Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 150

 

Chapter 150

Nataek forced his trembling pupils to steady. With his head wrenched back, Lagab’s face looked even more vicious. If reminding him of the merchant status wouldn’t stop him, then flaunting the backing and connections behind that status might be the only way to secure safety.

“I came to Ur because the city before and after Lord Lagab would not be so different—that is the Delam princess’s view as well. If anything untoward happens to me, Delam’s merchants will cease coming to Ur. The ensi and the princess of Delam may well cut the trade routes to Ur entirely.”

Nataek stared straight up at him as he spoke, carefully sliding a hand down to keep the vial from slipping out of the folds.

“A lowly wretch dares threaten me?”

Lagab bared his teeth and thrust his face forward like an enraged bull. A line Medeus had spoken flashed to mind.

“Lagab is the most troublesome among the Guti to deal with. Not only is he capable on his own, he’s relentless and shrewd at tactics—units under him were never easy foes.”

Such tricks would not work. Faced alone with a man Medeus himself found vexing, Nataek felt despair. As he tried to step back, Lagab tightened his grip on Nataek’s hair and dragged him.

“Then your collusion with the Ur men—also the princess’s order, is it?”

The scalp throbbed under the brute strength of that hand, but his words hit harder. Lagab hurled Nataek onto the bed.

“Collusion…? I don’t know what you mean.”

Nataek tried to lift his torso, but a heavy palm smacked down on his brow and pinned him, burying him in the bedding. Pain pulsed across his forehead.

“You didn’t notice I had a tail on you.”

A tail?

“Unseen eyes are everywhere.”

“…He has been waiting. Please do not forget why you came—and conclude your business safely.”

“I can say no more.”

So the servant…?

The servant’s NPC‑like lines made sense now—an oblique hint that Lagab knew of their scheme, and to tread accordingly.

Nataek’s hands and feet went cold.

For the love of—how was that supposed to be understood!

He couldn’t guess when the tail began, or how much they knew.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Lagab’s face hovered in his vision. With the other hand, Lagab seized Nataek’s cheek and rubbed his philtrum and chin insistently with a thumb. Nataek’s skin, beardless, was as smooth as a child’s.

“I like rarities. Above all, I favor smooth skin. You dared try to deceive me—that offends—but for a specimen of this grade, I can overlook much.”

Lagab rolled the saliva pooling in his mouth with his tongue; it felt as if it would drip onto Nataek’s face at any moment.

There was no need to pretend at being a Delam merchant anymore. Nataek tried to drive an elbow into the solar plexus—but the man’s heavy bulk pressed down and trapped his arm beneath that massive chest. He had thought Medeus heavy; Lagab was beyond that—like a boulder on his chest. Pain shot through the crushed arm and he groaned.

“Ugh—mmph!”

Through slightly parted lips, Lagab’s tongue darted in. Disgust washed his body before he could even process it. It was like ramming a live loach into his mouth; a stale, fishy stench rushed in.

“Urgh!”

Gagging rose.

You filthy bastard!

Cursing inwardly, he thrashed—but the rock didn’t budge. With no other choice, he squeezed his eyes shut and bit down hard on the writhing “loach.”

“Mmmmmmph!”

Even Lagab’s tongue wasn’t stone. Clutching at his mouth, Lagab reared back.

Ptuh!

Nataek spat the foul taste onto the floor and pushed up. It did not matter that this was indoors, beside a bed. Ptuh, ptuh—stringy saliva flecked with red followed. He was about to tumble off the mattress when his ankle was seized.

Thud—

He smashed his face on the floor.

“Urgh…”

A raw thrum spread from his nose; something like mucus ran down over his philtrum. In that moment, a system notice flashed: his luck points were depleted—the blessing Medeus had given for his safe return spent.

He could not be taken here.

His head still rang, but he forced his body up—only for his legs to be dragged back toward the bed.

“You dog. Bite my tongue, will you?!”

Even as he snarled, Lagab’s eyes gleamed. When Nataek drew a fist, a massive palm cracked across his cheek.

Smack—smack—smack—

Like a battering punch, heavy blows hammered the same side of his face. The world spun; even the system windows shook and wavered. A large slice of his luck was shaved away.

As Lagab’s hand paused, Nataek tried to glare—but a heavy fist crashed into his gut.

“Ghh—”

His vision flashed white, then black, repeating. Before it cleared, Lagab’s thick fingers clamped his thighs. Flat on his back, his legs were forced wide and pinned in those massive hands. With such brutal grip, his legs were locked.

Damn it…!

His sight crept back. Even unstable, he writhed and fought. Lagab, easily subduing him, drove in between his legs. The unfamiliar angle shocked him into clarity.

Calm down. Steady. You can’t win head‑on. There must be another way—something in the intel you gathered about Lagab…

A memory streaked through.

“The human went to the Cedar Forest. In the deep wood, they stripped and seduced the beast. By the touch, day and night, the beast’s eyes rolled and his heart was stolen—he shed his thick hide of his own will. In the Cedar Forest, the rival revealed his weakness of his own accord.”

A human seducing a beast… Don’t tell me—that was a hint?

Hoping it wasn’t, he looked down at Lagab pressed against him; the man’s eyes were anything but ordinary. Nataek shut his eyes tight and swallowed. Whether or not—it seemed the only way to open a gap in this monster was to bait him, like the human in the clue.

Force against force was smashing an egg against rock. Steeling himself, Nataek opened his eyes slowly.

“Lord Lagab.”

Even with resolve set, his hands trembled, and nausea surged up. He forced himself calm and laid a hand on the thick forearm. Lagab’s blazing gaze fixed on him.

