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

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

I

why would you want me inside the town

do something

soldier, and

want me inside the town so badly?"

with gritted teeth.

Shang answered. "I can't possibly

issue with

A tense silence arrived.

guard, while

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

glanced at the wall when they heard the sound

the wall had retrieved his crossbow and vanished behind

remained without

guard on the wall,

"We can wait here.

arm, and the other guards put their crossbows

had the leading

because of the

were not allowed to

Except for one reason.

report to someone of higher rank

to be quite suspicious, and he decided

happened as soon as

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

as the guard on the wall had left, the leading guard knew

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

had expected that the guard would do something underhanded, which was why he had

had decided

On what?

guard

Why smart?

guard had ordered to attack someone who wasn't actively resisting and whose guilt wasn't even conclusive, he would have gotten into a lot of

leading guard

had only stood there and calmly

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

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

normal human and taking them into custody was

if the other side could damage the resources

Shang could maybe injure or

that was already

soon as an actual conflict broke out, the higher-ups would get involved and investigate

to find out why that happened so that the same thing wouldn't happen