Chapter 54: “The Curse of the Golden Egg (or: How We Ended Up Naked... Again)”
After their victorious capture of the legendary Golden Chicken, Kazuya and the gang marched proudly back to the inn, Fergus holding the enormous bird like it was a trophy. The entire village followed behind them, cheering.
But little did they know…
The true chaos was only beginning.
The Golden Egg Disaster
"Alright, Fergus," Kazuya said, wiping sweat from his brow. "We caught your chicken. Now what?"
Fergus grinned. "Now we wait for it to lay a GOLDEN EGG!"
Sylvara arched an eyebrow. "And what exactly are we going to do with a golden egg?"
"Sell it, of course!" Fergus exclaimed. "We'll be rich! No more sleeping in barns, eating questionable stew, or dodging innkeepers with knives!"
As if on cue, the Golden Chicken squawked loudly, fluttering its wings in excitement.
"Oh!" Lyria gasped. "I think it's laying an egg!"
Everyone gathered around as the chicken did its business. Moments later, there it was—a shiny, golden egg, glowing with an almost magical light.
Fergus picked it up with shaking hands, tears in his eyes. "We've done it… we've really done it…"
And then the egg exploded.
BOOM!
The Naked Truth
The blast sent everyone flying backward, clothes singed, hair standing on end like porcupine quills.
Kazuya blinked, coughing up a puff of smoke. "What the hell just happened?"
Sylvara groaned, pulling herself up. Her dress was in tatters, barely hanging on by a thread. "That… was NOT a normal egg."
Mika looked down at herself, her cheeks turning bright red. "Why… why am I naked?!"
"Same here!" Nerissa shrieked, covering herself with her lute. "My lute is the only thing saving my dignity right now!"
Lyria whimpered, hiding behind a barrel. "T-this is the most embarrassing thing ever…"
Kazuya glanced down and froze. "Oh gods… I'M NAKED TOO!"
Fergus, oblivious as ever, stood proudly with the chicken in one hand and the shattered remains of the egg in the other. "WELL, THAT COULD HAVE GONE BETTER!"
The Awkward Escape
Before anyone could recover, the innkeeper stormed out of the building, waving a broom like a weapon.
"YOU LOT AGAIN?!"
"RUN!" Kazuya shouted, grabbing the nearest piece of cloth to cover himself.
The gang bolted, dashing through the streets in various states of undress, trying to avoid the villagers' curious stares.
Sylvara grabbed Kazuya's arm, panting. "This is ridiculous. We've faced dragons, bandits, cursed artifacts… and now THIS?"
"I KNOW!" Kazuya wailed. "Why is it always me who ends up naked?"
Nerissa grinned despite herself. "Because fate has a cruel sense of humor."
The Ridiculous Hideout
After what felt like an eternity of running, they finally found a hiding spot in an abandoned barn.
Kazuya slumped against the wall, breathing hard. "Okay… new rule. No more golden eggs."
"Agreed," Sylvara said, wrapping herself in a blanket she found in the corner.
Fergus chuckled, still holding the Golden Chicken. "Well, at least we've got breakfast."
Nerissa rolled her eyes. "Fergus, if that chicken lays another egg, I'm personally feeding you to it."
Mika giggled. "But you have to admit… this is kind of funny."
Kazuya groaned. "Yeah, hilarious. I'm traumatized for life."
The Final Punchline
As they sat there, trying to regain their dignity, the Golden Chicken squawked again.
Everyone froze.
"No… no way," Kazuya whispered.
With a loud pop, the chicken laid another egg.
This time, it was glowing bright pink.
Fergus grinned. "Let's open it!"
"NOOOOO!" everyone shouted in unison.
Too late.
Fergus cracked the pink egg open, and with a puff of glittery smoke, everyone suddenly found themselves…
In chicken costumes.
Sylvara looked down at herself, her feathered outfit complete with a beak and floppy comb. "I hate you, Fergus."
Kazuya sighed, flopping onto the hay. "I give up. Just… wake me when the nightmare ends."
And so, the gang sat there, dressed as chickens, contemplating their life choices.
Fergus, still grinning, turned to the Golden Chicken. "You've got more surprises in there, don't you?"
The chicken winked.