Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Quests Guide

There are 40 quest in the game, and you need to finishe them all to unlock the corresponding trophy. Quests in this game are maybe one of the easiest ones in the franchise, plus with the quest markers on the map you really need to try hard to miss something. This guide will note everything chronologically for you, so you can follow it in order not to miss anything. Be careful, a lot of them are missable (note the "Short" label when checking quest details - this means you need to do it asap without progressing the story too much).

Chapter 2: The White Cat's Melancholy

• Little Girl's Plea
  Start: Before entering Cloaca Maxima dungeon.
  Reward: Empty Bottle
  Time: Short (you need to complete it before entering/finishing Cloaca Maxima)
  Talk to Sue in Shantytown Balduq area. You need to collect 3 butterflies in the same district. Check your map and do so.

Chapter 3: The Feral Hawk's Fury

• Illness Inquiry
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Flour x10, Tomato x10, Saradhi joins (Journal Entry)
  Time: Short
  Start it in Agricultural District. You will need to enter the well closely by and defeat a large number of enemies at the end.
• Missing Family Report
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: 1000 Gold, Tito and Arche joins
  Time: Short
  Start it in Central District, near Fountain Plaza. First you need to talk to 3 people in the district, then find the Miasma Vortex in the same district and survive.
• Sowing Seeds of Joy
  Start: Before Main Gates Siege which opens new area - Main Square.
  Reward: Marl Flower x10
  Time: Short
  Start it in Shantytown district at the end. You need to find 2 people, one is in  Shantytown and the other one is in Central District.
• Pickpocket Pursuit
  Start: After Main Gates Siege which opens new area - Main Square.
  Reward: 2000 Gold
  Time: Short
  Start it in Main Square district, Market area. Chase the pickpocket guy (use your Monstrum skills to grapple and run to make it easy). If you lose him, you can retry.
• Maid in Amiss
  Start: Inside the Hieroglyph Knight's HQ at the end of the chapter.
  Reward: Silhouette joins
  Time: Short
  Start it in Hieroglyph Knight's HQ, which will be your last chapter dungeon. You need to approach cells in the area where you will need to look for the key. Do this asap, speak with Silhouette, get the key (you will have to follow the story event for that), find the bag for your client and return to her. Really, I have no idea how to miss something with these map pointers!

Chapter 4: The Doll's Search

• Prison Rescue
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: 2500 Gold
  Time: Short
  Talk to Parks in the Dandelion to start the quest. Head to Central District and speak to Maxim, the shady dealer on the southeastern side of the district. He will ask of you 500 Gold and something else. Go to Main Gates and speak to Marie, back to Maxim and begin the operation. This is a long one, you will need to use other Adol do reach lower part of the Prison (on your way you will meet Xavier). When you insect the bookshelf at the end, you are done. To finish the quest you will now how to use your Monstrum team (talk to Parks to start) and reach the point of interest. Really, there is no way for you to get lost, everything is pretty straightforward.
• Bathhouse Debauchery
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Blinding Bangle
  Time: Short
  Head to the Main Square district and talk to person standing in front of the bathhouse. You need to inspect 13 windows of the bathhouse and return to the initial person. Easy.
• Wanted: Maretudos
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Fool's Gloves
  Time: Short
  Inspect the quest board and you will start the quest. Go to Cloaca Maxima (dungeon), at the boss's room, where you will find your target. Kill them, return to Aprilis at the top of the tower to finish the quest.
• One in a Bouillon
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Bouillabaisse Recipe
  Time: Short
  Speak with Roscoff in the Central District to start the quest. Go inside the Pendleton Company Building and talk to Carla. Ask her about the recipe and you'll get the specialty broth recipe. Head to the market in the Main Square district and speak to Philippe who's located on one of the piers. Go to the Agricultural District and speak to Susie on the northeastern side. With all 3 info's, get back to your main guy and finish the quest.
• Chapterhouse Repairs
  Start: When you enter Artisan Lane (after Grimoare Nox challenge that opens this area - mandatory story event)
  Reward: Strength Elixir
  Time: Short
  Speak with knight around the middle of the Artisan Lane district to start the quest. Simply inspect 3 points of interest and report back. Easy.

