The sun was slowly rising over the horizon, tinting the road with hues of gold and orange. The morning light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the dirt path.
The caravan moved at a slow pace. The clatter of the wheels on the uneven surface blended with the birdsong that greeted the new day.
Inside the vehicle, Fungi lay reclined against the wooden frame. His pale skin and snowy hair were streaked with red; his attire, soaked in dried blood, told of a long, arduous night.
Beside him, Han-Lee and Huo-Huo bore a similar appearance. However, none of the three were injured—the blood was not their own.
It had been a long night.
The caravan they traveled in was not large. Unlike the heavier commercial vehicles, this one had only a single cargo compartment, making it significantly faster. This speed had allowed them to stay out of reach from the predators that lurked in the jungle and mountains.
Yet the true reason they had survived with little trouble was Fungi's soul sense.
Thanks to his ability, he could detect dangerous creatures before they came close enough to pose a threat. Throughout the journey, he guided Huo-Huo, pinpointing the exact locations of approaching predators. The archer, with lethal precision, managed to weaken or scare them off before they could act.
For his part, Han-Lee used his speed to divert entire herds of beasts that were headed in their direction. Thanks to this combination of skills, they managed to advance through most of the night without incident.
But not everything could be avoided.
Just before dawn, they were attacked by a group of colossal armadillos. These creatures were not ordinary animals; their shells, hardened by years, were sturdy enough to withstand the blows of conventional swords and arrows. Their claws, as sharp as blades, could easily pierce wood.
The confrontation was inevitable, but it was brief. Unlike other nights, this time they didn't have to conserve energy. They fought without restraint, and the outcome was clear. Despite the beasts' strength and resilience, the three quickly overpowered them.
Now, as the sun's warmth bathed the landscape, the tension that had dominated the night began to dissipate.
Fungi gazed out at the horizon in apparent tranquility.
Beside him, Han-Lee and Huo-Huo did not completely relax. Although the circumstances had forced them to travel together, they still did not fully trust him. Throughout the journey, both had been alert to any suspicious movement.
But none occurred.
Fungi had proven himself to be exceedingly calm. Moreover, his demeanor was strangely sincere.
"I have no intention of harming you; I only want to reach the southern seaport, nothing more," he had told them the previous night with utter naturalness.
His words were direct, without roundabout phrases or hesitation. He was not reluctant to discuss many topics, although asking about his origin or his exact destination—as he had warned the previous night—would mean courting death.
However, he did share a bit about his purpose in a casual tone, mentioning that he was heading east in search of a spell.
The words themselves said little, but they opened many possibilities.
In their own minds, Han-Lee and Huo-Huo began formulating theories. Perhaps he was seeking to save someone. Perhaps he planned to kill someone. Whatever the reason, one thing was clear: he was in a hurry.
His cold, calculated demeanor did not convey noble motivations.
Han-Lee, especially, remained on high alert. He too was bound for the East, albeit for different reasons—his goal was to find the Venerable of the Sword, and it was likely he would end up on the same ship as Fungi.
But what troubled both mercenaries most was not their shared destination, but Fungi's uncanny ability.
Fungi seemed to sense emotions.
Having someone like him nearby was unsettling. It not only rendered any attempted betrayal futile, but also meant that any hostile intent would be revealed before it even materialized.
Han-Lee was convinced that if Fungi truly could perceive the emotions of others, then he must also have ways to prevent or suppress a betrayal the moment it happened.
Huo-Huo, for his part, remained an enigma. His expression betrayed neither interest nor suspicion. From the beginning, he had not made clear his plans. Han-Lee, who knew him well enough, could only assume that he would limit himself to serving whoever paid the most.
They shared a certain camaraderie, yet they had never delved deeply into each other's dreams or motivations.
Their thoughts were interrupted when the caravan gradually reduced its speed until coming to a complete stop.
A voice resounded from the front:
"— Vendors or buyers, disembark from the caravan and identify yourselves!"
They had arrived.
The sound of the caravan halting broke the morning silence.
Fungi was the first to disembark, sporting an almost enthusiastic air after the long journey. Behind him, Han-Lee and Huo-Huo stepped down more cautiously, surveying the camp they had reached.
Before them, a huge stone wall rose like a fortress. The structure was designed not only to delineate the camp's boundaries but also to protect it from external threats. Several men patrolled the top of the wall, clad in armor of various styles and origins.
But it was the man in the center of the wall who captured Fungi's attention.
An imposing elder, with an upright posture and surprising vitality for his age, stood there. At his waist, a silver belt decorated with golden inscriptions signified his status as a Grand Master.
