Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 194

Chapter 194 Side Story 16

Medeus stretched his right leg a little farther out and slid his left leg lightly over Nataek’s thigh. Still, he looked uncomfortable. Seeing this, Nataek whispered,

“Let’s finish eating quickly and go.”

Medeus, pleased as always whenever Nataek paid him the slightest attention, nodded with a satisfied smile. Jungyeom’s mother and grandmother busied themselves serving food onto side plates, while Jungyeom was already absorbed in tearing meat apart with his chopsticks. Junhee popped a slice of bossam into her mouth but couldn’t help sneaking glances at Medeus.

Jungyeom’s mother set down a plate of bossam near Nataek and asked,

“So where did you get to know this friend? A college buddy?”

The only one at the table who knew about Nataek’s long absence was Jungyeom. Nataek gave a vague, non-committal answer that could pass. As he spoke, Jungyeom stole a look before plopping a piece of chicken stew onto his own plate.

The meal and conversation warmed the atmosphere until suddenly Junhee called out to Medeus,

“Medeus. Have you ever thought about taking on a part-time job?”

Her unexpected question earned her a smack on the back from her mother.

“There you go again. At least let them finish their meal before dragging them into your schemes. Don’t burden him.”

“They’ll probably head straight out after eating, so I’m asking now.”

It wasn’t just Medeus who was lost—Nataek was, too. He glanced at Jungyeom, raising his brows.

What’s this about?

Jungyeom only shrugged and jerked his chin toward Junhee.

“Ask her.”

Medeus, not knowing the meaning of “part-time job,” looked only to Nataek. So Nataek asked,

“What kind of job?”

Junhee set down her chopsticks, ready to begin her pitch.

“I need to make a new portfolio.”

“Portfolio?”

“Yes—photographs!”

Since middle and high school, Nataek hadn’t had much to do with Junhee. But he remembered hearing Jungyeom complain once that his sister had torn the house upside down saying she wanted to study photography. That offhand comment had clearly become reality now.

“This time I’m going for a concept I’ve never tried before,” Junhee explained, gesturing toward Medeus.

“It’s fate. Your friend is perfect—the very model I’ve been looking for.”

She clasped her hands at him.

“Medeus, have you ever modeled? No? It’s fine if you haven’t. I’ll make you look beautiful. Do you want to see some of the pictures I’ve taken?”

Medeus turned his eyes toward her this time, though he didn’t speak. Misreading his lack of response as refusal, Junhee leaned forward even more eagerly.

“I’ll pay more than the average rate! How about it?!”

“Pay?”

At the mention of higher pay, Medeus finally reacted—before Nataek could even translate. Junhee seized on it immediately.

“That’s right! I’ll give you lots of money. I only need one day of your time. What do you say? Yes?”

Junhee waved her chopsticks in the air. Nataek cleared his throat sharply. He wasn’t sure how much Medeus understood, but it seemed something better cut off now.

“Uh, Noona. That might be a bit—”

“Lee Nataek, keep your mouth shut. Don’t ruin this for me.”

“I’ll do it,” Medeus said at that very moment, just as Junhee raised her voice.

In an instant, everyone’s eyes snapped toward Medeus. No one was more shocked than Nataek.

“Medeus, do you even know what you’ll be doing?”

“She said she’ll pay me if I work, right?”

Junhee clapped her hands together.

“Exactly! And I’ll pay a lot.”

“Really a lot? How much?”

“Why don’t we discuss the details in my room? I’ll show you my photos there too.”

But before she could rise, her mother intervened.

“Not until you finish eating first!”

“Fine, fine. Okay.”

Junhee sank back down happily.

“I’ll explain in my room after we eat.”

Medeus only gave a short nod.

Nataek, however, was unsettled. With the way the mood flowed, he couldn’t stop Medeus. But why had someone who usually approached strangers with suspicion so easily accepted this offer? He couldn’t grasp it.

Later, after looking over Junhee’s work and setting a date, they left the house. By then, twilight had already fallen. Through the drive home and even once they arrived, questions still lingered in Nataek’s mind.

