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.

heard that, a glimmer of light appeared

the issue?" Shang asked. "If you are so convinced of

think that I

that's the case, why would you want me

intending to do something

a law-abiding soldier, and a mere thief is

me inside the town so

standard protocol," the guard immediately answered with gritted teeth. "Suspicious individuals

can't possibly escape. We are both in agreement

what's the issue

A tense silence arrived.

the leading guard, while the

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

guard glanced at the wall when they heard the sound of

on the wall had retrieved his

remained without

the leaving guard

"We can

lowered his right arm, and

the leading guard suddenly

because of the

allowed to leave their posts without

Except for one reason.

to someone of higher rank than the person

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

happened as soon as

some money with some underhanded means, but if these actions

the guard on the wall had left, the leading guard knew that this

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

would do something underhanded, which

had decided

On what?

leading guard actually being

Why smart?

resisting and whose guilt wasn't even conclusive, he would

guard could have ordered an attack

stood there

could have simply knocked him out and taken

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

human and taking them

if the other side could

maybe injure or kill some guards

that was already

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

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