For the first time, Noa felt a trace of genuine concern regarding the world connected to the dimensional gate.
This newly linked world was far from ordinary. Its structure was chaotic, filled with layers of power systems and hidden forces that defied common sense. More importantly, its upper limit was alarmingly high. Even with Noa's current strength—already far beyond most beings—he knew that in that world, there were still existences capable of crushing him with ease. Compared to those at the very top, he might amount to nothing more than expendable cannon fodder.
And there was an even more pressing issue.
The moment she appeared here, she had effectively vanished from her original location within Academy City. Such an abnormal disappearance would not go unnoticed—especially not by someone like Aleister Crowley.
That man was not only cunning but deeply manipulative, a master strategist who controlled Academy City from the shadows. If he detected this anomaly, it was almost certain that he would begin investigating immediately.
That made the situation far more troublesome.
"Lord City Lord, why are you here?"
Ria noticed Noa's arrival and quickly approached, her tone respectful yet slightly surprised.
Noa waved his hand casually. "It's nothing. I just happened to be free, so I came to take a look myself. I'll handle things here."
"…Understood."
Seeing his calm demeanor, Ria chose not to question further. She nodded slightly before retreating to her post at the duty station, leaving the situation in his hands.
Noa then stepped forward, his expression shifting into a welcoming smile as he approached the girl.
"Hello, guest. Welcome to the Great Tree Village. I am the one in charge here—my name is Noa."
He introduced himself naturally and extended his hand in a gesture of goodwill.
"Hello… Lord. My name is Misaka Mikoto."
Thanks to Ria's earlier explanation, Misaka Mikoto had already gained a basic understanding of her situation. Still, seeing the so-called "village lord" personally come to greet her—and with such politeness—caught her slightly off guard.
Nonetheless, she quickly composed herself, responding with equal courtesy as she reached out to shake his hand.
"It's a pleasure, Miss Misaka."
Seeing how smoothly the interaction began, Noa allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.
"Please, follow me to the main hall. It wouldn't be proper to have a guest standing here."
"Alright, thank you for the hospitality."
Having just finished her school day, Mikoto had plenty of free time. Coupled with her natural curiosity, she agreed without much hesitation. After all, the moment she stepped through the gate, she had already encountered something that completely defied her understanding of reality.
Elves.
Beings she had only ever seen in fantasy novels and manga were now standing right in front of her, acting as guards.
That single detail alone was enough to shatter her previous worldview.
Because of this, she found Ria's explanation far easier to believe. The place known as the Great Tree Village clearly did not belong to her original world—and that made it all the more fascinating.
In truth, this was also part of Noa's deliberate design.
Stationing elf girls at the dimensional gate was not merely decorative—it served as immediate, undeniable proof of the extraordinary nature of this place. Without needing lengthy explanations, most visitors would instinctively understand that they had stepped into a completely different world.
It was simple, yet highly effective.
After bringing Mikoto to the reception hall on the first floor of the lord's palace, Noa began a casual conversation while offering a basic introduction to the village and its functions.
However, he quickly noticed something unexpected.
Despite her outwardly straightforward personality, Mikoto maintained a strong sense of caution. She answered his questions politely, but her responses were carefully measured. Beyond general information about herself and publicly known details about her world, she avoided revealing anything too personal or sensitive.
It was clear that she was far from naive.
Even in an unfamiliar environment, she remained vigilant.
Still, Noa managed to gather a few useful pieces of information.
For instance, the timeline of her world.
At present, it was early spring, and the major events that would later unfold in A Certain Magical Index had not yet begun. This meant there was still a significant window of time before key incidents took place.
That knowledge alone held considerable value.
Yet one important question remained unanswered—
What exactly was the difference in the flow of time between the two worlds?