[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic":3,"chapter-sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-chapter-221":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Sword God in a World of Magic",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1492206,1940,"Chapter 221 Not What but How","sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-chapter-221",221,"\u003Cp>Chapter 221 Not What but How\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a full minute, Shang finally made his choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't an easy one, but Shang believed that it was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I choose…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"19.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester's smile widened as he looked at Shang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, that is interesting,\" he said as he appeared directly in front of Shang, looking him deeply in the eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For just a moment, Shang felt fear arise in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yet, who would have guessed that I would be wrong?\" the jester mused as he looked into Shang's eyes with a mad grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was sure you would choose 22.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me, why did you choose 19?\" the jester asked without moving away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang felt very uncomfortable with the jester so close to his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang took a deep breath to organize his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are several reasons for my decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester waited for the reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, for now,\" Shang slowly said. \"I don't want to commit to a path.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Commit?\" the jester asked with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The answer to the question: What kind of attitude would be most effective on my journey?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well,\" the jester said, \"you phrased the question a bit differently, but it's essentially the same.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang nodded. \"I have been stuck between two paths for the last two years. Do I help others, or do I hurt others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This means that I can't fully commit to this path.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I hurt others, I gain many resources that increase my power, but on the other hand, I will also be under constant danger, and that danger might cost me my life. Danger is good for growth, but too much danger will kill me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This means that I also can't fully commit to that path.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As the God of this world, you should know best what kind of attitude would work best for me, and until I have that answer, I won't commit to anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, if I chose 22, I might have done something that could force me down one of the two paths.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Shang looked at the jester.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And wouldn't it be very entertaining to watch me hear about the correct path without being able to walk it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just like teacher heard about the free deaths in the trial after having already become too old to take advantage of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester only smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But that isn't my entire reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Another reason is that I feel a bit bad for circumventing the rules of my Affinity. Of course, feeling a bit bad won't stop me from doing what I have to do to become powerful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I achieved these three points not with my power but by cheating. I don't want to get something handed to me if I don't deserve it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, as I've said, I'm still willing to do it, but this reason also played a small role in my decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And then there are two more reasons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two more?\" the jester asked with a smile. \"You really thought a lot about this choice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These two reasons have to do with my impression of you,\" Shang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is your impression of me?\" the jester asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unstable, often illogical, mad, chaotic, playful,\" Shang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no reason to keep Shang's thoughts a secret. The God already knew what Shang thought of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the God didn't react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, all of that doesn't matter. What you want is entertainment,\" Shang said. \"For someone of your power, this is probably the only thing that interests you. There might not be a path forward anymore, which forces you to look down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the jester's smile vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire atmosphere changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Shang had felt like he was a plaything, but now, he felt like he had hurt the player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang guessed that he had hit the nail on the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was probably a sore spot for the God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're lucky you're entertaining,\" the jester spoke with a deadpan tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time that Shang heard the God speak in such a tone, and it sent chills down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And that's the thing,\" Shang said. \"You want entertainment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was certain that I would choose 22 at the beginning, and I thought that you also predicted I would choose 22.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, why not make this entertaining and circumvent your expectations?\" Shang asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahahaha!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester laughed loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, the jester laughed for quite a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have no idea how long it has been that I have been surprised like this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I expected you to think of yourself while making this choice, but you were actually thinking of me, which completely changed your choice!\" Freeᴡebnovel.cᴏm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And in the end,\" the jester said with a mad grin. \"By thinking of me, you suspect that you are automatically thinking of yourself by proxy, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Shang said with a nod. \"I don't want to serve. I don't want to be your entertainment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester didn't react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, what I want isn't important. In front of you, it isn't important what I want. I don't have the power to defy you yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The God took note of the word \"yet\", but he didn't comment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing a toy begrudgingly comply while feeling resentment was fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't like to bow to your whims, but if I want to achieve my goal, for the time being, I have to. Defying you will only send me to an early grave or worse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there is one more reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester leaned on his hammer as he looked at Shang with a grin. \"Tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang furrowed his brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This was the most important reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You told me that I have the choice, and my future depends on which choice I make.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, what if it doesn't?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester didn't react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if my choice is actually meaningless?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can change the rules whenever you want. Believing that these two choices are the only choices I have might be incorrect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It might be possible that it doesn't matter what I choose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it might matter how I choose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The answer might not interest you. Maybe, you are only interested in the reasons for why I have chosen whatever I chose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And because of that, I chose 19.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because it is not something you expected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For around five seconds, no one said anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How very interesting,\" the jester said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know, I felt quite annoyed when you circumvented the drawback of using Entropy by abusing my power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But now, I feel even better than if you had gotten 22 points without relying on my power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the jester vanished into nothingness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something dark materialized about fifty meters away from Shang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang immediately recognized the object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the God's gigantic throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on the throne sat the actual body of the God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was smirking as he leaned his head on one of his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You get your 22-point-reward without having to do anything you don't want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well played.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1314,"2026-06-06T04:07:02.167Z",1,"novelbin.me","b32dbb746c2ec6bfdc5d9c585612ca1b2a8e7adaf65813f86014382b26af9481","sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-chapter-222","sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-chapter-220",1033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-cover.jpg"]