Wait. Stop.
If you’ve been running around the Scarlet Forest wondering why on earth your map keeps pinging without actually showing you anything, you aren’t alone. Capcom decided to drop The Apple of Her Eye in Title Update 1, and honestly, it’s one of those "simple" side quests that ends up being a massive headache if you miss one tiny detail. Basically, our favorite handler Alma has lost her spectacles. But not just any glasses. We're talking about her special red ones.
She’s devastated.
You’ve probably seen the prompt. It pops up once you hit HR 21 and have cleared out her previous requests like What We Protect. If she isn't talking to you, go finish your chores. Once you do, she’ll mention her lost "treasure" in the Scarlet Forest, and that's when the real wild goose chase begins.
Where to Actually Start
Don't just go running into the woods like a Great Jaggi on a sugar rush. You need to head to the Wudwud Hideout. There’s an NPC there named Thunk.
Talk to him.
He’s the gatekeeper for this whole mess. He’ll give you the first real lead: something about "red good things" down by the river. This sends you back toward the Area 2 base camp. Follow the river downstream, and keep your eyes peeled for a Wudwud named Scampshroom.
He’s a little jerk.
As soon as you get close, he’s going to bolt. You’ll see a Wudwud actually wearing the red glasses, which confirms you’re in the right place, but they aren't giving them back yet. They retreat into the hideout, and this is where most players get stuck.
The Nighttime Secret
You go back to Thunk, and he tells you to wait. Specifically, you have to return during Nighttime while the environment is in the Plenty state.
If you try to go during the Fallow or the Inclement weather, you're wasting your time. Go to your tent. Use the "Rest" function. Set the time to Night and wait for the season to cycle if you have to.
Once the stars are out and the forest is lush, head back to the Hideout. You’ll see a literal party happening. Climb the vines to the very top—the rooftop area—and talk to every single Wudwud with an exclamation mark. There are four of them. They’ll gossip about a guy named Ayejack.
Dealing with Ayejack
Ayejack is the one who actually has the "Apple of Her Eye." You’ll find him sleeping in a leaf cocoon/hammock on the bottom floor of the hideout. Don't go jumping off the roof blindly; take the platforms down.
He’s wearing them. He looks ridiculous.
But he’s not just giving them up for free. The trade is simple: Eastern Honey.
Expert Tip: If you don't have Eastern Honey in your inventory, don't panic. You can get it as a reward from the quest A Leviathan’s Temper (the Tempered Lala Barina fight), or you can just trade for it with Ren using the item intermediary service. Sometimes you can snag it by capturing a Giant Vigorwasp with your net, too.
Hand over the honey, and the glasses are yours.
Why This Quest Matters (The Rewards)
Why do we care about a pair of glasses? Well, completing MHWilds The Apple of Her Eye isn't just for the 300 Guild Points or the 10 Lifepowders.
It unlocks the actual Appearance Menu option for Alma. You can finally change her look. Once you finish the quest, go to any tent, select "Change Appearance," then "Change Alma Outfit," and you’ll see the option to equip her with those red glasses.
But it’s better than that.
Gemma gets two new recipes for you as well:
- Square Glasses (Recipe)
- Strategist Spectacles (Recipe)
They’re purely aesthetic, but let’s be real, half of Monster Hunter is just playing dress-up before you go kill a literal god. These frames look sharp and provide that "scholarly hunter" vibe that fits the Forbidden Lands expedition theme perfectly.
Things That Might Break the Quest
I've seen people screaming on Reddit because they can't "Rest" at the camp.
If your "Rest" option is greyed out, it’s usually because you’re in the middle of a main story mission or a specific expedition trigger. Finish your current objective first. The game won't let you manipulate time while a major plot point is active.
Also, make sure you actually talk to Thunk at the entrance of the Hideout before looking for Ayejack. If you haven't triggered the dialogue about the nighttime gathering, Ayejack won't even be in his hammock.
Honestly, the hardest part of this quest is just the waiting. The Monster Hunter Wilds ecosystem moves at its own pace, and sometimes you just have to go hunt a Doshaguma or two while you wait for the "Plenty" season to roll back around.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your HR: Ensure you are at least HR 21 and have completed Alma's previous optional quests.
- Stock up on Honey: Check your box for Eastern Honey now so you don't have to leave the Hideout mid-quest.
- Cycle the Season: If it's currently "Fallow," go on a quick hunt to force the ecosystem to progress toward "Plenty."
- Visit Gemma: Once the quest is marked complete, head straight to the smithy to craft your own Strategist Spectacles.