Sieg-san and I chatted idly while sipping our fruit liquor. Although we had both been a bit stiff and self-conscious at first, the tension eventually melted away, leaving us to enjoy a peaceful conversation.
Naturally, our talk centered on the interaction event we had attended today—specifically, which monsters had been the most impressive.
"The popular ones really lived up to their reputation for cuteness, didn't they?"
"Yes. They were all so lovely; it was a truly heartwarming experience."
"You have plenty of funds now," I noted. "I think a second pet would be a wonderful idea."
"I agree. Unlike during the Six Kings Festival, I can now afford most major monsters without having to rely on you, Kaito-san. It’s a very tempting prospect."
It was true; Sieg-san possessed significant financial power now. Unless it was a monster like a Petit Devi that required specific connections to acquire, she could purchase almost anything without issue.
It would still be difficult to find something on the same level as Bell, though. Bell was worth well over two billion R, and as a Special Individual, it wouldn't be surprising if its market value had doubled since its purchase. It was quite a rare case.
"If you were to get another one, what kind of monster would you choose?"
"...That's the difficult part. There are too many I want, and narrowing it down is a struggle. However, since I already have Sera, a more docile one would probably be best. She’s such a gentle girl, after all."
"True. Sera has an elegant, quiet air about her. She also seems to move at her own pace."
"She can be quite laid-back. Lately, she seems to have taken a liking to napping on Bell-chan’s back..."
Sera rarely made a sound and was incredibly composed. Just as Sieg-san said, she was relaxed and independent.
"But she gets along so well with Rin. Wouldn’t a pet with a brighter personality be fine too?"
Rin was of the same Dragon Species but brimming with energy—a stark contrast to Sera. Yet the two were inseparable and often acted like sisters, so their temperaments must have been compatible.
"They do get along famously, but I think that’s more than just personality... Sera likely sees Rin-chan as an older sister. They’re both dragons, and Rin-chan is the elder of the two."
"I see."
"Well, if I were to choose another, I’d prefer it not be from a Dragon Species. Lili might be disappointed, but if I brought another dragon into the house, I’d feel sorry for Bell-chan. It might feel excluded."
"That makes sense. If we're considering what would suit Bell, perhaps a Magic Beast Species? Although Bell is so prideful that I’m not sure how it would react to a close relative."
"I get the feeling it would try to establish a very strict hierarchy."
Bell was indeed fiercely proud. Its attitude toward those it liked and those it didn't was night and day. In fact, the list of people it liked was quite short.
It would listen to me if I gave it an order, but otherwise, it generally ignored anyone it hadn't bonded with. It often growled at Luna-san, but in a way, I thought that was a sign of recognition; compared to those it treated with total apathy, its regard for her was actually relatively high. It was likely just because she teased me that Bell had labeled her a "villain."
Therefore, as Sieg-san suggested, if she brought home another Magic Beast-type, there was a high probability Bell would go out of its way to put the new arrival in its place.
"In that case, something other than a dragon or a magic beast would be better."
"Maybe a Special Species like a slime? Slimes actually have a surprising amount of variety. Not as much as the Dragon Species, of course, but many different types have been documented depending on the environment. Apparently, some academic societies are even debating whether 'Slime Species' should be its own classification."
"Heh. Are they all as friendly as the common ones?"
"Most varieties are docile and won't harm humans, but a few are poisonous. Even if the slime has no aggressive intent, someone touching it carelessly could end up getting hurt."
Slimes were that diverse, huh? I wondered if there were metallic ones. It sounded fascinating; if I ever got the chance, I wanted to see them for myself.
We continued our idle chat, speculating on which monsters would be most compatible with our current pets. By the time we finished, the bottle of fruit liquor was empty.
Since we had shared the single bottle, Sieg-san didn't seem particularly tipsy, and as was typical for me, I wasn't drunk at all. Still, it felt like a natural point to call it a night.
"Is this a good place to stop?"
"Yes. It wouldn't do to overindulge. Let's leave it at that."
"Sieg-san, please go ahead and use the bath first."
"Thank you. In that case..."
Nodding at my suggestion, Sieg-san started toward the bathroom, but then she paused. It wasn't because she had forgotten a change of clothes or a towel; those were surely in her Magic Box, and an inn of this caliber would certainly have towels stocked in the dressing room.
Instead, Sieg-san turned back to face me. In a small, hesitant voice, she made an offer.
"...Um... since we're here... would you like to get in together?"
Serious-senpai: "Oh no, oh no... this is bad. This is clearly a dangerous development. I-I can't stay here! I'm going back to my room—"
???: "Now, now, calm down. The main event is just beginning, isn't it?"
Serious-senpai: "RE☆LEASE ME!"