The elder's gaze swept over the group coldly before he spoke in a firm voice:
"— Vendors or buyers, identify yourselves!"
Fungi adjusted his stance and, in a formal tone, replied:
"— Greetings, Grand Master of the Walls. I am the buyer Varmellon."
He gestured toward his companions:
"— These are my trusted mercenaries, Han-Lee and Huo-Huo. We are an independent caravan dedicated to commerce and the exchange of goods for services or items of interest."
The elder narrowed his eyes, evaluating them with a gesture of distrust. His gaze moved from Fungi's bloodstained, worn garments to the caravan itself, which appeared to carry no visible merchandise.
His tone grew even sterner when he spoke again:
"— I see you bring nothing to trade. This is a commercial camp, not a haven for vagabonds. If you have nothing to offer, turn around and return the way you came."
A moment of tension filled the air. Han-Lee and Huo-Huo fell silent, waiting for Fungi's reaction.
Instead of showing anger or offense, Fungi sighed with resignation.
"— I understand your distrust, sir, but allow me to clarify a misunderstanding. My original team was destroyed on the way. We do not appear as merchants because our belongings were lost in attacks during the journey. However, that does not mean we have nothing to negotiate with."
The elder arched an eyebrow skeptically.
"— And what exactly do you propose to offer? If you couldn't even hire mercenaries good enough to defend your caravan, what value do you have here?"
Fungi smiled.
"— I deal in the trade of Legacies."
A heavy silence fell over the camp.
Han-Lee and Huo-Huo exchanged surprised glances. They knew that Fungi had not truly been using his genuine path, as he had hinted the previous night, and that he might have knowledge of other paths—but they had never imagined he would dare to trade in them.
The elder on the wall also paused for a moment, then quickly regained his composure. He descended from the wall with firm steps, approaching Fungi directly.
"— Legacies, you say?" he observed intently, as if trying to detect any deception. "Do you have proof of your claims?"
Without losing his composure, Fungi reached up to his tunic and pulled out an ancient-looking notebook.
It was the same one Huo-Huo had given him days before.
The elder took the notebook cautiously and began leafing through its pages. His eyes scanned the symbols and annotations with an analytical expression, searching for any sign of forgery.
After several minutes of scrutiny, he gave a slight nod and turned to one of his companions on the wall.
"— You!" he pointed at a woman in dark robes nearby. "Verify its authenticity."
The woman, who by her attire appeared to be an expert or appraiser of magical items, descended from the wall and examined the book in greater detail.
Meanwhile, the elder looked again at Fungi with a more neutral expression.
"— If what you say is true, you may enter the camp."
He paused before adding in a more respectful tone:
"— We will need to discuss your terms of negotiation."
With a slight nod, he ordered that the stone doors be opened.
Fungi cast a quick glance at Han-Lee and Huo-Huo before following the elder into the camp.
The two mercenaries took control of the caravan and began moving behind him. The sound of sliding stone doors announced their entry into the camp.
Fungi advanced unhurriedly, his eyes absorbing the surroundings with interest. Beyond the wall, an image of an impromptu market unfolded before him.
Inside the camp, there were carts, stalls, and merchants from various places. Stalls sold food, weapons, clothing, and low-level magical artifacts, while in the corners, some mercenaries offered their services to the highest bidder.
The place did not possess the magnificence of the grand trade centers of the kingdoms, but for a traveler in transit, it was more than sufficient. One could find almost anything an adventurer or merchant might need to continue their journey.
Han-Lee and Huo-Huo guided the caravan to an empty space near the wall where it wouldn't obstruct others.
From that vantage, they could see Fungi advancing with the elder toward a stone structure in the center of the camp—likely the negotiation or administration area.
"— So you really trade in legacies…" Han-Lee murmured quietly.
Huo-Huo did not reply immediately. His gaze remained fixed on Fungi, calm yet neutral.
"— He didn't really create one; he probably trades in a legacy stored in his memory—or perhaps even what should have been his original path before he chose not to mention it."
Han-Lee crossed his arms.
"— Yeah, but if he had that kind of wealth from the start, why the hell did he need us to bring it for him for free?"
Huo-Huo offered a slight smile.
"— Maybe he simply didn't want to spend money. Or perhaps this is part of a bigger plan."
The possibility that Fungi was hiding his true intentions was something both had considered. However, it didn't seem worth questioning at that moment.
In any case, they still had time before the negotiation ended, so they decided to while away the hours in the simplest way possible.
They sat down by the caravan and pulled out a wooden board, drawing a tic-tac-toe grid on it.
"— The loser gets a slap," Han-Lee proposed with a confident smile.
