Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 96

Chapter 96

Here… I need to find the bracelet here…

Quests that involved NPCs’ “requests” weren’t necessarily difficult—they were just incredibly annoying. In Nataek’s experience, most of them involved running errands back and forth to deliver items or collect materials. At least, that’s how it was in Sununki.

As he now sat there, painstakingly clicking and searching, Nataek deeply regretted having ever been annoyed by the process.

“What kind of bracelet could possibly be important enough for you to keep searching like that? Just give it up already!”

The sun had tilted westward, and the sunlight was slowly trickling away. With their backs to the red sunset, the fishermen hoisted full reed-net baskets one by one and looked at Nataek with pity in their eyes.

“Goodness… he’s been at it all day.”

“You’ll end up with festering wounds on your hands and feet at this rate. Just come back and search again tomorrow!”

“Yes.”

Nataek responded half-heartedly as he moved to a different spot and resumed groping around the grassy thicket and dirt floor. By now, his fingernails were caked with pitch-black mud, and cuts from the grass blades were scattered across his hands.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Just how important can that item be…?”

“They say he lost his wife’s necklace.”

“Didn’t he say it was a bracelet?”

The fishermen, growing distant, gossiped among themselves, unaware of Nataek’s true situation.

Once the murmurs faded, only the sound of the river’s flow remained along the riverbank. Finally straightening his back, Nataek stared vacantly at the riverside he had combed through.

Wow. Isn’t this getting ridiculous…? How… How is it possible that I’ve been searching all day and haven’t found even a hint of metal, not even a trace of blue?

He was so dumbfounded that not even a bitter laugh escaped him. Though the quest had no time limit, if he didn’t deliver the bracelet by today, there was no guarantee that the herb would survive. What was even more despairing was that he couldn’t even be sure that the Ariana grass was truly a necessary ingredient for the Guardian’s potion.

Nataek shook off the anxiety lingering in the corner of his chest. Based on his past experience, while the system might make things tough, it never pointed him in the wrong direction. So, the herb he would receive after delivering the bracelet had to be an essential component for the Guardian’s potion.

He had to obtain it, no matter what…

“…Should I steal it?”

Nataek seriously considered it but then shook his head. The process of obtaining the herb had already become part of a quest recorded by the system. If he broke it and used a shortcut, who knew how much of a butterfly effect it would cause? Remembering the fallout he faced after losing a clay tablet during Delam’s flood, Nataek let out a deep sigh.

“I’ve searched nearly everywhere…”

The only place left was the water’s edge, right at the boundary of the riverbank. Nataek stood still, staring at the damp soil gently caressed by the rippling water. If he stepped there, his feet would be drenched in mud…

But that was the only place he hadn’t searched yet. Logically, it seemed the item would be hidden down there.

Nataek hiked up the hem of his skirt-like trousers even higher and tied them firmly to one side. His shoes had long been tossed aside.

He had tried to avoid it at all costs. And yet, here he was again, wading into the water…

Nataek submerged his feet in the river. Unlike the center of the river, which he’d disturbed during fishing, this area highlighted by the system had unusually soft soil. Standing at the boundary where land and water met, Nataek began digging wildly through the muddy patches along the riverbank. Every movement of his hands made a squelching, slurping sound as it disturbed the wet earth, illuminated only by the fading sunset.

In the distance, clatter clatter—people were returning home on horseback.

How long had he been digging? Nataek’s fingertips finally caught on something cold.

Gasp.

He tried to pull it up gently, but it was snagged on something and wouldn’t budge. Like a dog digging for a bone, Nataek began clawing a hole around it with his other hand.

Clatter, clatter.

Nataek was so focused on what he had in his hands that he didn’t even notice the approaching presence.

Please, please! Let this be the bracelet!

Carefully, Nataek dunked the muddy clump into the river. Gently shaking the tangled mix of mud and metal, he revealed the intact shape of a ring. As he held the bracelet up to the sky to examine it under the fading light, a yellow system message confirmed the item’s identity.