Chapter 5: The Raging Bull's Treasure

• Prison Liberation
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: 5000 Gold
  Time: Short
  Speak with Park in Dandelion to start the quest. Now head to Central Square and speak to Maxim. Tell him you want more info and want to submit a request. He'll want 1000 Gold and some Dry-aged Meat. Dry-aged Meat: exchange 4 Smoked Meat for 1 Dry-aged Meat with Arche back in the Dandelion, or purchase from Silhouette also in the Dandelion. Give Maxim what he needs and start the quest. It's the same as the ones before - navigate through the Prison, and at the end navigate to some point of it using Monstrums.
• Hazardous Harvest
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: 3500 Gold
  Time: Short
  Start by heading to the Trading Bureau's second floor and speak with the man named Baldwin. We need to go to Mount El Dore. This place is the cave on the western side of Estatte Road where the 3 guys from before were. Fast travel to the Relief Tile and make your way back to the bridge to trigger a little scene. You will now need to go through this dungeon, reach the point of intereset to finish the quest.
• Owner, Where Art Thou?
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Chamomile x10
  Time: Short
  Head to the West Gate in Artisan Lane and in the frontyard next to the Relief Tile you'll find your clients. Now you need to use Anemona's Third Eye to find clues. Do so, follow them, inspect what you need to and you will soon finish the quest.
• Wanted: Tarantiels
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Berserker's Mask
  Time: Short
  Inspect the quest on the quest board to start it. Head to the boss room at the end of Dry Moat Ruins where you'll find the large Tarantiel spiders. Kill them and report back to Aprilis.
• Scam on the Lam
  Start: When you enter Entertainment district (after Grimoare Nox challenge that opens this area - mandatory story event)
  Reward: 4000 Gold
  Time: Short
  Head behind the houses on the northeastern side of the Entertainment District where you will find your clients. Another chase mission! Easy and simple, use your Monstrum skills to chase him.
• All that Glitters
  Start: After Coliseum events in Entertainment district, when you end back in Dandelion.
  Reward: Golden Gloves
  Time: Short
  Talk to Saradhi to start the quest, then finish the short simple dungeon where you will end up. Easy.

Chapter 6: The Renegade's Secret

• Tobacco To Go
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: 6000 Gold, Margot joins
  Time: Short
  Head to Maxim in Central District. He'll only charge you 1500 Gold this time, plus one cigar. Head to the Main Square Relief Tile and check out the shop to the south to get the cigar. Return back and start your mission. It's again the same goal with Adol, reach the end and with other team do what you need to.
• Calling all Strongmen!
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: 3500 Gold
  Time: Short
  Head to the Entertainment District and speak to the man talking to Felix inside the coliseum. You will fight some enemies in the colisseum and that is it.
• A Legend of Heroes
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Brilliant Ice (Anemona costume)
  Time: Short
  Find Tetra in the underpass section of Main Square (go north and down the stairs from the Relief Tile). You can find her down here examining the Graffiti. You will need to find 3 graffities (Agricultural District, Artisan Lane, Hieroglyph Commandery). After you do so, return back to her to finish the quest.
• Wanted: Dragia Haman
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Brilliant Ice (Anemona costume)
  Time: Short
  Check the quest board to start the quest. Your target is located in the Estatte Road (simply follow the main road, or just check your map). When you defeat the target, return back and report to Aprilis.
• Masking for Trouble
  Start: When you enter Noble district (after Grimoare Nox challenge that opens this area - mandatory story event)
  Reward: Mayura Stone, Ball Masks x2
  Time: Short
  Speak to Michele near the center of the Noble District. After some scenes speak with the 3 people that your maps shows, and basicaly that is it.

Chapter 7: Capriccio of the Prison

• Isis of the Storm
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Empusa's Gloves
  Time: Short
  For this sidequest head to the large mansion north of the central fountain in the Noble District for a scene. Head to the roof of a nearby building, inspect the shaft and soon this quest will end after some scenes.
• Art-isan is Suffering
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Feather Shield
  Time: Short
  Head to the northeastern side of Artisan Lane and you'll find a pair of blacksmiths. Watch the scene and agree to help. You need to look for Marcel's apprentice. He's located on the southwestern side of Milianne Plains, so fast travel to the southwestern Relief Tile and head north-northwest to find him near the Gublins and behind a tree. He will give you a shield accessory, so equip that one on character you will use, set tactics to Defence and use your character to kill 15 exploding enemies while having this accessory equiped. Return back to finish the quest.
• Warehouse Stakeout
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: 8000 Gold
  Time: Short
  For this one head to the southeastern side of the Noble District where you'll find 2 men talking. Get close to start the quest. You need to inspect 3 points of interest in this district, after which you will have to chase someone. Easy and short.
• Aprilis's Trial
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Fenrir Claw
  Time: Short
  Head to Aprilis' location (northern side of the Central District) and talk to her to start the sidequest. You will have to defeat a series of enemies, thus finishing the quest afterwards.
• Gamberg Family Errand
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: 20x (Apple, Flour, Mushroom, Red Meat, White Meat)
  Time: Short
  Head on over to the Agricultural District at the start of Chapter 7 and you'll be able to find Yufa's siblings outside of their house. Talk with them to start this one. You now need to get 3 ingredients. Super-sweet chocolate is inside the Trading Bureau, talk to clerk about it to get it, Extra-juicy orange: talk to the old lady in the marketplace in Central District, Pretty wrapping paper: accessory shop outside the bathhouse.
• Tree Stumped
  Start: When you get access to Keening Highlands (after Grimoare Nox challenge that opens this area - mandatory story event)
  Reward: Tempest Elixir
  Time: Short
  You start this sidequest by talking to Professor Vallin who's checking out a tree on the western side of Keening Highlands. You need to inspect a tree in this area, so simply follow the wall northeast from the professor to find it easily. You should now have Max affinity with Silhouette, so get back to Dandelion and talk to her to trigger her event.