What he hadn't expected was that after losing three games in a row, he would end up regretting suggesting such a penalty.
After his humiliating defeat, he abruptly stood up and headed off to exchange some items from the caravan's wagon for something more interesting.
When he returned, he was carrying a classic board game, which he had obtained in exchange for some blueprints and notes from the old caravan owner.
"I'm not sure if I got a good deal or if I was swindled," he commented with a sigh.
When he tried trading a ring for something of value, the merchant only offered him a basket of bread—which convinced him that he probably wasn't much of a businessman.
In the end, he didn't give it too much importance. He sat down again beside Huo-Huo and began playing while they waited for Fungi's return.
The afternoon passed without incident, spent in games and small conversations with curious merchants trying to sell them extra goods.
Neither of them was in a hurry.
Hours passed, and by midnight, Fungi finally reappeared after a long day—sporting a calm expression and a nice bundle of money.
They imagined that trading in legacies would be far more dazzling... but Fungi simply sat on a leather sofa, called them over around the table, and flung a handful of rubies onto the table toward them.
The two looked slightly surprised at the handful. Judging from their expressions, they expected him to present some precious metals rather than precious gems, and Fungi's indifferent voice resonated throughout the caravan.
"Spend it to upgrade our equipment and get new attire—we leave on the next caravan heading to the southern seaport."
Han-Lee and Huo-Huo regarded him strangely, but Fungi continued:
"This isn't an act of charity—it's a necessity to reach the seaport. We can't board a caravan in this condition, and I certainly don't plan to continue with this shabby caravan. It's simple.
We'll re-equip better, and when negotiating with another transport owner, our appearance won't seem desperate, but rather equal. People don't usually treat those without money very well."
Huo-Huo and Han-Lee exchanged silent glances and then took the gems, leaving the caravan to ready themselves again. Fungi remained alone; when no one was close, he produced a small cube from his robes—it resembled a small ruby cube in size and appearance but had runes engraved on it.
By moving the runes in a specific pattern, the small cube transformed into a tiny box—a storage tool.
The reason he didn't carry as much money as he appeared to was revealed: he had spent a huge sum on that storage cube.
In the world of sorcery, while sorcerers themselves were rare, you'd always find a handful wherever you went—even if it was just one. But magical tools were another matter entirely.
Many sorcerers rarely owned magical tools, and acquiring one was exceedingly expensive. Even though sorcerers might eventually afford these tools, their utility was quite limited for many, as possessing a tool with magical affinity posed its own dilemma.
If one wanted to cover a high-level need, one would have to invest a lot of money; for that, it was better for the sorcerer to develop a spell that solved his need. However, if he bought a cheap magical tool, he would rather use his own magic—the middle ground is hard to find.
By regulation, good tools for sorcerers that met high-level needs were very expensive, and most magical tools ended up in the hands of military populations in the kingdoms, since their effects were too limited for an average sorcerer.
But in this case, Fungi hadn't bought an offensive tool—instead, he purchased a storage tool, which is highly prized among sorcerers. A major reason for his prolonged negotiation with the elder was about that cube. It wasn't an extraordinary tool; it functioned as a portable chest, without an infinite storage effect or anything like that.
It was also one of the reasons he decided to join a caravan in the first place: reaching a place where a quality item could be found was difficult, but here the market had everything. He was traveling and couldn't carry everything in a mundane sack—especially when planning to steal a spell.
Where would he store the materials?
At the very least, it now solved his storage problem.
It wasn't long before he retrieved some new clothing from the depths of his chest and began to change—his old clothes had a miserable appearance. He didn't choose anything extravagant; he opted for garments similar to his monk attire, in the same shades of black and gray, but this time with a more Eastern look.
He wanted to present the appearance of a foreigner, cleaning his hair and discarding his tattered robes. Now renewed, after arranging a few additional items he had purchased (food, clothing, medicine, etc.), he closed the box and turned it back into a cube.
He emerged from the caravan and waited for Huo-Huo with Han-Lee. They didn't delay too long to his surprise, although hardly anything had changed...
Before Fungi could ask, Huo-Huo spoke:
"The money's all ours; everything here is trash for us—even the trial bows were too… fragile for my taste."
Han-Lee added:
"And the clothing here is terribly ugly; by God, I might end up looking like a beggar—but I'd never wear those sheets masquerading as garments, and the swords, pfft! If I were the seller, I'd cut those blacksmiths' hands off. The old man's sword isn't very good, but it's better than that junk."
Fungi merely sighed and rose, signaling them to follow—well, at least if he could claim he had paid off some mercenaries…