ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 134: Joyful Hopes ( )

Ellyn, perched comfortably on Hazuki’s shoulders, hummed a soft, cheerful tune as they strolled through the bustling market.

Hazuki walked with a smug strut, hands casually in his pockets, feeling like the coolest man alive.

Meanwhile, Ridan floated lazily around them, spiraling slow circles above their heads like a bored balloon.

After a few steps, Hazuki tilted his head up slightly, looking at the golden-haired catgirl sitting atop him.

"Hey, Ellyn..." he called out, voice casual but a little nervous.

"That... adult version of you. Is it real? Or just some mana transformation thing?"

Ellyn grinned mischievously.

She tightened her grip gently on Hazuki’s hair to steady herself and leaned closer, whispering into his ear with a playful lilt.

"Who knooows~?" she teased.

"EHHHH!!??" Hazuki gasped, staggering a little.

He grabbed her legs instinctively to make sure she didn’t fall.

"That means you just SCAMMED ME!!" he cried dramatically.

Ellyn giggled, her tail flicking.

"Hmm? No, I didn’t~" she said sweetly, tapping him lightly on the forehead with her tiny fist.

Hazuki pouted, still carrying her as he walked.

"What if—" he started loudly, earning a few side-glances from passersby,

"—when you grow up later, you turn as big as a pig!??"

Ellyn’s ears twitched.

Her cheeks puffed up.

Her tail stiffened like an angry whip.

"I’m NOT!!!" she snapped instantly, bonking him lightly on the head with her small fist again.

Meanwhile, Ridan floated lazily behind them, sighing heavily through telepathy.

"This idiot still believes the brat form is the real one. Princess, if he ever finds out the truth... he’s gonna grovel at your feet, I swear."

Ellyn just giggled silently, kicking her feet playfully on Hazuki’s chest.

Hazuki continued walking dramatically, muttering to himself.

"I swear if she turns into some sumo wrestler later, I’ll... I’ll—!!"

"Uncle~" Ellyn sang sweetly.

"So what if I do get fat like a pig?" she said playfully.

"Pinky promise is pinky promise~ And it cannot be canceled!"

Hazuki gasped dramatically, clenching his fists.

"Damn it!! From now on, you’re on a DIET!!" he shouted.

"Nooo~" Ellyn sang, swinging her legs lazily.

"Why worry about that!? I already told you, beastkin folk don’t get fat by eating meat!"

Hazuki blinked.

"For real!?"

Ellyn nodded proudly.

"Yeah."

"For real?"

Ellyn nodded.

"Yeah! Our bodies are built differently. It’s totally fine."

Hazuki squinted suspiciously.

"...What if you grow huge muscles instead? Like a beefy bodybuilder?" he asked.

Ellyn tilted her head cutely.

"Hmm? Uncle, have you seen any beefy beastkin girls around?"

Hazuki looked around the bustling market, scanning the crowd.

He squinted at various beastkin girls walking by.

None of them were muscular.

None of them were fat.

Just slim, healthy, fluffy-tailed bundles of energy.

Hazuki scratched his head.

"No... I guess not..."

Ellyn grinned wide and pointed dramatically at a food stall.

"Okay, Uncle!! Let’s go eat meat!!"

"Okay!!" Hazuki said, pumped.

Meanwhile, Ridan floated lazily above them, grinning like a cloud demon.

Through telepathy, he whispered to Ellyn,

"Good job, Princess. Teaching this idiot how the world really works."

Ellyn just giggled in her mind, her tail swaying happily.

As they approached the food stall, Hazuki suddenly slowed down.

He glanced up at Ellyn, his voice quieter, a little serious.

"Hey... Ellyn."

"Hmm? Yes, Uncle?" she tilted her head.

Hazuki took a deep breath.

"We’re really... engaged, right?"

Ellyn smiled, a pure, warm smile.

"Yes~ Why?"

Hazuki scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Are you sure? You’re not gonna... run away or anything, right?" he mumbled.

Ellyn blinked, her golden eyes wide.

"Why would you say that, Uncle?"

Hazuki muttered, half to himself, half to her.

"Eight years... Eight years waiting and then suddenly you’re married to someone else... It’d break me, you know?"

Ellyn’s ears twitched.

Then she smiled gently, tapping his forehead lightly with her finger.

"Huh? I can’t even if I wanted to, Uncle," she said firmly.

"And neither can you."

She leaned closer, whispering in his ear,

"Pinky promise is pinky promise. You forgot?"

Hazuki stiffened slightly, remembering the pinky promise he thought was just childish at first.

Ellyn’s voice softened but carried weight beyond her years.

"It’s a serious oath in this world. No one dares to break it."

Hazuki felt a strange warmth bloom in his chest.

Maybe it was dumb.

Maybe it was reckless.

But right now—

He believed her.

Once they arrived at one of the roast meat stalls.

"OWNER!!" Hazuki shouted proudly, slamming his hand lightly on the counter.

"Give us EIGHT roast meats!!"

The old beastkin man behind the stall jolted at the loud voice.

"C-Coming right... up—"

Then his eyes landed on Ellyn.

His breath caught in his throat.

"...T-That’s..."

His hands shook slightly.

The princess.

Their princess.

Right there.

In front of him.

Riding on a human’s shoulder.

His brain screamed internally.

But outwardly, he somehow kept it together—barely.

"A-a-a-a-a... eight, right??" he stammered, voice cracking.

Ellyn, still perched comfortably on Hazuki’s shoulders, grinned brightly.

"Yes!! Faster, Owner!! I’m starving!!" she said, waving her little hand like a queen ordering her next course.

The owner immediately snapped into action, moving faster than he ever had in his life, flipping meat skewers like his soul depended on it.

Hazuki, meanwhile, just stood there grinning smugly, completely unaware of the hurricane of panic happening behind the counter.

Ridan floated lazily nearby, chuckling through telepathy.

"This is great. First the merchant shop, now the food stalls. Everywhere this idiot goes, he’s dragging royalty around like it’s Tuesday."

Ellyn swung her legs lightly, humming happily.

While the scent of sizzling meat filled the air, Hazuki stood quietly, feeling Ellyn’s small weight on his shoulders.

He glanced up at her.

"Ellyn..." he said softly.

"Hmm?" Ellyn tilted her head, looking down at him with curious golden eyes.

Hazuki hesitated for a second, then asked—

"You’re serious, right?"

Ellyn blinked.

"What? About marriage?" she said simply, her voice light.

Hazuki nodded slowly.

"Yeah..."

Ellyn sighed dramatically, shaking her head.

Then she raised her tiny fist and bonked him lightly on the head.

"Uncle..." she said, exasperated but fond.

"I already told you a lot of times."

She leaned closer, whispering,

"Pinky promise is pinky promise."

Hazuki felt the soft words settle deep into his chest, heavier than he expected.

Ellyn smiled gently.

"There’s no turning back from this, Uncle."

Her voice was quiet but firm—completely different from her usual playful tone.

Hazuki stood still.

The noise of the marketplace faded into the background.

For a moment, it was just the two of them.

The little hand resting on his head.

The soft, firm voice above him.

The weight of the promise he had once thought was just a silly joke.

And now...

It felt real.

It felt important.

He swallowed quietly, his heart thudding.

"...Okay." he said simply.

He didn’t know what the future held.

He didn’t know if he could really protect her.

He didn’t know if he was worthy.

But he knew one thing—

He wouldn’t break that promise.

Not for anything.

( End Of Chapter )