[Sub-Quest] Trade with the Blacksmith

Retrieve the blacksmith’s wife’s bracelet. [Complete]

“Ha…”

A mixture of emotions welled up in him—relief at finally finding it, shame at what he had gone through to do so. The mess of feelings made him laugh bitterly. His clothes were already in ruins from crawling through grass and mud. Forgetting that his hands were still dirty, Nataek wiped his face.

“Damn system…”

Cursing under his breath, Nataek stepped out of the water. A flash of memory swept through his mind—himself in the past, controller or mouse in hand, dismissing sub-quests as mindless fetch errands.

Now that he had physically experienced it, he realized just how much he had taken things for granted. Water dripped from his legs as he trudged out of the river. While scrubbing the remaining dirt off the bracelet using his sleeve, a shadow fell in front of him. He heard the heavy breathing of a horse.

“…Teresi.”

Looking up, Nataek saw Medeus mounted on a Kunga, staring down at him. Alongside him were the captain of the infantry and a couple of soldiers, also on horseback. Though the light behind them made it hard to see their expressions clearly, Nataek could feel the bewilderment in their eyes. Among them, it was Medeus whose expression was most dumbfounded.

“What are you doing here…?”

“M-Medeus-nim…”

Nataek blinked nervously, looking between Medeus and the soldiers.

“Weren’t you supposed to be attending the military conference? Why are you here?”

“The meeting ended a while ago. I was inspecting the defenses in Kish. What about you? What the hell are you… wearing…”

As his eyes scanned Nataek from head to toe and landed on his exposed thigh, Medeus’s gaze sharpened. Nataek, feeling even more self-conscious under his scrutiny, scratched his chin and glanced away. His eyes accidentally met those of one of the soldiers. Unlike Medeus’s attention, which only made him feel slightly awkward, the stares from the others made him feel intensely embarrassed. Brushing the mud off his body, Nataek tried to explain.

“There’s a reason for this. I was helping someone out.”

Medeus began to speak but stopped, then jumped off his Kunga. He motioned to the soldiers behind him.

“Go on ahead.”

“We’ll see you at tomorrow’s training, sir.”

The infantry captain and soldiers turned away without hesitation, wearing looks of resignation. Nataek brushed the grime off his feet and slipped his shoes back on. Still, he held onto the bracelet tightly.

“What kind of reason would have you end up like this? And what is that?”

“It was a favor… I agreed to help in exchange for something.”

“A favor?”

As Nataek wiped the mud from his arms, Medeus took off his cloak and draped it over Nataek’s shoulders. The act reminded Nataek of a romantic scene where one lover covers another from the cold, making him freeze awkwardly. He tried to refuse the gesture.

“I’m fine. It’s not even cold—”

“Look at yourself. Are you really planning to walk back like this?”

Medeus, clearly annoyed, wrapped the cloak around Nataek anyway and didn’t relax his scowl. Then he reached out and wiped the dirt from Nataek’s face.

Looking down at his own state, Nataek realized he couldn’t refuse any longer. While such an appearance wouldn’t have mattered if he were just a slave, he was still technically a priest. He couldn’t afford to wander the marketplace looking like a beggar. With Medeus’s cloak covering his disheveled outfit, Nataek was lifted onto the Kunga.

Unlike Medeus, who had a tight schedule packed with meetings and training sessions, Nataek had a relatively idle existence. Even after being appointed a priest, his duties mostly involved offering blessings to Samuagon and spouting nonsensical praise under Inanna’s name. Occasionally, he meddled a bit in military operations, but that was the extent of his influence.

Riding the Kunga back with the setting sun as a backdrop felt peaceful, at least in appearance. But beneath that calm were two people—one preparing for war, the other struggling to survive—both hiding their true intentions.

