Chapter 9: A Sacred Bird’s Buff and a New Guest

Since the pig-bird settled into the shop, I’ve been taking it for walks to the garden whenever I check on the crops.
Though the plot is small, it’s better than being cooped up inside all day.
The Thunderbird said the Cloudmilk Fruit tree would bear fruit soon, and astonishingly, unripe fruits appeared that very day, scattered across the branches.

“Pwee.”
The sacred bird lived up to its name.
When I took it outside, it flapped its wings wildly, emitting a radiant light. The crops responded, shimmering faintly.
To my amazement, they began growing rapidly, like a time-lapse video on fast-forward.
Silverwing Herbs, still in bud, bloomed instantly, and the unripe Cloudmilk Fruits swelled noticeably.
It felt like using a cash-bought buff in a game.

“Wow, you can cast buffs too? Good job! Wanna do it again?”

“Pwee-pwee.”
But the ability seemed to have a cooldown or limit, as it didn’t trigger again.

“Those aren’t ripe yet. Won’t you go hungry?”

“Pwee-pwee.”

“The Thunderbird’s so stingy. Couldn’t it have packed a few fruits as a lunchbox?”

“Pwee.”

“I haven’t felt hunger since arriving here, but you’re different, right? Should I brew you some tea?”

“Pwee-pwee.”

I couldn’t understand the pig-bird’s cries, but it clearly understood me.
Worried it might skip meals again and suffer, I watched as it waddled to the tree and pecked at a few unripe fruits.

“Pwee…”
I couldn’t read a bird’s expression, but it clearly found the fruits unpalatable, trudging back with a miserable look.

For the next two days, it had to make do with unripe fruits, gagging with each bite.
Thankfully, the fruits ripened, and when it finally bit into a ripe one, it let out a triumphant cry that shook the shop.
Without that buff, how would it have survived until the fruits ripened?

“Don’t eat them all.”
The Thunderbird mentioned the tree produces a limited number of fruits yearly.
Though it was laden with them, at the pig-bird’s voracious pace, they’d run out quickly.

With no choice, I used the one Causality unit from the Thunderbird’s tea payment to expand the land around the tree, aiming to create a small Cloudmilk Fruit orchard.

“These fruits really look bizarre.”
Twice the size of my fist, they were large for fruits, with transparent shells revealing fluffy, cloud-like white flesh inside.
They hung like raindrops, leaving no stem when picked—just smooth, glass-like orbs.

I harvested two for planting in the expanded plot, spacing them carefully, and took four for menu development.

Sniff, sniff. “The flowers had no scent, but the fruits smell like sweet milk. Let’s head back, piggy.”
Since eating ripe fruits, the pig-bird’s feathers carried a milky sweetness.
Even wiping its beak with a damp cloth didn’t remove the scent—it was like its body odor now.

“Pwee-pwee.”
It gulped down the fruit it was pecking and scurried after me. As I stepped behind the bar, it naturally settled into its nest, staring at me endlessly.
The first day, that gaze was intense, but I’d grown used to it.

“Alright, let’s develop a new menu. The word ‘milk’ in the name is the key.”
In cafés, milk is a staple alongside coffee—served alone, heated for cold days, or added to green tea, coffee, or cocoa for a smooth, sweet flavor popular with younger customers.
If it paired well with Silverwing Herb Tea, a milk tea could be possible, so I was excited.
I hoped the fruit lived up to its name.

“How do I cut this…?”
The fruit’s shell was firm like hard jelly but unscratched by my nail.
It wasn’t thin either—about a centimeter thick from shell to flesh.
Peeling was tricky, and I had to think carefully.
Some herbal teas use only the peel, while fruit preserves include the whole fruit soaked in sugar.

“Hmm…”
After much thought, I brought a fruit to my lips.
When in doubt, bite it.
The pig-bird ate them fine, so it wouldn’t harm me, right?

Nervously, I took a cautious bite. The soft shell entered my mouth, touching my tongue.
Unlike expected, it was tasteless—like plain agar.

“Ugh…”
The slimy texture wasn’t pleasant either.
I spat out the shell and sliced the fruit in half with a knife.

Slice.
The exposed flesh released a rich, sweet milky aroma.
Scooping a small piece with the knife tip and tasting it, I was shocked—it tasted like sweetened milk.

