Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 121

Chapter 121

“If one knows in advance who will come and what may happen, it’s easier to prepare.”

“They won’t come. Don’t expect them.”

“…?”

What expectation? Don’t tell me… he thinks I’m waiting for the princess.

Medeus was scrunching his brow like a sulking child.

“Heh.”

A short laugh slipped from Nataek’s lips.

“Medeus.”

Like a thoroughly peeved child, Medeus glared at Nataek.

“I’m not—about the princess—”

“Lion! General! The banquet is ready. The Ensi has commanded that both of you must attend.”

An interloper cut in before the conversation could be tied off. Always at times like this… Is this the system’s planted spoiler?

“Please, this way.”

As the attendant led the way, a system prompt rose up behind his back.

[Main] The story ‘Banquet of Promise’ begins.

The system announced the start of a new main story. It had to be part of the Umma conquest. Even so, something in Nataek’s chest sat uncomfortably. Medeus seemed… sulky, somehow. And now they had to enter the banquet hall without having soothed that feeling at all.

Many nobles had already arrived when they entered, led by the attendant. The one who stood out most by far… was the diviner.

The diviner sat beside his lord. His face looked on the verge of an automatic nod toward Nataek, but he barely restrained himself—just barely—and that alone was enough to drive Nataek to distraction.

“Please, sit here.”

The seat indicated by the attendant was not far from Samuagon—and directly opposite the diviner.

This is killing me… Hey… twitching your face like that while only looking at me, and think it won’t be obvious? Just don’t look at me at all!

“It seems Delam’s ships have met a squall, so we shall begin the banquet first while wishing for their safe arrival.”

When Samuagon raised his cup of geshtin toward the air, the other nobles lifted the cups before them high as well.

“Under Inanna’s blessing many have gathered—truly, a joyous day. In commemoration of the glory brought by Inanna’s favor, may the name of Kish be engraved firmly upon this land!”

After the flowery toast ended, all took a sip of geshtin. Nataek, who only pretended to drink, let barely a drop touch his tongue. As he rolled the droplet over his tongue—

“Messenger of Inanna.”

Cough.

Startled by the sudden summons, air caught in his throat. Nataek quickly sipped water and answered.

“Yes, Ensi.”

“Are you acquainted with Umma’s sukkal?”

For an instant, Nataek’s eyes met the diviner’s. The diviner’s pupils trembled.

Gah! What do I do?! Deny it flat-out?

His eyes said exactly that.

Calm down. Stay still. Don’t babble and make a mess.

Before the diviner could say something foolish, Nataek spoke quickly.

“That could be said, or not said.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Nataek had only realized upon entering this ancient world that he was a virtuoso of lies. With life at stake or in sudden crisis, he became a silver tongue.

“There is no personal familiarity; we met briefly when I went to Umma—to receive Inanna’s revelation.”

The diviner nodded vigorously. It couldn’t have looked more awkward if he tried.

Sigh… Don’t make it obvious. Please. Do nothing…

Now it seemed the factor raising the difficulty of Umma’s conquest was none other than the diviner himself. If he’d known this would happen, he wouldn’t have told the man to bring his lord to Kish; he would have told him to send the lord alone.

“Oh? Then let Umma’s sukkal tell us what you discussed.”

“M—me, my lord?”

Seeing the diviner stumble in a way so unlike him, Nataek was certain: the hidden hazard in the Umma conquest was this very diviner. And was Samuagon suspicious of himself and the diviner? Or merely curious? He couldn’t tell, and the cold sweat flowed all the more.

“In Umma, we—no. The priest and I—”

Nataek lifted the red cup of geshtin, eyes on the diviner. He took a quick gulp and used the cup to cover his lips—so Samuagon wouldn’t catch on. Then he moved his mouth slightly.

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Say you prayed.

Catching the hint, the diviner quickly spoke.

“We prayed. That a unified state would be established upon this land—upon Kish’s land.”

It sounded odd, but at least the time bomb didn’t go off.

Phew…

Swallowing, Nataek set the cup back on the table. Samuagon looked surprised by the diviner’s words.

“Oh? Umma’s sukkal prayed for Kish’s prosperity?”

The diviner’s eyes flashed. Yes! At last, the story is proceeding according to our plan!

