Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 148

Chapter 148

Nataek calmly watched Medeus and organized the situation in his head.

1. He had suggested writing to the princess. 
2. While writing, Medeus’s mood had soured. 
3. Not wanting to make Medeus do what he disliked, he suggested stopping. 
4. Yet Medeus seemed even more upset. 

Even after laying it out, nothing obvious came to mind.

It didn’t seem like anger…

After a long pause, a thought flashed through Nataek’s mind like lightning.

Could he think I’m angry?

With this new thread, he studied Medeus’s expression. It didn’t look like he intended to blame Nataek for anything. That was clear.

Then he really must be misunderstanding—thinking I’m angry now.

Nataek quickly pulled his chair close to Medeus and gripped one of the hands resting on the table.

“Medeus. I’m not angry. Alright? Truly—not at all.”

Medeus slowly raised his head to look at him. The dispirited expression loosened, if only a little, and Nataek felt relief.

That’s it. That was it.

Once the cause is known, the remedy is plain. Nataek brought Medeus’s hand onto his own knee and, with a voice full of sincerity, laid out his thinking about the situation, point by point.

“It’s truly something to be grateful for, her coming this far. She’s no soldier, and it can’t have been easy to decide to come with such a delicate frame. So I wanted to show courtesy. Courtesy. But you seemed not entirely at ease with it, so I said we should stop. Right now, considering your feelings matters more to me than sending the princess a letter. So I judged not writing would be better. I’m not angry—not in the least.”

“…”

“I’m explaining in case you misunderstood and thought I was angry. Was I wrong?”

“…You’re right.”

Only then did Nataek soften into a smile.

He didn’t know why things had turned this way, but the drooping look on Medeus’s face kept stirring his heart. Looking at those snow‑white cheeks, a sudden impulse rose to cup them and take a playful bite.

Perhaps sensing the change, Medeus flicked a glance at him and dropped his eyes sideways.

“…guess.”

“Pardon?”

The words were too quiet to catch. Nataek dragged his chair even closer and brought his ear to Medeus’s lips.

“Please—say it once more.”

“When I’m with you… I don’t know why I’m like this.”

At the unexpected candor, Nataek looked at him with wide eyes.

“I’m truly grateful to Shanabi as well. I want to make sure my thanks reach her. But… apart from that… you entangled with Shanabi… hu…”

A myriad emotions shaded the gray irises under long lashes. He looked a little pleased, yet faintly self‑reproachful. Like a boy abashed by a shameful act—or a man despairing after showing a hidden scar. And like a child sharing a secret, a little thrilled.

Countless, unmeasurable feelings crossed through Medeus’s gaze.

Nataek had never seen him lay himself bare like this to anyone else. This look, now, was for Nataek alone. The true heart he kept, and the bottom of those feelings.

Realizing that, a wild urge to embrace him surged up. A breath and a laugh slipped from Nataek’s lips; Medeus, startled, looked up.

“Ah—no, no. It’s not a scoff, and I’m not scolding you.”

He rushed to explain before Medeus could misunderstand. Medeus narrowed his eyes, brows knitting, and fixed him with a look.

“…Then what?”

“It’s… well.”

Nataek’s lips curved; he lightly traced his dry lower lip with his tongue, rose, cupped Medeus’s cheeks—and a soft smacking sound came from his red mouth.

“This.”

“…And what is ‘this’?”

“Figure it out.”

Smiling brightly, Nataek drew the clay tablet from before Medeus.

“I’ll write only to the Soothsayer.”

As he worked the clay again, Medeus set a hand on his arm.

“Why? You said you’d write to the princess.”

“No. I don’t want to waste your energy on formal courtesies. Better to rest in that time. And we can pay proper respects when we return safely. So—come here.”

He tapped the table.

“Why?”

“Why? I watched you write; now you should watch me write.”

Absurd as it was, Medeus obediently drew his chair beside Nataek and, as if he could read the script, watched without missing a single stroke. The calm before the coming storm that they shared was quiet, warm, and full.

How many days passed after that?

