First Night...?
Night wind seeped through the alleys. The streets near the Labyrinth wore a completely different atmosphere from the daytime. Lights leaked from taverns and inns. And adventurers passed between them. Ian quietly followed behind Arcia. To be precise—it was more like he was being dragged along.
Arcia strode ahead. Her long red hair swayed lightly in the night breeze.
"Why are you so tense?"
She said without even glancing back.
"You're walking like someone's gonna eat you alive."
"...That's not it."
Ian muttered softly. Truth be told, he was a little tense. He'd nearly died in the Labyrinth just moments ago. And now—he was heading to a lodging with a woman he'd just met in this city. A woman who seemed subtly dangerous.
Then, Arcia stopped.
"We're here."
Ian looked up. A two-story building loomed before him. An adventurer's inn. Arcia opened the door casually. Then she turned back.
"Come in."
Her red eyes gleamed strangely moist.
"I'll show you the gear."
Ian knew exactly what would happen if he stepped inside now. He already understood all too well what men were in this world.
Still, Ian couldn't help but anticipate what might unfold next.
Her room was surprisingly modest, nothing like her flashy demeanor. The walls held almost no decorations, and only the bare essentials in furniture. Probably because she'd stayed long but never fully claimed it as her own.
"Sit here."
"Yes..."
Arcia sat Ian down on the bed as if it were the most natural thing. Ian obeyed her words, swept up in a strange anticipation.
Then—click.
The sound of the door locking.
Arcia, having secured the door, approached Ian slowly. Swish... In the quiet room, only the faint brush of her boots against the floor echoed.
Arcia stopped and gazed at him. Her red eyes curved into thin slits.
Without a word, she slowly raised her hand.
Gulp.
Ian swallowed dryly without thinking.
Arcia's hand drifted up to her neck. She untied the robe's cord.
Rustle.
The slide of fabric whispered through the room.
Thump.
Ian's heart lurched hard once.
Rustle. Rustle.
Arcia's robe slid down slowly. Red hair cascaded, baring her pale neckline.
Plop.
The robe pooled fully on the floor.
Ian stared, speechless, his heart hammering too fiercely for words. She wore a dark red dress that clung tight to her body. Thin fabric left her curves starkly outlined. And Arcia's subtle gaze, her every gesture—it ravaged Ian's heart.
Then she leaned in slowly—agonizingly slowly—toward his crotch.
"Uh..."
"It's fine. Just stay still."
Her soft voice bewitched the quiet room.
Arcia's hand reached naturally between his legs.
Boom.
Ian's heart went wild.
"Mm..."
Her hand slipped past his legs... under the bed.
Arcia muttered softly.
"I swear I put it in this bag..."
A moment later. Swish.
She dragged out a large bag from beneath the bed.
"This bag's got some old gear I used to wear."
Arcia opened it and glanced up at Ian. Her red eyes curved slyly.
"Hm?"
She tilted her head.
"What's wrong?"
Her red lips quirked playfully.
Only then did Ian realize he'd been utterly played.
Still, her upturned expression was so endearing he couldn't muster any anger.
"Hoo... Nothing."
Ian took a deep breath and replied.
"Yeah?"
Arcia giggled cutely and pulled items from the bag. A set of leather armor and a dagger. Well-worn, but solid.
But—the chest plate made it clear: men's sizing.
"Ah... Th-this armor's... gear I got by chance a while back."
As Ian eyed it intently, Arcia spilled unprompted details. Even stumbling over her words.
Suspicious.
"I see..."
Under his continued stare, Arcia cleared her throat.
"Ahem."
She pivoted quickly.
"Anyway—I've got one condition."
Her red eyes fixed on him.
"The boon you got today, Ian."
She paused.
"Mind telling me a bit more about it... in detail?"
Ian leaned back, arms crossed, pondering.
"Hmm..."
Just this gear alone would make clearing the Labyrinth's 1st floor far easier than today. The issue was the boon's details. The name was one thing—but that final effect? No way he wanted to share it.
"If it's uncomfortable, the name's enough."
Arcia coaxed gently.
"And we just test the ability a little."
She chose her words carefully, then added,
"...Truth is, there's a sacred relic I want to borrow from the Temple. But I need to register a new boon for that."
This was straight from the game. Raise Temple affinity by registering fresh boons, big donations, or steady quest clears. Rack up enough to snag Temple-exclusive boons or borrow relics and items.
"Hm? Can't do it?"
As Ian lingered in thought, Arcia tilted her head, urging him on. Moments ago, she'd been a predator eyeing prey; now, pure innocence.
She's a fox, Ian marveled inwardly at her seamless shift.
Truth was, even without the begging, Ian wanted to help her if he could. He owed her his life already—and now gear he'd use long-term? Yeah, granting her request made sense.
Absolutely not because she was cute.
"Okay."
Ian extended his hand cautiously.
"Let's test the ability first."
"Yay, perfect!"
Arcia clasped it eagerly.
The instant their skin met for the first time—
Ian's world completely transformed!
...or not quite. But faintly, he sensed something viscous flowing slowly through the air—and inside him.
He didn't know what, but his Queen's Toy boon had surely triggered.
"How's it feel?"
Ian closed his eyes to her question, probing deeper. Something utterly new stirred slowly within him. Faint, yet unmistakable—like an invisible flow tracing his body.
His own flesh made it sharper than the ambient traces in the air.
Ian opened his eyes slowly.
"...Something weird."
"Weird how?"
Arcia scooted closer, intrigued. Her red eyes sparkled prettily.
"What does it feel like?"
Ian hesitated, then ventured carefully,
"Something... sticky."
"Sticky?"
"Yeah."
Ian nodded.
"Like..."
Silence hung.
Then—Arcia's face subtly hardened.
"...Hold on."
She gripped his hand tighter. Red eyes narrowed slowly.
She muttered softly,
"...I think I know."
"Got a guess what it's from?"
Ian asked, catching her murmur.
Arcia eyed him a moment, then spoke deliberately.
"Yeah. Your boon's the type that borrows others' boons, right?"
She paused there.
Still holding his hand, she mused,
"So this sensation—probably—"
Another pause, then,
"One of my boons kicking in."
Ian got it then—why she kept halting. To explain fully, she'd have to reveal her own boon.
Boons were an adventurer's strength, their weapon—but also their biggest vulnerability. Know it, and foes could counter perfectly...
Adventurers rarely spilled theirs. Party vets might share, sure.
But baring it to a stranger? Never casual.
Ian grasped that intuitively. Same info, different weight—especially newbie him versus pro her.
A beat later—Arcia spoke.
"...Ian."
Her red eyes met his quietly.
"About my boon."