For most new Adventurers, combat-related quests are often not the first choice.
After all, a considerable number of people have no combat ability, or only the combat ability equivalent to a wild boar.
Especially when unfamiliar with the quest environment and procedures, rashly taking on combat-related quests is very dangerous; it might even require the Knights of Favonius to be dispatched for rescue in the end.
Therefore, after Star took on that quest, Katheryne still kindly offered a reminder.
As an Adventurers' Guild receptionist who had been in Mondstadt for who knows how many years, she had seen too many examples.
Even in recent years, tragic incidents would still occur from time to time.
"Although the 'High Climb Danger' commission can be considered complete by just destroying two Hilichurl watchtowers, there are many Hilichurls stationed around the watchtowers, as well as the relatively more dangerous Mitachurl and Samachurl. Are you really sure?"
"It's fine, this is the one." Star nodded firmly.
Although he hadn't seen what a Mitachurl or a Samachurl looked like, since 'Hilichurl' was added to the front, he figured they couldn't be particularly powerful monsters.
According to his understanding, these creatures were probably equivalent to goblins in a fantasy world.
How strong could a goblin be, no matter how powerful?
"Alright, then I'll process the commission for you." Katheryne also nodded. The well-intentioned reminder ended there; she wouldn't emphasize it further. As for what happened if an accident occurred later... that would be the Knights of Favonius's concern.
The Adventurers' Guild's obligation ended here. As the saying goes, good advice is hard to give to a doomed ghost.
Soon, the procedures were completed. Star made some preparations in the city, bought some portable dry rations to carry, and headed straight for his destination.
However, what Star didn't notice was that shortly after he left, a figure also followed his footsteps.
According to the map Katheryne provided, the location of this quest was near Mondstadt.
Probably because of the recent Dragon Disaster, monsters like Hilichurls weren't being dealt with promptly and would always run to the vicinity of the city to set up camp.
The Knights of Favonius were severely understaffed now, so the work of expelling and subjugating these monsters was basically entrusted to the Adventurers.
The commission he took was like this; the Reward, converted, was about ten thousand Mora, which was quite good and would allow him to eat well for several days.
Moreover, this quest was not very far from Mondstadt; he could probably be back in an afternoon.
The quest was also very simple: just smash two watchtowers. There was no need to annihilate the enemies, which was no problem for him at all.
Overall, the cost-effectiveness was indeed good, which was why he took on such a commission.
However, there was one thing he ultimately forgot to consider.
"It should be here, but where are the watchtowers?" Star rubbed his head and then looked down at the simple map of the Mondstadt vicinity in his hand.
According to the map, after leaving the city, head southwest... this is the southwest direction, right?
Star looked up suspiciously at the sun in the sky, but unfortunately, he didn't have the skill to determine direction by the sun.
The destination was in an open field, relatively empty, but here was a forest.
"Hmm..." Star stood still, beginning to hesitate.
When he first left the city, he was very confident in his direction, but as he walked further and further, he seemed to have gradually gotten lost.
Now he had two choices: either turn back from here or continue forward.
After all, perhaps there was a problem with the map's labeling, and in reality, the Hilichurl camp was even further away.
And now, if he turned back, he was confident he could follow his tracks back to the Mondstadt city gates, but this would undoubtedly waste a lot of time. By the time night fell and the Mondstadt city gates closed, he would probably have no choice but to sleep outdoors.
"Never mind, I'll continue forward." Star thought it over and over, finally shaking his head and deciding to keep going forward.
It should be—no, it absolutely is the map's problem. He doesn't have a poor sense of direction, so how could he go wrong by following the predetermined direction?
...
"Hmph." Not long after Star left, a soft snort suddenly came from the bushes behind him.
A nun with short purple hair, a somewhat gloomy expression, and dark circles under her eyes, but dressed in an exceptionally seductive manner, slowly walked out.
She looked in the direction Star had left, silently frowning.
Rosaria, a nun of the Westwind Church in Mondstadt, but she had neither the demeanor of a nun nor reverence and piety towards the gods.
Born into a bandit group, she was more suited to doing clandestine work for Mondstadt.
Suspicious merchants, questionable travelers—she would investigate and track these people, and if necessary, she would even interrogate them.
Recently, due to the Dragon Disaster in Mondstadt, there were fewer outsiders, but her work did not become easier because of it.
Because people who came to Mondstadt during this period were even more worthy of vigilance.
Especially those who still possessed great power.
The blonde Damselette named Lumine was such a person, and she even brought a floating pet of unknown species with her.
But she drove away the giant dragon and also accepted the Knights of Favonius's invitation to assist in resolving the Dragon Disaster, so Rosaria couldn't conduct a more detailed investigation of her for the time being.
Therefore, she turned her attention to the Grey-haired girl who came to Mondstadt with Lumine.
This Damselette was very different from Lumine, and whether it was her attire, her style, or her appearance, she seemed to be from a completely different world than them.
Suspicion was written all over the Damselette, so when she saw the Damselette take on a commission and leave the city, she immediately chose to follow him.
However, this tracking process led to something she had not expected at all.
"Can you even get lost with a map...?" Rosaria crossed her arms, silently pondering her next move.
Perhaps she should guide the Damselette a little, lest she stray too far.
It wouldn't be good to miss the time to enter the city.
However, this was not easy to do without being discovered by the other party.
"What a troublesome fellow," Rosaria sighed, then resumed his steps, heading in the direction Ei had departed.
Even with a map, a clear sense of direction, and the destination being so close to Mondstadt, she could still get lost.
Rosaria estimated that the Damselette would likely pose no threat to Mondstadt.
Of course, he would not be so careless; he still needed to investigate further.