Ur’s reconquest seemed to be going smoothly. They had found the hidden ally, and with the tavern proprietress’s help, a safe base. Yet the more time passed, the more anxious Nataek became. Today was the day to free the soldiers from the works yards—and he still hadn’t found Lagab’s weakness.

“He did say he’d send for me again. I thought it’d be soon—I didn’t expect it to take this long. What should we do?”

There was surely a third box in his quarters, with the decisive clue to Lagab’s weakness. But with no summons, Nataek couldn’t get back in to check.

Seated on the bed, Medeus inspected his sword.

“We can’t delay this operation until we discover Lagab’s weakness. Miss the window, and the whole plan gets harder.”

“Even if there’s an uproar when the soldiers flee, we won’t be suspected, will we?”

“We’ve managed well so far to avoid it. Don’t worry. As long as we aren’t exposed, we’ll be fine.”

Nataek came to the bed and sat beside him, the mattress giving under them. He recalled the epic he’d collected.

Uruk’s hero. People, unable to bear his cruelty, appealed to the gods. The gods sent a rival to the Cedar Forest. Learning of it, the hero sent a human to seduce the beast… and so they found the weakness… Haa… This alone is too vague. I need the next part. If I ask Medeus, would there be a clue?

He glanced at Medeus—then shook his head. The ramped difficulty of Ur weighed on him.

Since coming to Ur, the system had kept blocking “Medeus‑hints.” Which meant that wasn’t the intended path.

Don’t unsettle him with idle talk—focus on today’s operation first.

“Teresi.”

“Yes?”

“Something on your mind?”

“Do I… look troubled?”

“Mm.”

He set the sword down and looked deeply at Nataek.

What a keen one.

“If there’s something to say, say it anytime.”

“Not now. If needed, I’ll tell you later.”

Medeus didn’t press. Nataek gave a faint smile and flopped back onto the bed—

Knock, knock.

He sat bolt upright like a pop‑up toy.

“If you would come out a moment—someone is here.”

It was the proprietress. Medeus hid his sword, rose, and went to the door. When he opened it, Nataek’s eyes widened. Standing there was the Ur servant who had guided him to Lagab’s quarters before.

“Please, avoid anything that might offend him.”

That same man. Why has he come here?

Blocking the doorway, Medeus asked,

“What brings you—here?”

“It’s… that…”

Hesitating, the servant spoke softly,

“Lord Lagab bids you come show your wares today.”

From the bed, Nataek asked, incredulous,

“Today?”

“Yes. He ordered me to escort you personally.”

This was an emergency. Nataek first sent the servant down to the ground floor and then convened a quick council with Medeus.

“What do we do? Once the sun sets, we have to free the soldiers at once. If I show the goods first, can we still make it in time?”

“It could make us late. In a rush, we might get spotted. The risks multiply.”

The operation would have Nataek with Shuran, and Medeus with Nammuwa. With many soldiers needing to flee, a small delay could mean great loss.

“If I’m unlucky and Lagab keeps me, I… won’t be able to take part this time.”

Arms folded, Nataek thought hard. The core was for one team to go to the east yard, the other to the west. He slowly looked up at Medeus.

“Medeus. Stay here, and when it’s time, move with Lord Nammuwa as planned.”

“And you?”

“I’ll go to Lagab first. If dealing with him ends quickly, I’ll join Lord Shuran and head to the works yard… but if it runs late and I can’t make it, then Lord Shuran will go alone.”

Shuran was a seasoned warrior, once a general and commander. It wouldn’t be impossible for him to carry out the mission solo, though it might be hard.

“Teresi.”

“There’s no other way.”

“Going to Lagab alone—it’s too dangerous.”

Nataek stepped close.

“It will be fine. And we have this, remember?”

He flicked the necklace hidden under Medeus’s clothes with a fingertip.

“With this, we won’t lose our way—we can find each other. Don’t worry. It’ll go well.”

He said it to soothe Medeus, but inside him, a deeper unease than ever was rising.

Why call me—now, of all times… Is going alone really the right move?