Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 100

Chapter 100

Nataek stepped out from where he had been hiding and walked forward.

“And to think the ones saying such things are accusing others of being base.”

One of the soldiers who saw Nataek hurriedly scrambled to his feet.

“L-Lion(it’s like  divine envoy)! W-When did you get here…”

Startled by his reaction, the two others beside him also sprang up and bowed their heads. On any other day, Nataek might have acknowledged their greeting first, but today he didn’t even feel the need to. He stepped over the fence and stood in front of them.

“You say you can’t trust General Medeus? Is it because he’s from Akkaldia, or because he’s a Urukian?”

“That’s… That’s not what we meant…”

“Has anyone from the Anu family ever deceived you?”

“……”

“Of course not.”

The people of the Anu clan had all died long ago.

“Besides, General Medeus is not a Urukian.”

He had been treated as a barbarian and an outsider even within Uruk, so he couldn’t possibly be considered one of them. And now that he’d been banished, even the pretense of his affiliation with Uruk had been stripped away.

“It was none other than Kish’s Ensi who affiliated General Medeus with Kish.”

“Th-That’s right… You’re absolutely right…”

“And yet, this is the kind of conversation you’ve been having? This isn’t merely a matter of trust toward the General. It’s a matter of disobedience to the Ensi’s orders, and also a matter of trust in me, who invoked the name of Inanna and testified that he is her hero. Did you take all of that into account before speaking?”

The frustration and anger that had been building up poured out all at once. The soldiers faltered under Nataek’s reprimand.

“I asked if you considered all that before speaking.”

“W-We’re sorry, Lion. We… acted carelessly. We only…”

“Don’t say you didn’t know. Don’t claim your intentions weren’t bad either. I don’t think the soldiers of Kish are so foolish that they can’t even grasp that much.”

There wasn’t a single one who could talk back to Nataek’s rebuke. For the first time, he wielded the status he’d been given to suppress others—only to protect Medeus.

“If I hear such talk again, I will report it directly to the Ensi. I’ll also pray to the goddess Inanna to punish your recklessness severely.”

“We’re sorry! Truly, we are so sorry, Lion!”

The soldiers knelt before Nataek.

Bastards…

The scene in front of him was infuriating. These same men who so easily bowed their heads before Nataek’s title and the hollow name of Inanna’s messenger had just been dragging Medeus through the dirt behind his back—just because he was born of so-called barbarians.

Nataek had always believed that a system which classified people by status was irrational. Judging someone by their origins was no different. And yet, the very hierarchy he detested—the hollow honor he wore—was now the only means by which he could protect Medeus. The contradiction gnawed at him.

“To doubt General Medeus is no different than doubting me. Do you understand? Do not ever utter such vile talk again.”

“Yes, understood, Lion. W-We’ll never let it happen again!”

Even after spilling all his pent-up rage into words, his anger didn’t subside. He had never gotten so worked up over something that wasn’t his own problem before. Nataek tilted his head back and blew out a long breath into the air. Yet still his chest felt tight, and he ran a hand through his hair as he turned around.

“Damned… huh.”

He muttered a curse under his breath—only to find a broad chest right in front of his nose. Startled, Nataek quickly took a step back.

What the—? Why’s he here? I nearly bumped into him.

There was no need to even check the face. The familiar scent told him in a single instant who the man in front of him was.

He had been over there just a moment ago, training.

“When… did you get here?”

“Just now.”

“Is your training over…?”

“No. We’re switching to spear drills now.”

Behind him, the sounds of soldiers busily moving could be heard.

Don’t tell me he heard everything I said. From when…?

Nataek scratched his chin and cautiously lifted his gaze. Medeus stared into Nataek’s eyes with an unreadable expression. Nataek instinctively took a few steps back.

“I noticed some unrest over here during drills and came to check it out. Then I saw you. So I came over.”

“Ah… I see. I was just passing by.”

“The training grounds?”

“…Yes.”

This time, Medeus’ gaze shifted to the soldiers still bowing on the ground. He stepped up beside Nataek and murmured quietly toward them.

“You say you can’t trust me…”

There was no telling how much of the conversation Medeus had overheard, but at the very least, he had heard Nataek’s final words.

