I bowed my head deeply before the people seated across from me.
The reason Sidera had drawn the attention of the capital’s nobility in the first place was because of the buzz around consommé and sesame tofu. New foods had been introduced, spread throughout the kingdom, and become widely known—until finally, people started to think, Sidera is thriving. That land is making money.
So then, who was responsible for that?
Who had developed consommé and sesame tofu? Who had put Sidera in the spotlight?
There was no denying it. The answer was—
「Princess Yunia, Eidel-san, Noah, Cliche-san… I’m sorry. This entire situation is my fault, isn’t it?」
A few seconds of silence filled the room.
The first to speak was Princess Yunia, her voice carrying a gentle denial.
「Sui-sama, that’s not true. Please, raise your head…」
「Wait.」
But Cliche-san cut her off.
Interrupting a member of the royal family was an incredibly disrespectful act.
And yet, he had done so—
「Sui. You’re misunderstanding something, aren’t you?」
—Surely, for my sake.
「But…」
「No buts. The one overseeing Sidera’s governance is the Adventurers’ Guild—me. You think it makes sense for you to bow your head while ignoring me?」
His voice was rough, deep, and stern.
And because of that—it was also kind.
「…You’re right that this all started with you. You developed consommé, spread Noah’s Night Cloud in the capital… That’s what put us on the map. And in the end, even the royal family had to get involved. I won’t deny that. But you already know, don’t you? That this wasn’t something you did alone.」
「…」
「Who gave the approval to produce consommé in the first place? Who hired workers and signed off on mass production? Who was responsible for making Noah’s Night Cloud and Skylark Pavilion’s cakes a trend? Was all of that your doing alone? Of course not.」
「…No.」
「You got teleported into the depths of the forest, ended up in this city, and from there, a lot of things started moving. That’s just the truth. And hey, coincidence or not, we’re grateful for it. Thanks to you, we’ve had a taste of success. But good fortune always comes at a price. When money starts flowing in, trouble isn’t far behind. That’s all this is. Nothing more, nothing less.」
He grabbed both my shoulders firmly.
I was pushed, forced to raise my face.
Cliche-san had leaned in close. His face—rugged, stern, like a yakuza boss or a stubborn old man—was that of a reliable, steadfast adult.
「Well, I’ll admit this got bigger than I expected. The nobles from the capital decided to meddle, and we even had to rely on the royal family for help. In the end, Noah became the lord, and this ‘village’ is officially a ‘city’ now. …But even with all that, no matter how much Sidera changes, we won’t.」
A sharp grin.
Cunning, shrewd—yet still somehow warm and inviting.
「A bunch of adventurers who washed up in this backwater, and a bunch of fools who, for whatever reason, decided to stay. We hunt, gather, raise, farm, build, craft, and sell. The land is dangerous, and we’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, but it’s the same kind of life you’ll find anywhere.」
「Yes.」
「Yeah, well, I didn’t know about this whole Teikou business either. Turns out we had some nasty trouble hidden away. On that front, I’m grateful—to the elves who kept us safe in secret, and to you guys for stepping in now. …But even so, you don’t have to shoulder all of this alone. Because no matter how deep in the forest you live—you’re still a child of Sidera. Anyone who puts down roots here, whether they’re commoners or nobles, witches or whatever else—if they’ve chosen this place, they’re one of us. Got it?」
「Yes…!」
As Cliche-san flashed me a broad grin, the weight pressing down on me lifted.
The burden I had been carrying melted away.
—And with his words, I finally realized something.
At some point, I had taken on an odd sense of responsibility.
I wanted to do something. I wanted to move forward. I wanted to stand in this world as myself. But as those feelings became more concrete, somewhere along the way, wanting to do things had turned into having to do them.
I had to contribute to the city’s development (I want to do something).
I had to repay the people of Sidera (I want to move forward).
I had to stop the Teikou from appearing and protect this city (I want to stand in this world as myself).
I had been letting my own feelings control me.
Cliche-san put a firm 「No」 to that.
He made it clear that the burdens that arose as I walked my path were not mine to carry alone.
That I wasn’t walking alone—but together with everyone.
That people don’t live in this world by themselves.
「Bark!」
Chocola placed his front paws on my lap and began licking my hand.
Yeah, that’s right. You’ve always been by my side, walking beside me—when I was first transported here, when my father passed away, I was never alone.
The warmth of your tongue against my hand is the answer to that.
「If you understand, then lift your head, face forward, and stand tall.」
Cliche-san glared at me.
Not with anger, nor intimidation, but as if making sure I understood.
As if telling me—We’re right here beside you.
So, I nodded firmly.
「Cliche-san, you’re not just greedy for money, are you…? Thank you.」
「Hah, about time you figured that out. But don’t get me wrong. You’re not mistaken. From now on, keep coming up with ideas to fatten our pockets. I don’t care how much attention Sidera draws. After all, we’ve got none other than the Third Prince himself backing us.」
At being named, Noah let out a hearty chuckle.
「That’s right. There’s no need to shrink away. Everything is a matter of fate. You transmigrated here, I came to meet you, and you saved me. It was because of that incident that I decided to take on the role of lord. That I chose to stand tall and live in this town. …In the end, things always fall into place, so there’s no need to worry.」
His hand ruffled my hair roughly, the strength behind it unwavering.
And right now, being rocked back and forth in his grasp felt oddly comforting.
———
To live is to support and be supported by others.
This story may be an isekai with cheats, but this is the part I want to cherish the most.
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