you know.)

She puffed up internally, her tail flicking in silent defiance.

(Could’ve fooled me. You’re tiny, and you ride him like a carnival mount.)

(Shut up.)

Ridan chuckled, floating backward while flipping upside-down like a lazy balloon.

(But seriously—this is great! I finally have someone to talk to without them screaming. Telepathy makes things so much easier... unlike that dumbass.)

They both looked down at the same time—at Hazuki, currently licking sauce off his fingers and muttering aloud,

"Seriously, though, wonder how this meat is so good?"

(He still talks out loud?) Ellyn asked.

(Like a drunk noble at a wedding. Every time. Makes him look completely insane. Vendors look at him like he’s cursed.)

(That’s... kind of sad.)

(It’s hilarious.)

Ellyn giggled—out loud—and quickly covered her mouth.

Hazuki glanced up. "Huh? What’s funny?"

"Nothing~!" she replied, her face suspiciously straight.

Ridan’s laughter echoed in both their minds, and for the first time in a long while, Ellyn didn’t feel like she was keeping a secret alone.

She had someone who knew. Someone else watching over Hazuki.

Even if that someone was a floating, perverted cloud with a mouth.

(He really doesn’t know anything, does he?) Ellyn whispered through the link.

(Not a clue. Poor guy doesn’t even realize half the town just bowed their heads because you’re here.)

(Good. I want it to stay that way.)

(You’re evil. I like it.)

From below, Hazuki sighed happily, totally unaware of the telepathic exchange happening above and around him.

"Ahhh... life’s finally giving me a break..."

He took another bite of grilled meat.

Two stalls over, a group of noble beastkin women watched him with narrowed eyes.

One whispered, "Is that the one the princess is riding?"

"Oi, Ridan!" Hazuki barked between bites of meat.

(Silence.)

"...Oi! You deaf now or somethin’?!" He looked around, confused. "Why you suddenly mute?"

After a beat, Ridan floated back down beside him, arms folded and lips pursed in exaggerated annoyance.

"What, dumbass?"

"Why were you so quiet all of a sudden?!"

"Hah! What do you think I am? A chatterbox?"

"Yeah! Kinda!"

Ellyn sat atop Hazuki’s shoulders, her tail gently swaying and barely containing her laughter.

She giggle-snorted, covering her mouth with a hand.

Hazuki squinted. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing~! Uncle’s just... funny today!" she replied, grinning from ear to ear.

(He doesn’t know I can see you, right?) she telepathically nudged Ridan.

(Nope. And it’s killing me not to spill it just to watch him freak out.)

(Let’s keep it secret~)

(Oho~ Team Chaos? I’m in.)

Hazuki groaned, tossing his skewer stick into a nearby bin.

As they strolled through the lively market, Hazuki casually glanced up at Ellyn. "Hey... by the way, Ellyn. You live in this town, right?"

"Y-Yes~" she replied, her cheerfulness unwavering.

"So..." Hazuki scratched his cheek, "where’s your home?"

Ellyn froze.

"U-U-Uncle!! W-Why do you want to know where my house is!?" she squeaked, gripping his head with tiny, panicked hands.

"Huh? I was just asking! What’s with the—"

"N-Nothing! Nothing at all!!" she said, waving her hands furiously.

Hazuki narrowed his eyes. "...Suspicious."

(Ohh, this is good.) Ridan’s voice floated into Ellyn’s thoughts. (You’re cornered. Castle girl’s getting exposed~)

(Shut. Up.)

Hazuki narrowed his eyes, clearly putting together the gears of suspicion at their usual snail’s pace.

Ellyn panicked.

"UNCLE!! OVER THERE!! MELON!!"

"HUH!? Where!?" Hazuki whipped his head left and right, suddenly alert. "Melon where!?"

Several beastkin girls happened to be walking by in the same direction, their hips swaying gently, ears perked, and their very large... "melons" bouncing slightly with each step.

Hazuki’s eyes briefly paused.

Then he frowned. Nah... too furry.

He turned his gaze back toward the fruit stalls ahead without a second thought.

"UNCLEEE!!!" Ellyn screamed.

BONK!

"OW! What was that for!?" Hazuki yelped as Ellyn bopped him on the head with her little fist. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"The fruits, Uncle!! Not the girls!!!" she pouted, her cheeks puffed in righteous indignation.

"I was looking at the fruits!" Hazuki protested, rubbing his head.

"Liar!"

Behind them, Ridan was howling with laughter mid-air, doing barrel rolls above the stall signs. "Bwahaha! You just got caught red-handed by a tiny tsundere princess!"

"Shut up, you spirit fart!"

"I’ll take that as a compliment!"

Nearby, the fruit vendor raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Another beastkin woman muttered to her friend, "Is he... talking to the air again?"

Ellyn sighed and hugged Hazuki’s head protectively. "Uncle... you really are the weirdest human ever."

"Thank you," Hazuki said proudly, as if it were an award.

( End of Chapter )