ISEKAI? More like I See Crap!-Chapter 234: Secrets Behind a Smile ( )

Hazuki’s eyes snapped open.

He blinked.

Then sat up immediately, hair wild, shirt wrinkled, and a faint line of drool still clinging to the edge of his mouth.

Across from him—an unfamiliar elder, neatly dressed, poised, sitting with one leg crossed and a bottle of elegant-looking liquor on the table between them.

Hazuki stared at him.

The elder stared back, calm and smiling.

Hazuki let out a long yawn, scratching the back of his head.

"...Who are you?"

The man gave a slight nod.

"Me? I’m Hansim. I was invited in by this orphanage’s caretaker."

Hazuki blinked again, rubbing his eye.

"Oh..."

Then his gaze dropped to the bottle on the table.

A faint glimmer returned to his still-sleepy eyes.

He sniffed once.

"...That plum?" he asked.

Hansim gave a polite chuckle.

"Plumfire. Thirty years aged."

Hazuki leaned forward slightly.

Hansim lifted the second glass and offered it with two fingers.

"Do you want to try it?"

Hazuki’s eyes lit up.

"...Can I?"

Hansim gave a single nod.

"Of course. Help yourself."

Hazuki didn’t hesitate. He took the glass gently.

Gave it a sniff, then took a slow sip.

His eyes widened.

"...Whoa."

"It’s good, right?" Hansim asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Hazuki lifted the glass, already halfway through it.

"Damn right it’s good!"

He stared into the bottom of the glass like it was sacred.

"Err... can I have another glass?"

Hansim chuckled softly.

"Sure. Help yourself."

Hazuki eagerly poured himself another.

"Yummy!! This is good! Oi—lady!! Bring me meat!!"

From the kitchen, Kisha nearly dropped a plate.

"Ah—w-wait! Coming!!"

She rushed out, carrying a warm dish piled with leftover roast from lunch.

"Here..." she muttered, cheeks slightly pink from the sudden chaos.

Hazuki took it with zero hesitation.

"Thank you! Heheh~"

He stuffed a piece into his mouth with joy, feet propped up, eyes sparkling.

Hansim watched quietly.

Then, as Hazuki devoured the meat and sipped again from the liquor, Hansim spoke—his voice casual.

"You know... you can taste even better liquor than this."

Hazuki blinked.

"Really?"

Hansim nodded, pouring himself a measured sip.

"Yes. You see... Lord Gurman’s household will be holding a rather large gathering in a few days."

He glanced over his glass.

"There will be food. Music. Guests from many regions. And—"

A pause.

"Some very rare bottles that don’t even appear in the market."

Hazuki’s chewing slowed.

He stared at Hansim with narrowed eyes.

Then turned to Ridan.

"Oi... is this what they call bait?"

Ridan grinned wide.

"Oh yeah. And it’s working."

Hazuki leaned back, chewing slowly.

Then gave a lazy shrug.

"Nah... I hate noble parties."

He raised the glass again.

"Too many rules. Too much fake smiling. Can’t even burp after eating meat."

Hansim didn’t flinch.

He simply smiled.

And spoke softly.

"I believe all these children... would want to attend something like that."

He glanced toward the courtyard.

"A grand estate. Music. Decorations. A celebration they’ve never seen before."

Hazuki blinked, glass halfway to his mouth.

Hansim continued, voice calm as ever.

"And that lady... Kisha, was it?"

He nodded toward the kitchen.

"Surely she deserves a break. Some joy. A moment of elegance."

Hazuki narrowed his eyes.

"...What are you trying to say?"

Hansim set his glass down gently.

"Only that it’s unfortunate."

He folded his hands.

"They cannot attend... unless they’re invited."

Hazuki stared.

Hansim’s voice dropped just slightly lower, but his smile never faded.

"And they cannot be invited... unless someone goes with them."

A beat.

Hazuki exhaled.

Ridan floated above him, smirking.

"Oooooh... That’s dirty. Pulling the kid card, huh? This old guy’s a monster."

Hazuki looked at the liquor again.

Then looked out the window.

Where the kids were still running, laughing, licking jam off their fingers.

He sighed.

From the hallway, there was a soft creak of wood.

Then—

"Party...?"

Hazuki turned his head slowly.

Standing at the corner of the doorway, Chasia leaned forward with wide eyes.

Right beside her, Elvia tried to pretend she wasn’t eavesdropping.

Hazuki blinked.

"...You two eavesdropping again?"

"No!" they both said immediately.

Then Chasia beamed.

"But we heard ’party’! A noble party! Are you going, Mister Hazuki?"

Hazuki scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Uh... no."

Elvia stepped forward, hands behind her back, voice small.

"They say there’s... um... really big cakes there. With cream. And fruit. And... music?"

"And nobles have weird food like sparkling juice and crispy stuff with cheese!" Chasia added, spinning dramatically.

Hansim chuckled softly, watching from the couch.

"See, Mister Hazuki...?"

He gestured gently toward the girls.

"I believe... they all want to try the food from the noble party gathering soon."

Hazuki looked at Chasia’s sparkling eyes.

Then at Elvia, shyly fidgeting.

Then back to Ridan.

Ridan floated overhead, arms crossed with a devilish grin.

"Your move, dad of the year."

Hazuki groaned.

"...Damn it."

Before Hazuki could sighed...

Thump thump thump—

"Party!?"

"Did someone say noble party!??"

A storm of children burst into the room, still holding half-eaten sweet buns in their hands and jam on their cheeks.

"Noble party!"

"Will there be music!?"

"I heard nobles have those crunchy triangle snacks!"

"And drinks with bubbles!"

"Do they throw food in the air and catch it with their mouth like in the stories!?"

Hazuki stared at the sudden beastkin bun stampede now surrounding him.

Kisha rushed out from the kitchen.

"Kids! Don’t run inside with food! You’ll choke!"

But they didn’t care.

They had one mission now: find out if Hazuki was going to take them to the magical place known as "Noble Party."

"See, Mister Hazuki? You can’t say no now. Everyone wants to go."

Hansim, still seated with poise, took a slow sip of liquor and smiled politely.

"Of course, I would never pressure anyone."

A pause.

"I’m merely... observing."

Ridan floated above Hazuki, whispering in his ear like a devil on the shoulder.

"Just say yes. It’s over. You lost. Let the bunlings have their ball."

Hazuki closed his eyes.

Raised his head.

And groaned skyward.

"Ugh... fine... I’m going."

Hazuki muttered, rubbing his forehead.

The kids gasped.

"But—" Hazuki raised a finger.

"If these kids get rejected at the gate, or looked down on by some noble with a stupid wig, I’m leaving. I swear it."

Hansim gave a soft nod, still smiling with effortless grace.

"Very well. I’ll inform my lord accordingly."

( End Of Chapter )

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