Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 183

Chapter 183 Side Story 5

 

Nataek turned toward the direction of the sound. It was the blare of a bus horn at a car that had suddenly cut in. Medeus quickly composed his expression and nodded.

“I’m fine.”

Peering into Medeus’s face, Nataek asked,

“Are you really okay?”

Medeus kept insisting he was fine, but Nataek knew the truth—that Medeus still hadn’t adapted to modern conveniences.

The first place they had headed upon arriving in the modern era was the hospital. Coming from a quiet residential building, they had been transferred by an ambulance boxed in on both sides, so this environment was bound to be a first for him. On top of that, when they arrived at the hospital, Nataek himself wasn’t in his right mind, and Medeus couldn’t keep his composure either. Because the situation was urgent and disorienting, both of them had rushed to the hospital feeling as if they were weaving through a battlefield.

Honk, honk—!

In the gridlocked road, another horn slammed into their eardrums. In an ancient civilization, a blast that loud was a sound you’d only hear on the battlefield. It’s not something that would be heard in unguarded everyday life. The previews seen on the hospital room TV and the real thing were worlds apart.

Should’ve just ordered online…

But now that they were here, there was no turning back. The best thing was to finish quickly and go home. Nataek gripped Medeus’s hand tightly.

“Let’s take a quick look and go. It’ll feel better once we’re home.”

Feigning nonchalance, Nataek pulled Medeus by the hand and stepped into the department store. They didn’t take the elevator. Worried that the confined space might make Medeus feel stifled, he chose the escalator instead. Two extremely tall men walking hand in hand wasn’t exactly a common sight.

Medeus looked as if he were wearing someone else’s clothes, and Nataek had a cast on his arm; together they looked like a pair with a complicated backstory. People passing by kept sneaking glances at them, but Nataek didn’t care. The unsteady state of his lover mattered far more than anyone’s gaze.

The floor with the beds was at least relatively quiet. With a small sigh of relief, Nataek headed straight to the bedding section. On the way, Medeus stared wide-eyed at the store’s dishes and pots. Catching sight of Medeus’s state, Nataek slowed his pace. Thanks to that, Medeus could take his time to look over the items.

“The tableware here comes in an incredible variety.”

“If you like something, should we buy a few?”

At Nataek’s suggestion, Medeus hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

“No. It’s fine. Your place already has tableware.”

Nataek pictured his own kitchen. One pot and one pan, and two plates and bowls each—that was the entirety of the kitchenware.

If we’re going to live together, we’ll need to buy more bowls and utensils first.

Without stopping, their steps soon brought them to the bedding store. The clerk didn’t bat an eye at Medeus’s pants riding above his ankles, at Nataek’s injured arm, or at their tightly held hands, and greeted them with a bright smile. It was the perfect smile of pure capitalism.

Looking at the beds on display, Medeus offered a short impression.

“Why are there beds in the middle of the market?”

The image of an ancient marketplace flashed through Nataek’s mind, and a brief laugh escaped his lips.

“In this market, even beds are sold like this.”

Not just the beds—Medeus stared with fascinated eyes at the big pieces of furniture in the distance. With a gentle smile at the corners of his mouth, Nataek asked the clerk,

“I’m looking for a bed big enough that he can roll around on it. What’s the largest size you carry?”

At his question, the clerk sized up Medeus’s height.

“Hmm… the lengths are actually all quite similar. That said, the large bed at our store is just over two meters long…”

The clerk trailed off.

“It’s the largest size among domestic mattresses, but would you come this way?”

The clerk guided the two of them to a spacious bed, then pressed the mattress here and there while introducing the product. While quality and type mattered, the first priority was size. Nataek led Medeus up onto the bed that was supposedly the largest size.

“Try lying down.”

“Here?”

“Yeah.”

Since Medeus didn’t lie down right away, Nataek added an explanation.

“It’s normal here to lie on beds before buying. That’s how you find a comfortable one.”

Quickly. When Nataek gave him a gentle, coaxing look, Medeus slowly lay down. With a rustling sound, his pant legs rode up even further. Seeing his calves bared like he was wearing capris, Nataek mentally added another item to the shopping list.