Watching him, Nataek clenched a damp fist beneath the table. Medeus, who knew the plan completely, merely kept quietly sipping his geshtin. The diviner looked solemnly at Samuagon.

“In Umma as well, the word of the gods has come down. That we must now join forces for the fertile land and achieve unification.”

“Achieve unification?”

The diviner fixed Nataek with a long look, then turned to his timorous lord. The Ensi of Umma, who had done nothing yet, was already turning white as paper—far frailer in the flesh than any scene Nataek had watched during a playthrough.

“The Ensi of Umma desires peace for this land more than anyone. And he has long wished to punish the cruel, barbaric Gutians and drive them out. If the Ensi of Kish holds the same will as we do, then Umma will pledge eternal fealty to Kish.”

In short, promise to crush the Gutians in Ur, and I will become your vassal. It was a negotiation that aimed for the conquest of Ur and Umma at once. Nataek clasped both hands together under the table now.

Please… Please accept it. Please. They’re offering to bow their heads on their own. Where will such windfall come again?

Just then something warm pressed atop his tense hands. A large hand covered his clenched fists and gently patted them. With one hand Medeus drank his geshtin, and with the other, lowered beneath the table, he soothed Nataek.

Stroking his beard, Samuagon hummed thoughtfully. Then he asked Nataek,

“Messenger of Inanna, what do you think of this proposal?”

It felt like a game of shuttlecock. The diviner had sent the ball; now it was Nataek’s turn to return it. With proper decorum, he answered,

“Inanna wills to grant unification of this land to Kish. Since Umma’s will and Inanna’s will are thus aligned, it is only right to accept with joy.”

Samuagon now turned to Umma’s lord.

“Ensi of Umma. Is this your heart as well?”

“Th—that is precisely why I came in person. Pray accept Umma’s loyalty.”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Samuagon’s booming laughter rang through the hall.

“Inanna’s favor opens the smooth road so swiftly! I accept Umma’s fealty!”

The system prompt appeared as the words left his mouth, and Nataek exulted.

‘Umma’s fealty’ is absorbed by Samuagon.

Conquest of ‘Umma’ succeeded.

Only then did a joyous cheer break from the nobles as well.

[Main] The story ‘Banquet of Promise’ has been completed.

Sitting amid the suddenly noisy hall, Nataek thought quietly.

After Delam, then Uruk… and now Umma is the third city. Can it really proceed this easily? Shouldn’t the difficulty be higher? This isn’t climbing in difficulty at all—it’s unfolding like a tutorial-level sequence even in story mode…

His gaze, following his thoughts, fixed on the delighted diviner.

No way…

When you got down to it, the conquest of Umma had been accomplished not by Nataek but by the diviner. Alone, he had gone to Umma, posed as a prophet with glib words, ensnared the lord with false power, and dragged him here.

If this story belonged not to Nataek but to the diviner… then a tutorial-level progression made sense. Umma was the first city the diviner would “conquer.”

To think it would tangle together like this…

This game certainly had a knack for blindsiding. With a wry laugh, Nataek took another sip of geshtin. With the situation clear, his unease washed away.

So only Ur remains?

After a grueling path, they had come this far. He was glad—but the way it all fell into his lap left him rather dazed.

Dazed? The heat flooding his face felt strange; Nataek pressed his palm to his cheek. But his face was burning like a brazier.

What is this. Why… suddenly…

He gulped down a cold drink to cool off—when a white hand darted in.

“That’s enough.”

Looking at the seized wrist, Nataek glanced down at what he held. The cup of geshtin, filled to overflowing before, was now empty. Only then did he realize what he had been drinking.

Ah…

A bell rang in his head with a clang. The world tilted left, then right. Medeus drew close and murmured,

“Teresi. Are you all right?”

Just that one whisper at his ear sent a shiver skittering up his thigh.

…Ruined.

Footnotes:

• “Geshtin” is a Sumerian term for wine or grape-products; here it functions as the ceremonial drink at the banquet.

• “Sukkal” refers to a high-ranking official or vizier-like court functionary in Mesopotamian contexts; the diviner is presented under this title.

• “Gutians” were an ancient people from the Zagros region; in Mesopotamian sources they often appear as invaders or destabilizing forces, fitting their narrative role here.