ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 176: The Hard Truth of Soft Hearts ( )

Hazuki walked ahead of the group, his new leather bag slung across his shoulder, hands shoved in his pockets, while Ridan floated above like a lazy balloon.

"Oi, kid." Hazuki glanced behind him.

"Y-yes!" The elven girl straightened up, still clutching the edge of Kisha’s sleeve.

"You’re an elf, right?"

"Y-yes..."

"How’d you end up here?"

She didn’t answer. Her lips trembled. Her hands clenched tightly. Tears welled in her eyes again, but she swallowed them down hard.

Hazuki narrowed his eyes.

"And you too human girl." He pointed toward another, slightly older child who kept glancing at him with wide, wary eyes. "What’s your story?"

Silence again.

The two girls kept their heads low.

Kisha opened her mouth as if to speak, but hesitated. Her hands twisted into her apron. "I... it’s complicated, mister Hazuki..."

Hazuki clicked his tongue. "Ugh. Cry, cry, cry. Can you all stop crying already?" He waved a hand in the air, annoyed.

Ridan floated beside him, unusually quiet for a second.

Hazuki sighed and looked up at the sky.

"What the hell happened to these kids...? Why are they with her?"

Ridan glanced at him and didn’t crack a joke this time.

"Ugh... Ridan," Hazuki muttered, his voice low as they passed a quiet field on the way back into town. "These kids won’t spill anything. Any idea what happened to them?"

Ridan floated beside him with arms crossed, his usual smirk faded.

"Hmm... I don’t know much about this time." His voice dropped just a little. "Back when... well, way back—stuff like this happened after wars. Or when kingdoms turned a blind eye. Bandits, slave raids, poverty, disease... pick your poison."

He paused, almost saying more—but didn’t.

Hazuki clenched his fists.

"Maybe I should just kill every damn bandit around. Or whoever’s behind this."

Ridan smirked faintly. "Heh. Look at you. From crazy guy to dark avenger of orphans."

Hazuki scowled. "Don’t call me that."

"Then stop sounding like a protagonist with a tragic backstory," Ridan teased, but even he didn’t fully laugh this time. "Still... wouldn’t be a bad move to thin out the trash."

Hazuki looked at the kids trailing behind Kisha. Their faces were quiet, empty. Too empty for kids their age.

"Yeah. If I find the trash behind this... I’ll burn it."

Ridan floated a bit higher, the wind catching his cloudy form like a lazy banner.

"Now that’s the spirit."

The group reached the town gate as the sun dipped lower. The guards standing there—two bulky beastkin men with spears—narrowed their eyes at the crowd approaching.

"Halt!" one barked.

The kids froze in place. Mrs. Kisha clutched the nearest child’s shoulder, her own nerves showing through the way her hands fidgeted with her apron.

Hazuki didn’t stop walking. He strolled past them casually, arms crossed behind his head.

"They’re with me," he said flatly.

The guards’ eyes darted to him, and instantly, recognition flared.

"Wait... black hair... Is that...?"

"That’s the crazy guy from the arena... The one who wrecked Silveroad..."

Hazuki stopped, then turned to look at the nervous group still stuck behind the gate.

"What are you all waiting for?"

Mrs. Kisha bowed her head. "Umm... the guards didn’t say we could enter yet..."

Hazuki sighed. He reached into his pouch, pulled out his adventurer card, and flicked it toward the nearest guard.

"Here. Check it. No record, no bounty. Just tired."

The guards took the card and scanned it through the glowing crystal mounted beside the gate.

Meanwhile, Hazuki turned to Kisha.

"Oi, lady. Your card."

"Yes, of course." She handed over her own.

The guards scanned hers too. It showed her name, age, and a basic permit—barely enough to stay in town, but legal.

"What about the kids?" one guard asked, skeptical.

Hazuki pulled out a few copper coins and subtly slipped them into the guard’s hand.

"Help me out. Just taking them in for a few hours. Gonna buy them some clothes and supplies, maybe get them some temporary IDs."

The guard looked at the coins, then at Hazuki, and finally nodded.

"Keep it short, human. And if anything happens, we’re not responsible."

"Don’t worry. This won’t cause any problem," Hazuki muttered, already walking again.

Behind him, the kids stared wide-eyed.

"He bribed the guards..." one whispered.

Ridan, floating just overhead, whispered with a smug grin, "You just leveled up in villain points again, boss."

Hazuki didn’t respond.

"Alright, Ridan," Hazuki muttered, glancing at the group of kids gathering behind him like ducklings. "Show me you’re useful for once. Find a cheap clothes shop. And don’t even think about the expensive ones—they need a lot of clothes."

Ridan spun in the air with a dramatic salute. "Aye aye, wallet overlord! That way! Used clothes shop, run by an old guy. Smells like mothballs and guilt." He pointed toward a narrow alley off the main street.

Hazuki rolled his eyes but followed without complaint. Soon they reached a shop with faded signs and racks of worn but decent clothing. An old beastkin man sat near the entrance, polishing a button with unsettling intensity.

Hazuki turned to Kisha and dug into his pouch, counting out a few silver coins and dropping them into her hand.

"Let them choose. Three to five pairs each. Nothing flashy, just enough to stay warm and clean."

Kisha blinked. "B-but... Mister Human, I still have the pouch you gave me before..."

Hazuki scowled. "That money’s for their food! Don’t even think about using it for anything else!"

"Y-yes!" she flinched slightly at his tone.

"After this, you better open a town account and stash the rest. Don’t carry it all with you like an amateur."

Kisha nodded quickly, holding the coins like they were sacred.

Hazuki turned and adjusted his bag. "I’ll be back. Got some business to deal with."

"Where are you going?" she asked instinctively.

"None of your business. Just stay here. Let the kids pick what they want. And don’t leave. If I’m late, find a drink stall and sit there."

"Y-yes."

As he walked away, Ridan floated beside him, arms behind his head like a lazy tour guide.

"So... where are we going, boss?"

Hazuki smirked faintly. "Somewhere I didn’t think I’d go back to so soon."

Hazuki stood just outside the adventurer guild building, the familiar worn-out sign creaking above.

Ridan hovered beside him. "So... what’s the plan, Mr. Charity?"

Hazuki adjusted the weighty bag on his shoulder. "Sell the loot. Rings, accessories. All of it."

Ridan twirled in midair with a grin. "Oho~ look at you, acting all generous. Turning into a softie?"

Hazuki scoffed. "No. I just know what it’s feel like."

Ridan blinked. "Huh?"

( End Of Chapter )