I just started the game in episode 4 and did a Free Exploration in the forest and did the Mag client order right away. After getting back in the lobby my game crashed and after loading it up again I got in a cutscene and had to beat Profound Darkness. Different NPCs I haven't seen before also appeared in this part. After beating it, the game suddenly went to episode 5.

Not sure if it's actually a bug or if it's supposed to be like this, but how suddenly everything changed I think something went wrong.