It's been over a year since Damien became an apprentice to the mountain hermit. It's been a tough year for everyone there.
The hermit said flat-out no when Damien asked him to take him under his wings. There wasn't any room for negotiation, even after he begged on his knees and all. That was until Damien saw a familiar bag near the hermit.
It became worn and torn after a year, but there was no mistake. It was his missing bag which contained the three divine smelly items of three beautiful girls.
The hermit, of course, denied that he stole it. He said he found it at the foot of the mountain after a violent mist cyclone struck the area. The same mist cyclone he created.
Since the bag was magically locked, there was no way for him to unlock it without destroying the bag, so the hermit waited patiently.
After threatening to take the bag along with him on his way down, the hermit finally complied.