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 of light appeared in his

the issue?" Shang asked. "If you are so convinced of my guilt, what would even be the point of threatening me with not investigating this

think that I will be proven

that's the case, why would you want me inside the

to do something that you shouldn't

and a

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

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

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

what's the issue with remaining

A tense silence arrived.

at the leading guard, while

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

guard glanced at the wall when they heard

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

others remained without

guard on the wall, he gritted his teeth

said with annoyance. "We

lowered his right arm, and the other guards put

had the leading guard

because of the

not allowed to leave their

Except for one reason.

they were about to report to someone of higher rank

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

leading guard knew what had happened as soon as he saw the leaving

prisoners, and he had made quite some money with some underhanded means, but

as 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.

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

had decided to

On what?

the leading guard actually being

Why smart?

attack someone who wasn't actively resisting and whose guilt wasn't even conclusive, he would have gotten into a lot

Shang had initialized the confrontation, the leading guard could

only stood there and calmly

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

the leading guard. On top of

normal human and taking them into custody was not considered a

if the other side could

Shang could maybe injure or kill some guards before

that was already too

conflict broke out, the higher-ups would get

or killed, and they had to find out why