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.

Shang heard that, a glimmer

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

I will be

would you want me inside the town that

to do something

shouted in rage. "I am a law-abiding soldier, and a mere thief is not allowed to

inside the town so badly?"

with gritted teeth. "Suspicious individuals have to

can't possibly escape. We are both

issue with remaining

A tense silence arrived.

leading guard, while the

Several seconds passed.

Clank.

wall

wall had retrieved his crossbow and

others remained without

the leaving guard on the wall, he gritted his teeth

"We can wait here. Hope you're

right arm, and the other guards put their

the leading guard suddenly

of the leaving

normal guards were not allowed to

Except for one reason.

to someone of higher rank than the

guard found all of this to be quite suspicious, and he decided to report to the actual officer about what

what had happened as soon

how to deal with prisoners, and he had made quite some money with some underhanded means, but if these actions came to

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

Shang relaxed.

"Thanks," he said evenly.

that the guard would do something underhanded, which was

decided to

On what?

guard actually being

Why smart?

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

guard could have ordered an attack without any

had only stood there and

course, if Shang had been weaker, the leading guard could have simply knocked him out and taken him

had felt quite powerful to the leading guard. On top of that, Shang had claimed that he had killed

taking them into

if the other

could maybe injure or kill some guards before dying

was already

soon as an actual conflict broke out, the higher-ups would

they had to find out why that happened so that the same thing wouldn't happen again in the