ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 188: Dark Clouds and Distant Thunder ( )

The heavy wooden gates of Macia creaked as they prepared to close, the guards standing firm.

"We’re closing the gate soon," one of them warned, voice steady. "If you go out now, we won’t open it again—not until the lord’s knights arrive."

Kisha froze, her heart pounding.

Behind the guards, the darkened sky trembled with distant roars and flashes of magic. The air buzzed with tension, every breath thick with fear and anticipation.

She clenched her fists, torn by the urge to run back outside and find Elvia. But her legs refused to obey. The weight of fear, responsibility, and cold logic tangled in her mind.

"I..." she muttered, biting her lip hard.

Suddenly, a flash of memory struck her—the fierce, wild man fighting among the monsters. Hazuki.

He was still out there. He had to be.

Her eyes darted toward the narrow gap between the closing gates.

"Please..." she whispered softly, barely daring to hope, "keep her safe..."

In the aftermath of battle, the field was littered with steaming carcasses—burned, sliced, and smashed into bloody heaps. Smoke curled up from the scorched earth. The thunder boomed faintly in the distance, and the sky finally grew silent again.

Hazuki stood at the center, chest rising with adrenaline, a giddy grin stretched across his face.

"That’s what I’m talking about!" he laughed through ragged breathing. Blood trickled from a deep claw wound along his back, soaking through his shirt.

Behind him, Elvia fidgeted nervously.

"Umm... y-your back," she said hesitantly.

Hazuki glanced over his shoulder, shrugging with a grin.

"Oh? This? Don’t worry about it," he said casually. "Just a scratch. I’ve had worse from tripping over tree roots."

Elvia blinked, unimpressed. That wasn’t something to be proud of.

Without missing a beat, Hazuki raised his hand toward the pile of defeated monsters.

"Now, Ridan!" he barked. "Time to secure our income!"

Ridan, lounging in the air like a smug cat, gave a lazy spin.

"What?" he asked, eyes blinking lazily.

Hazuki jabbed a thumb toward the carcasses.

"Go ahead." freeweɓnovel.cøm

Ridan’s smirk widened.

"Sure."

Hazuki cracked his knuckles, wincing as his wound tugged painful flush.

"Ugh... right after I stop bleeding."

Hazuki slumped onto a nearby tree stump, wincing as his hand pressed against his aching back. Blood seeped through the torn fabric of his shirt, staining it crimson.

Elvia stepped cautiously forward, her eyes shimmering softly under the moonlight.

"Umm... I-I can heal your wound..." she offered hesitantly.

Hazuki blinked in surprise.

"Really?" he asked.

Her cheeks grew a little bashful.

"Y-Yes..." she replied quietly.

Hazuki grinned and jabbed a thumb at her, glancing toward the floating spirit nearby.

"Oh, hear that, Ridan? This girl says she can heal me."

Ridan floated lazily above, arms crossed behind his head.

"Yep. Elf girls often have the blessing of healing. Nature’s part of them. Elf healers aren’t exactly rare, but they aren’t growing on trees either."

Hazuki chuckled.

"I thought elves literally grew on trees," he teased.

Ridan let out a long, weary sigh.

"Dumbass."

Elvia knelt behind him, her small hands trembling slightly as she carefully placed them on his back. A gentle green glow spread from her palms, warm and calming. The warmth eased Hazuki’s pain, and the torn skin stitched itself up as the light worked its magic.

"Huh... That’s kinda nice," Hazuki muttered, blinking in surprise. "Warm... Like a kotatsu blanket."

Elvia bit her lip, focusing even harder.

"Oi, don’t fall asleep while she’s healing you," Ridan scoffed. "It’s not a massage."

Hazuki slumped a little, eyes barely open.

"Too late," he mumbled. "I already started counting sheep."

Suddenly, Ridan swooped in—dizzy with glee.

"Ah!! Ellyn!!" he shouted, swirling around Hazuki’s head.

"Wha—Where?!" Hazuki jerked upright, eyes wide.

"In your dream, dumbass!! Ahahaha!!" Ridan doubled over, holding his cloudy sides.

Hazuki shot him a glare.

"Damn spirit..."

He turned to Elvia, who was still kneeling quietly, cheeks faintly pink as she withdrew her healing hands.

"You done, elf girl?"

"Y-Yes..." she nodded sheepishly.

Hazuki stretched, cracking his shoulders and twisting his back.

"Ohh... that felt nice." He then grimaced, eyeing the torn shirt.

"But... the only thing not nice... is this shirt. It’s brand new, damn it!"

His gaze scanned the field and finally landed on a massive wolf’s carcass, nearby—their victory prize.

Hazuki marched over, crunching over scorched earth and scattered monster bits, boots ringing true.

"Where is it... Ah, you," he said, giving the beast a sharp kick in the side.

"Lucky you’re worth something!"

In Macia Town, the air was thick with tension.

Clang of armor and hurried footsteps echoed through the town square. Torches fluttered as the crowd’s unease grew. At the center, the City Overseer stood tall, voice steady despite the rising anxiety.

"Our lord’s knights will arrive shortly," he announced confidently. "Until then, the town guard will maintain defenses and conduct scouting missions."

Behind him, the sturdy figure of Guild Master Braham, a broad beastkin with muscled arms, nodded quietly.

"We’re organizing adventurer teams to assist the patrols," Braham said, his voice deep. "Since Silveroad’s party is currently recovering at the ward, we’ll dispatch other Rank D and above adventurers."

The overseer’s brow furrowed, glancing at Braham.

"If only the high-rank adventurers weren’t all away on that northern expedition..."

"We work with what we have," Braham replied gruffly. He raised a hand, signaling for attention.

"Alright, everyone! Depart in one minute!" the officer bellowed.

A ripple of readiness spread.

One adventurer, a beastkin with a heavy axe strapped to his back, raised his hand.

"Guild Master?" he called out.

Braham turned to face him.

"Speak."

"Do you think... the monster that caused that lightning storm is a demon?"

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Eyes flicked nervously, some turning grim at the mention. The word demon carried weight, stirring fears hard to suppress.

"We don’t know what it is yet," Braham said flatly. "That’s why we’re dispatching multiple teams under joint command with the town guard. Observe, investigate, and most importantly—survive."

The crowd’s tension tightened like a bowstring pulled taut.

"The guild has prepared potions and supplies for each team," Braham continued. "Take only what you need. This isn’t about glory. It’s about protecting Macia."

A unified voice responded.

"Yes, Guild Master!"

Steel clanged, magic crystals hummed softly.

With a nod from Braham, the first groups slipped away into the dark, mist-covered forest beyond the town walls.

Something had stirred in the woods—something that demanded everyone’s attention. And whatever it was... had already drawn the eyes and ears of the entire town.

( End Of Chapter )