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

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

that I

why would you want me inside

do something that you shouldn't

soldier, and a mere thief is not allowed to

inside the town so badly?"

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

answered. "I can't

what's the issue with remaining

A tense silence arrived.

guard, while

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

at the wall

guards on the wall had retrieved his crossbow and vanished behind the

remained without moving

the leading guard saw the leaving guard on the wall,

"We

right arm, and

leading guard

because of the leaving

guards were not allowed to leave their

Except for one reason.

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

all of this to be quite suspicious, and he

as soon as he saw the

prisoners, and he had made quite some money with some

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

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

do something underhanded, which was why he had

decided to

On what?

guard actually being

Why smart?

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

guard could have ordered an attack

only stood there

the leading guard could have simply

of that, Shang had claimed

human and taking them into custody

the other side could damage the resources of

or kill some guards before

that was already

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

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