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.

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 of threatening

think that I will be

you want me inside

you intending to do something that you shouldn't

guard shouted in rage. "I am a law-abiding soldier, and a mere

you want me inside the town so

with gritted teeth. "Suspicious individuals have to be taken into

"I can't possibly

issue

A tense silence arrived.

looking at the leading guard, while the leading guard glared

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

wall when they

had retrieved his crossbow and vanished behind the

remained without moving

the leaving guard on the wall,

annoyance. "We can wait here.

his right arm, and the

the leading guard suddenly

of the leaving guard on the

allowed to leave their posts without

Except for one reason.

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

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

guard knew what had happened as soon

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

as the guard on the wall had left, the leading guard knew that this opportunity to make some money

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

something underhanded, which was why he had been

decided

On what?

leading guard actually

Why smart?

resisting and whose guilt wasn't even conclusive, he

confrontation, the leading guard could have ordered an attack without

stood there and

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

powerful to the leading guard. On top of that, Shang

a normal human and taking them into custody

a confrontation if the other side could damage the resources of the

or kill some guards before

that was already

out, the higher-ups would get

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