Sword God in a World of Magic

"I was lucky. I got him with the Flying Beast Defense Technique."

Inside a tavern, several guards were talking to each other.

"So you were the reason why he managed to evade my spears!" another guard on the table grumbled.

The first guard only snickered. "Well, I was the first one. How did your fight go?"

"I think I was the fourth he fought," the other guard said. "Luckily, he didn't know the Earth Beast Cracker. I don't remember what his weapon was, but I remember that I managed to make him lose his weapon. The fight was over after that."

"Yeah, he probably wears one of these Haze Masks," the first guard said. "Of course, I can't remember."

At that point, another guard walked through the doors since his shift had just ended.

"Hey, Steve!" the second guard shouted. "Over here!"

The newest guard, Steve, walked over with a laugh and sat down. "What's up?" he asked.

"Hey, did you fight that guy in the academy too?" the second guard asked.

"Wait, you guys fought him as well?" Steve asked.

The two guards nodded.

"Didn't your shift end like five hours ago?"

The two guards nodded again.

"What was your number?" Steve asked.

"I was number one, and Jarrod was number four," the first guard said.

"Tch," Steve spat. "You probably had it easy as number one."

The first guard only laughed. "Don't act like you didn't also have it easy."

"What are you talking about?" Steve asked. "I was number 57, and I had to fight him for like over half a minute."

The first two guards only looked at Steve in surprise.

"What?" Steve asked.

"Half a minute?" Jarrod asked. "Did we fight the same guy?"

"Probably," Steve said. "The numbers seem to check out with the timeframe. Why?"

The first guard and Jarrod looked at each other. "Well, we basically won in an instant."

"In an instant?" Steve asked. "I mean, I get that being the first has some advantage, but that quick?"

"Yeah, he didn't know our techniques in the beginning," the first guard explained.

explain things," Steve

how did your fight go?" Jarrod asked as he pushed his mug of beer towards

from the

Defense Techniques, I had to fight him with my sword,"

had to use your real weapon?"

He moved very weirdly. Sometimes he went really low to the ground, and other times, he even jumped over me. Like,

laughed when they heard that. "That really is a

said. "Fighting him was very different from fighting any other warrior. Usually, it's not that difficult to foresee what my opponent will do, but with him, it was basically a shot in the dark. I had to rely on my instincts and habits

some back and

remained

old do you think he

supposed to know?" Jarrod answered with a snort. "He wears one of those Haze Masks. I don't even remember how tall he is or

based on how he fought, I was sure that he was a fresh graduate. You know, someone that

Early General Stage, and his technique also wasn't bad. I can't remember his weapon, but I can somewhat remember how he

seem like a fresh graduate. I think he

twenties? The guy didn't

wasn't sure what he should

other two told Steve that he was inexperienced, but the opponent Steve fought didn't seem

away

it was

had closed, which forced the off-duty guards to gather in one of the towers to

you guys also have to fight that one student from the academy?" one of the players on the table suddenly asked the

the bar were already back at work, and he would also

were you?" the

"Number 57," Steve answered.

you're one of the early ones," the guard

ones?" Steve asked. "How many

don't know," the guard said. "I only know that

that many of

Number 95," another guard

144," the fourth one

how did your fights go?"

bad,"

was pretty good,"

bit inexperienced, though," Steve

guards looked at

"What?" Steve asked.

with skepticism. "He seemed pretty

was experienced but pretty experienced? I

Number 183 asked. "He

the three guards looked at Number 183 in

don't have to overdo

not exaggerating!" Number 183 shouted. "I nearly

Steve asked in shock. Sure, Steve's opponent had been pretty strong, but Steve had been nowhere near to

even managed to trigger

surprised the other three

Triggering the Magic Circle?

that Number 183 had received