[Quests].
Almost any game is inseparable from quests, especially in MMORPGs.
The Eternal Pacificus doesn't force players to do quests, though of course players can do quests if they want to. Christiana belongs to the type of NPC that issues weekly quests, regularly posting commissions to eliminate bandits.
Some quests are quite traditional MMORPG-style tasks that specify rewards and clearly tell players what to do, while others take an unconventional approach, simply telling players they've accepted the quest without providing any clues whatsoever.
Interestingly, no quest in the game restricts how players complete them.
For example, with infiltration missions, you just need to bring out the target of the infiltration quest. You can choose to sneak in quietly, or you can choose to charge in openly with overwhelming force. While the latter is more difficult, eliminating all witnesses is essentially a form of infiltration, right? This operation is perfectly valid.
Another example is thief missions—players can change sides mid-quest (even though the quest description doesn't mention this at all) and choose to report the thief gang's situation to the local guard unit, transforming the quest into an undercover mission within the thief gang. It's said that there was once a thief gang where, among over a hundred members excluding one thief NPC, all the other players were undercover agents sent by the guard unit—even the gang leader was a double agent.
Afterward... the expression on that NPC's face upon learning the truth was turned into memes by emotionless players.
When adventurers get dirty, NPCs don't stand a chance.
In any case, due to factors like race and geography, the Lemoria Continent doesn't have a unified main storyline, but series quests and hidden quests have never been in short supply.
A very important point is that NPCs cannot accept quests.
Take Christiana's regularly issued bandit elimination quests, for example. Logically, I should also have the right to accept Christiana's commission and could claim rewards from Christiana after meeting her conditions, but my operation panel wouldn't display a [Quest] system—only player operation panels show quests.
On the other hand, players with status and position are also qualified to issue quests. As long as you can provide attractive rewards, you won't worry about finding players to do the work. Sir Ivanhoe, who remained in Rothschild, is precisely accepting a quest from Count Smylie.
"Quests? You mean the special system that adventurers carry?"
"Yes. I'm wondering if Lily might... trigger a [Quest]."
Understanding my speculation, Sigrdrífa also bowed her head deeply.
Both Sigrdrífa and I are NPCs who have no way to trigger [Quests]. Lily's special identity might possibly hide some quest.
If we're lucky, following the quest's guidance might even make it possible to find a way to heal Lily's eyes.
"That makes sense, but honestly speaking, I don't trust adventurers."
Christiana's viewpoint aligns with Sigrdrífa's.
"If adventurers make information public for the sake of rewards, we'd be in trouble. Do you think any of the adventurers who visited today are trustworthy? Where are we going to find a reliable adventurer?"
Sigrdrífa's concerns aren't unreasonable. If we triggered a quest that requires multiple adventurers to cooperate to complete, the situation would far exceed our control.
Moreover, where would I go to find adventurers?
The people I can think of are Anna's Support Group, led by Hohenhiem and the others, and Count Smylie's Sir Ivanhoe—I feel they're all trustworthy.
But in any case, we'd have to wait until tomorrow. It's not like an adventurer would suddenly fall from the sky...
*Knock knock knock~*
"A visitor?"
Someone's coming this late?
I signaled Sigrdrífa to put away her dagger. Based on my [Detection] skill, the other party didn't have any notorious reputation warnings, so they probably aren't a bad person. Besides, what bad person uses the front door?
"Yahoo~"
As soon as I opened the front door, I heard the voice before seeing the person.
"Ya... yaho... o?"
"Long time no see!"
Outside the door was a young girl wearing a cloak. Speaking of which, does everyone like wearing cloaks and hoods these days? Generally, mass-produced character designs are gray-robed elders, black-robed elders, green-hatted elders, and such. How is it that on Lemoria Continent, they're all mysterious girls?
"Long time no see? Hmm... forgive my presumption, but could you please remove your hood?"
"No problem~"
She agreed so carelessly—then what's the point of the hood?
The girl removed her hood, revealing a pair of fluffy cat ears from underneath that twitched cutely as if trying to act adorable.
A beastkin.
I'm certain I've never had any deep interactions with any beastkin.
"Excuse me, haven't you mistaken me for someone else?"
"Nyo."
That means "no," right?
So I seriously searched through all my memories inside and out again, but could still only shake my head.
"I apologize. Forgive my stupidity... Could you please clarify your esteemed identity?"
"So polite nya... There are few beastkin in Arcadia who speak so politely..." The beastkin puffed out her modest chest. "Carol Cat, a cat-person adventurer from Arcadia~"
Carol Cat?
"This is... our first meeting?"
"Yes!"
"..."
Then why did you say "long time no see"?! You made me think for so long!
"Nyahaha~ I thought saying 'long time no see' would seem more friendly~"
It only increases other people's troubles!
"...Then, adventurer Miss Carol Cat, what brings you to my humble abode?"
Although I was annoyed inside, I still had to maintain a smile.
The girl calling herself Carol Cat clapped her hands together with a "pop," one amber eye playfully squinting as she stuck out her cute pink cat tongue.
"Help, I'm about to be caught by the guards nya..." (TN: Help was in english.)