ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!
Chapter 218: A Night Behind, A Day Ahead ( 218 )

Chapter 218: A Night Behind, A Day Ahead ( 218 )

Kisha slowly stirred, her eyes blinking open as sunlight seeped through the narrow gaps in the wooden wall.

The weight of small arms and legs draped over her reminded her of what had happened,the children had curled around her during the night, trembling from the distant echoes of battle outside.

She lifted a hand to her forehead and let out a soft sigh.

"I... I actually managed to sleep," she thought, surprised.

But the feeling was more unsettling than comforting.

How could I have slept... when monsters might be lurking outside?

Carefully, she shifted without waking the children and moved across the creaky wooden floorboards.

Her dagger still hung at her waist, ready just in case.

Gently, she approached the window and peeked through the narrow gap.

It was already morning.

Birds chirped softly.

There was no smoke. No screams. No sign of monsters.

She moved to the next window.

Then another.

Each one revealed the same calm, eerily peaceful morning scene.

Finally, her eyes settled on the door.

She stared at it, hand hovering over the handle, half expecting to find monsters waiting on the other side—fangs bared, claws extended.

Then....

A sound.

Low.

Growling.

Distorted.

Like a deep rumble mixed with... gurgling?

Her hand instinctively grabbed her dagger again, heart pounding.

"Is that... a monster?" she whispered.

She slowly opened the door and peered outside.

And there he was.

Hazuki.

Lying flat on his back in the courtyard, arms spread wide, legs slightly apart, sleeping as if nothing had happened last night.

Snoring.

Loud.

But not just loud, it reverberated throughout the courtyard, making strange, wheezing sounds that didn’t sound human.

It rumbled. Gargled. Whistled.

Unnerving, to say the least.

She stared at him for a full ten seconds, frozen in place.

"...That’s the sound I heard?" she muttered softly.

Pop!

A tiny bubble burst from Hazuki’s nose.

His eyes fluttered open, bloodshot from both drink and exhaustion from last night’s fights.

"Mmm...?"

He sat up slowly, yawning wide enough to dislocate his jaw, then stretched his arms until his back snapped twice.

"Man, that was a good sleep~," he muttered, voice still rough from sleep.

He looked around, squinting at the morning sun as if it had betrayed him by rising.

Then, he scratched his butt.

Ridan floated nearby, arms crossed, watching him from mid-air.

"Wake up," Ridan said flatly.

"Yawn~ Already awake, man. Chill," Hazuki replied, rubbing his cheek with a half-lidded stare before messing up his hair.

He sat still for a moment, blinking at the trees and the distant roof of the orphanage, an unreadable expression on his face.

Then he scratched his cheek again.

Then his head.

Totally relaxed.

Completely unbothered.

Ridan let out a soft whistle, averting his gaze, not saying anything but clearly judging him.

Hazuki, now fully awake but still unconcerned, muttered, "Well... whatever. Guess it’s time to shower."

He stood up, stretched again, and with a sluggish sway, strolled toward the small stream behind the orphanage, dragging his feet like a half-asleep salaryman heading to work on a Monday morning.

Kisha hid behind the slightly open door, still watching Hazuki from a distance.

There he was, yawning, scratching his head, stumbling half-asleep toward the back stream. As if he hadn’t just stood between them and death the night before.

Her eyes softened, just a little.

He protected us... she thought, gaze drifting to the courtyard where he’d been sleeping,right outside their door, exposed to danger. His sword was probably still within arm’s reach, even as he snoozed.

And now he acted like it was just another morning.

Kisha exhaled slowly, her breath steady.

Then she shook her head and turned away from the door.

She walked back inside, amid the still huddled children. Some clutched pillows; others curled up together like sleepy puppies.

She knelt beside them gently.

"Alright, kids... time to wake up," she whispered softly. "Go wash your faces. The sun’s already risen."

A few small groans responded, but as she clapped her hands softly and smiled, they stirred.

"Okay, Miss Kisha..." came sleepy murmurs.

One after another, the little ones rubbed their eyes, stretched their arms, and slowly rose from their naps. The atmosphere warmed again, familiar, safe.

Comfortable.

Kisha watched as they shuffled out toward the washing area, their hair in chaotic bedhead, smiles on their sleepy faces.

Hazuki splashed into the stream with a heavy, echoing splash, the icy water hitting him like a brutal reality check.

"Woo! That’s the good stuff!" he shouted cheerfully, running both hands through his hair before dunking his entire head underwater.

He was completely naked, totally unaware of anyone nearby.

Meanwhile, a group of children from the orphanage approached, some heading toward the newly built showers that Old Buron’s crew had finished the day before.

But a few took the long way around, heading toward the stream instead.

And that’s when they saw it.

Everything.

Including the "snake."

A few of the kids stared in awe. One of the older boys dropped his washcloth.

One of the girls turned beet red and shrieked, covering her eyes with both hands while peeking through her fingers.

Elvia and Chasia, who had taken a quick detour to check on Hazuki, peeked from behind a bush just in time to witness the rise of the ancient serpent.

"Eeeek!" Chasia squeaked, falling flat on her butt.

Elvia’s eyes widened as if she’d seen a ghost, her face now redder than a fire fruit.

"Th-That’s... not normal..." she muttered quietly.

Back in the stream, Hazuki stretched his arms, looked up at the sky, and let out a relaxed sigh.

Ridan floated nearby, looking utterly unimpressed.

"Hey."

"Huh?" Hazuki lazily turned, water dripping off his bangs.

"You’re going to scar those kids for life, you know," Ridan said, voice flat.

Hazuki blinked, then slowly glanced toward the treeline where dozens of tiny heads and frightened faces peeked out.

He stared.

They stared.

No one moved.

Ridan coughed.

"Honestly, man, you’re gonna give them nightmares," he said.

Hazuki just shrugged and sank a little deeper into the stream, water up to his shoulders.

"Not my fault. It’s a blessing, you know? A gift... for my future wife."

( End Of Chapter )