Lewd King's Bucket List-Chapter 74: To the Arena!

Ixion whistled to himself as he walked out the palace entrance and stepped into the vast front courtyard. A large portion of the courtyard having been converted into a dueling ring.

There were a few seats lining the sides of the courtyard. Duke Marlowe even had spectators pay an entrance fee.

’What a man of the people!’

Taking money from them when they’re at their lowest!

Well, Marlowe was more so incentivising the use of coin over barter... But that didn’t change what he was doing!

Ixion smiled as he stepped down onto flat ground and looked around at the plentiful spectators. His eyes danced around until he found the brave fool.

The first one who challenged him.

The man not only accepted Ixion’s challenge with little thought, but he also chose a date so close that no one else would be competing before or after.

Making his efforts useless unless he could pull the upset of the century.

Ixion gently grinned as he assessed the man.

’But it’s no wonder he was so quick...’

His soul was as pure and radiant as one could get in this day and age. The soul of a man destined to become a hero. Which also meant dying a pitiful death alone and afraid like most heroes.

The man was a knight. One who’d only enlisted after Ixion pulled back Catatran forces, so he never saw the hellish front lines. Which would explain his pure heart.

Ixion stepped onto the battle stage and screeched:

"Greetings, noble challenger!"

The man placed a hand on the pommel of his sword. He slightly dipped his head down.

"I greet Your Majesty."

Ixion smiled.

"What is your name, brave challenger!"

The man lifted his head slightly:

"Kip, Your Majesty."

Ixion’s face dropped.

’Kip?! What a horrendous name!’

"Your parents must have had it out for you."

Kip raised his head, seemingly unperturbed at Ixion’s provocation.

"Maybe they did. Never met them."

Ixion looked around as more people filed in.

"Humor me until our match starts, Kip. I wish to learn the type of man who’d be bold enough to point their blade at their king. Even if that king permitted it."

Kip’s gaze tightened and he grit his teeth.

Like most, he had no way to confirm the king’s promises to be true. There was a high chance he may die today. Or perhaps tomorrow as a result of today.

"I’m a humble knight of House Raikel. I don’t know the battlefield, but I do know what it means to live."

Ixion stood proud as he looked off toward Lord Chamberlain Sebastian who was stumbling over with a sword in hand.

"Ah, Baron Luke. If he’s employed you, it’s no wonder you’re the first to appear before me."

Kip’s eyebrow twitched.

"You think well of my lord?"

Ixion watched as Sebastian nearly tripped.

"All who’ve survived hell have earned my respect. The only points he loses is in seeing that hell and deciding to keep fighting."

Sebastian reached Ixion, then knelt and held up the sword.

"Your Majesty."

Ixion grabbed the sleek iron blade. It had quite a bit of heft.. Then, he thanked Sebastian and sent the young man away.

When he turned back to Kip, Ixion added:

"Boy, what do you think? Say what you will, you’ve already received my promise to not spill your blood."

Kip’s gaze widened almost imperceptibly — a subtle grimace played on his lips, hinting at his displeasure.

Yet, in the end, his fear of the king’s direct hatred seemed to have won over.

"My will is that of my lord."

"Is that so?"

’How boring.’

Ixion put his back to Kip and looked at the crowd, mostly full of nobles. He also saw someone he was quite familiar with now.

’Porter... analyzing the king now, are you?’

"Thank you, citizens of Catatran, for gathering on this fine Summer evening!"

Ixion grew a wide smile.

"I’m sure the tales of my greatness have been sewn in your minds ever since I first sat on that throne! Now, witness the strength that led to that greatness."

He turned and pointed his blade at Kip.

"And witness this knight’s bravery for facing one many times stronger than he."

Their gazes locked, Ixion’s turning slightly sinister as he shouted the last of his preamble.

"Catatran, bear witness to futility."

Ixion took a half step toward Kip.

"Let’s begin, shall we?"

The point of a blade and the flipping of his visor.

That was the only response Kip gave Ixion. The fire in his heart stoked by that hideous reminder. The reminder of the king’s incompetence — a reminder of why he was there.

Kip took slow, measured steps forward. Then, he stopped.

"Huh? What?"

Kip muttered under his breath.

Ixion had taken out a blue cloth strip and tied it over his eyes. Not only that, he flipped his sword and had begun holding it by the point, wielding it with a pinch.

Ixion cocked his head slightly.

"Something the matter? Why stop your approach? Come on, help me train."

Kip shook his head and began his advancement again.

Ixion smiled as he sensed the boy’s heroic soul march toward him, tense his muscles, and unleash a strike.

In response, the mad king dropped his sword and pinched Kip’s blade, catching his strike. Kip’s eyes twisted in horror as he engaged every muscle he could to tear his blade free, but it was no use.

Cloaked in Ixion’s Aether, the blade plunged into the earth as if the soil were water, burying itself until only the guard remained above ground.

When its descent abruptly stopped, all of the Aether trapped underground shot back up through the blade and released a shockwave through the guard in all directions.

It happened in such speed that the intangible force swept Kip off his feet and onto his knees.

The blade in the ground crumbled to dust as Ixion chuckled. Then, Ixion pulled Kip’s blade, plucking it from his hands, then throwing it away.

"Ah, now that’s the proper way for one to meet their sovereign."

With that, the first duel was finished.