Yuto logged in to find his character already in the middle of the guild hall, where Nugget was loudly arguing with Miki. As usual, the guild chat was buzzing with nonsense.  

[Nugget]: I’m telling you, the Spud Helm of Prestige is *essential* for our guild identity!  

[Miki]: You’re insane. No one looks good wearing a potato on their head.  

[Corn]: I disagree. It’s bold. Avant-garde, even.  

Yuto sighed as he joined the conversation. [RookieKing]: What are you people talking about now?  

Nugget quickly pinged Yuto with a trade request, and an item appeared on his screen: a helmet shaped like a giant potato, complete with lumpy eyes and sprouting roots.  

[Nugget]: We have a tradition, Rookie. Every new recruit must wear the Spud Helm of Prestige for one in-game day. It’s a rite of passage.  

[Miki]: It’s a form of torture, is what it is.  

Yuto stared at the ridiculous helmet on his screen, wondering if this was the kind of nonsense that would be his life from now on.  

[RookieKing]: ...Do I have a choice?  

[Lilya]: Nope! 😉 It’s an honour, really. We all did it. Right, Miki?  

[Miki]: I absolutely did not.  

---

Yuto reluctantly equipped the Spud Helm. His character’s avatar immediately looked like it had been possessed by some bizarre root vegetable spirit.  

[RookieKing]: I hate this.  

[Nugget]: You look amazing.  

[Corn]: Dashing. Like a knight from the ancient fields.  

[Lilya]: You’re doing great, Rookie. Just think of it as camouflage—you blend in with our aesthetic now.  

Despite the absurdity, Yuto couldn’t help but chuckle. It was hard not to enjoy the weird camaraderie of these people.  

---

The Potato Brigade had decided to spend the day running dungeons to collect materials for their next guild project: a life-sized potato statue.  

Yuto followed along as Lilya led the party into one of the game’s darker dungeons. Unlike the bakery raid, this one was full of creepy enemies—shadowy creatures that skittered along the walls and attacked in swarms.  

Lilya’s rogue moved ahead effortlessly, setting traps and vanishing into shadows like it was second nature. She called out instructions in the guild chat, keeping things light despite the eerie setting.  

[Lilya]: Watch out for the spiders! They like to drop from the ceiling.  

[RookieKing]: You could’ve mentioned that earlier.  

[Miki]: What’s the worst that could happen? Death? Despair? A lost potato statue?  

---

Yuto found himself genuinely impressed by how smoothly the team worked together. They had the chaotic energy of a circus troupe, but somehow it all clicked. Even in the heat of battle, there was a sense of trust—a kind of unspoken understanding that they had each other’s backs.  

Toward the end of the dungeon, the team hit a roadblock: a puzzle room with no clear solution. A massive door stood in their way, guarded by three rotating statues, each with glowing runes on its chest.  

[Nugget]: Ugh, these puzzles always give me a headache.  

[Corn]: Fear not! My superior intellect will guide us through.  

[Miki]: We’re doomed.  

---

Lilya turned to Yuto—or rather, her character spun in a playful circle.  

[Lilya]: Rookie, how good are you at puzzles?  

[RookieKing]: Depends. Can I just hit it with my sword?  

[Lilya]: I like the enthusiasm, but no. 😆  

The puzzle required them to rotate the statues in a specific sequence to align the runes correctly. After a few failed attempts (and a lot of unnecessary input from Nugget), Yuto noticed a pattern emerging.  

[RookieKing]: I think the runes match the order of bosses we fought. Try turning the middle statue first.  

[Lilya]: Good eye, Rookie! On it.  

With a few more adjustments, the door rumbled open, revealing a treasure room filled with loot.  

[Corn]: Behold! The riches of the underworld.  

[Miki]: It’s... mostly potatoes.  

Indeed, the treasure was oddly potato-themed, with sacks of virtual spuds, potato-themed weapon skins, and decorative farming equipment.  

[Nugget]: This dungeon was made for us.  

Yuto couldn’t help but laugh. [RookieKing]: I should’ve expected this.  

---

As they divvied up the loot and prepared to leave the dungeon, Lilya sent Yuto another private message:  

[Lilya]: Hey, thanks for sticking with us. I know we’re a little... weird.  

Yuto hesitated for a moment before replying. [RookieKing]: Yeah, you are. But I don’t mind.  

There was a brief pause, then another message from her:  

He found himself smiling again, even though no one could see it. Somehow, it felt good to be part of something—something silly and chaotic, but still meaningful in its own way.  

---

Before logging off, Yuto removed the Spud Helm of Prestige and stared at his character’s reflection. The day had been absurd, exhausting, and weirdly fun.  

[RookieKing]: Same time tomorrow?  

Lilya’s reply came instantly.  

[Lilya]: Wouldn’t miss it. 🥔