ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 60: Focus and Frustration ( )

After their "shopping" trip, Hazuki and Ellyn returned straight to her home—the house she and her "mother" rented.

As soon as they arrived, Hazuki plopped down on the veranda, setting his bag aside.

Then—

He clapped his hands together.

"Ellyn, now! Teach me how to control mana!"

Ellyn sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Uncle..."

"Hmm?"

She gave him a tired look.

"Can you wait a bit?"

Hazuki blinked.

"Why?"

Ellyn huffed, stretching her arms.

"We just got back... at least let me rest."

Hazuki pouted.

"Oh..."

He leaned back, crossing his arms.

"...Five minutes."

Ellyn groaned.

"Haaaaa... make it twenty."

Hazuki grumbled.

After a while, Ellyn returned, carrying a freshly made cup of coffee.

She placed it down on the floor in front of Hazuki and smiled.

Then—

She sat across from him, crossing her legs elegantly.

Hazuki grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Alright! I’m finally gonna learn how to control mana!"

Ellyn giggled, amused by his enthusiasm.

Then—

She cleared her throat and began.

"Listen carefully, Uncle. Mana is everywhere."

She gestured around them.

"It flows through the air, through the ground, through us. Every living being has mana inside them, but most don’t know how to control it properly."

"Right, right. Got it. Mana everywhere. So how do I use it?!"

Ellyn chuckled.

"Patience, Uncle. First, you need to feel it."

She leaned forward slightly.

"Mana flows inside your body like blood, circulating naturally. But unlike blood, you have to focus to sense it."

"Alright! So how do I do that?"

Ellyn smiled.

"Close your eyes."

"Okay!"

Hazuki shut his eyes tightly.

"Now..."

Ellyn’s voice softened.

"Try to clear your mind. Let go of your thoughts."

Hazuki exhaled slowly.

"Alright..."

"Next, concentrate on your body."

Ellyn pressed her hand lightly against her own chest.

"Feel the energy flowing inside. It’s faint, like a soft current running through you. Try to focus on that feeling."

Hazuki furrowed his brows, concentrating hard.

"..."

...

...

...

Nothing.

"...Uhh..."

Ellyn tilted her head.

"Did you feel anything, Uncle?"

Hazuki opened one eye, confused.

"...What exactly am I supposed to feel?"

Ellyn sighed.

"Like I said... a flow. A warmth inside you."

Hazuki shut his eyes again, trying harder.

"..."

...

...

Still nothing.

Hazuki’s eyebrow twitched.

"Oi. Ellyn."

"Yes?"

"This mana thing... is it broken?"

Ellyn stifled a laugh.

"No, Uncle. You just need more practice."

Hazuki gritted his teeth.

"Damn it... all those isekai protagonists instantly feel mana on their first try! WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN’T?!!!"

Ellyn smiled sweetly.

"Because you’re not one of those protagonists, Uncle."

Hazuki groaned, grabbing his head.

"Damn it! Why is this world so unfair!?"

Ellyn patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"Come on, let’s try again."

Hazuki sighed deeply.

"Arrghhh! Damn it!"

Hazuki groaned, ruffling his hair in frustration. He had failed. Ten times. Not once did he feel anything even close to "mana flow."

"I can’t..."

He sighed, slumping forward.

Ellyn watched him with a soft smile.

"Uncle..."

"Ugh... what now?"

Ellyn held out her hand.

"Show me your palm."

Hazuki looked up, blinking.

"Huh?"

Ellyn tilted her head, still smiling.

"Just show me."

"Oh... okay."

Hazuki hesitated, then slowly lifted his palm. Ellyn placed her hand on top.

Inside Hazuki’s mind—

"W-Wow... small... soft... smooth..."

Then—

"Crap! HAZUKI, SNAP OUT OF IT!!!"

Before his brain could spiral into dangerous thoughts, Ellyn closed her eyes. A gentle warmth spread from her palm.

Hazuki felt it.

A flow.

Something soft, warm, and constantly shifting. Like a faint current of energy moving between their hands.

Ellyn smiled.

"This is mana."

Hazuki’s eyes widened.

"OHHHHH!!!"

Ellyn kept holding his hand firmly, keeping him still.

"Now... remember this feeling, Uncle. Try to find this same flow inside yourself."

Hazuki nodded eagerly.

"Alright! I got this!!!"

"I... I can’t believe it..."

"Ellyn’s hand... it’s so soft... so smooth..."

His eyes lingered on their hands, completely distracted.

Before he realized it... fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

His fingers moved.

He interlocked them with hers.

Ellyn blinked.

"U-Uncle?"

Hazuki snapped back to reality.

"Huh?"

"Crap! Crap crap crap!!!"

"What the hell are you doing, Hazuki!? THINK!!!"

"She’s still a kid! That’s dangerous! Of course, she’s your fiancée, but get it together, Hazuki!!!"

His face twitched as he panicked.

Ellyn just looked at their interlocked fingers and let them stay like that.

She smiled softly.

"Uncle, you can sense the mana now, right?"

Hazuki forced himself to focus.

"Um... umm... y-yes..."

"Good."

Ellyn closed her eyes again.

"Now, close your eyes and feel it."

Hazuki gulped, shutting his eyes tight.

"Just focus, damn it! FOCUS!!!"

This wasn’t a time for stupid thoughts.

This was training.

Hazuki closed his eyes, concentrating hard.

He felt it.

The mana flow.

A soft, warm current moving through his body—starting from his hand.

And then—

His mind wandered.

"Focus, Hazuki... feel the mana..."

"...And Ellyn’s hand."

Wait.

No—

Not that.

"Just the mana. Ignore the hand."

But—

"Damn, it’s really soft—NO! Mana! Focus on the mana!!!"

He gritted his teeth, trying to drown out unnecessary thoughts.

Suddenly—

Ellyn removed her hand.

And—

A huge surge of mana BURST out from Hazuki’s body.

"U-Uncle!!!"

"Hmm?"

Hazuki blinked, confused.

A wave of energy rushed outward, shaking the ground slightly.

The air around him became thick and heavy, as if pressure was crushing down.

But—

Hazuki didn’t notice.

Until—

His stomach turned.

His head spun.

"Ugh... w-why do I feel sick...?"

Ellyn’s eyes widened in panic.

She quickly activated her Absolute Eye, her pupils glowing with intricate patterns.

She could see it.

The mana inside Hazuki—wild, unstable, overflowing.

"Damn it! He lost control!"

Without hesitation—

She placed her hands on him, forcibly guiding the out-of-control mana back into balance.

The pressure in the air slowly faded.

The energy settled.

But—

Hazuki couldn’t handle the strain.

His eyes rolled back—

And he collapsed.

"Uncle!!!"

Ellyn caught him just in time, lowering him gently to the ground.

She sighed in relief, brushing his messy hair aside.

"Haaaa... You really are an idiot, Uncle..."

She smiled softly.

"At least now we know... you really do have mana."

Now—

They just had to figure out how to control it.

( End of Chapter )