Although she didn't have much affection for Noa at first, now what lingered was less indifference and more the quiet resentment of someone burdened with endless work.
At the beginning, Eris had only viewed Noa as an unusual outsider—someone powerful, unpredictable, but ultimately manageable. However, as interactions increased and responsibilities piled up, her feelings subtly shifted. It wasn't personal dislike, nor hostility, but rather the exhaustion that came from constantly dealing with unexpected complications—most of which seemed to follow Noa wherever he went.
As for Noa's earlier speculation—that her rudeness stemmed from instructions issued by higher authorities in Heaven—it couldn't have been further from the truth.
In reality, the Celestial Center had taken the existence of Great Tree Village very seriously.
From the moment its influence became apparent, it had drawn the attention of the higher-ups. A structure that could connect multiple worlds, harbor powerful individuals, and operate beyond conventional divine systems was not something that could be ignored.
After several rounds of discussion, the decision they reached was, perhaps unsurprisingly, one of cautious diplomacy.
They chose to prioritize friendship.
However, that decision came with clear conditions.
Great Tree Village had to demonstrate that it held no ill intentions toward the heavenly system. There must be no direct conflict of interest between the two sides. As long as those conditions were maintained, cooperation—or at least peaceful coexistence—would remain the guiding principle.
Naturally, verifying all of this required someone capable.
The responsibility fell squarely on Eris.
The reasoning behind this choice was straightforward.
First, Noa and the others could only access this world through Eris's domain. That alone gave her a natural advantage. She was, in every sense, the "host" of this territory, which allowed her to maintain a certain level of control and oversight.
Second, she had already established contact with Noa and his companions. Compared to assigning a completely new deity to handle the situation, it was far more practical to let someone familiar with them continue the interaction. Trust—however limited—had already begun to form, and disrupting that would only complicate matters.
Because of this, Eris was given additional support.
This was also the main reason she had been able to deal with the chaos left behind by Aqua. The Celestial Center had reassigned several new subordinates under her command, ensuring she wouldn't be overwhelmed to the point of neglecting her primary mission.
Even so, the workload remained heavy.
Managing divine responsibilities, maintaining order, observing Noa's activities, and now acting as a diplomatic bridge between two entirely different systems—it was no surprise that her patience had worn thin.
"By the way, are you the only one today? What about the rest?"
Eris glanced around as she spoke, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Aside from Noa, there were no other familiar figures. No Esdeath, no Riveria, none of the usual companions who often accompanied him.
"They all have their own things to do. In fact, we are usually very busy there, and I just happened to finish all my work these days."
Noa answered calmly, his tone steady and matter-of-fact.
As he spoke, his gaze lingered on Eris for a brief moment longer than usual. There was a subtle shift in his expression—so slight that most would miss it entirely. A trace of helplessness flickered in his eyes before quickly disappearing.
Before arriving, he hadn't expected to run into her so soon.
Her presence complicated things.
With Eris watching, his actions would inevitably be more restricted. While he wasn't particularly concerned about being observed, there were certain matters that required discretion—especially in a world where divine oversight was a constant factor.
At the very least, until he found a reasonable justification, he couldn't act too freely.
Specifically, taking direct action against the Demon King's army would be problematic.
Without a clear explanation, such interference would raise unnecessary questions. From Eris's perspective, it would be difficult to understand why an outsider like Noa would involve himself in the internal conflicts of this world.
After all, while the crusade against the Demon King was widely recognized as a shared goal among humanity, it remained an internal matter within this world's structure.
Noa, on the other hand, was not part of that system.
If he were to intervene recklessly, it would not only appear inappropriate but could also disrupt the delicate balance that currently existed between Great Tree Village and the heavenly authorities.
That was something he preferred to avoid—for now.
So, standing at the gates of Axel with Eris beside him, Noa found himself momentarily restrained—not by lack of ability, but by the need to act with careful consideration.