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.

heard that, a glimmer of

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

I

that's the case, why would you want me

do something that you shouldn't

and a mere thief is not allowed to question my sense of

why do you want me inside the town

gritted teeth.

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

what's the issue with

A tense silence arrived.

guard, while the leading

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

guard glanced at the wall when they heard the sound of armor

the wall had retrieved his

others remained without

saw the leaving guard on

he said with annoyance. "We

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

had the leading

was because of the leaving guard on the

were not allowed to leave their posts without

Except for one reason.

posts if they were about to report to

suspicious, and he decided

had happened as soon as he saw the leaving

quite some money with some underhanded means, but

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

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

would do something underhanded, which was why

had decided to

On what?

guard actually

Why smart?

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

the leading guard could have ordered

only stood there and calmly

weaker, the leading guard could have simply knocked him out

On top of that, Shang had claimed that he had

them into custody was not considered

counted as a confrontation if the other side could damage

Shang could maybe injure or kill some guards before

that was already too

the higher-ups would get involved and investigate what

had to find out