Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 97

Chapter 97

“Hurry and choose!”

If he were still a game player, he would’ve chosen the weapon that increased critical damage rather than accuracy. But the situation was different now. Delivering heavy damage to the enemy wasn’t always the best strategy.

Nataek closed his eyes tightly before opening them again and picking up a bow. As he did, the system lit up with a bright glow.

You have obtained [Anu’s Bow]!

No matter how he looked at it, the arrows he would be firing weren’t for striking enemy commanders but rather for supporting Medeus. Nataek decided to use his bow to protect Medeus and keep the enemy in check. As he turned the bow in his hands, the blacksmith let out a loud laugh, saying he had a good eye for equipment. Anu’s Bow—it was the first item he’d obtained from an ancient civilization, but Nataek’s standards of judgment had been completely aligned with Medeus.

 

Nataek sent Medeus, who had been waiting in front of the forge, back to his quarters first. Then, he immediately ran to the herb shop. His efforts had finally paid off. The moment he combined the Ariana grass with sap from the Massap tree and acquired the resulting liquid, the system displayed a message saying he had obtained a Sharpshooter’s Potion.

Thank goodness. It really was the Sharpshooter’s Potion.

He had been unsure until the very end, but now he realized that in order to acquire necessary items, he had to personally complete side quests. He also realized that the system wasn’t going to hand-hold him through every side quest.

It had been hellish, but… well, in the end, he got what he needed.

Rattle, rattle. The small vial rolled around in Nataek’s hand. He considered drinking one to gauge its effectiveness and duration ahead of time, but since he had only received three, he couldn’t afford to waste even one.

As Nataek stepped inside the mansion’s walls where his quarters were located—

“Messenger.”

Before he realized it, people here had started calling him by the strange title of ‘Messenger.’

“Yes?”

Nataek turned toward the voice with a creaking movement. Even though he knew they meant him, it was still an unfamiliar form of address, and his reaction was awkward. A steward cautiously approached him.

“Please, this…”

The steward pulled out a small clay tablet from inside his robe and handed it to him. Nataek tucked the potion away into the breast pocket of his cloak and received the tablet.

“What’s this?”

He asked the question while staring hard at the clay tablet.

“It’s a message delivered by a merchant from Umma. I was told it’s regarding the item you requested…”

The steward answered cautiously, seemingly unsure whether or not he had brought something strange. A letter from Umma could only mean one thing.

“Ah, yes. It must be what I requested. Thank you.”

“Th-Thank me? That’s too much honor.”

It was just a routine polite expression, but the steward flinched and bowed deeply. Nataek barely restrained himself from bowing in return. They say the position shapes the person, but adjusting to his new status wasn’t easy.

Because the sky had already darkened, he couldn’t read the contents of the clay tablet clearly. Nataek held it up to the distant light of the brazier, letting his eyes slowly adjust to the darkness as he began reading.

[No one will understand this if I write it in Korean, right?]

“Huh.”

Nataek let out a short laugh upon reading the first line. But as he continued to read, his brow furrowed.

“The handwriting is… atrocious…”

Struggling to read the barely legible script, his pace slowed more and more. Holding the tablet closer to his face, he continued reading.

[Medeus’s message was delivered properly. I told him myself, so it’s definite! Also, I found out more about the situation in Uruk. It’s worse than expected… Looks like that bastard Luhaljageshi is really going all out.]

Just what the hell was that guy doing to make them say something like that?

Uruk was already a nation he had left behind, just another city that needed to be conquered. How tough things were over there didn’t really matter to Nataek.

But… was it the same for Medeus?

Nataek’s gaze, which had been fixed on the tablet, drifted into empty space. After pondering for a while, he shook his head.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

A low voice pulled him back. Medeus was leaning against the mansion wall, having arrived without Nataek noticing.

“Why are you here? You left quite a while ago.”

“Where have you been? You’re just getting back now.”

Medeus deflected the question with one of his own.

So he had obediently gone back when Nataek told him to, only to be waiting here like this.

Nataek responded nonchalantly.

