The line for the Petit Devi moved slowly, but because they had prepared a decent number of the creatures, our turn finally arrived after about an hour of waiting.
We were allotted fifteen minutes of interaction time. When I moved toward the numbered enclosure with Sieg-san, we found a single Petit Devi waiting for us, just as the Funny Rabbit had before.
Wrapped in a coat of fluffy fur, it had a generally round silhouette that reminded me of a giant pom-pom. Its stout little body was accented by small winding horns, large, dewy eyes, and a devil-like tail. I had to admit, it was incredibly cute.
"Devi?" it chirped.
"S-So precious..." Sieg-san whispered.
Perhaps the name "Petit Devi" came from that cry rather than the tail. Regardless, the creature was more than adorable enough to justify its popularity. Sieg-san’s eyes sparkled with delight as she reached out to it.
"Devi-devi!"
"Oh, it hopped right onto your hand, Sieg-san. It seems quite friendly."
"Petit Devis are known for being affectionate and eager to please, which is why they’re such popular pets. Oh, just look at it... it's so cute."
It certainly was gregarious. The way it bounced happily onto Sieg-san’s outstretched hand was undeniably charming.
I reached out to stroke its fur as well. The texture was incredibly soft—almost like touching a cloud, or perhaps a bundle of cotton candy.
"Devi!"
It seemed to enjoy the attention, extending its thin tail to wrap playfully around my hand with a pleased expression. Every little gesture was designed to be endearing. I finally understood why people were willing to wait so long for this.
"I can certainly see why they're in such high demand," I remarked.
"Yes. And it seems to be exceptionally well-cared for; look at the luster of its coat."
"I noticed that, too. You couldn't get fur this soft without meticulous, daily grooming. Especially with curls as tight as these—the breeder must be a real professional."
I put a massive amount of effort into Bell's coat and took great pride in the results, so I knew quality when I saw it. The gloss on this Petit Devi’s fur was the result of constant, careful maintenance.
While the tools for a massive Behemoth like Bell and a tiny creature like this would differ, I found myself curious about what kind of shampoo they used.
I already used high-quality products for Bell, but if I were to be greedy, I wanted to find something that made his fur even softer. The shine and texture were great, but... actually, it might be better to just have Alice custom-make a few new specialized formulas for me. I made a mental note to discuss it with her later.
"Would you like to hold it, Kaito-san?"
"Sure, if it's all right... Oh, it’s much lighter than it looks. Is that mostly because of the fur? The texture is amazing, though. It's clearly been raised with a lot of love."
"Devi-devi."
The creature swayed happily as I spoke, though I couldn't be sure if it actually understood me. Still, it was undeniably cute. There was a specific kind of charm to a monster small enough to sit in your palm that larger creatures just couldn't replicate.
After doting on the Petit Devi for a bit, I handed it back to Sieg-san. She was practically radiating happiness as she continued to pamper it.
"...Sieg-san, why don't you get a Petit Devi of your own?"
"It is a tempting thought, but they are quite difficult to come by."
"Right, you mentioned they were rare."
"Yes. One would need significant connections to even find one for sale... connections... wait..."
"...This might just be me," I started, "but I have a feeling that if I asked around, I could probably make it happen."
"What a coincidence," Sieg-san replied with a wry smile. "I was just thinking the exact same thing."
It might be difficult through normal channels, but I was fairly confident I could pull some strings. Given my current standing, I suspected that if I asked Chris-san, she might just hand one over to me on the spot.
"...Well, if you ever decide you really want one, just say the word. I'll talk to my acquaintances."
"The offer is immensely attractive... I shall give it deep thought."
I was more than happy to help if it made Sieg-san happy, but she seemed to be hesitating. She was probably worried about imposing on me.
However, seeing her eyes constantly dart back to the creature and hearing her admit it was tempting, I had a feeling the day she actually asked me wouldn't be far off.
Then again, knowing her, she probably had a long list of other monsters she wanted to keep and was simply struggling to decide which one should be next. Whatever the case, I knew I could handle most requests, so I intended to support her whenever the opportunity arose.
With those thoughts in mind, I spent the rest of our time enjoying the Petit Devi's company alongside Sieg-san.
Serious-senpai: "I’m sure it’ll work out fine. Honestly, if he even whispered a request to the being in the Sanctuary, she’d probably just create an entirely new species for him."