ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 194: Linked by Hope ( )

Kisha stepped cautiously into the edge of the forest.

She didn’t know what exactly she was expecting, maybe to find Elvia hiding, or even Hazuki talking to himself again .

But what she saw instead...

Her body froze.

Her legs buckled.

She dropped down where she stood, butt hitting the grass, both hands braced behind her like they were the only thing keeping her from falling completely.

Her eyes widened.

Her breath caught in her throat.

In front of her..

A mountain.

Towering piles of monster corpses.

Trolls. Ogres. Giant beasts. Snakes thicker than trees.

The kind of creatures she’d only seen listed in cautionary guild reports.

High-tier. Deadly.

And now they were stacked like lumber.

Too many.

Far too many.

Her eyes couldn’t move.

Her body wouldn’t stand.

Her thoughts blanked out.

"...What... is this...?"

She didn’t know how long she sat there.

Just staring.

Mouth slightly open.

A sudden sound broke the stillness.

Loud. Deep. Rhythmic.

Kisha jolted.

"...M-Monster?!" she gasped, heart jumping into her throat.

She gripped the small blade tightly and tried to stand, her legs trembling as she scrambled up, eyes darting in all directions.

"Where!? What’s—?!"

She spun, half expecting something to lunge from the trees.

But then her eyes locked onto a shape near the monster pile.

No.

Two shapes.

One was Hazuki, sprawled on his back on the grass, mouth slightly open, snoring so loudly it echoed off tree trunks. His shirt was partially covered by a blanket.

And on top of him—

Elvia.

Sleeping peacefully.

Curled up.

Hugging him.

Blanket half-draped over both of them.

The grip on her blade loosened. Her expression twisted somewhere between disbelief and exhaustion.

"...What... the hell am I looking at..."

Kisha stood still, her eyes fixed on the sight in front of her.

Should I wake her up...?

Or just... let her sleep there?

She bit her lip lightly.

A part of her was relieved. Elvia was safe, sleeping soundly, even smiling a little in her sleep. That mattered more than anything.

But another part of her..

What is she doing hugging him like that?

Kisha sighed.

The kids back at the orphanage were probably asleep by now, but there was still no one watching over them. And after everything that had happened today, they needed someone to be there when they woke up.

Elvia can explain herself in the morning.

For now... I need sleep too.

Kisha looked at them one last time.

Then quietly turned around, blade lowered at her side, and walked back through the trees.

Later in the morning.

"Miss Kisha... Miss Kisha...!"

She stirred as the soft voices echoed around her.

"...Mm?"

Kisha slowly opened her eyes, blinking at the sunlight peeking through the window. She rubbed her eyes.

Strange... it’s rare for them to wake me up this early...

"Yes...?" she murmured, still groggy.

One of the kids leaned closer. "It’s already... um... bright for a long time now..."

Another chimed in, "Almost afternoon... I think?"

Kisha blinked again—then sat up in a panic.

"Ah! You’re all hungry, aren’t you?!"

All the children around her nodded furiously with wide eyes and growling stomachs.

"Ah—sorry! I’ll get breakfast ready right now!"

She quickly got up, tying back her hair as she moved toward the kitchen area.

Behind her, the children gathered around the table, excited chatter rising.

One of them whispered, "Miss Kisha looks really tired..."

"She was out looking for Elvia last night, right?"

"But Elvia still not back..."

"...I hope she’s okay."

Kisha overheard—but didn’t stop moving.

She gave a soft smile as she lit the stove.

She’ll be back soon.

Meanwhile, in the forest.

"Oi, elf girl."

Hazuki sat up, hair messy, a leaf stuck to his cheek. He looked down at the small figure still lying half-asleep beside him.

"Why the hell were you sleeping next to me all night?! You were supposed to go home, weren’t you?!"

Elvia sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes.

"...Umm... I got scared," she mumbled, looking away.

Hazuki blinked.

"...Oh."

He scratched his head awkwardly.

"Well... alright then."

A pause.

Then he jumped to his feet with sudden energy.

"Alright! Today I’m gonna get PAID!"

He pointed dramatically at the towering pile of monster corpses behind him, fire in his eyes.

Ridan, now lazily floating overhead like a smug shadowy balloon, chimed in.

"...And how exactly are you planning to call a buyer out here?"

Hazuki froze.

Ridan smirked wider, purple mist curling around his horns.

"Gonna leave the pile alone while you go to town? Bold strategy."

Hazuki opened his mouth—then closed it.

"And don’t even think about asking the little elf to babysit it," Ridan added. "This is a forest. It’s dangerous. She’s tough, but she’s still a kid."

"...Oh. Right..."

Hazuki stood in silence for a long beat.

"...I didn’t think this far."

"Alright," Hazuki muttered, arms crossed as he studied the monster pile. "First, we send her back to the house."

Ridan floated lazily beside him, barely reacting.

From the side, Elvia tilted her head. She’d been watching Hazuki talk for a while now—but not to her.

"...Um... mister?"

Hazuki glanced at her. "Hmm?"

She pointed gently. "Who... are you talking to?"

Hazuki didn’t even flinch.

"Ah, me? This spirit right here." He tapped the air beside his head. "They all call me Spirit Talker."

"...Spirit... Talker?"

He nodded with total confidence. "Yep. It’s a rare title. You need high compatibility with floating grumpy types."

Ridan floated just out of reach, crossing his stubby arms.

"You’re lying again," the spirit muttered under his breath. "And you wonder why no one trusts you."

Hazuki ignored him, crouching down to Elvia’s level.

"Alright. First, I’ll send you home. Let’s go, little elf."

"...Mm... okay."

She hesitated for a second—then quietly reached out and took Hazuki’s hand, her small fingers wrapping around his.

Hazuki blinked.

But he didn’t say anything.

He just stood up, gently holding her hand in return as they started walking back toward the orphanage path—leaving the towering monster pile behind them for now.

Ridan floated just above, mumbling.

"From spirit talker to forest babysitter. What a career shift."

Hazuki didn’t reply.

He just looked ahead, steps calm, as Elvia silently walked beside him.

As they walked through the forest trail, leaves rustling gently overhead, Elvia glanced up at Hazuki.

"...Mister?"

"Hmm?"

"...Thank you for everything."

Hazuki blinked. "For what?"

She looked down at their hands, still linked.

"...Umm... the food you brought... the repairs to the house... and the temporary ID papers for us kids."

Hazuki paused for a moment.

Then casually looked away.

"...I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Elvia smiled faintly.

She didn’t say anything else.

They just kept walking—

quiet steps down the dirt path,

with birds chirping somewhere in the trees above them,

and Ridan floating lazily behind, pretending he wasn’t listening.

( End Of Chapter )