ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 62: Catgirl’s Command ( )

After several days of training—

Ellyn sat across from Hazuki, arms crossed, smiling proudly.

"Good, Uncle. Now you can finally feel the mana, right?"

Hazuki grinned, puffing out his chest.

"Yep! Now can I learn magic? You know... from that book?!"

Ellyn shook her head, still smiling.

"Take a step at a time, Uncle. You can’t just jump straight to magic after barely learning how to sense mana."

"Oh... but still..."

Ellyn held up a finger.

"Not yet, Uncle. We should take this step by step."

"Ehhhh... but I wanna learn now!"

Ellyn sighed dramatically, flicking his forehead.

"No can do, Uncle. Besides, it took you several days just to feel mana."

Hazuki pouted, rubbing his forehead.

"Damn medieval training methods...! In my world, I could just watch a video tutorial and learn in ten minutes!"

Ellyn tilted her head.

"Vedi... oh...what?"

"Nothing! Fine, fine... what’s next then?"

Ellyn grinned mischievously.

"Next? Physical training."

Hazuki froze.

"...Wait. What?"

"We need to strengthen your body, Uncle. Mana control is useless if your body can’t handle it."

Hazuki’s face turned pale.

"...You’re joking, right?"

Ellyn stretched, tail swaying.

"Nope~ Let’s start with a light jog around the town!"

Hazuki collapsed dramatically.

"THIS ISN’T WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR!!!"

Ellyn grinned mischievously.

Then—

She suddenly climbed up onto Hazuki’s shoulders.

"Now, Uncle! March!"

Hazuki froze.

"Huh?! The hell do you think you’re doing?!"

Ellyn crossed her arms, looking down at him.

"You said you wanted to train, right? So let’s make it harder. Now, march!"

Hazuki gritted his teeth.

"Oi, I’m not a horse!!!"

Ellyn smirked, tapping his head playfully.

"Giddy-up, Uncle~"

"DAMN IT, ELLYN!!!"

The townspeople turned to watch as Hazuki, with a smug catgirl riding his shoulders, stomped through the streets—grumbling, cursing, and regretting every decision that led to this moment.

Hazuki kept running through town, Ellyn sitting comfortably on his shoulders.

At first—

She expected him to struggle, complain, and collapse from exhaustion.

But—

"Uncle?"

Hazuki barely slowed down.

"Hmm?"

Ellyn tilted her head.

"You’re... not tired?"

Hazuki thought for a moment, still running.

"Hmm... I don’t know."

Ellyn narrowed her eyes.

"Since when did you start feeling like this?"

Hazuki grinned.

"I think... after I trained at the capital city guild."

Ellyn raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yeah! I used to be weak as hell, but after working as a wall repairman..."

He sighed dramatically.

"You know... pushing wheelbarrows full of heavy stones... while getting nagged by that high-level ex-adventurer chief..."

Ellyn tried not to laugh.

"And?"

Hazuki kept running, still not feeling the strain.

"And I think after killing monsters, too. Probably."

Ellyn smirked.

Then—

She leaned down, whispering in his ear.

"How about feeling the mana while running?"

Hazuki froze mid-step.

Then—

"Oi. You trying to kill me?!"

Ellyn giggled, kicking her feet playfully.

"Come on, Uncle~ It’s training!"

Hazuki groaned.

Ellyn grinned, watching Hazuki run effortlessly through town.

Then—

"Now try running with your eyes open while feeling the mana."

Hazuki stumbled slightly.

"Ehhh??"

Ellyn tapped his head playfully.

"Just try it, Uncle."

Hazuki groaned.

"Fine... ugh."

He focused, trying to sense the mana in his body while keeping his pace.

At first— freewebnoveℓ.com

It was hard.

Balancing breathing, running, and concentrating at the same time felt like rubbing his stomach while patting his head.

But—

Slowly, something changed.

His body felt... lighter.

His steps smoother.

The flow of mana, faint at first, was now moving through him like a steady current.

Ellyn watched closely.

Thanks to her special skill, she could see mana naturally without activating her Absolute Eye.

And right now—

Hazuki’s mana was beginning to circulate through his body.

A small, natural flow.

