Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 200

Chapter 200 Side Story 2

 

Episode 2

This was still training—or rather… calling it “training” might give the wrong impression. In any case, more time was needed to adapt.

“We’re moving tomorrow. If I do laundry now, we’d have to carry damp clothes with us tomorrow and that’s just…”

“Then should we go to the shower?”

“Instead of that…!”

At that moment, Nataek’s body was suddenly lifted high into the air.

“M-Medeus.”

Without concern, Medeus carried him straight into the bedroom. Nataek clutched tightly at his shoulder.

“I don’t think today’s a good idea.”

Contrary to his forceful start, Medeus gently laid Nataek on the bed. He then grasped him tightly and flopped down beside him.

“I won’t do anything. Just let me hold you.”

“….”

Perhaps Nataek had tensed unconsciously. Hearing that, his arms softened their resistance. Medeus glanced at him with a dissatisfied expression.

“Are modern people weak, or is it just you who’s weak?”

“As I’ve told you before, even among my peers I’m one of the fitter ones.”

“To me, you look like a weak little kungha.” (Kungha: a beast referenced from the world of Uruk, symbolizing something soft or feeble in comparison to a warrior standard).

Medeus slipped his thigh between Nataek’s legs. After that first time when he had pushed things brutally, Nataek had worked hard to teach him patience. Through a whole year of living together, he had made progress. Thanks to that effort, Medeus had become a man who could, though often visibly filled with dissatisfaction, suppress and control his strength to some degree. Hugging Nataek closely, Medeus spoke with decision.

“When we move, I need to research some ways to build up your stamina.”

Nataek reviewed his own stamina and health, never once before outmatched by another. Then he decided to stop thinking further. After all, what Medeus wanted wasn’t anything else—it was himself. If that’s what he wanted, then stamina was a small matter…

“…Alright. I’ll try.”

He resolved to put in more effort so that he would not lose out to this ancient warrior.

Even with the help of a moving company, relocating was no simple task. By the time they finished tidying even the leftover clutter, the sun was already setting. Thanks to the inept moving staff, Nataek himself had labored plenty. After unpacking and organizing heavy loads, his body ached all over. With exhaustion, he collapsed onto the floor and leaned back against the underside of the sofa.

“Ahh… so tired.”

In his hand was a rag turned black with dirt. When he turned his head right, he caught sight of the balcony window. Outside, in a cloudless sky, a bright full moon hung.

“The moon’s so bright.”

He murmured, sinking deeper into the sofa. The squeak of the leather accompanied his body pressing down into the softness. Suddenly, he recalled Uruk—those times when, after finishing the duties of a slave, he would lay down on coarse piles of hay.

The sky beyond layers of closed glass windows was clear; stars dotted it sparsely. And yet, compared to the night sky on the day he had ridden away from Uruk on horseback, it was nothing. The stars then had spilled in brilliance. Remembering that day now only made the modern sky feel dull and murky.

“You worked hard, Teresi.”

Medeus approached silently, taking the rag from Nataek’s hand. He then cleaned his hand thoroughly with a fresh towel. Medeus, aside from a faint dusting, still looked neat and untroubled.

Nataek gazed between the view outside and Medeus, recalling the past and present. The nightly view of Uruk beneath the shining sky, the valor of General Medeus roaming the plains—scenes never to return, yet deeply beautiful.

But the heart of Medeus, who had lived under that sky, had not been so lovely: trampled, burdened with loneliness, rejected—what beauty could there be in such torment?

“Teresi?”

Nataek stared intently at him. How fortunate that he had been able to bring him here. Now Medeus was forgetting his sword, growing accustomed to smiles instead of anger, nights of deep sleep without a blade at his side. Watching this Medeus, adapting to peace, made the night sky seem irrelevant.

Medeus’s lips began curving into a soft smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because you are.”

Only then did Nataek realize he was indeed smiling. This simple time, where they could smile together, was precious beyond measure. He stretched his arm toward Medeus, who pulled him close and buried his face against Nataek’s chest, rubbing against him with abandon.

“Medeus. When’s your next shoot?”

“The week after next.”

Nataek brushed his hair gently back and tucked it behind his ear, thinking to himself: Once work starts at the company, free time will vanish… should we have a trip together before then?

It was about time he told Medeus the good news of his employment, and it seemed they should seize time for themselves before busyness overtook them.

While he pondered their future plans, Medeus stroked his thigh. Nataek, wearing loose shorts, felt no resistance as that hand slipped beneath the fabric.

“Teresi. Remember?”

His rough hand wandered over skin, caressing his thigh and sliding up toward the center. Narrowing his eyes at Medeus in reproach, Nataek only saw his smile widen.

“You once said there’s a thing you must do on the first day in a new house.”

A reluctant laugh escaped Nataek as he returned his lover’s warm gaze.

“Devote yourself fully to your partner’s body?”

“Mm.”

That’s what the saying was—that such intimacy makes a marriage bond stronger.

Already Medeus’s hand was inside his shorts, exploring and rubbing along the centerline through his underwear. Crawling closer like a child, he raised his eyes to Nataek’s.

“So then, Teresi. Tonight is…”

Medeus slowly sat up, withdrawing his hand from the shorts only to wrap his arm around Nataek’s waist and pull him in, faces in near-breathing distance. Just then Nataek remembered he was drenched in sweat.

“Medeus. Wait.”

“Why?”

“I stink right now.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine—to me. I’ve been covered in dust all day. Let me wash first.”

“Should we wash together?”

After thinking briefly, Nataek shook his head.

“No. Not this time.”

He knew all too well that Medeus would latch onto him before he could properly scrub clean. On most days, perhaps it wouldn’t matter. But after today’s toil in dust, it was unacceptable. Hearing that refusal, Medeus’s brows sank straight downward.

“You’ll wash anyway—if we do, we’ll save time together.”

Leaning his weight forward as Nataek tried pushing at his chest, Medeus resisted with obvious displeasure.

“Would it really save time?”

At that, Medeus bit his lip, then closed the distance further.

“…Probably.”

Whether to brush past it in jest or to act coy, Nataek couldn’t tell. Either way, this growing streak of childishness—visible only to Nataek, and increasingly endearing—was becoming its own problem. For Nataek always gave in whenever Medeus showed it.

Medeus kissed his cheek with a wet sound.

“If we go together, there are four hands to wash with. Faster that way.”

“What about the fact there are two bodies?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Wrapping Nataek more tightly, Medeus pressed kisses to his jaw and collarbone.

“As long as we stick close like one body.”

“…Medeus. I really smell.”

“And I like it.”

“Are you a pervert?”

At Nataek’s offhand jab, Medeus burst into laughter. Abandoning the lift of his T-shirt, he instead cupped Nataek’s cheek gently.

“Mm. Let’s say I am. So let’s wash together.”

“I said no… mmph…!”

Before for him to finish, those red lips sealed his own. Their pressed torsos rubbed chest through thin fabric. As his head tilted back against the sofa, Medeus climbed firmly onto his thigh, straddling him. Pressed into his abdomen, he could feel Medeus’s arousal hard against him. Nataek’s breath also began to roughen.

Ah… at this rate, I’ll be swept up once again.

Realizing he couldn’t allow it, Nataek suddenly gripped both of Medeus’s thighs tight, lifted his own hips to hoist him up—and then tossed Medeus down onto the sofa. Mounting him, Nataek seized his wrists and pinned them overhead.

“Tonight—absolutely not.”

Medeus’s face twisted with undeniable frustration. Nataek, however, steeled himself firmly not to give in.