Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

"Aside from hunting monsters for experience, money, and materials, we can also take on related quests. Just like in most similar games."

"Experience and gold aren't affected by quest requirements," Klein stepped out of the inn, a knowing glint flashing in his eyes.

As he walked, his voice was steady but carried a hint of excitement, he clearly had a solid grasp of how the game worked.

He paused for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the cobblestone path leading out of town.

"Mm... like your extermination quest. But that's not all. You can also take on delivery quests for boar hides and meat. Doing everything in one hunt saves a lot of time and is extremely efficient."

Ren listened intently, nodding as if he understood. But his brows furrowed slightly, a trace of confusion flickering in his eyes.

"But... I only saw the extermination quest and a few simple ones on the Bounty Board... and those barely give any rewards. Aren't there more quests?"

Klein froze, turning to Ren with a look of surprise mixed with confusion. "You don't know how to accept quests from NPCs?"

Before Ren could respond, an astonished voice rang out behind them.

"What? Are you serious?" Dynamm appeared out of nowhere, his face showing pure disbelief. He stared at Ren as if he'd just discovered some bizarre creature. "You don't know how to take quests from NPCs? For real?"

Ren flinched slightly at Dynamm's strong reaction. "I... I can't tell... who's a player... and who's an NPC... They look... exactly like us."

He hesitated for a moment, lowering his head, his voice trailing off in embarrassment.

Silence filled the space. Dynamm's eyes widened, his lips parting as if to say something, but no words came out.

He glanced Ren up and down, blinking as if trying to process what he'd just heard.

Then, he burst out laughing, a loud, hearty laugh that echoed through the busy street. "Are you for real? My god! You really can't tell NPCs apart?"

Dynamm doubled over, clutching his stomach, seemingly unable to stop.

Ren's face turned red as he looked down, feeling like he wanted to sink into the ground. The way Dynamm laughed made it seem like he'd just heard the funniest joke of his life.

Klein sighed, shaking his head, though the corners of his mouth twitched as if he was holding back a laugh. "Alright, Dynamm. Don't embarrass him even more."

But Dynamm wasn't done. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, his voice still shaky from laughter. "I can't believe this... Who would've thought there'd be someone who can't tell NPCs apart in a game?"

Ren lowered his head even more, his ears burning with shame. Compared to the other players, he felt utterly clueless and left behind.

Klein patted Ren's shoulder, his voice gentle. "It's okay. Everyone starts somewhere. Honestly, in SAO, NPCs are designed to be incredibly realistic, not just in appearance, but also in their movements and speech. It's normal for new players to have trouble telling them apart."

Ren looked up at Klein, his eyes filled with surprise and a hint of gratitude. "R-really?"

Klein smiled and nodded firmly. "Yeah, it's not your fault. You just need to pay a little more attention."

"NPCs usually stay in one place and don't move much. When you interact with them, they repeat the same lines. Unlike real players, who move around and change how they talk."

Ren's eyes widened as he nodded slowly. "I see... I never really noticed that..."

"For real! You're the most interesting guy I've ever met!" Dynamm chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Come on, I'll show you how to tell NPCs from players. Seeing it for yourself will help you remember better!"

Ren followed after Dynamm, his embarrassment fading little by little, replaced by curiosity and anticipation.

Klein smiled, his gaze soft as he watched Ren regain his confidence. "Let's go. You've got a long way to go in getting used to this world."

The group made their way through the bustling streets of the Starting Town, ready for an unexpected yet practical lesson.

"Focus... Look closely at the guard over there... Just like when checking a player's level." Issin explained, his sharp gaze locked onto the town gate, where a guard stood with his spear in hand.

He pointed with a firm motion, his voice slow but confident.

Ren nodded slightly, his eyes widening as he stared intently at the guard.

He focused as if he didn't want to miss a single detail. His lashes trembled as he narrowed his eyes, staring hard at the guard.

Gradually...

A small green diamond-shaped icon flickered above the guard's head.

It appeared faintly at first, then slowly became clearer, as if piercing through a veil of mist.

"Oh..." Ren let out a small gasp, his eyes widening in surprise. He unconsciously took a step back, raising a hand to point at the floating symbol. "That... that's..."

Issin observed Ren's reaction, the corners of his lips curling into a rare smile. "That's right. You finally see it."

Ren turned back to Issin, his eyes shining with curiosity. "What is that? Why does it appear above the guard's head?"

"That diamond symbol represents NPCs," Issin explained, his deep voice calm but firm. "If it turns yellow, that means the NPC has a quest for us."

"Yellow?" Ren repeated, his curiosity growing. "How do I accept quests from them?"