“I dropped by the herb shop. Archery practice might result in injuries, so I thought I’d better stock up in advance.”

Medeus furrowed his brow as if displeased.

“The forge. What did you get from there?”

“Well…”

He had brushed it off casually by the river earlier, but now that he was asking again, it didn’t seem like he could deflect it this time.

I can probably just make something up, right? Medeus isn’t the type to go check up on it even if I lie.

“They said the blacksmith bought up all the herbs that are good for healing wounds. I helped out with something and got them in return. My hands, you see, and my skin too—it’s more delicate than it looks. If I’m going to be practicing archery, there’s a chance I’ll injure my hands… Thought I should be prepared in advance.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Medeus strode over. Perhaps it was the darkness on his face, but the shadow he cast carried a strong sense of pressure.

Medeus reached into Nataek’s cloak and grabbed his wrist, pulling his hand forward and examining the palm closely. Nataek’s hands were slender and fine-boned for a man. Held in the grip of a soldier’s calloused hands, the contrast was stark.

“You’ve never held a sword or drawn a bowstring before… There’s no way your hands won’t end up a mess.”

Nataek glanced at Medeus and slowly tried to pull his arm back behind him.

“Well, it can’t be helped. If it’s something I have to do, then I’ll do it.”

“…You could just stay in Kish.”

Nataek quickly tucked his hands back inside the cloak before they could be grabbed again.

“I want to go with you.”

“…”

“I have to go with you.”

Spoken with a natural, unwavering firmness, Medeus’s eyes locked onto Nataek. When their eyes met, Nataek gave a slight shrug.

“Everyone says I’m the messenger of the war goddess Inanna. If I don’t go, who will?”

Medeus clicked his tongue and let out a long sigh.

“You don’t have to worry so much. It’s not like I’m blindly following you into danger.”

Nataek shifted his shoulders slightly to show the bow he had slung across his back. Medeus stared at him with a troubled expression for a while, then finally turned around as if resigned.

“Fine. If you can prove yourself.”

“You’ve promised twice now, so you can’t go back on your word.”

Nataek quietly placed his hand over his chest, hiding the potion there.

You think I can’t do it? Just as ancient people have their buffs, modern people have their own advantages too.

“I get that you’re determined. For now, follow me.”

“Follow you where?”

Medeus jerked his chin toward the mansion.

Nataek looked down at himself and said,

“I’ll bathe before I go in. I’m covered in mud.”

“That’s why I said come in first.”

He wanted to clean up before entering, yet Medeus insisted on bringing him in first?

“The room will get dirty.”

“Then I’ll have a servant clean it up. I need to check something, so just come in.”

The wrist he had tried so hard to hide was grabbed again, as if Medeus had seen right through him. Without understanding why, Nataek was dragged inside the quarters.

Thud—the door closed with a heavy sound. Nataek rubbed his wrist where he’d been held and watched Medeus warily.

What does he want to check? Could it be… he knows about the potion? Or did he catch on to my lie?

“What exactly do you need to check?”

Medeus came close to Nataek. Then, without warning, he started untying the cloak wrapped around him. Startled, Nataek grabbed Medeus’s wrist.

“What are you doing?”

“Take it off.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You said your skin was delicate.”

“…Huh?”

The sudden comment made Nataek mentally replay what he had said earlier.

‘My hands, you see, and my skin too—it’s more delicate than it looks. If I’m going to be practicing archery, there’s a chance I’ll injure my hands…’

He had made it up on the spot, but he didn’t expect Medeus to take it so seriously.

“That area by the river you were poking around in is a habitat for haincho. It’s fine for adults, but children or those with sensitive skin sometimes develop itching a while after contact. The usual early symptom is red spots appearing.”

I’m an adult… with pretty resilient skin… so none of this applies to me…

“If you’ve reacted to the haincho’s toxins, you’ll need to drink a decoction made from an antidote herb before it gets worse. So, take it off. I need to check.”

Nataek cursed internally.

It was just a made-up excuse… but I’ve dug my own grave now…