The Orc Wolf Rider Band had brought their misery on themselves, leaving behind two heaps of enormous garbage that polluted the environment. The clever young mage Palin, meanwhile, salvaged a few valuable items from the piles.
Two tattered warlock robes, both in need of repair. Once mended, they should improve the wearer's affinity for fire magic, which meant the two orc warlocks had probably both specialized in fire magic.
Two broken Range-Extending Wands. They weren't worth repairing, but the two magic crystals at their cores were still in decent shape and quite valuable. In fact, most of a Range-Extending Wand's value lay in its core crystal. The wand itself was just ordinary carved wood and wasn't difficult to make.
One intact spatial bag, containing a fair amount of money. It had belonged to the second orc warlock to be killed. He was probably the leader of the three warlocks and a minor chief in the bandit gang. Besides more than a hundred gold coins, his personal stash included several valuable gems. They were estimated to be worth around two thousand gold coins altogether. The spatial bag wasn't one of the high-end models that reduced the weight of its contents, but it was still worth five or six hundred gold coins.
The rest was just some worthless odds and ends. Palin did his best to sort through the spell components the two warlocks had carried, but he couldn't scrape together even two gold coins' worth.
"Quit rummaging around. It's dark already!" Seeing Palin holding a torch and painstakingly searching through the disgusting pile of filthy meat for anything valuable, Gerald couldn't take it anymore. He called out loudly, "If you don't get some rest soon, you'll be worn out tomorrow!"
Palin respected him too much to argue. He answered and returned, looking dejected.
"They specialized in fire magic, so they should have had at least some red-crystal charms on them, but I couldn't find any." He blamed himself. "My knowledge of magic is still lacking. Otherwise, I'd definitely have recognized them!"
"Forget it. You're still so young, and you've already found all this. That's impressive enough!" Gerald said with a reassuring laugh. He handed over a magic crystal and the two warlock robes. "Take these. You can alter the robes to fit you, and you can turn the crystal into a wand for your own use. No point letting them go to waste."
"...Those are your spoils. I can't take them!" Palin was taken aback and refused without thinking.
Gerald shrugged and chuckled. "Then think of it as an investment in a great warrior-mage of the future. Once you're stronger, you can pay me back."
Palin hesitated for a while before finally accepting the gifts.
He understood, though, that with Big Brother White's outrageous strength, even if he eventually became a high-level mage, he probably wouldn't be able to help him much. Perhaps he would have to surpass mortal limits and reach the legendary realm of immortality before he could truly be of use to him.
"Brother White, there's something I'm not sure I should ask..." Old Soth came over, looking hesitant.
"If you have a question, go ahead. I'll answer if I can."
Even after Gerald gave him a definite answer, Old Soth hesitated. He glanced around, then lowered his voice. "Have you really entered the 'Legendary Realm'?"
Gerald froze. His first instinct was to shake his head, but he couldn't be sure that was the right answer. He fell into thought.
What did it mean to be legendary?
As Gerald understood it, a legend was someone who had surpassed the limits of mortals, freed from the constraints of aging, birth, sickness, and death. They possessed an almost eternal life and unimaginable power—enough to determine the future of a nation alone, or even to stand upon the chessboard of the world and influence the rise and fall of its many peoples.
Was he such a person?
He no longer aged and didn't need to worry about his lifespan. He was probably fine on that front. In fact, he had died long ago. His current body was merely something His Majesty Oscar had created. Even if it aged or was damaged, His Majesty could surely repair it or even make a new one. In that sense, he had indeed transcended aging and death.
And he now possessed great power. He hadn't realized it at first, but as he'd been through more battles, he had gradually come to appreciate how powerful this body was. He could run faster than a galloping horse, was stronger than a bear or tiger, and had flesh as tough as armor. He could even withstand powerful spells and suffer no more than minor surface injuries... If that didn't count as strength, what did?
So, was he a legendary powerhouse now?
He spread his hands and gazed at his thick, broad palms, an unreal, absurd feeling rising in his heart.
Just days ago, he had been a wanted fugitive, eking out a miserable life in a desolate village beyond the civilized world. The village's real authority had ostracized him, and his life had been dull and somewhat desperate.
A few days later, he had a new identity and power he'd never dared dream of before. He had even become what might be the first follower of a great deity. His future looked bright, and his prospects were beyond imagining.
When he traced it all back, every bit of it had come from the grace of His Majesty Oscar.
Having thought it all through, the giant let out a long breath and smiled. It was an easy, relieved smile, calm and warm.
"I don't know whether I count as a 'legend,'" he answered in a similarly low voice. "But I believe I've found the right path. As long as I keep walking it, the Legendary Realm won't be beyond my reach."