Chapter 8: Thus Spoke the Alchemist

• Peril of the Bells
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Full Potion
  Time: Short
  To start this sidequest talk to Dogi in the basement of the Dandelion. You now need to visit 3 locations (Visitor's Kiosk at the Main Gates, where you turn in the landmarks, Perry's Pub (north of Maxim) in the Central Square and Old man outside the bathhouse in Main Square). After some scenes in Dandelion head to Shantytown and head on over to Cloaca Maximum. Once in here you'll need to go to the area where the first boss was. You cannot fast travel, so make your way through the dungeon and finish the quest.
• A Foot and Her Treasure...
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Gorgon Gloves, Genius Green
  Time: Short
  For this one head to the area behind the broken towers south of the prison's entrance in Prison Outskirts and talk to Saradhi. You will enter the dungeon behind the wall, so make your way through it and find whatever she is looking for. Prepare for some battles.
• Peril of the Bells
  Start: At the start of the chapter; after 3 story events outside of Dandelion.
  Reward: 10000 Gold
  Time: Short
  Talk to our belowed Maxim in Central District and this time do this request for him. You will enter the Prison, so make your way towards the goal. It's really straightforward. Maxim joins Dandelion, so after this quest you can find him there.
• Wanted: Drolls
  Start: At the start of the chapter; after 3 story events outside of Dandelion.
  Reward: Blood Fang
  Time: Short
  Check the board and talk to Dogi to start this one. Go to Groaning Grotto dungeon and fast travel to the Relief Tile at the very end of the dungeon, Beast Enclosure. Defeat 7 target enemies and return back to finish the quest (report to Dogi)
• Inscription Inspection
  Start: After you unlock the new area (mandatory Grimoire Nox challenge)
  Reward: Strike Crown
  Time: Short
  Start this sidequest by talking to Tetra, who's located inside the Woodlands of Woe. To access this area you'll need to collect 200 NOX, use 100 of them to break the barrier that takes you to Ciel Canyon Trail and once you do another Miasma Vortex will appear on the eastern side of Estatte Road. Note that you'll need the second 100 NOX for the barrier to appear. You need to find all points of interest in this area, so do so and report back to Tetra.

Final Chapter: Monstrum Nox

• His Father's Son
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Defense Elixir
  Time: Short
  Head to Jules' house in the Noble District and you'll trigger a little scene with Pamella. Head to the cathedral in the Central District and a scene will play as you enter. Fast travel to the entrance to the dungeon in Milianne Plains and you'll find Dr. Smirnov looking at a tombstone here. After some scenes the quest will end.
• Wreath Restoration
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Pierce Crown
  Time: Short
  Head to Rijndael Antiques in the Artisan Lane and speak to Dale and Melissa in here to start the quest. Find White Ribbons by talking to Giselle at the marketplace in Main Square. Get Memorial Flowers in Ciel Canyon Trail. Fast travel to the landmark and make your way to the open area before the dungeon where you will find your target. Return back to the Rijndael Antiques to finish the quest. You can return in the shop again for additional scene.
• Final Dispossession
  Start: At the start of the chapter; when you regain control in Dandelion.
  Reward: Warlord Elixir
  Time: Short
  Talk to Chante here in the Dandelion to start the quest. Head to the Alchemy Wing - Depth and navigate to the room which was previously locked. After some scenes the quest will end.
• The Errant Knights
  Start: After the colisseum events with Hawk, when you return back to Dandelion.
  Reward: Slash Crown
  Time: Short
  Head to the entrance to the Groaning Grotto dungeon (northeast of the coliseum) and a scene with Lucien will play. You need to enter the dungeon and make your way through. Defeat the knights along the way, eventually completing the quest.
• Life by the Sword
  Start: After the colisseum events with Hawk, when you return back to Dandelion.
  Reward: Holy Sword's Hilt
  Time: Short
  Head to the entrance to the Ancient Battlefield (southern side of Keening Highlands) and you'll find Xavier near the Relief Tile. You will need to travel with him in the area and find some points of interest. You can't fast travel, so make your way towads the central tower. 
• Wanted: Bualadh-Orgh
  Start: After the colisseum events with Hawk, when you return back to Dandelion.
  Reward: Crystal Shield
  Time: Short
  Check the quest board to start the quest. You can find your target on the northeastern part of Keening Highlands, near where the ponds are. Defeat it and return to  Dandelion and talk to Aprilis to finish the quest.