Watching Nataek’s slumped shoulders, Medeus asked,

“What were you promised in exchange for accepting that favor?”

“It’s a long story.”

Nataek deflected, turning the bracelet in the sunlight. The blue metal shimmered with a faint violet hue under the red glow.

It really was beautiful… Had there not been a mission to find it, he might not have acquired the herb. Still, the ornament that had caused him so much trouble wasn’t something he could look at fondly. Nataek muttered with a scowl,

“They even offered to make a new one, but she refused… It must’ve meant a lot to her.”

“It’s not the bracelet itself—it’s the promise within it.”

“Promise?”

Medeus placed his palm over the back of Nataek’s hand, the one holding the bracelet. Flipping his hand over, he revealed the inside of the bracelet.

“Here. See? The family crest is engraved inside.”

Only then did Nataek examine the inside carefully. What he had assumed were just decorative patterns were actually meaningful symbols.

“When lovers engrave their family crests together on an item, they believe it binds them forever. It’s as good as a vow made in front of the gods.”

Like carving initials into couple rings…

As Nataek stared silently at the bracelet, Medeus gently brushed his thumb over the back of Nataek’s hand. The sudden awareness of the warmth between their skin made that hand, which had felt nothing a moment ago, suddenly flush with heat. Embarrassed, Nataek pulled his hand away and wiped it on his clothes. Still, the lingering tingle wouldn’t go away, prompting him to clear his throat awkwardly.

While Nataek tried to mask the tension alone, the Kunga had already arrived in front of the forge. A sluggish presence could be felt from within. Nataek hurriedly jumped off the Kunga and rushed inside.

“Are you here?”

The blacksmith, rising with a basket of reeds in his arms, turned to face Nataek. A few leaves poked out from the edge of the basket. Though he had expected it, Nataek still worried the herb might’ve been boiled and eaten. But seeing it intact made all the tension in his body dissolve. Nataek sighed with relief and stepped forward.

“I’ve brought back the bracelet as promised. Please give me the herb.”

“You really found it?”

The blacksmith’s face lit up with joy as he examined the bracelet Nataek handed over.

“Ha ha! I can’t believe you actually found it. Thank you. Truly, thank you!”

As the blacksmith beamed, a system message popped up over his head.

[Sub-Quest] Trade with the Blacksmith [Complete]

Retrieve the blacksmith’s wife’s bracelet. [Complete]

You have completed the ‘Blacksmith’s Request’ quest.

You’ve obtained the Ariana Herb!

Receiving the herb wrapped in linen, Nataek let out a soft sigh, barely audible.

The Uruk campaign hadn’t even started yet… And already, the sub-quests were this grueling…

Just as Nataek was about to trudge out of the forge—

“W-Wait a moment!”

The blacksmith hurried inside and returned carrying a wooden box.

“I wanted to give you something more to express my gratitude. Please, choose one item from inside. Consider it a token of thanks.”

Please select your additional reward!

Caught off guard by the unexpected turn, Nataek peered into the box. Inside were two bows and two swords, along with several blunt weapons. When Nataek blinked at one of the bows, an item information window popped up.

—————

Anu’s Bow

Accuracy +15%

Range +10%

A bow forged with the power of the sky.

It is imbued with the blessing of the god Anu.

—————

Accuracy +15%

Nataek’s heart raced with unexpected fortune. But he couldn’t make the mistake of hastily choosing a weapon. He shifted his gaze to the other bow beside it. Once again, a yellow system window appeared.

—————

Inanna’s Bow

Critical Hit +20%

Range +15%

A bow forged with the energy of the stars.

It is imbued with the blessing of the goddess Inanna.

—————

Critical Hit +20%, Range +15%

 

Comparing the specs of the two bows, Nataek quickly did the math in his head. The 5% difference in range didn’t seem like much, but the choice between accuracy and critical hit rate wasn’t easy.

“Hurry and make your choice!”