Old Soth and Palin both noticed the change in him. His presence was now deep and steady, like a towering mountain that had stood unchanged for millennia. He had never shown this sort of bearing before, and it inspired heartfelt respect.
Perhaps he wasn't a "legend" yet, but there was no doubt that he had truly stepped into the world of the powerful. His spirit had grown.
With his astonishing talent and ability, now that he had taken this step, becoming a legendary powerhouse was only a matter of time.
That night, as he lay down to sleep, well-traveled Old Soth recalled the giant's calm, unruffled expression and smiled.
He had witnessed a crucial step in the "birth" of a legendary powerhouse. It was an honor worth bragging about to his descendants and recording among his family's great events. Having made a connection with such a kind legendary powerhouse would surely benefit his family as well!
But as he smiled, he let out a quiet sigh.
How enviable! If only he could become a legendary powerhouse too...
Young Palin, meanwhile, wasn't thinking so far ahead. He simply smiled and silently urged himself to work harder, become an excellent mage as soon as possible, and eventually reach the heights Brother White had attained.
The fire of ambition had been lit in the young man's heart. It would blaze throughout the years to come, driving him ever onward. Whether or not he ever reached those heights, when he looked back on his life at its end, he would smile gladly at the inspiration and resolve he had found in that moment.
While Old Soth and Palin smiled, "Blood Hand" Luer paced restlessly, like a beast trapped in a cage.
He wasn't some ignorant fool. Of course he could see how formidable Gerald was. Having offended someone so powerful filled him with dread. But when he thought about the legendary treasure that powerhouse carried, greed flooded his heart again.
A tremendous danger and a tremendous opportunity both lay before him. Which way should he go?
"Old Burke, what do you think I should do?" he asked the bandit gang's second-in-command, the shaman who served as his adviser.
The oldest and most experienced shaman in the gang shook his head. As taciturn as ever, he offered no advice of any value.
That wasn't unexpected. Luer paced around their temporary camp, now thinking of retreating, now of risking everything. He was torn.
"Those damn pickpockets! I knew they didn't have good intentions when they gave me that information!"
He grumbled and cursed, bitterly troubled by his current predicament.
Losing two warlocks, one of them the leader of his spellcasters, was a huge blow to the bandit gang. He couldn't bear to just let it go. Besides, it would deal a heavy blow to the gang's morale and seriously damage his standing.
But if he tried again to seize the giant's treasure... The moment he thought of the giant's godlike strength, he trembled inside. He couldn't bring himself to make a desperate stand.
"If I really order the boys to fight that big fellow to the death, they'll probably scatter and run for their lives..."
He sighed deeply, found a tree stump to sit on, and rubbed his forehead as he racked his brain.
Giving up would be a terrible choice, but a direct fight was out of the question. What could he do to get something out of this?
He spent the entire night thinking it over.
"Blood Hand" Luer had always prided himself on being ruthless and sharp-witted. He'd never thought much of people who relied on cleverness to make their way in the world. Now, though, he couldn't help resenting himself for not being clever enough to come up with a solution that would satisfy both sides.
He kept thinking and thinking. By the time the sun rose, he realized he hadn't slept a wink.
The bandit chief, groggy from overthinking, staggered to his feet and decided to wash his face in a nearby stream to wake himself up. Just then, the scout assigned to watch the merchant caravan returned.
"Boss, they've set out again. Looks like they're headed for Gold Rush Town."
"Good. We'll follow from a distance. Don't get close. Wait for an opportunity." Luer gave the order casually.
It eased his men's nerves and lifted some of the heavy tension hanging over the camp.
But as the bandits' group passed the village where the caravan had camped the day before, Luer suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
His plan wasn't very likely to work, but there was no harm in trying. If it succeeded, he might make a fortune!
He called over one of his men and quietly gave him some instructions. The orc's green face went pale, and he shook his head so violently it looked as though it might fall off.
"It's just delivering a letter. What are you afraid of?"
But the subordinate kept shaking his head, terrified out of his wits.
After a bout of threats and persuasion, the man finally accepted the order with a bitter expression. He rode off on his dire wolf, looking as if he were going to his execution, and chased after the caravan.
"All right, we're stopping here," Luer called to his men. "No need to follow. If all goes well, that big fellow will come back on his own."
The men immediately grew flustered. Their faces were full of fear and unease, which stoked Luer's anger for no reason. He wanted to cut them down one by one and slaughter every spineless idiot!
A little while later, the subordinate who had delivered the letter returned. Not far behind his mount, the giant was walking toward them at an unhurried pace, radiating an invisible pressure.
"Big guy!" Luer shouted. "I want to make a deal with you!"
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