Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 205

Chapter 205 Side Story 2

 

Episode 7.

Medeus’s face suddenly came close. With the mask covering all but his eyes, the worry in them was clearer than ever. When Nataek instinctively took a step back, Medeus’s large palm supported the small of his back.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Nothing important. Just… maybe I should increase my workout intensity?”

“You’re still a beginner.”

“Medeus. Back in Uruk, what kind of training did you do?”

At that, Medeus straightened, thinking deeply.

“Hmm. Let’s see… It wasn’t like this. Mostly bodyweight exercises.”

“Like what?”

Medeus tidied the barbell away, then bent forward suddenly and scooped Nataek up by the thighs. Startled, Nataek clutched his shoulders and hair as Medeus began squatting smoothly.

“Mostly like this.”

So… he’d used people instead of equipment…

After a few demonstrations, Medeus carefully set him back down. A handful of people sneaking glances burned their stares into them, but luckily it wasn’t many, so Nataek could play it off casually enough.

“Then, when you wanted more weight, how did you do it?”

“Either lifted a fully armed soldier, or added more of them. Otherwise, we tied together big leather sacks and filled them with stones, or used cut logs. Lots of ways.”

Of course. A craftsman doesn’t blame his tools. Thinking that Medeus’s flawless body had been built with such primitive methods made Nataek feel oddly apologetic toward his own lacking muscles. Tightening his lifting straps, he eyed the heavier machines longingly.

“Today I’ll push myself harder.”

“You sure you can handle it?”

“Yeah. So eventually, my stamina will surpass yours.”

Unaware of the true meaning behind Nataek’s words, Medeus only lit up like a child, happily bumping his forehead against the side of Nataek’s head.

“Alright. Sounds good.”

While Medeus brimmed with joy, Nataek burned with nothing but competitive resolve.

A Friend of a Lover

“Of all days, the meeting had to fall on the day before your flight.”

Watching the navigation signal their approach, Nataek sighed. Outside, rain poured heavily. Today was the university friends’ gathering. The date was inconveniently close to Medeus’s departure—but having agreed, it didn’t feel right to cancel. He had warned them beforehand that he’d only drop in briefly, so he wasn’t too burdened.

“Anything you need to pick up on the way?” Medeus asked, watching the wipers sweep rhythmically.

“Not really. We’ve got most things at home. Whatever else, I can get there. Nothing worth buying specially.”

The light turned green, and the car glided forward again. Driving quietly for a while, Medeus glanced at him and said in a low voice,

“Don’t drink too much.”

“I won’t.”

“And don’t end up with your head on the table again.”

“When did I ever do that?”

“Before.”

“When?”

“Don’t you remember?”

“…….”

Nataek froze. While he couldn’t handle alcohol, he usually knew his limits. But collapsing face-first onto the table in front of Medeus? That had happened—once. Back in Uruk. At the very beginning, furious and reckless, he had downed sikar and ended up drunk…

“I don’t drink like that anymore…” murmured Nataek, pressing his forehead to the window. The memory of not knowing what he might have said then flushed his cheeks hot even now.

The navigator announced arrival, and Medeus smoothly parked.

“Wait inside.”

Before he could reply, Medeus had stepped out, retrieved an umbrella from the backseat, and opened Nataek’s door. Despite the heavy rainfall, not a single drop touched him. Medeus sheltered him carefully, hand settling over his shoulder as if escorting royalty, pulling him close into his broad chest. The door shut behind him.

All the way to the entrance, Medeus became his umbrella. These roles had once been reversed; now Medeus had mastered them—even in such details, his learning capacity was fearsome. For Nataek, who always wanted to be the one caring for him, it was bittersweet. But since Medeus seemed to want it, he let it be for now.

At the door, Medeus closed the umbrella and subtly stepped away to maintain distance. In just such details, Nataek could see how much Medeus had adapted here. In the past, he would have drawn closer, prickly in jealousy of Nataek’s friends. Now, he deliberately respected appearances to avoid misunderstandings about their relationship. It was considerate… yet, somehow, it pricked at Nataek.

Am I… the one feeling off? Or is he the one who should feel hurt here?

“Nataek. Let’s go in.”

“Yeah.”

Suppressing the tangle of emotions, Nataek entered. The chosen place was a Korean barbecue restaurant with private rooms. When the door opened, Jungyeom’s face popped out.

“Lee Nataek!”

“You finally made it!”

“Hello!”

With overlapping greetings, he and Medeus sat down beside him.

“You remember me, right? Kim Seo-eun.”

Seo-eun held out her hand, and Medeus shook it confidently, introducing himself once again. Seeing him act more polished than any “modern” native still unsettled Nataek sometimes. Gathered there were the closest friends he had from college: Seo-eun, Jungyeom, Min-cheol, and Gyu-jeong, who had his wedding invitations in hand.

“Alright, first—cheers to Gyu-jeong’s wedding!”

“Medeus, will you drink too?” Min-cheol asked carefully.

Medeus declined smoothly.

“I brought the car.”

Seo-eun backed him up.

“He’s got a shoot tomorrow, but still came because of the promise today. Don’t make him drink. Hey, Nataek, you drink one for him. Just one.”

Knowing his weak tolerance, they didn’t push him, just clinked a symbolic first glass. Amid the lively chatter, Medeus sat composed, listening patiently.

Had they been total strangers, he would never have responded so agreeably; but these were Nataek’s old friends, people who cared for him sincerely. Recognizing them as kind souls, he set watchfulness aside and chose simply to blend calmly into their warmth. Nataek could see it in his eyes and posture.

But when the wedding invitations passed around, the mood shifted.

“Jungyeom’s still single.”

“Hey—why’re you so sure without checking?”

“Just a gut feel.”

Seo-eun gave him a look-over, patting his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, friend. You’ll get there.”

“Tch.”

“And Min-cheol—when’s your turn? Spill it.”

Min-cheol flushed, grinning sheepishly.

“Next year, maybe.”

“See? It was bound to happen.”

Seo-eun filled Medeus in on the backstory.

“This guy’s got a long-time girlfriend who’s older. He’s like this big teddy bear, so he never catches on—keeps upsetting her without realizing, then comes crying to us: why’s she mad, I don’t get it. Sometimes even calls at night. Then she shows up all sorry, drags him off and scolds him again. Five years of that! We all said, only a wedding would settle it down.”

Listening, Medeus smiled faintly. The words “dragged off crying” hardly fit when the man himself was so large and burly, chuckling good-naturedly. Clicking her tongue, Seo-eun teased him, while Gyu-jeong patted his back in encouragement.

“Good call. You and Seon-jung noona, you’re destined.”

Min-cheol nodded with a meek smile, and even Nataek found himself smiling along.

Medeus’s glass was empty. Though he could have driven, Medeus had clearly preferred not to drink with these unfamiliar people. Quietly, Nataek refilled it with a soft drink.

Just then, a question struck from nowhere.

“Nataek, what about you?”

“Huh?”

“Girlfriend. You got one?”

In an instant, Nataek and Medeus’s eyes met.

Seo-eun interjected, sharp-eyed.

“Hey, I saw you wearing a ring, didn’t I?”

Gyu-jeong nodded.

“Me too. So who is it? Where’d you meet? Tell us everything.”

At their words, Nataek let his eyes pass over his friends, then returned them to Medeus. His hand… had long gone without a ring.

Footnotes

1. Sikar (시카르): An ancient Mesopotamian beer made from fermented barley and dates. Referenced here as what Nataek drank when he first entered Uruk, marking his one time totally drunk.