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.

Shang heard that, a glimmer of light

threatening me with not investigating the issue?" Shang asked. "If you are so convinced of

that I will be

case, why would you want me inside the town

intending to do

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

why do you want me inside the town so badly?" Shang

gritted

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

the issue

A tense silence arrived.

the leading guard, while the leading

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

at the wall when they heard the sound of armor

of the guards on the wall had retrieved his crossbow

without moving and kept targeting

leading guard saw the leaving guard on the wall, he

said with annoyance. "We

right arm, and the other

the leading guard suddenly

was because of the leaving guard on

to leave their posts

Except for one reason.

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

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

what had happened as

freedom in how to deal with prisoners, and he had made quite some money with

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

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

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

had decided to

On what?

the leading guard

Why smart?

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

the leading guard could have ordered an attack

only stood there and

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

of that,

taking them into custody was not considered

only counted as a confrontation if the other side

Shang could maybe injure or kill

was already

an actual conflict broke out, the higher-ups would get involved and investigate

all, several guards would have been injured or killed, and they had to find out why that happened