“Are you really going through with this?”

“Yes. I want to try. I can’t just stay here forever. Meeting lots of people is the fastest way to adapt.”

So, he said he had accepted to adapt?

It wasn’t that Medeus was wrong. And yet, given how cold or detached he usually was toward modern people, it was hard to grasp.

What is he thinking…? What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?

“The weather’s really nice today.” Medeus smiled, clearly in high spirits. After brooding for a while, Nataek asked,

“Medeus.”

“Yeah?”

“About that modeling job. Are you really okay with it? There’ll be lots of strangers there, and it won’t be a familiar environment.”

“Do you dislike me doing it?”

“No. It’s not that I dislike it.”

He didn’t dislike it. He knew it was part of adapting to this world. But the thought of putting Medeus on display unsettled him. Still, he couldn’t dismiss Medeus’s wishes just to soothe his own possessiveness. Nataek shook his head gently.

“No, I don’t dislike it. I just wonder if you’ll really be okay.”

Medeus didn’t answer right away. After a brief silence, he softly smoothed down Nataek’s hair.

“Yes. I’ll be fine. I want to try.”

Cool wind slipped between them. Feeling its touch, Nataek tried to understand Medeus’s perspective.

Right. Facing the world soon will be best for him. Yes, this is right…

Even so, he couldn’t shake a subtle pang of loneliness. Shocked at himself for feeling this way, he reflected deeply. But self-reproach couldn’t erase such instinctive emotions.

So this… is how parents must feel when their child grows up and leaves home…

For a while, their days resembled those of rural farmers. Together they accepted seeds from the neighbors and planted them in the empty plots, tended the yard, disposed of the old outdoor platform and ordered a new one, and even debated whether to raise a puppy. After some days of thought, they decided to wait. For now, Nataek wanted to focus only on Medeus, and for Medeus, Nataek was more important than anything.

Days flowed in that quiet rural life until the appointment day with Junhee finally arrived.

“Teresi, seatbelt.”

“Um… Medeus.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you really sure about this?”

Junhee’s studio was in the heart of the city. Every trip into a bustling district made Nataek tense. Sometimes even he struggled with the suffocating scenery; who knew how it might trap Medeus? Medeus still needed time.

“I’ll be fine.”

His cheeks rose into a smile. Wanting it so earnestly, how could Nataek press the matter further?

This outing, however, had another purpose besides Medeus’s first part-time job. Renting a car made Nataek finally think it might be time to buy one of his own.

It felt like just yesterday Medeus had mimed drawing a sword at the sight of a nurse. In only a few months, so much had changed. He could now sit still and let strangers adjust his hair and body. He could pose on command, unfamiliar though he was with photography. He even seemed to enjoy it—not the act itself necessarily, but what it meant: that the moments, the moods, the very feelings of the present could be recorded, preserved, and treasured.

“Turn your head a bit to the right!”

At Junhee’s request, Medeus did so. Dressed in an ivory knit sweater, with studio lighting sweeping over him, his skin looked even paler than usual. His long eyelashes were sharp even from afar. Sitting at a distance, Nataek crossed one leg over the other, rested his elbow on his knee, and placed his chin on his hand—while etching the far-off subject into his eyes and heart.

He’s mine, but he’s truly beautiful.

The idea that such beauty belonged wholly to him left his chest swelling.

Tonight, I have to tell him how gorgeous he looked. And kiss him, too. Ah… but will I be able to stop there? Probably not…

Also, where did that outfit come from? I should ask his sister later.

His thoughts flowed freely, circling Medeus alone. Then, a vibration buzzed in his pocket. Quickly, Nataek checked his phone.

[Here are the completed photos~ We made them just as richly as you requested^^]

An image appeared below the message. Quickly, Nataek replied,

[Thank you. I love them.]

[I’m leaving now, so I should arrive within two hours at most~~^^]

Forwarding the photo to someone else, he quietly stepped out of the studio. Outside, the sun had already begun to sink.