Read Questing for Connection :: Chapter 4: Noob in Training

Yuto logged in the next day, half-expecting to see another message from Lilya waiting for him. Sure enough, the chat window blinked the moment he loaded into the game.

[Lilya]: Hey RookieKing! Ready for more adventures? :)

Yuto smirked, cracking his knuckles.

[RookieKing]: If by adventures, you mean me dying repeatedly, then sure. Let’s do this.

[Lilya]: Haha, nah. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough! But fair warning, Nugget’s running around tonight too, so... brace yourself.

Before Yuto could ask what that meant, the guild chat erupted.

---

[Nugget]: Rookie, Rookie! Come duel me! Let’s see what you’ve got!

Yuto sighed. A duel? He’d barely managed to stay alive in dungeons, and now this Nugget person wanted to fight him?

[RookieKing]: Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea...

[Nugget]: Coward! Fight me! For the honour of potatoes everywhere!

[Cornelious von Gerbil]: Oh, this will end well. I’ve got 10 gold on RookieKing losing in under 30 seconds.

[Kaze]: 20 gold says Nugget accidentally kills himself mid-duel.

Yuto raised an eyebrow, both amused and mildly concerned.

[RookieKing]: What kind of guild is this...?

---

A few minutes later, Yuto found himself facing Nugget—a rotund dwarf warrior with golden armour and a frying pan for a shield—on an open field just outside the beginner town.

[Lilya]: Good luck, Rookie. Just remember: Whatever happens... it’s not personal. ;)

Nugget charged toward him with a battle cry. "For the spuds!”

Yuto panicked and mashed his keyboard, causing RookieKing to flail wildly with his sword. Somehow, in the chaos, Nugget tripped over his own shield and faceplanted into the ground.

The game announced: Winner: RookieKing.

Yuto blinked in disbelief.

[Cornelious von Gerbil]: I owe Kaze 20 gold. Unbelievable.

[Nugget]: ...I let you win, Rookie. For morale purposes.

[RookieKing]: Uh-huh. Sure you did.

---

Despite the absurdity of the duel, Yuto couldn’t help but feel... kind of proud. It was the first thing he’d succeeded at in the game, even if it was purely by accident.

As the guild members bantered in chat, Yuto realised something else—he was starting to enjoy their company. It was weird, but the strange mix of personalities in The Potato Brigade made the game feel less like a grind and more like hanging out with friends.

---

Later that evening, Yuto saw a message from Lilya.

[Lilya]: Let’s group up for some quests! I think we could use your sword skills.

Yuto’s heart raced at the thought of teaming up with her.

[RookieKing]: Sounds good! Let’s do it!

He joined her in the town square, where she was waiting, her rogue outfit accentuating her quick, agile movements.

[Lilya]: Ready for some real action?

[RookieKing]: If by action, you mean me flailing around again, then absolutely!

She laughed, and it was infectious.

As they set off into the wilderness, Yuto felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. They encountered various monsters along the way, and Lilya expertly guided him through the battles.

[Lilya]: Just follow my lead, Rookie! Watch out for that one!

Yuto swung his sword, landing a hit, though it wasn’t nearly as graceful as Lilya’s moves.

[RookieKing]: Not bad for a beginner, right?

[Lilya]: You’re doing great! Just keep practicing, and you’ll catch up in no time.

As they defeated a challenging boss, Yuto felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him.

[Lilya]: We did it! Nice job!

[RookieKing]: Thanks! I couldn’t have done it without your guidance.

[Lilya]: It’s all about teamwork!

The thrill of the game, combined with Lilya’s enthusiasm, made Yuto’s heart race—not from anxiety, but from a strange, exhilarating feeling he couldn’t quite put into words.

As they returned to the town after their quests, Yuto felt lighter, as if the weight of his everyday life had slipped away, even if just for a few hours. He couldn’t remember the last time he had enjoyed something this much, and he found himself looking forward to logging in again.

[RookieKing]: Thanks for today, Lilya. I really had fun.

[Lilya]: Same here! Let’s do it again soon! :)

Yuto logged off, a smile plastered on his face. Maybe this MMO thing wasn’t so bad after all.