After a back-to-back run-in with such overwhelming personalities as Pandora-san and Eden-san, I retreated to the spot where I had first seen Lilia-san’s group. It seemed that the more I moved around, the more disastrous my encounters became, so I had concluded that Lilia-san and the others were my safest bet.
"Please, let me go!"
"I cannot!"
It had been about ten minutes, but they were apparently still at it. As I approached the group, Luna-san was the first to notice me. A look of profound relief washed over her face.
"L-Look, Milady! It’s Miyama-sama!"
"Let go of—wait, what?"
Lilia-san froze, her eyes going wide as she looked over her shoulder at me. After a momentary, stunned silence, she began frantically tidying her hair.
"Ahem. Quite right. Regardless of my personal assets, I am still the Head of a Ducal House... I cannot afford to be wasteful."
"T-That is exactly right!"
"Besides, even if I were to purchase such a model, I have nowhere to put it. It isn't as though I could simply display it in the mansion..."
"Indeed! Spoken like a true duchess, Milady!"
I wondered if Lilia-san truly believed her Secret Room was still a secret. Lilia-san, the woman nodding so supportively right beside you is the very traitor who blabbed everything about that room to Aoi-chan and me...
Then again, the model in front of them was massive—nearly ten meters tall—so she probably couldn't fit it anywhere regardless of how many secret rooms she had.
"Good morning, everyone. That’s an impressive model. Is it a famous piece?"
"Good morning, Kaito-san. Yes, this is a work by Rondo-sama..."
"A legendary modeler who has crafted numerous works held in high regard even as fine art," Luna-san added.
I offered a polite greeting and asked about the display. Lilia-san responded with a graceful smile while Luna-san provided the background. A legendary modeler, huh? Given how things usually went, I had a strong suspicion it was actually Alice. I decided to ask her about it later.
"Sieg-san, good morning."
"Good morning, Kaito-san. And good morning to you too, Bell-chan, Rin-chan."
"Gau!"
"Kyu!"
Since they often helped me with grooming and feeding, both Bell-chan and Rin-chan were very fond of Sieg-san. While Rin-chan was timid and had taken some time to adjust, she was now friendly with most of the mansion’s staff. Bell-chan, however, was a different story. He was a proud creature and rarely warmed up to anyone. Aside from following my commands, the only people he treated with any warmth were Sieg-san and his "naming parent," Alice.
"Oh? I see you brought Bell-chan and Rin-chan with you."
"Grrr..."
"Now, Bell-chan, behave!"
"...I truly don't understand why Bell-chan always growls at me," Luna-san lamented.
Among everyone at the mansion, Luna-san was by far the most disliked by my pets; Bell-chan growled at her every single time they met. Apparently, he had witnessed her playing pranks on me and had permanently labeled her a "bad person." To be fair, he wasn't entirely wrong.
"Is something the matter? I feel as though I was just insulted in someone's heart..."
"It’s just your imagination," I replied curtly to the puzzled Luna-san before turning back to Lilia-san and Sieg-san. "You’re all out quite early."
"Yes... Sieg-san was rushing us tremendously."
"I have been looking forward to the Fourth Day for a very long time," Sieg-san admitted.
"Ah, that makes sense."
Sieg-san was an animal lover to her core. For her, this day of the festival was surely paradise.
"According to Phantasm King-sama's Book, there will be monster sales today. I’ve brought along every last bit of my savings in preparation."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I want to raise a cute companion of my own, like Bell-chan or Rin-chan. Lilia-san gave me her permission, so I brought the money I've been tucking away for a pet... It's about 3 Gold Coins."
Converted to Japanese currency, that was roughly three million yen. Considering Sieg-san’s position, it was a significant sum. She had always been a steady, reliable person, so she must have saved it up quite diligently.
Luna-san looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking up. "But is 3 Gold Coins really enough to buy a high-quality monster?"
"Ugh... You’re right. Monsters are quite expensive, aren't they?"
Apparently, monsters cost significantly more than ordinary animals. Bell-chan was worth billions, so it stood to reason that the rarer the creature, the steeper the price. I considered offering to buy one for her, or perhaps using my Black Rank Invitation to get one for free, but I knew Sieg-san well enough to know she would never accept such a gift.
"By the way, Sieg-san, what kind of monster are you looking for?"
"It’s a difficult choice. Magic Beast types like Bell-chan are lovely, but Dragon Species like Rin-chan are also wonderful. Then again, a small pet-type is hard to pass up as well."
"I see..."
"If you prioritize ease of training, a Dragon Species raised from an egg is best... but they are incredibly expensive. Especially the eggs."
Raising a dragon from an egg was easier? I assumed that was due to imprinting. It was heartening to watch Sieg-san speak about monsters with such uncharacteristic passion.
Lilia-san cleared her throat, a slight flush on her cheeks. "Ahem. Well, as Sieg-san’s best friend... I wouldn't be entirely opposed to lending her the difference, depending on the circumstances."
"...Milady, you just want her to buy a dragon, don't you?"
"N-No! I am merely offering a helping hand to a dear friend!"
Given her obsession with dragons, Lilia-san clearly wanted Sieg-san to pick a Dragon Species. Even now, she still snuck off to dote on Rin-chan whenever she thought no one was looking. She truly did love dragons.
Dear Mother, Father—Sieg-san is an animal lover through and through, and she’s determined to find a new pet today. Even as Lilia-san, the dragon enthusiast, tries to steer her toward a dragon species—I can't help but wonder what sort of monster she’ll actually buy.