ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 81: In the Shadow of the Prison ( )

Hazuki floated on his back, letting the gentle current carry him as his thoughts continued to swirl.

"Well, it’s their fault anyway."

He grumbled, staring at the sky.

"Pointing a damn crossbow at my head while showing off those melons? What was I supposed to do? NOT look?"

He scoffed.

"That’s just unreasonable."

A small smirk crept onto his lips.

"If anything, they should be thanking me for appreciating the view."

Then—his expression changed as he remembered the lightning strike.

His smirk vanished.

"And why the hell did she grab my hand when the lightning struck?!"

Hazuki rubbed his wrist, still feeling the phantom pain from the divine punishment.

"That was her mistake, not mine!"

He huffed, sitting up in the water.

"Not. My. Fault."

Satisfied with his logic, he laid back down, floating once more.

"Haaa... whatever."

The stream continued to flow, the morning sun warm on his skin. Hazuki closed his eyes, finally feeling at peace.

"Alright, let’s head out."

Hazuki got out of the stream, water dripping from his body as he stretched his arms. Then—like a complete idiot, he swayed his hips left and right, causing his "Divine Sword" to swing freely—left... right... left... right...

A proud, goofy grin formed on his face.

"Hehehe... majestic."

After amusing himself for a few moments, he stood still, waiting for his body to dry naturally. Once he was satisfied, he turned to his pile of clothes. Then—

"Ewww... these smell."

His nose scrunched up as he reluctantly picked up his dirty clothes, shaking them out before putting them on.

"Damn it... I need to buy new ones when I reach a village or town or something."

He adjusted his belt, making sure everything was in place. Then—he patted his pockets. Nothing. His wallet? Empty. His pouch? Bare.

Hazuki sighed, but then he remembered something.

"Well... I have no money in hand..."

He reached into his belongings and pulled out a small card.

His Adventurer’s Card.

"At least I’ve got this."

He examined it, rubbing his thumb over the edges. He slung his sword over his back and started walking, his mind set on reaching civilization.

Meanwhile, In the border region between the Human Kingdom and the Beastkin Kingdom, a carriage rolled smoothly along the well-worn road, its polished black exterior reflecting the morning sun. Accompanied by a small escort of armored guards, it approached the gates of Yumia Town—a bustling trade hub along the borders of the Human Kingdom.

Inside the carriage, a composed butler adjusted his gloves, his sharp beastkin ears twitching slightly. His destination? The prison. His task was simple: identify the man who had formed a Pinky Promise Pact with Princess Ellyna.

As the carriage came to a halt before the town gates, the guards stationed there straightened up, eyeing the emblem displayed on the carriage’s door. Their captain, a grizzled veteran with a smirk that never left his face, stepped forward.

"My, my~ A servant from Duke Belard’s household?" His tone dripped with amusement, his gaze flickering with intrigue.

"Now that’s a rare sight."

The butler remained composed, stepping out of the carriage with a smooth, practiced motion. His expression remained neutral, but he already knew what this was about. Even though Duke Belard was a noble, his authority did not extend beyond the Beastkin Kingdom. Here, in the Human Kingdom, his name carried no weight—at least not in official matters.

The butler shook his head, fully aware of the reality of their position. The guard captain chuckled, taking a step closer. Then—he casually threw an arm around the butler’s shoulder. A friendly gesture... at least on the surface. The captain’s other hand subtly moved, two fingers raised slightly—a familiar signal. A bribe.

The butler sighed internally. He had expected this. Without a word, he reached into his inner coat pocket, withdrawing a small pouch of gold. With a discreet flick of his wrist, the pouch slipped into the captain’s hand, the exchange smooth and unnoticed by the lower-ranking guards.

The captain grinned.

"Well then, welcome to Yumia Town."

The butler adjusted his coat before stepping forward, his expression unreadable. This was merely the first step.

The butler and the guard captain stood just beyond the gates, their conversation now shifting to a low whisper. The butler’s expression remained calm, but his eyes gleamed with intent.

"So, Captain... the assassin unit you captured?"

The captain’s grin widened, his tone laced with amusement.

"Ah... you want to bail him out?" His voice carried a sinister edge, eyes narrowing as if testing the waters.

The butler shook his head, adjusting his gloves with a composed air.

"No... we simply wish to extract some ’information.’"

The captain let out a mock sigh, stretching his arms as he turned slightly toward his men.

"Well... Ehem..." he cleared his throat dramatically. "Seems like all my guards here are a little... thirsty. Right, guys?"

The guards around him smirked, nodding in unison as they touched their throats.

"Yeah, Captain."

"Feeling real dry."

"So parched."

The butler smiled faintly, fully understanding the game being played.

"Very well."

He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a pouch that was noticeably heavier than the last. With a smooth motion, he extended it toward the captain, the weight of the gold making a quiet clink as it passed hands.

The captain’s fingers closed around it, his smirk widening as he gave it a small, appreciative shake. The Butler leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"I believe you can... ’help’ me with this?"

The captain let out a low chuckle, tucking the pouch into his belt. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"Oho~ Don’t worry about it." His grin was practically dripping with amusement.

"If the Duke personally asks for it, well... how can I refuse?"

With a casual wave of his hand, he motioned for one of his men.

"Take our guests to the prison."

The butler simply nodded, satisfied. Step one—complete. Now, it was time to meet the prisoner.

The butler stepped into the dimly lit prison, his polished shoes barely making a sound on the cold stone floor. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, dampness, and the hopeless murmurs of captured men. Behind him, the guard captain followed casually, arms crossed, watching the butler work.

Without saying a word, the butler’s sharp golden eyes scanned the rows of prisoners. Then—he subtly raised his hand, his fingers moving in a silent, intricate pattern—a language only a select few would recognize. The prisoners stared blankly, confused by the strange gesture. All except one.

Near the back of the cell, a single prisoner responded. His fingers twitched in reply, matching the signal with perfect precision. The butler’s lips curled into a small, knowing smirk. He leaned slightly toward the captain, his voice low.

"Can I bail that one out?"

The captain raised an eyebrow, glancing at the prisoner in question.

"Are you sure? Just one?"

The butler adjusted his sleeves, speaking calmly.

"Yes. Besides... if I were to bail everyone out, wouldn’t that make your kingdom suspicious of you?"

The captain’s grin widened.

"Oh~ Good guest."

With a lazy flick of his hand, he signaled one of his men.

"Take this man out."

The guards nodded, unlocking the cell and dragging the chosen prisoner forward. As the man was pulled to his feet, the butler’s expression remained unreadable. Then—he tilted his head slightly, glancing back at the captain.

"Oh, Captain?"

The captain paused.

"Hmm?"

The butler’s smile was polite, but his tone held a subtle weight.

"Would you mind placing him in handcuffs before handing him over?"

The captain chuckled.

"For sure, for sure." He snapped his fingers, and within moments, the prisoner’s wrists were locked in sturdy iron cuffs.

The butler nodded in satisfaction.

"Much appreciated."

Now— it was time to extract the truth.

( End of Chapter )