Issin crossed his arms, leaning against the nearby wall, his sharp eyes watching Ren's reaction.

"You just need to approach and greet them politely. Even though this is a game, basic manners still matter. After talking for a bit, the quest options will appear."

Ren nodded, as if trying to memorize every word Issin said.

"I see… I never thought you could distinguish NPCs by the diamond symbol like this. So… what happens if they don't have any quests?"

"If they don't have any quests, the diamond remains green. But be careful… not every NPC with a yellow diamond is easy to get a quest from."

Issin paused, his eyes briefly clouded with thought, as if recalling something.

"Hmm… some quests are quite complex. They only appear if you trigger a special chain of events or meet a hidden condition."

"Hidden condition?" Ren tilted his head, his face filled with curiosity. "What does that mean?"

Issin nodded, his voice growing deeper. "Exactly. For example, you might have to help an NPC in a dire situation or choose the right dialogue option in a conversation. Sometimes, it's as simple as giving them a special item at the right moment."

Ren's eyes widened, his youthful face full of astonishment. "That complicated? Then how do you know if you've triggered a special event?"

"It's not easy." Issin chuckled lightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "That's what makes Sword Art Online interesting.

This game is designed with high realism, there are no pop-up notifications or clear instructions. You have to explore and experiment on your own."

"…And that's also what makes it deadly.

It would be wonderful if… this weren't a death game." Issin sighed, his voice laced with a distant melancholy.

Ren's mouth hung slightly open, clearly not expecting the game to have such depth. "Then… what about the rewards for these quests?"

Issin smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with mystery. "The rewards are well worth it. Not just gold or experience… but sometimes extremely powerful equipment, or even unique items."

Ren's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Unique items…?"

'Are they like revival charms?' Ren wondered.

"Exactly." Issin nodded, his tone firm.

"They could be powerful weapons, rare armor, or special skills that can't be learned through conventional means. These items can completely change the tide of battle."

Ren swallowed hard, his heart pounding at the thought of obtaining such equipment. "I can't believe it… This game… really has this much depth?"

Issin smiled, his expression satisfied as he watched Ren gradually realize the allure of this world.

"That's right. This isn't just a game… it's a living world, filled with countless secrets waiting to be discovered.

And you… like all of us, have only just taken the first steps on this path."

A gentle breeze drifted by, carrying Issin's soft laughter along with the mysteries and expectations of the vast Sword Art Online world.

"Heeeyyy… we're back!"

A voice rang out from a distance, deliberately stretched as if to draw attention.

Klein, Dynamm, and Dale appeared, wide grins brightening their faces.

They ran over, looking exhilarated after completing their necessary task.

Ren turned around, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his new friends. The loneliness he had felt before seemed to fade, replaced by a strange warmth welling up inside him.

'So this… is what it feels like to be waited for.'

Klein jogged up, hands on his knees as he caught his breath, yet his grin never wavered. "Did you learn how to tell NPCs apart?" He glanced at Ren, then at Issin, as if to verify the answer.

Ren nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming with confidence as he recalled the green diamond above the guard's head. "Yeah… Thanks to Issin, I saw it."

Issin merely shrugged, a faint smirk playing on his lips, but he said nothing more.

"Alright then!" Klein suddenly clapped Ren's shoulder hard, nearly sending him stumbling forward. "Let's go hunting!"

Dynamm and Dale cheered in unison, their eyes shining with excitement. Clearly, both of them were eager to fight and level up.

Klein straightened up, lightly pounding his chest as if psyching himself up. "This afternoon, let's help Ren reach Level 3, and we'll hit Level 5!"

Ren blinked in surprise. "Level 3… in just an afternoon?"

Klein winked confidently. "Trust us. You're new, but we won't leave you behind."

Ren looked into Klein's determined eyes, and his unease seemed to melt away. He gave a small nod, gripping his old spear tightly as if reassuring himself.

"Alright… I'll do my best!"

"That's the spirit!" Klein laughed heartily, his strong hand once again clapping Ren's back. "Let's go! Today, we'll clear out the entire grassland!"

With that, Klein took the lead, sprinting straight out of town toward the vast, green plains.

Dynamm and Dale followed right behind, laughing and joking as they ran. Issin walked at the rear, his sharp gaze hinting at deep thoughts, though his lips maintained a gentle smile.

Ren watched their backs for a moment, then turned to glance at the town gate behind him. He took a deep breath, excitement rising in his chest.

This was the first step on the path to becoming stronger.

No longer hesitating, Ren broke into a run, chasing after his new companions.

The wind blew gently, carrying their cheerful voices across the endless fields. Ahead of them awaited a monster hunt filled with challenges and surprises.