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.

glimmer of light appeared in

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

you think that I will

the case, why would you want me

you intending to do something that

am a law-abiding soldier, and a mere thief is not

want me inside the town so badly?" Shang

standard protocol," the guard immediately answered with gritted teeth. "Suspicious individuals have to be taken

in custody right now," Shang answered. "I can't possibly escape. We are both in

issue with remaining

A tense silence arrived.

was looking at the leading guard, while the leading guard glared at

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

the wall when they heard the sound

on the wall had retrieved his crossbow

the others remained without

guard saw the leaving guard

with annoyance. "We can wait here. Hope

right arm, and the other

had the leading

was because of the leaving guard on the

normal guards were not allowed to

Except for one reason.

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

be quite suspicious, and he decided to report to the actual officer about what was going

knew what had happened as soon as he saw the leaving

had some freedom in how to deal with prisoners, and he had made quite some money with some underhanded means, but if these actions came to light, he would

wall had left, the leading guard knew that this opportunity

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

the guard would do something underhanded, which

decided

On what?

leading guard

Why smart?

if the leading guard had ordered to attack someone who wasn't actively resisting and whose guilt wasn't even conclusive, he would

confrontation, the leading guard could have ordered

stood

course, if Shang had been weaker, the leading guard could have simply

guard. On top of that, Shang had claimed that he had killed a Peak Frozen

human and taking them

as a confrontation if the other side could

or kill some guards

that was already too

the higher-ups

killed, and they had to find out why that happened so that the same thing wouldn't happen again in the