Sword God in a World of Magic

Shang looked at the guard with narrowed eyes, and many thoughts immediately went through his mind.

First of all, the guard wore a slightly different armor from the others, which meant that he had a higher standing.

Second, the guard had easily called the others on the wall.

Third, he felt quite powerful.

However, he didn't feel too powerful.

Shang had seen physical fighters in the Second Realm, but the guard didn't feel like he was in the Second Realm, which meant he was probably in the First Realm, the Soldier Stage.

Shang had seen the leading officer of the Central Wild, and that officer had been in the Second Realm, the General Stage.

Was Blizzard's Edge weaker than the Central Wild?

Probably not.

Just based on the gigantic Mana Austerum, this town was probably even more important than the Central Wild.

So, what did that make this guard?

He was probably a sergeant or something akin to a supervisor.

He wasn't actually the true person in charge.

"I won't enter the town," Shang said with narrowed eyes.

The guard in front of Shang only huffed. "You don't have a choice," he said.

"I do," Shang answered. "I have the choice to remain outside. You have several crossbows pointed at me, and I can't flee. There should also be several more powerful soldiers in the town. Right now, it doesn't matter where I am. I can't flee anyway."

"You're right," the guard said with narrowed eyes. "So, obediently enter the town. You said that you can't flee anyway."

"I want to stay out here," Shang said.

The guard raised his right hand, and the guards on the wall pointed their crossbows at Shang. "You don't have a choice."

The atmosphere became tenser. Some carriages had already arrived, but when they saw the guards with their drawn crossbows, they decided to stop. They didn't want to get involved.

"I will stay out here," Shang answered slowly.

The guard's eyes narrowed.

"At this moment, it's not even clear if I am some sort of thief or not. I know I am innocent, and I don't need your approval for that."

"Are you willing to risk a battle for such an uncertainty?" Shang slowly asked.

The guard only looked at Shang with narrowed eyes.

"If you don't comply, we don't need to investigate the source of the Ice Wood. Your resistance proves that your method of procuring the Ice Wood wasn't legal," the guard answered.

that, a glimmer of light appeared

the issue?" Shang asked. "If you are so convinced of my guilt, what would even be

think that I will

you want me

intending to do something that

and a mere thief is not

inside the

answered with gritted

"I can't possibly escape. We

the issue with remaining

A tense silence arrived.

at the leading guard, while the

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

and the guard glanced at the wall when they heard

the guards on the wall had retrieved

without

saw the leaving guard on the

"We can wait

guard slowly lowered his right arm, and the other guards put their

had the leading guard

of the leaving guard

were not allowed to leave their

Except for one reason.

leave their posts if they were about to report to someone of higher rank than

leaving guard found all of this to be quite suspicious, and he decided to report to the actual officer

happened as soon as he saw the

and he had made quite some money with some underhanded means, but if these actions came to light, he would

as the guard on the wall had left, the leading

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

expected that the guard would do something underhanded, which was

had decided to

On what?

guard

Why smart?

wasn't actively resisting and whose guilt wasn't even conclusive, he would have gotten into a lot of

the leading guard could have ordered an attack without any

only stood there and calmly

weaker, the leading guard could have simply knocked him out and taken him

felt quite powerful to the leading guard. On top of that, Shang had claimed that he

and taking them into custody was not

only counted as a confrontation if the other

could maybe injure or kill

that was

broke out, the higher-ups would get involved

would have been injured or killed, and they had to find out