PLAYER SYSTEM C5 FIRST QUEST

Jack strolled through the village, eventually finding himself near the bustling market. As he passed a vendor’s cart, he caught sight of a tall mirror leaning against the wall. His reflection stared back—cloaked in a flowing hooded robe and topped with the distinct Clockwork Top Hat.

He paused and chuckled softly. “Hood and a top hat… yeah, I look like some kind of time-traveling priest.”

He adjusted the coal-black hat slightly and continued walking.

The market was lively, but it was clear that players outnumbered the villagers. Most were chatting excitedly with one another, forming parties, and comparing loadouts. Others clustered around NPCs, bombarding them with questions or demands. A few hyperactive players even sprinted straight through the main road—until a warning appeared above their heads:

[Notice: Please refrain from running through crowded village areas. Movement is allowed, but disrupting NPCs and other players will result in temporary debuffs or coin deductions.]

The runners quickly slowed down, grumbling as they rejoined the crowd.

Jack chuckled quietly. “Nothing like a warning to tame the hyper crowd.”

He turned a corner to leave the area when something caught his eye.

A young woman stood near a flower stand—graceful, elegant, with long auburn hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She wore a flowing green dress that hugged her figure just enough to turn heads. Her posture was poised, and her expression carried both kindness and urgency as she looked around and tried to approach passing players.

But no one paid her any attention.

Jack frowned. “Weird. With how gorgeous that NPC is, you'd think she'd have a dozen players flocking to her. What’s going on?”

His curiosity piqued, he started walking toward her—only to overhear a few nearby players snickering as they walked away.

“Pfft, she wants me to waste time fighting slimes,” one scoffed. “I’m trying to level up, not babysit pond goo.”

“Right?” another laughed. “Forget her. Let’s team up—I heard there’s an old man handing out a real quest.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, the village chief. He’s sending players to deal with some eagles causing trouble outside the gates. Big, ugly things called Skyrippers. Apparently, they’ve been harassing merchants.”

“No way—why are we still standing here then? Let’s go get some eagle meat!”

The group rushed off, leaving the girl behind. Her expression dimmed, the hopeful light in her eyes fading.

Jack watched them leave and raised a brow. “Skyripper Eagles, huh…”

Then his eyes met hers.

At once, the girl brightened. Her expression softened into a gentle smile as she stepped forward.

“Hero! With such attire, you must be a priest—or… well, something close,” she said, clearly unsure how to label him.

She shook her head with a polite laugh. “No matter. I am Asha Guinevere, daughter of a merchant. And if you’d be so kind… I’d like to request your help.”

Jack simply chuckled. “Let me guess… slimes?”

Asha’s eyes widened. She blinked in surprise before nodding slowly. “Y-yes… that’s right.”

“And I’m supposed to go fight them, aren’t I?” Jack added, a knowing grin tugging at the corner of his lips—as if he already knew the script.

Asha’s cheeks flushed faintly, her gaze dropping for a second. “You’re right. Again.”

She took a breath, then continued, “But these aren’t ordinary slimes. They’re called Gelatine Slimes. Normally, even a beginner adventurer can handle them—but these ones move in swarms. When they attack together, they can overwhelm even experienced parties.”

Jack raised an eyebrow, but remained silent, listening carefully.

“The road from Dawn Village to Luke Town is nearly impassable by horse,” she went on. “The slimes leave a sticky gel-like residue behind… makes the road treacherous. You might not encounter them, since they don’t always appear. But the trail they left is fresh—so the chance is high.”

Jack stroked his chin, considering her words.

Asha watched him anxiously, then finally spoke up, “Um… would you be willing to help?” Her voice softened. “I—I can only offer a small reward right now. My father’s goods were damaged because of the slimes, so money’s… tight.”

Then quickly added, “B-but! If the slimes do appear and you deal with them, I promise I’ll increase the reward. Please… consider it.”

At that moment, a system prompt appeared before Jack:

[Quest Available]

Requester: Asha Guinevere – Daughter of a wealthy merchant
Objective: Investigate the road between Dawn Village and Luke Town. Gelatine Slimes may appear along the path.
Details: The road is covered in slime residue, indicating recent activity. There is a chance a group of Gelatine Slimes will emerge.
Reward: Small payment if no encounter occurs. Increased reward if slimes are defeated.

[Accept Quest?]
Yes / No

Jack glanced at Asha, then at the interface.

He could practically feel the tremble in her gaze—the unspoken desperation, the hope clinging to her expression. She was holding her breath, waiting for his answer.

‘Taking this quest doesn’t sound bad,’ Jack thought. ‘It’s better than chasing those flashy world quests that all the average players are flocking to. They’ll probably end up biting off more than they can chew. I’d rather stick to a meal I can finish—one that gives me the time to explore and understand this world properly.’

With a faint smile, he tapped the glowing [Yes] on his interface.

“I accept your request,” he said without hesitation.

Asha’s eyes lit up instantly. Her somber expression melted into pure joy, and she nearly jumped in place.

“R-Really!? You’ll help us, honorable hero!?”

Jack nodded. “Yeah. I’ll deal with your slime problem.”

“That’s wonderful!” she beamed. Her voice had a lift to it now, her earlier sadness swept away in excitement. “Thank you so much, hero!”

Jack rubbed the back of his head, slightly awkward. “Please don’t call me hero. Just call me Larkight.” He pronounced it softly, Lar-kite.

Asha blinked, repeating the name quietly. “Larkight… it’s a bit unusual, but I like it. It sounds strong. Mysterious.”

Jack let out a small laugh. “It’s… nothing special. Just something simple. Kind of a mix between ‘light’ and ‘dark.’ Y’know, harmony and balance. That kind of thing.”

It was complete nonsense, of course—but close enough to the truth. After all, his mixed blood and mixed class were better left a secret… especially if the devs were watching.

Asha’s eyes widened a little, visibly impressed.

“Wow… a name that blends light and dark? And it means harmony and balance?” Asha’s eyes sparkled with admiration. Then she smiled, soft and warm. “That’s a beautiful name. Your parents must’ve had big dreams when they gave it to you.”

Jack paused, caught off guard by her sincerity.

She looked up at the sky, voice quieter now. “Maybe they hoped you’d be the one to end the war… to bring peace, where humans, demons, and the other races could finally live together. No fear. No hate. Just harmony.”

Asha tilted her head, a dreamy mist settling in her gaze. “That would be a beautiful world, wouldn’t it?”

Jack didn’t say anything at first. Her words hit harder than he expected.

‘She’s just an NPC… right? But the way she talks—it’s like she really believes in that dream.’

His thoughts raced.

‘Blackstar’s AI tech must be even more advanced than they let on. If characters like Asha are this affected by the world’s conflict… then maybe this war isn’t just backdrop lore. Maybe it’s meant to feel real.’