The soldiers, picking up on his quiet voice, quickly protested.

“That’s not true, General! Not at all!”

“I already know there are those in Kish’s army who don’t trust me.”

“……”

“But I hope none of you are foolish enough to question my resolve.”

Medeus already knew exactly how the soldiers regarded him. And yet, he hadn’t shown even half the anger that Nataek had.

Medeus approached one of them.

“Just as you suspect, Uruk was once my home. I defended everything within and around its walls with my own hands. Not because I believed myself a Urukian, but because there was something there I knew I had to protect.”

‘The key I gave you is the debt I owe. It’s repayment for having protected our family all this time. So you can trust it.’

‘If Lord Medeus is still alive somewhere, then perhaps I can at least dream that things might change someday. So please, you must survive.’

He recalled the words of those he had left behind—those he had once protected in Uruk.

“I move for the sake of protecting what must be protected. And what I must protect now is Inanna’s will for Kish to stand firm.”

His words held weight, but his voice was softer than ever.

“Just as you raise your swords to protect your families and homes, I raise mine to protect what is mine. Even if it’s a land I once built, it’s no exception.”

His pale gray irises slowly turned—and settled on Nataek.

“From now on, I will no longer let doubts about me slide. To question me is to question Inanna’s will.”

“We will remember that!”

The soldiers shouted in unison, and a system message appeared.

Quelling the ‘Soldiers’ Discontent.’

[Covert Operation] Quest Progress: 60%.

Nataek read and reread the glowing words etched into the air until they disappeared.

‘If that’s really your wish, I’ll make it come true.’

He remembered Medeus saying that—when Nataek had asked him to help unify the land by stepping over Uruk, and he had agreed without hesitation.

Only now did the weight of that promise truly hit him. Medeus was preparing for a journey that would lead him to destroy with his own hands the very city and army he had built.

For the first time, Nataek wondered—did Medeus carry a resolve so immense, no modern man could possibly comprehend it?

“Tereshi. If you want to watch more of the drills, go find some shade.”

“…No. I was really just passing by. I’ll head back now.”

To protect Medeus, Nataek would need to harden his own resolve.

He vowed, with firm conviction, to build the skill needed to stand as Medeus’ shield.

As soon as he left the training grounds, Nataek returned to his quarters. He picked up the arrows he’d already set aside and resumed his archery practice. He continued firing without pause until the sun set and twilight darkened the sky, until torches lit up one by one.

Whoosh—thwack—!

He reached into the quiver to loose another, but found it empty.

Already used them all.

Without even realizing, he had emptied the quiver again. The target board was once more bristling like a hedgehog.

“I guess I should stop here for today…”

Just as he gripped the empty quiver and glanced around—

“Wah! Oh, damn it.”

A head popped up just outside the fence, just beyond the torchlight’s reach.

“What are you doing there?”

Nataek clutched his pounding chest and scowled. This was practically ninja level. Just like earlier, Medeus had appeared without a sound and was watching him.

“I’ve been here for a while. You just didn’t notice because you were so focused.”

“Then you should’ve said something.”

“I was waiting for your practice to end.”

“If you’d said something, I would’ve stopped.”

“That’s why I didn’t say anything.”

Medeus’ head rose above the fence. A pale arm followed, gripping the top as he peered inside.

“You done?”

“Yes. Well… the day’s pretty much over now.”

Nataek looked at Medeus with a mix of disbelief and exasperation. Watching him peer curiously at the torn-up target board, Nataek imagined the view beyond the fence. For Medeus—tall as he was—to show that much of his upper body, he must’ve been standing on tiptoe.

The thought of that massive man peeking over the fence on tiptoe for a look made Nataek want to laugh. And every time Medeus looked around, the torchlight would catch the downturned ends of his eyes, making it even more comical. His build was imposing, but his actions and features still betrayed the traces of youth.

“Pfft.”

A laugh burst from Nataek’s mouth. Medeus’ eyes fixed on him. Their gazes met, and the corners of his eyes softened, following the shape of Nataek’s.

“Why are you laughing?”

“And what about you—why are you smiling?”