Sword God in a World of Magic

Yes, the teacher in front of Shang was Astor. Right now, he was at the Early Commander Stage, and his Battle-Strength felt about average to Shang.

"So, you're a teacher now, huh?" Shang asked with a friendly smile.

Astor looked around and saw that everyone was looking at them.

"Greetings, Count Sword," Astor said, taking a step back and bowing politely.

Shang raised an eyebrow. "Is this really necessary, Astor? We're friends."

When Astor heard these words, a surprised expression appeared on his face. But then, his expression transformed into an uncomfortable one.

"I'm sorry, Count Sword, but I have to get back to teaching."

When Shang heard that, a small tinge of sadness appeared inside his chest, but he quickly got used to it.

'Yes, what have I even been expecting?'

"I understand," Shang said. Then, he turned to the students of Astor's class. "Your teacher taught me many things when I was young. He is very knowledgeable and very experienced. You can count yourself lucky for having such a teacher."

The eyes with which the students looked at their teacher became more respectful, and there was even a bit of wonder and shock in their eyes.

Shang nodded once more at Astor and turned around.

'What did I even think when I said that?' Shang thought as he walked towards the main building.

'Astor has probably heard that I returned 20 years ago. Maybe he even searched for me or waited for me to look for him.'

'Yet, instead of doing that, I completely vanished. I never looked for him to talk or anything like that.'

'I've been in the same class as Astor for two years, but 30 years have passed since then.'

'Friends? At most, we are old acquaintances.'

Shang released a silent sigh.

for me, but that's due to the long isolation of training. When there is no external

others, it must feel like I have been gone for their entire

doubt that Sarah would react any differently. She would probably just greet me respectfully but with

probably wouldn't be difficult to talk to Mattheo, but that's because Jerald is raising him to become a

Shang thought about Mattheo, he felt very distant from

felt more like a youngster than someone of Shang's age, even though Mattheo

looked at the sky. 'Power changes my

then don't feel like my friends anymore, and the colossal giants I've looked up to have transformed into people I

that moment, Shang remembered his

killed himself in the trial, Shang realized what his future would

once knew had no connection with

continue training in isolation as they slowly progressed in

Astor was already

Sarah had already

and to the same extent, Shang also wasn't the same person

now, there's only George, Jerald, and Mervin left. I can count those three as my friends, but that's because we are all of similar

will probably also deteriorate. After all, I'm planning on reaching

into the building and walked into a

There are so many talented people in this world, and I'm certain that there are

on a wall. A moment later, the wall

geniuses didn't manage to become the most powerful person

because they didn't try hard

everyone else

'Of course not.'

walked down the stairs

want to keep up with them and even surpass

waste my time with friendships, outings, family, romance, or

become the most powerful, I must

image appeared in Shang's

were much older, and they were looking at

a sad and heavy

I have to

the basement and opened one of

the door was a long and