The Hamster Pathfinder and Arcia's Burning Reunion

Arcia hadn't exaggerated. It wasn't some rat beastkin or even a humanoid standing on two legs. It was literally just an ordinary hamster the size of a small dog, perched on the chair.

Before Ian could even open his mouth, a small, clear voice spoke first. "Hello."

"I'm Lucy."

It was a far too human name for such a creature.

"…Haha, nice to meet you." Ian greeted her awkwardly with a laugh. His voice cracked slightly.

"Ian, please have a seat first." At Aymdel's words, Ian finally snapped out of it and took the spot in front of the two(?).

The scrape of the chair sounded unnaturally loud.

"Her appearance is a bit off-putting, but she's a reliable adventurer." Aymdel pointed at Lucy as she spoke. Her voice carried both apology and conviction.

"It's due to a boon, but she's still made it down to the 7th floor."

Lucy shifted her tiny body slightly. With her front paws neatly folded, she gazed up at Ian with her black eyes.

"A negative boon, I take it."

"Yes... Removing it costs a fortune."

Ian ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠swallowed unconsciously. A boon that altered one's entire species would demand an unimaginable price to excise.

"Um... could you tell me what boon it is?"

"Of course."

Lucy answered without hesitation, then calmly and clearly explained her boon.

The moment he heard the name, Ian smirked inwardly. 'Mickey Mouse.' Impossible not to think of copyrights.

But who cared about that? As long as her pathfinding skills were legit, the name didn't matter.

Lucy finished her explanation and quietly awaited Ian's reaction. Her tiny body seemed tense, the tip of her tail quivering faintly.

'…She's been rejected a lot, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hasn't she?' The thought crossed Ian's mind.

Even Shiro had faced plenty of uncomfortable stares just for her ears. Someone fully in the form of a mouse like Lucy must have endured far worse.

But decisions had to be cold. Ian exhaled slowly and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't decide alone."

Lucy's ears twitched slightly.

"My party members are here too…"

"Yes. Could you give us a little time?"

Shiro would likely follow Ian's lead, but he wanted Arcia's input too. She was due back before the Labyrinth reset.

Lucy fell silent for a moment, then nodded her small head.

"…Yes. I understand. I'll wait."

Her voice was steady, but a flicker of disappointment and resignation slipped through.

Ian didn't miss it. Her black eyes seemed to waver for an instant.

"It won't take long. I can give you an answer before the reset," Ian said gently.

Lucy lifted the corners of her mouth, as if forcing a smile.

"…Yes. I'll be waiting."

She replied softly.

Ian hesitated, then asked carefully, "By the way… could you tell me if you have any other boons?"

He knew prying this deep was rude outside a formal party, but he had to ask.

Lucy perked her ears slightly, then nodded readily.

"Yes, one more."

She briefly described her second boon. But the name Ian desperately hoped for didn't appear.

"I see..."

After that, the three exchanged a few light words. Recent Labyrinth news, info on the 4th floor, idle chit-chat. The conversation grew shallower and naturally petered out.

"Well… I'll be going then." Lucy hopped down from the chair, her tail brushing the floor with a soft rustle.

Aymdel waved quietly. "That's it for today. Good work, Lucy."

"Thank you."

Lucy gave a small bow and turned toward the door.

No decision yet. Lucy's matter would have to wait.

A few days later.

Ian stood in the plaza at the Labyrinth entrance once more. But not to enter this time.

He was waiting for Arcia.

Only the portal pillar remained, its light extinguished. It wasn't time for the Labyrinth to open, so entry was impossible—but returns were.

If the expedition went as planned, today was the day Arcia would return.

He didn't know the exact time, but Ian just wanted to see her soon.

"Ian, you're early."

Ian turned at the voice behind him to see the pure white girl, Shiro, standing there. She must have come to wait for her sister Sion too.

"Yeah… I couldn't wait to see her."

Ian answered honestly, and Shiro's face stiffened ever so slightly.

But Ian, lost in thoughts of Arcia, didn't notice.

"…Arcia must be so lucky." Shiro's soft murmur was drowned out by the low hum of the portal activating at the same moment.

And then—boom! A massive noise, and the blue portal flared wide open.

"Looks like they're here." Someone shouted toward the portal.

Ian and Shiro turned their gazes there too.

The first to emerge was a female warrior with a face like Shiro's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and long white hair that suited her perfectly. Arcia's party member and Shiro's sister, Sion.

Her armor bore small scratches here and there, but her expression was refreshed and satisfied.

Following her was a woman in tight black assassin-style garb. Ian recognized her as another of Arcia's party members.

And finally, the one with striking red hair and pale skin. Arcia appeared.

"Arcia!" Ian called her name loudly.

Arcia slowly opened her eyes, directing her gaze toward the voice. The instant she spotted Ian, "Ian!" she shouted his name back.

And then—thud thud thud! She charged at full speed toward him.

"I missed—"

Before Ian could finish, whoosh! Arcia enveloped him in a fierce hug.

It had been less than a month, but to Arcia, those days felt longer and more tedious than any Labyrinth she'd endured.

"Ian! Ian! Ian!" Arcia clung tightly, repeating his name over and over.

The embrace was suffocating, but Ian didn't mind at all. He loved feeling her body heat and tremors so vividly.

"I swear, I kept hearing you calling me, so I tried to rush back sooner?" She poured out words like she'd been holding them in forever.

"But Sion kept blocking me! 'Ian's in danger,' she said, nagging nonstop even when I ignored her… So I had to rest one more day before coming up."

Her voice sped up, "I wanted to meet you inside the Labyrinth if possible… Ah, I missed you so much. I thought of you every single day."

Once she started, the floodgates opened—no breath, just endless words. "When eating, sleeping, fighting… Ah, especially during fights. I kept thinking how reassuring it'd be with you by my side…"

She held him tight, weaving his name into her endless stream.

But Ian found even this version of Arcia utterly lovable. He just smiled and quietly hugged her back.

Her warmth after a month, her overly honest affection—it filled his heart.

"So when I was about to cast a spell…"

As Arcia's tale threatened to stretch on, "Arcia." Ian called her name softly.

"Yeah?" Arcia tilted her head down to look at Ian, buried in her chest.

Ian peeked his head out for air and gazed up at her.

"I'm… really happy you're back safe."

Ian said with a shy smile.

"Kyaa! My Ian!" Arcia found it so cute she squeezed him even harder.

Then she slowly brought her face closer.

Ian felt her warm breath nearing and froze. Eyes were still on them.

Near the Labyrinth entrance.

"A-Arcia… we're outside…"

Ian murmured in a small, embarrassed voice. His ear tips flushed red.

His hands still encircled her waist, but they trembled awkwardly.

Arcia's lips curved in a playful smile, finding his reaction even more endearing.

"I know. But… I really can't hold back right now?"

She whispered, cupping his cheek gently with one hand.

As Ian's eyes widened in fluster, Arcia slowly pressed her lips to his.

Soft and warm. A kiss transmitting the body heat they'd both craved for a month.

Ian flinched his shoulders at first from shyness, but soon closed his eyes and surrendered to her embrace.

He gripped tighter, pulling her back closer.

It was a long-awaited reunion.

And one so heated, it ignored all prying eyes.