Need to buy new clothes right away too…

Medeus’s toes touched the corner of the bed’s edge. With an awkward smile, the clerk explained,

“It’s just that the customer is exceptionally tall. But if he shifts his head a bit higher, it’ll feel much more comfortable.”

The length didn’t look particularly generous, but taking Medeus elsewhere felt risky in several ways. After having Medeus lie on a few different beds, Nataek made the purchase on the spot. He wasn’t the type who usually enjoyed shopping, but this time it felt especially rushed. However, an inconsiderate stomach couldn’t bear the momentary lull and started making a scene again.

Growl—.

“……”

Medeus glanced down at Nataek’s belly and murmured,

“Come to think of it, we didn’t even have breakfast.”

To keep luggage light on discharge day, they had pared down their grocery purchases, and the supplies had run out last night. No wonder he’d been holding out so well.

“How do people procure food here? Is it the same kind of purchase as in Uruk or Kish? What do we use for payment?”

Medeus rummaged in his pocket. He briefly showed a small piece of metal that had somehow ended up in the pocket of his training pants. They were the necklace chain and bracelet and such small accessories he’d been wearing when he crossed over to the modern world.

In that instant, an old article flashed through Nataek’s mind—the kind that said an item thought to be fake, a work of art, a piece of pottery, or some object turned out to be an artifact from hundreds or thousands of years ago. Stories of people whose lives changed thanks to something that sold for billions swept quickly through his thoughts.

How much would that fetch if converted into money?

The useless thought passed in a moment. Nataek didn’t want to hand Medeus’s things over to anyone.

“Don’t worry about it. Put those back in your pocket.”

“But you haven’t eaten anything.”

Medeus scrutinized Nataek’s flat pocket and empty hands. Then, from the other pocket, he stealthily pulled out his ID and showed it.

Only then did Nataek catch on. Not knowing the modern methods of transaction precisely, Medeus was trying to figure out what means he could use to pay. Until now, hospital food had been paid for by phone. The hospital bill had been taken care of at the billing office, so Medeus hadn’t seen it; the only payment methods he had observed were the card handed over for the taxi fare and the mattress just now. Medeus was wondering whether his similar-looking ID card might also work as a means of payment.

He shouldn’t laugh, but laughter kept bubbling up, and Nataek covered his mouth with his hand. Like a child learning the ways of the world from watching an adult, Medeus was picking up modern conveniences by watching each of Nataek’s actions. The adorable behavior he showed after observing and catching on sent Nataek’s heart fluttering wildly.

Nataek reached out a hand to Medeus.

“When we were in Uruk and Kish, you took care of my meals every day. Now that you’re in my world, leave it to me here.”

“But…”

“Come on, hand.”

Nataek shook the hand he’d extended. After a moment’s hesitation, Medeus slowly took it. In the middle of the department store’s home section, Nataek calmly led Medeus onto the escalator.

He wanted to eat at home where there were fewer people and where it felt comfortable. But with a hand that wasn’t fully functional, it was hard to cook. The idea of delivery—choosing food based only on photos—didn’t appeal either.

After some thought, Nataek led Medeus to the nearest basement food section. He wanted Medeus to look at the food with his own eyes and choose directly. He could feel people sneaking glances at them here too, but Nataek didn’t mind. If he showed that he was bothered, Medeus would worry all the more.

“Pick whatever you want to eat.”

Grinning, Nataek nudged the displays toward Medeus with his eyes. Pretending to be calm, Medeus nodded slowly, but his eyes, opened wide, kept darting around. Colorful, charming desserts, all kinds of breads and fruits, and even some thick, mysterious foods—his pupils spun left and right in a frenzy.

“Anything’s fine, so pick whatever.”

When Nataek urged him, Medeus began choosing items one by one. Nataek felt relieved that Medeus didn’t know the prices or scarcity of these foods. Once he started, the selection flowed without hesitation, ignoring menu types and categories. It was as if he had a certain criterion. Wondering what it could be, Nataek found the answer when they reached the fruit section.

“They have grapes here too.”