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 appeared in his

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

think that I will be proven

why would you want me inside

intending to do something

rage. "I am a law-abiding soldier, and a mere thief is not

do you want me inside the town

guard immediately answered with gritted teeth. "Suspicious individuals have to be taken

"I can't possibly

what's the issue with

A tense silence arrived.

leading guard,

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

at the wall when they heard the sound

wall had retrieved his crossbow and

remained without moving and kept

guard saw the leaving guard

"We can wait here. Hope

slowly lowered his right arm, and the other guards

leading

because of the leaving guard

guards were not allowed to leave their posts without

Except for one reason.

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

he decided to report to

knew what had happened as soon

some money with some underhanded means, but if

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

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

guard would do something underhanded, which was why he had been so

decided to

On what?

guard actually being

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 have gotten into a lot

confrontation, the leading guard could have ordered an

had only stood there and calmly

Shang had been weaker, the leading guard could have simply knocked

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

out a normal human and taking them into custody was not

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

Shang could maybe injure or kill some guards

that was

broke out, the higher-ups

guards would 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