Her ears twitched in surprise.

"He’s... adapting quickly."

She smiled softly.

"Good, Uncle. Now keep it up."

"Ehhh?! Fine..."

He kept going—

Unaware that he was already starting to step into the world of magic.

Ellyn was having the time of her life.

Riding on Hazuki’s shoulders, enjoying the breeze as he ran through town.

Then—

"Uncle... faster!"

Hazuki gritted his teeth.

"Oi! I’m not a horse!!!"

Ellyn giggled, kicking her feet playfully.

"Faster!"

Hazuki sighed dramatically.

"Haaa... fine..."

And with that—

He picked up the pace.

The townspeople stared as the sight of a grown man sprinting full speed with a catgirl riding his shoulders like a queen unfolded before them.

One of the guards elbowed his partner.

"Oi... Wheelbarrow Guy evolved."

The other guard nodded.

"Yeah. He’s now... Horse Guy."

Hazuki felt his eye twitch but ignored them.

Meanwhile—

Ellyn laughed happily, holding onto his head.

"This is fun! We should do this every day, Uncle!"

Hazuki groaned.

"Like hell we will!!!"

As Hazuki kept running, something unexpected happened.

A loud growl echoed through the air.

Hazuki froze for a moment.

Then—

He looked up.

Ellyn was sitting on his shoulders, her ears twitching slightly, her cheeks slightly red.

She fidgeted.

"Umm..."

Hazuki grinned.

"Ohhh... you’re hungry, huh?"

Ellyn pouted, looking away.

"N-No..."

"Yeah, you are."

"...Maybe."

Hazuki chuckled.

"Alright, alright. Let’s find something to eat."

Ellyn’s ears perked up.

"Really?!"

"Yeah. But first—GET OFF MY SHOULDERS! My legs deserve freedom!"

Ellyn giggled but didn’t move.

"Nope~ You’re already carrying me, so you can carry me all the way there."

As they walked through town, looking for food, Ellyn spoke up.

"Uncle?"

Hazuki yawned, still a bit tired from running.

"Hmm?"

Ellyn hesitated for a moment, then softly said—

"I don’t think my mother and I will stay in this town much longer."

Hazuki stopped mid-step.

"Hmm? Why?"

Ellyn fidgeted, avoiding his gaze.

"Ah... nothing... it’s just... maybe..."

Hazuki raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe what?"

Ellyn clutched the hem of her dress.

"Me and my mother are going back to our hometown."

Hazuki blinked.

"Oh... what for?"

Ellyn bit her lip, struggling to keep up the act.

"Umm..."

Hazuki leaned down slightly, squinting at her.

"Ummmm what?"

Ellyn forced a small smile.

"Just... you know, home stuff."

Hazuki crossed his arms, unconvinced.

Something felt off.

When Ellyn didn’t answer right away, Hazuki just shrugged.

"Whatever."

Then—

He looked up at her, still sitting on his shoulders.

"Well... if I can learn one or two magic skills, I don’t think I’m staying in this town either."

Ellyn tilted her head.

"Huh? Why?"

Hazuki shrugged.

"Nothing big... it’s just, I’m new to this world. So sightseeing, learning about everything, being free... that’s what I want."

Ellyn nodded slowly.

"Oh... but you don’t have money."

Hazuki froze.

"Huh? I do."

Ellyn smirked.

"Really?"

Hazuki crossed his arms.

"Yes."

Ellyn held out her hand.

"Show me your adventurer card."

"NO!" Hazuki quickly turned away.

Ellyn grinned playfully.

"Heeeh~ If you really had money, you wouldn’t be this scared."

Hazuki groaned.

"Haaa... fine... here!"

He handed over his adventurer card.

Ellyn snatched it up, checking the balance.

Then—

Her eyes widened.

"WOOOOOAH?!"

Hazuki smirked proudly.

"Heh. Surprised, aren’t you?"

Ellyn looked up, shocked.

"Uncle... WHEN did you get this much money?!"

Hazuki grinned.

"Secret~"

Ellyn puffed up her cheeks.

"Oi! No fair! Tell me!!!"

Hazuki just laughed.

For once—

He was the one teasing her.

( End of Chapter )