“I understand what you want. I will do as you wish—just… do not make it hurt.”

Lagab bared yellow teeth in a grin and yanked him closer by the waist.

“Good. It’s fine to twitch, but you taste best when you quiet down.”

Damn you—taste, is it!

Lagab set a hand on Nataek’s belly and lowered his head toward the chest. Instinct screamed at Nataek to shrink away. But to pierce a gap, he had to pretend surrender and accept the act. He let his hands fall weakly to the bed.

What now? When do I shove him off? Surely I won’t have to let this filthy dog see more than this—

Just then—

“If your legs are bound, how do you get out?”

“If the build is similar, use the method I showed you. If not, use another.”

“What other?”

Medeus’s fighting lesson returned.

“Use your head.”

Nataek’s eyes sharpened.

Right—head… You bastard. All in.

“Sibiera said he’d found something rare. Smooth skin, hard to find…”

Crack—

Before he finished, Nataek slammed his forehead into Lagab’s brow. With the sudden hit, Lagab’s hands flew to his own forehead.

“Once you make a gap, don’t miss it. Aim for the weakest spot within range—like the throat…”

Lagab’s flipped‑up fish‑yellow eyes came into view.

Eyes!

The thought and the strike were the same instant; Nataek drove a fist at Lagab’s eye.

“Aagh!”

At last, Lagab straightened fully. Nataek bolted off the bed in that opening.

Quick—quick! Go!

He sprinted for the entrance.

“Damn…! Seize him!”

He threw the door open, snatching up Lagab’s bow and arrows standing in the corner by the entry. Standing at the threshold was the servant who had led him here. As Nataek raised a hand to strike—

“This way.”

Mouthing the words, the servant flicked his eyes toward a space beside them. A section he’d taken for a wall on the way in was open like a side door—just enough for one person.

“Hurry!”

At the silent mouth‑shapes, Nataek slipped through at once.

With Medeus absent, Ur’s reconquest repeatedly botched, and their cover blown—amid all this failure, he remembered the hint the servant had given upon arrival.

“I can say no more.”

Though he had become Sibiera’s man, perhaps he was still one of the Ur folk who dreamed of taking the city back. As soon as Nataek entered, the panel shut without a sound. Voices thrummed on the other side.

“Where did he go?!”

“He fled that way.”

As the pounding steps receded, Nataek took a short breath and hurried forward. The corridor within the side passage twisted on and on, narrow and unending. The farther he ran, the fainter the servant’s voice grew. Gritting his teeth, he ran without stopping until there was an exit.

When he burst out at full speed, the sky was already aflame with sunset.

“So you did come out. But… what state is that.”

A familiar voice greeted him. He whipped his head—Shuran stood there.

“Lord Shuran! How did you know to come here?”

Wiping the liquid under his nose with the back of his hand, Nataek asked.

“Lord Nammuwa and I know the mansion’s layout better than the Guti. The servant sent a letter at dawn—no details, only that he would send you out here if anything happened. From the look of you, you’ve had your share—let’s move.”

At his gesture, Nataek followed.

“And you trust that? Do you know him?”

“He’s long served Lord Nammuwa.”

Nataek’s eyes flicked aside, but his legs did not slow.

“He seems to have turned to Sibiera and Lagab’s side. And you still trust him?”

“A weak and fearful man. To survive, he had no choice but to cling there.”

Nataek grabbed Shuran’s arm and halted him.

“What!”

“He tailed us. He fed them our information. Lagab knew I was colluding with the Ur.”

“Keep moving.”

Even so, Shuran pressed on, and Nataek, forced to follow, kept talking.

“I don’t know how much he knows. But to summon me today—he may know our plan in detail. We have to warn Medeus.”

Shuran’s stride hit a brief stop, then resumed.

“…No change. We move as planned.”

“What?!”

The secret passage was all but a shortcut to the western works yard. In little time, the yard lay ahead in the distance; the sun dropped fast. On sighting Guti guards, Shuran tugged Nataek down into brush. Nataek whispered.

“What do you mean? You’ll push the plan knowing they may strike back?”

“That fellow—the servant—helping you escape means he hasn’t wholly betrayed us. He likely told them only that you colluded with the Ur. The timing being today—Lagab’s own deduction. If he guessed that far, then he’s probably already seen through what we mean to do.”

“Then we should wait for another chance.”

“Lagab isn’t a fool. Even if we pull back, he’ll prune the sprout. He may execute all Ur soldiers in the works yard. Then there’s no chance to rise again.”

Nataek clenched his fist. Shuran went on.

“If you understand, move as planned. No change.”

“Medeus doesn’t know this yet. He needs to be told.”

“Damn it.”

Shuran ground his lip; he no doubt worried for Nammuwa too. After a pause, he did not waver.

“If Lord Nammuwa stood in my place, he would press on. We can only trust them. If we break formation now, all is for nothing. Freeing the archer captain and the soldiers comes first.”

Damn it.

Nataek ground his teeth. He had known Ur would be hard—but not that things would twist and twist again. Medeus’s image flashed before his eyes—commanding troops across the field.

Should I go?

But he did not know Ur’s ground well. He clenched a fist.

If I go alone, I’ll only get lost and caught. I have to trust Medeus. Please… don’t let him be hurt.

He clutched his chest. Against the crimson sky, the memory of the necklace he had placed on Medeus’s neck flitted by—a token of faith that they would find each other again. The sun had only its tail left above the line. Shuran gestured.

“Now. Let’s go.”