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

not investigating the issue?" Shang asked. "If you are so convinced

you think that I will

you want me inside the

intending to do something that you

soldier, and a mere thief is not allowed to question my sense

want me inside the town so badly?"

with gritted teeth. "Suspicious

right now," Shang answered. "I can't possibly escape. We are both in agreement

what's the issue

A tense silence arrived.

leading guard, while the leading

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

guard glanced at the wall when they heard

the wall had retrieved his crossbow and vanished

the others remained without moving and

guard on the

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

guard slowly lowered his right arm, and the other guards

had the leading guard suddenly

was because of the leaving guard on the

to leave

Except for one reason.

if they were about to report to someone of higher rank than

and he decided to report to the actual officer about what was going on

knew what had happened as soon as he saw the leaving

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

the leading guard

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

had expected that the guard would do something underhanded, which was why he

had decided to

On what?

leading guard actually

Why smart?

the leading guard had ordered to attack someone who wasn't actively resisting and

had initialized the confrontation, the leading guard

stood there and

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

guard. On top of that, Shang had

a normal human and taking them into custody was not considered

as a confrontation if the other side could damage the

injure or kill some

was already too

soon as an actual conflict broke out, the higher-ups would get involved and investigate what had

and they had to find out why that happened so that the