Misaka Mikoto couldn't refute.
If it were her, of course she would leave.
That much was obvious. Staying in a place like this was not something an ordinary person would even consider without hesitation.
It wasn't like everyone was some overpowered monster who thought they were invincible—like that absurdly strong bald man from stories who could end anything with a single punch.
But… become a god?
If what Noa said was true, then that was an entirely different matter.
That possibility alone was enough to make her heart tighten slightly. She didn't fully show it on her face, but internally, she was clearly shaken. Still, she gave a small nod, pretending she had simply accepted the explanation at face value.
Noa didn't seem to notice her deeper reaction. He glanced at the time casually and changed the topic.
"Alright, it's getting late. Let me take you to try the specialty food of the Great Tree Village. I'm not exaggerating—the food here is good enough to make you forget how to leave."
"Oh?" Misaka Mikoto's eyes lit up slightly. "Then I won't be polite."
She didn't consider herself a glutton, but at her age, it was hard to remain indifferent when hearing about delicious food.
Noa smiled faintly and led her toward the newly opened cafeteria.
He deliberately avoided the City Lord's Mansion.
Not because he was hiding anything, but simply because the situation wasn't appropriate yet. Their relationship hadn't reached the level where bringing her there would feel natural. More importantly, that place was usually occupied by his closest people.
Even other residents of the Great Tree Village wouldn't casually enter that space, let alone a guest from another world. It wasn't hostility—it was just an unspoken boundary.
When they arrived at the cafeteria, the atmosphere was lively and warm. The smell of freshly prepared food filled the air, layered and rich in a way that immediately stimulated appetite.
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.
"Ah? What a rare visitor. Noa, what brings you here today?"
Nakiri Alice stood behind the counter, tilting her head slightly as she greeted him with a playful tone.
Among all the people in the Great Tree Village, she was one of the few who openly addressed Noa in such a casual manner.
Of course, there were exceptions—like Sakura, who treated him as an older brother, and Shinobu, who occasionally relied on her position and familiarity to be less formal.
But generally speaking, most others maintained at least some degree of respect in their tone. Even the elf girls tended to adjust their behavior depending on whether the situation was public or private.
Noa himself didn't really care about titles or honorifics. In his view, everyone here was essentially "his own people." As long as things weren't in front of outsiders, formality didn't matter much.
At Alice's greeting, he simply gestured toward Mikoto.
"Isn't this a guest?"
Alice followed his gesture and turned her attention to Mikoto.
Her eyes quickly scanned the newcomer with a chef's precision, then she smiled warmly.
"Hello, young lady. I'm Nakiri Alice, the chef here today. I hope you enjoy your meal."
"Ah… hello. I'm Misaka Mikoto."
Mikoto responded slightly stiffly, clearly unused to being addressed so directly in an unfamiliar place.
But the moment she looked around the cafeteria—the vibrant atmosphere, the rich aroma of food, and the casual but harmonious interactions—she couldn't help but relax just a little.
At the very least… this place really did feel like a place where people lived, rather than something dangerous.
And for now, that was enough.