Sword God in a World of Magic

Alex hadn't expected a no for an answer.

"Then why did you ask about my coat?" he asked.

"To gauge your strength," the man said. "So, did you take out the Pest Cat yourself?"

Alex nodded. "I took out several. They are not my opponent."

This took the man by surprise.

He knew that Alex was strong since he was able to wield such a heavy sword in one hand, but he hadn't known how strong Alex was.

"They are not your opponents?" he asked. "What Stage are you?"

"Stage?" Alex asked, but then he remembered the Duke's words. "I should be in the Late First Realm."

"Late Soldier Stage?!" the man asked in shock. "And you're 15?!"

"Soldier Stage?" Alex asked in confusion. "I thought the First Realm was called Apprentice."

"That's for Mages only," the man said. "The First Realm for warriors is the Soldier Stage. That's because nearly all soldiers are in that Stage."

"Oh, okay," Alex said. "And yes, I'm at the Late Soldier Stage then."

The man looked far more surprised than Alex had assumed.

"Is that high?" he asked.

"Are you from a noble household?" the man asked in shock.

Alex snorted. "Do I look like I'm from a noble household?" he asked.

The man looked at Alex.

"So, is it strong?" Alex asked.

"Warriors in the Late Soldier Stage are generally considered elite warriors," the man answered. "They worked for years for their power."

"Elite soldiers?" Alex asked in surprise, "but the guards I met at that mountain were all more powerful than me."

"You can't compare normal soldiers to the soldiers working directly under the Duke," the man said. "The men under the Duke are all in the General Stage. That's the equivalent to the Adept Realm for Mages."

"Oh," Alex commented. "By the way, how do you know all these things?"

"When I was young, I worked as a smith in Warrior's Paradise," the man said.

'Knew it!' Alex thought. The guy just looked far too much like a smith.

"Back to the topic," the man said. "You said that Pest Cats are not your opponents, right?"

Alex nodded.

"Could you elaborate on your power? How would the fight go down?"

Alex said. "As long as they don't jump me from several different

truly transformed in

just arrived, one Pest Cat had already nearly spelled his doom. If he hadn't been

had been able

found it easy to kill

the subsequent strengthening with the fruits, the

Alex could break a Pest Cat's neck

was far stronger than a Pest

power, he was

quickly fell into

have a lucrative job for you,"

that,

What job?"

around and gestured towards

me. You should speak with the Elder," he

with a smile as he followed behind the

see curious eyes glancing

villagers were still

had bad

was as courageous

of them arrived in front of a

different from any

every other house, it was made out

the door. "Elder, I think we have

Wood Pest?' Alex repeated

the door opened, and an old

his fifties or sixties, but

small, and he seemed to not have much strength in his body anymore. The man also used a long cane

when Alex saw the old man, he became

Mana was swirling around

Was he a Mage?

comparison, the old man felt like an old weed while Duke Whirlwind felt like a

a whirlpool, while this old man only pulled in a bit of Mana, one teaspoon at

gap was just

Mage?" Alex

was surprised by Alex's words, but the eyes of the old man

like he had

pulling in quite a

you confident?" the old man asked

"No," Alex answered.

old smith was surprised by

old man only smiled

he said. "Come

could I be confident in defeating an

smith waited outside while Alex entered the

house was very simple and quaint. It looked

to a chair, and

over the fire, and while the water was warming, the