Sword God in a World of Magic

After a full minute, Shang finally made his choice.

It wasn't an easy one, but Shang believed that it was correct.

"I choose…"

"19."

The jester's smile widened as he looked at Shang.

"Now, that is interesting," he said as he appeared directly in front of Shang, looking him deeply in the eyes.

For just a moment, Shang felt fear arise in his heart.

"Even though I blocked your thoughts from my perception, I was still very certain in being able to foresee your choice since I know everything about you."

"Yet, who would have guessed that I would be wrong?" the jester mused as he looked into Shang's eyes with a mad grin.

"I was sure you would choose 22."

"Tell me, why did you choose 19?" the jester asked without moving away.

Shang felt very uncomfortable with the jester so close to his face.

Shang took a deep breath to organize his thoughts.

"There are several reasons for my decision."

"Originally, I wanted to choose 22. After all, it is an increase in power for a sacrifice. This is exactly what I have been telling myself. I told myself that this is how I want to live my life."

The jester waited for the reasons.

"But, for now," Shang slowly said. "I don't want to commit to a path."

"Commit?" the jester asked with interest.

"Yes," Shang said. "You told me that I have already asked the question I want to ask before and that I should wait for the Commander Stage. This means that I will get the answer to my question."

"The answer to the question: What kind of attitude would be most effective on my journey?"

"Well," the jester said, "you phrased the question a bit differently, but it's essentially the same."

Shang nodded. "I have been stuck between two paths for the last two years. Do I help others, or do I hurt others?"

"However, it isn't that easy. If I help others, I will also receive their help, but at some point, the help others can provide me is worth less than what I give them, which will hamper my growth."

"This means that I can't fully commit to this path."

resources that increase my power, but on the other hand, I will also be under constant danger, and

means that I also can't fully commit to

world, you should know best what kind of attitude would work best

22, I might have done something that could force me down one

Shang looked

to watch me hear

free deaths in the trial after having already become too old

The jester only smiled.

isn't

for circumventing the rules of my Affinity. Of course, feeling a bit bad won't stop me from doing what

by cheating. I don't want to get something handed to me if I don't deserve

I'm still willing to do it, but this reason also played a small role

are

with a smile. "You really thought a lot about

two reasons have to do with my impression of you,"

of me?" the

a deep

illogical, mad, chaotic, playful," Shang

Shang's thoughts a secret. The God already

enough, the God didn't

matter. What you want is entertainment," Shang said. "For someone of your power, this is probably the only thing that

that moment, the jester's

The entire atmosphere changed.

had felt like he was a plaything, but now, he felt like he had hurt

had hit the

a sore spot

lucky you're entertaining," the jester spoke with

time that Shang heard the God speak in such a

thing," Shang

I would choose 22 at the beginning, and I thought that you also

not make this entertaining and circumvent your expectations?"

"Hahahaha!"

The jester laughed loudly.

jester laughed for quite

idea how long it has been that I

you to think of yourself while making this choice, but you were actually thinking of me, which completely changed

end," the jester said with a mad grin. "By thinking of me, you suspect that you are automatically thinking of yourself by

"I don't want to serve. I don't want to

The jester didn't react.

In front of you, it isn't important what I want. I don't have the power to

of the word "yet", but

comply while feeling

want to achieve my goal, for the time being, I have to.