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

threatening me with not investigating the issue?" Shang asked. "If you are so convinced of my guilt, what would even be the point

think that I will

the case, why would you want

to do something that you

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

want me inside the

gritted teeth. "Suspicious individuals have to be taken into

Shang answered. "I can't possibly escape. We are both

issue with

A tense silence arrived.

the leading guard, while the leading

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

at the wall when they

on the wall had retrieved his crossbow and

without

saw the leaving guard on the

said with annoyance. "We can wait here. Hope

right arm, and the

had the leading guard suddenly

was because of the

not allowed to leave their posts without being

Except for one reason.

to report to someone of higher rank than the person they were

he decided to report to

had happened as soon as

quite some money with some underhanded

on the wall had left, the leading guard knew that

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

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

decided

On what?

guard actually being

Why smart?

wasn't actively resisting and whose guilt

leading guard could

only stood there and calmly

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

to the leading guard. On top of that, Shang had claimed

out a normal human and taking them into custody was

the other side could

injure or kill some guards before dying

that was already too

out, the higher-ups would get involved and investigate what

been injured or killed, and they had to find