‘The name “Cloudmilk” wasn’t for nothing.’
With a clear direction, menu development surged forward.

“Mixing milk with water just dilutes it…”
Unlike with Silverwing Herb Tea, I didn’t boil it recklessly.
I peeled the shells, leaving only the fluffy white flesh, chopped it, and placed it in a large bowl.

“Pwee-pwee.”
As the fruit was broken down, an irresistible sweet aroma filled the shop. The pig-bird cried impatiently.

“Alright, alright. You’ll be my taste-tester, okay?”

“Pwee.”
Using a spatula and knife, I crushed the flesh until juice emerged.
Surprisingly juicy, the bowl soon held enough white liquid for four cups.

“One fruit per cup… This might need a higher price.”
Straining the pulp left a liquid indistinguishable from milk.
I had no immediate use for the pulp, so I gave it to the pig-bird.

“Pwee-pwee.”
Tap-tap-tap-tap. It eagerly pecked at the bowl.

“I should get a fridge with the next Causality. Chilled drinks might sell well. Come to think of it, there’s no fridge here.”

I experimented with the four cups’ worth of Cloudmilk—boiling some, mixing others with both types of Silverwing Herb Tea.
The anticipated milk tea gave off an off-putting smell, so I abandoned it early.
But simply heating the Cloudmilk triggered a pop and a transparent card.

[New Recipe Discovered!
Registrable Menu: Warm Cloudmilk (HOT)
Base: Cloudmilk / Liquid: None / Syrup: None / Garnish: None
Completion: B (B)
Completion is slightly lacking.
Tip: Consider the preparation temperature.
Effect: Pending
Rating: Pending
Preferred Customer Type: Pending / Pending]

“Oh… Simple and nice.”
The Completion tip directly mentioned temperature, so adjusting the heat and timing quickly raised it to A.
The key was heating just before bubbles formed and stopping immediately.

I chose a thick-rimmed, pastel-patterned mug with a handle to complement the drink’s plain look, unlike the elegant cups used for tea.

Sip.
As I sipped the finished Cloudmilk, I sensed movement outside.

“A new customer! They show up right after I develop a menu.”
Unlike with Silverwing Herb Tea, no event had occurred, so I hadn’t expected much. Yet, as if on cue, a new guest arrived.

Who could it be this time?

Step, step.
The guest walked confidently through the open door to the bar.
What stood out was their small, childlike stature.

‘Even if they look like a child, they’re probably a god like the others.’
They wore a glossy blue robe-like outfit and a crown of small blue flowers woven into their long, jet-black hair. Their round, chubby-cheeked face and delicate features made their gender hard to guess.

Though doll-like and pretty, the most significant thing was that this was my first human-shaped customer.
After seeing birds, a pig-bird, and a smoke-shrouded reaper, a human form felt warmly familiar, instantly maxing out my goodwill.

“Welcome!”
Due to their small height, I leaned over the bar to greet them.

The child guest’s face turned pouty as they scanned the menu board.

“Strange. Is this all you sell?”
Their tone didn’t match their youthful appearance.

“Oh… Are you looking for something specific?”
They pointed a small hand at the mug in front of me.

“You don’t sell that sweet-smelling drink?”

“Ah, that’s a new drink I developed today, not yet on the menu. I can make it for you if you’d like.”

“Do so.”
With that, they hopped onto a bar stool.

I’d used all the harvested fruits in experiments, so I needed more.

“Please wait a moment.”
The guest glanced at me as I stepped out to pick fruits, then began inspecting the shop.

Seeing them look around, I felt glad I’d worked on the interior, though I wished I’d added more decorations.

Pluck, pluck.
I grabbed two fruits just in case and returned, following the same process: slicing, scooping the flesh into a bowl, juicing, and heating it in a kettle.
Soon, the shop filled with sweet milky aroma again.

While waiting for the Cloudmilk to warm, the guest, who’d been eyeing the shop suspiciously, finally spoke.

“Pardon, shopkeeper, but who’s that lovely young lady over there?”

“Lovely young lady?”
They pointed at the pig-bird, dozing in its nest.
No matter how I looked, there was no “lovely young lady” anywhere.

“You mean… that bird?”

“Yes. Fair skin, graceful form. I wonder which dimension’s noble daughter she is. May I know her name?”
Shockingly, the child’s chubby cheeks were flushed with a blush.
I couldn’t believe it, but they were serious.