Chapter 37: A Misunderstood Arrival

The Nekomata were always noisy, but with so many guests today, their chaos grated more than usual.
“That’s how kids grow, isn’t it?” Thunderbird chuckled, as if reading my mind.
“Those energetic kittens will become great deities as adults.”

His eyes on the Nekomata were like a grandfather’s watching his grandkids.
Catsy’s teacup had cooled, the butterfly pattern gone. She barely drank, savoring the aroma, but now gazed out the window, bored.

I swapped her silver vine tea while calming the rambunctious Nekomata.
With so many guests, I was busy, but honestly, the cats caused over half my workload.

I wished they’d take after the other, more refined guests.
“It’s amazing how many great deities gather here. It’s rare to see so many in one place,” I remarked.

“I’ve heard of your renown, Thunderbird. It’s an honor to meet you,” Wishstone said.
“Haha, my fame’s that great? I’m more intrigued to meet the Ruler of Dreams in person,” Thunderbird replied.

Their chatter drifted over as I worked. Young Blue Sage seemed too young to fit in, but he blended surprisingly well.
“How’s your master, Master Medicine, doing? With you visiting so often, maybe he’ll be tempted to stop by!” Thunderbird said.

“I tell him about the café every time, but he rarely leaves his dimension, so it’s unlikely,” Young Blue Sage replied.
The guests lingered, sipping and chatting, then rose as if on cue to leave.

“Eun, be careful with your authority next time. I was worried for you, but also, I missed the silver vine tea. Its taste haunted me, ruining my work,” Thunderbird teased, adjusting his top hat.
“I’ll be cautious,” I promised.

As I saw them off, they surprised me with kindness. Despite paying for drinks, they used their Causality to repair the rat-damaged garden.
Thunderbird fixed the fences entirely before vanishing with a flap of his wings.

I’d dreaded the repair costs, so their help was a relief.
“This tree needs to grow for my next delicious drink,” Young Blue Sage said, restoring the cloud milk tree, clearly eyeing the pig-bird to score points.

“Piggy, say thank you. He fixed your food source.”
I decided to offer some fan service.

At my call, the pig-bird waddled over. I folded its wings neatly and made it bow, which it did obediently.
“Now, say ‘thank you.’”
“Bbi bbi.”

“No, no! I didn’t do it for thanks. Helping those in need is only natural!” Young Blue Sage’s face flushed red.
I grabbed its wings, waving them like a handshake, and his face looked ready to burst.

“How can such a cute creature exist… Ahem, I’ll return soon. Stay healthy, milady.”
“Bbi bbi. Bbi.”

The pig-bird’s stellar service was a model for the café.
Seeing the others repair parts of the garden, Catsy struck a haughty pose.
“Hmph…”

With a long hum, she waved her hand.
Rumble…
The ravaged garden floor began restoring itself.

As the highest-ranking deity here, her generosity—or perhaps show of power—was grand.
“Thank you so much! Your power’s always incredible!”
I clapped enthusiastically, showering her with praise.

“It’s nothing, nya,” she said, clearly pleased.
Head held high, she led the Nekomata back to her dimension.

Opening the café was the right call.
My Causality, down to zero, climbed to 6 cheok, and the garden was fully restored without spending a drop.

Thankfully, the deities’ repairs didn’t affect the café’s level-up, as they bore the karmic cost of their authority, as they’d explained.
“Wishstone, aren’t you leaving?”

I wondered if my gaze kept him there, as he remained on his stool while others left.
He blended in like a café decoration.

“I have unfinished business. Remember my invitation to my dimension?”
“Of course! I’ve been looking forward to it.”

“I wanted to invite you sooner, but you were… unavailable. If you’re still recovering, we can delay.”
With untested recipes pending, visiting for new ones would benefit me.

“No, I’m ready now.”
“Then…”

“I’m going too,” Bernell declared.
“Bbi bbi!”
Both reacted instantly to my plan.

Normally, I’d refuse their company, but after recent events, it wasn’t so simple.
Bernell’s combat prowess could be useful, like a bodyguard.

“Bbi. Bbi bbi!”
The pig-bird was trickier. It didn’t have many skills and needed constant care.
Staying in the café was safest, but after Catsy’s dimension, it had separation anxiety and would likely insist on coming.

“Bernell’s one thing, but you too?”
Its large, bird-like form might stand out in Wishstone’s dimension.

“No need to worry. The bird’s fine, but…” Wishstone trailed off, his tone ambiguous.
If the dimension’s owner was okay with it, I couldn’t argue further.

So, all the café’s staff—me, Bernell, and the pig-bird—would visit Wishstone’s dimension.
“It may seem modest compared to others, but I cherish it. I hope you gain something valuable,” Wishstone said.

“It’ll likely be warm and kind, like you,” I replied.
His dimension felt safer than others, and with the café restored, I looked forward to a relaxed trip.

Plus, it was a group outing, not solo.
“Like a family trip. Our first as siblings, right? I’m excited,” Bernell said.
“Bbi bbi!”

“They’re thrilled.”
Unlike me, they had no mission to gather ingredients, so they could enjoy it more.

“Any precautions for your dimension? I’m grateful for the invite, but please take us to a normal, populated place.”
I wanted to avoid being mistaken for a criminal, like in Thunderbird’s dimension, or role-playing, like in Catsy’s.

“No specific precautions. It’s a quiet dimension. I’ll ensure we arrive in a suitable place,” Wishstone assured.
I wondered how we’d travel.

“Touch my statue and earnestly pray to visit my dimension.”
As a statue deity, his travel method fit.

I touched the polished stone, clean from my last washing, exuding a floral scent.
“Bbi bbi!”
The pig-bird hurriedly pressed its wing to it, and Bernell, skeptical, followed.

Pray to visit, he said.
Closing my eyes, I prayed. My body felt light, ears ringing like climbing a mountain, a strange drowsiness creeping in.

Then, the odd sensations vanished, replaced by a bustling murmur of voices.
“…”
The statue’s texture remained under my palm. Opening my eyes, I was before Wishstone.

“We’re here.”
The voices suggested a lively, ordinary place…

But something felt off. The murmurs were directed at us.
Looking around, we were encircled by a crowd.
“Uh…?”

None were human—only animals and creatures straight out of a game.
“No need to worry. The bird’s fine, but…”
Now I understood Wishstone’s words.

The pig-bird’s form blended in, but Bernell and I stood out.
“What a strange place. A dimension of savages,” Bernell muttered.

“Watch your words. Not every dimension’s like yours,” I scolded.
“Bbi bbi!”

I’d asked for a normal, populated place, but forgot to specify avoiding attention.
To Wishstone, a place where his worshippers gathered was “normal,” but it drew all eyes to us.

How did we look to them? Dropped from the sky? Teleported in a flash?
Would they react with hostility, like in Thunderbird’s dimension?

As worries swirled, a trembling voice shouted from the crowd.
“A-a-angel!”
“Angel?”

“The gods sent us angels!”
“Ohhh!”
“They’ve answered our prayers!”

This trip wouldn’t be leisurely.
“They look just like the god’s form!”
“The gods are watching over us!”

They were definitely misunderstanding us.