Chapter 5: Kuti Versus Iris

Last night was absolutely crazy. My body still feels weak and filled with pleasure. On the way back to Iris's tent, I hugged her tightly from behind. The scent of her body made me feel at ease.

"Hey, don't fall asleep. It'll be hard for me to control the horse," Iris said.

"Mmm, it's hard not to when it's so comfortable being with you," I replied, hugging her even tighter.

Iris let out a soft laugh, and soon, we arrived in front of her tent. I got off the horse first, then helped Iris down. A soldier came to take the horse away. After that, we entered her tent to sleep.

The next morning, Kuti actually came for the duel. The campsite was quiet since everyone was busy preparing for the ritual sacrifice to the gods by executing the prisoners.

"Are you sure about this, K-Kuti?" I asked him.

"To win you back? Of course," Kuti replied.

The three of us rode our horses to a vast grassland far from the campsite. Kuti came fully armed with a bow, a dagger, a sword, and other equipment. Iris only carried a shortbow and her longsword.

After ten minutes of riding, we arrived. Iris and Kuti asked me to be the referee.

"A-Alright. First, what are the rules? Are you planning a three-round match using bows, swords, and hand-to-hand combat?"

"A mixed three-round duel," Iris said.

"I agree. If I win, give Thomas back to me. He won't marry you. But if I lose, I'll accept watching the person I've loved since childhood be with someone else," Kuti added.

"Hm," Iris thought for a moment. "Sounds good. To make it more exciting, you can use your special abilities."

"Thomas, go ahead and start," Kuti said, readying his bow.

I could tell this wasn't going to end well.

"I—I don't agree with this duel," I protested.

"Just start!" they both snapped.

"…Begin!" I reluctantly announced.

Kuti launched the first attack, firing several arrows toward Iris. She danced through them with her longsword, slicing each one mid-air with dangerous precision.

Kuti used his camouflage ability to vanish from sight.

"Oh, the same trick you used in the guild yesterday. Too bad I can't see you," Iris said. "A gift from the gods is indeed impressive."

Kuti suddenly reappeared in Iris's blind spot, striking with his dagger. But Iris rolled forward and countered with a kick to his stomach. Kuti barely managed to block it with his dagger.

Crack!

His dagger fractured and shattered. Iris's strength was incredible. I had expected this—Kuti was outmatched due to the gap in battle experience. Iris had fought in wars alongside her father, and King Majagada had probably trained her like a son since he had no male heir. Her sword technique was identical to King Majagada's own.

"K-Kuti, stop!" I ran toward him.

"Don't worry. If I can defeat 111 men, what's one princess?" Kuti grinned.

"I don't want to see you hurt. Just let it go, Kuti," I pleaded, hugging him.

"Oh, I forgot to mention my prize if I win," Iris said, sheathing her sword. "How about this—you all become Thomas's personal servants and guards?"

"What's going on here?" Atmaja suddenly appeared, accompanied by Romanova. "Why is Princess Iris hurting Kuti?"

"I was in a duel for my fate. Turns out I lost. Fighting a human isn't the same as fighting a god," Kuti admitted.

"You may have divine blessings," Iris said, smiling, "but I've been training since childhood—every day under my father's strict supervision. I've fought hundreds of men, hundreds of monsters."

"After we defeat the United Order of Knights, Kuti and Romanova will serve my dynasty. Atmaja, you will be Thomas's personal bodyguard," Iris declared, stepping closer to me.

"Come, my love, we need to attend the execution ritual," she said, pulling me away.

"Do something, Thomas," Atmaja whispered to me.

"Iris, how about a duel with me?" I asked seriously.

"I don't want to hurt my future husband," Iris replied.

"Then let's use wooden swords," I suggested.

I pulled my hand away from Iris and took a wooden training sword from Atmaja. He handed another one to Iris. She swung it fluidly.

"So light. My real sword is much heavier. But of course, a training sword should be light," she mused.

"If you hit me even once, I'll grant your wish," I said.

Maria suddenly appeared in front of me. Only Kuti and I could see her.

"You will never win against her. It is your destiny to lose and stay in the old capital. Besides, you will soon obtain something crucial for the Holy Tournament," Maria said.

I was distracted for a split second—just enough for Iris to launch her attack. My reflexes kicked in, dodging all of her strikes.

She seemed impressed by my speed, but her attacks only grew faster and faster. Luckily, Maria's image disappeared, allowing me to fully focus on Iris's relentless assault.

"Your strikes are incredibly fast," I complimented her.

"You're a tank, aren't you? I'm surprised by how good your reflexes are. You must be able to dodge and block projectile attacks with ease," Iris smiled. "This will come down to stamina, then."

I tried to attack, looking for an opening between her strikes. But Iris read my move. She dropped her wooden sword, swept my legs, and wrapped her arm around my back, pulling me into a tight embrace to stop me from falling.

With her free hand, she picked up her wooden sword and gently grazed my back with it.

"You lost, my love. Now, it's time for us to return to the capital. My father is waiting for us," she whispered.

Iris sealed her victory with a deep, forceful kiss. Seeing this, Kuti looked furious, but he was too weak to stand and was still being treated by Romanova.

Iris then lifted me onto her horse.

"Atmaja, please bring Thomas's horse back to the camp," she instructed.

"Hold on tight," she said as she forcefully wrapped my arms around her waist.

I pressed my body against her and held on firmly. Together, we rode toward the city square to witness Indarto's execution—a sacrifice to the 999.

"Oh, by the way," Iris asked, "why do you sometimes stutter and sometimes not?"

"M-mm," I hesitated.

"Don't want to tell me? Is it something you were born with?" she asked.

"N-no. I j-just don't want to talk about it," I replied. "O-old wounds are better buried deep and left alone."

"That's okay. You can tell me when you're ready. It's alright, love," Iris said with a gentle smile.

We arrived at the execution site. After dismounting, we entrusted our horses to a local citizen and pushed through the crowd toward the platform where King Majagada was about to execute Indarto.

"You're here, Iris. This time, I want you and Thomas to carry out the execution," King Majagada ordered.