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.

glimmer of light appeared in his

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

that I will be proven

you want me inside the

to do something that you

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

want me inside the town so badly?" Shang

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

Shang answered. "I can't

the issue

A tense silence arrived.

looking at the leading guard, while the leading

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

the guard glanced at the wall when they heard the

of the guards on the wall had retrieved his crossbow

the others remained without moving and kept targeting

leading guard saw the leaving guard on

said with annoyance. "We can wait here. Hope you're

slowly lowered his right arm, and the other guards put their crossbows

leading

the leaving guard on the

not allowed to leave their posts without

Except for one reason.

report to someone

suspicious, and he decided to report to the actual officer about what was

had happened as soon as he saw

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

the wall had left, the leading guard knew that this opportunity

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

do something underhanded, which was

decided to

On what?

guard actually

Why smart?

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

confrontation, the leading guard could have ordered an

had only stood there and

could have simply knocked him out and

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 considered

confrontation if the other side could damage the resources of the

injure or

that was already too

the higher-ups would get involved and investigate

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