Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 114

Chapter 114

One of the iron rules for treatment being hygiene was common sense to modern people. Even though an all-purpose healing potion had been administered, it didn’t seem right to let Medeus sleep as is unless the wound had healed perfectly.

“…Should I wash up first, or should I take care of him first?”

Looking back and forth between Medeus and his own body, Nataek went to the door without hesitation. He slid the bolt and locked it, then glanced back to check on Medeus. Medeus was leaning back with his eyes closed.

After a brief hesitation, Nataek began undressing himself. He took off his outer garments and even the underlayers, then soaked a new cloth in the clean water he had set aside. He then did his best to wipe off the dirty dust and scrubbed his hands thoroughly. Taking a bath would be the best option, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave, worried that Medeus might make a run for it outside.

After dusting himself off, he changed into clean clothes and put out the most urgent fire for the moment. Now it was Medeus’s turn.

“Hoo… Let’s see.”

Nataek approached and carefully began undressing Medeus. The eyelids Medeus had shut slowly lifted. In the hazy gaze fixed on him, focus was gradually returning. Feeling the stare, Medeus flicked his eyes upward.

“Ah. Please don’t misunderstand. It’s only that your clothes are dirty, so I was going to help you change.”

Just as Nataek wrapped an arm around Medeus’s waist as if to embrace him and undid the tie running around the back, thud, Medeus’s cheek touched his shoulder.

“Teresi…”

Nataek flinched, then continued moving.

“Yes. Teresi is here. Stop calling. The name will wear out.”

“Do you… want to go back too?”

“Go back where?”

“To the place where you used to live.”

Nataek’s hands came to a sudden halt. The heat against his shoulder exhaled ragged breaths. Hearing the low words mixed into that breath, Nataek couldn’t move for some time.

“Is it… impossible to be together?”

“…”

They say people’s hearts soften when they’re sick. Maybe that’s why this bastard is saying things like this.

The image of him calling his name over and over rose to mind. Nataek quietly retraced Medeus’s human connections. No parents, no siblings. No reliable attendant other than himself. No place to call a hometown, no relatives, nothing.

Realizing anew that once he left, Medeus would be left alone, the picture of that scene became vivid before his eyes. His heart felt needlessly heavy.

Nataek patted Medeus’s back with a gentle tap-tap.

There are such things as lies told out of kindness too. There’s no need to say needless things to someone who’s ill.

“We’ll stay together. Don’t worry. It was said before. I would remain by Lord Medeus’s side. So, please lift your shoulder just a little. Let’s change clothes first.”

Nataek gently pushed Medeus’s shoulder away. Facing each other, Medeus looked straight at Nataek.

“…Don’t make false promises to me.”

Does this guy read minds or something. Startled, Nataek forced an awkward smile.

“I won’t do that sort of thing. Don’t worry and please focus only on getting better, Lord Medeus.”

Nataek exaggerated his movements even more to hide his true feelings. Perhaps sensing Nataek’s mind, Medeus spoke quietly.

“Promise.”

“…Yes. I promise.”

Why so sharp today of all days. It’s a bond that will end once I leave anyway… Don’t keep getting attached to me, man.

Even with a troubled heart, he couldn’t stop tending to Medeus. As Nataek undid and removed all of Medeus’s clothing, his fingertips, which had unknowingly tugged the cloth, brushed over Medeus’s lower abdomen. The problem was that what his hand caught wasn’t a flat belly. Nataek’s hand sprang back.

“S-sorry.”

At Nataek’s reaction, Medeus blinked slowly. Then he reached a hand toward Nataek. As Medeus gripped Nataek’s wrist and tugged him closer, Nataek froze as he was.

…What. Why. What are you trying to do. Why my hand?

“Is there something you need?”

Medeus simply looked down at Nataek’s hand in silence. He looked almost like someone drunk. In truth, Medeus had never once shown a drunken state.

Only then did Nataek realize. He had never seen Medeus drunk, but he also hadn’t really seen him disheveled. Unless Medeus was in pain to the point of groaning like this, he was always tense, keeping his sword within arm’s reach.

Come to think of it, the first time he assisted him with bathing, Medeus wouldn’t even let him touch the sword. Now he doesn’t complain even when I undress him. You’ve mellowed a lot too.

“My clothes got dirty with the mud. I’ll help you change into fresh ones. I’ll also replace the bedding with new. Could you get up for just a moment?”

Nataek turned the hand Medeus had grasped half a turn. This time, he took Medeus’s pale wrist himself and gently pulled.

“Heave-ho.”

Perhaps the medicine was taking effect, as Medeus held himself up better than when he first fell ill. Thanks to that, taking care of him was easier than the first time.

He laid fresh sheets on the bed, and wiped Medeus’s body clean with a cloth soaked in warmed water. He wiped the long limbs, the neck, and arms and legs until not a speck of dust remained, but he could not bring himself to touch the central part where the serpent hung. Its vivid presence was impossible to ignore, but Nataek tightly shut his eyes and denied the serpent the entire time he tended Medeus’s body.

When all the care was done and Medeus was dressed in fresh clothes and laid back down, Nataek himself was exhausted. Doing this twice would send him straight to the afterlife…

Nataek pulled a blanket over Medeus and lay down beside him as well.

“Teresi.”

“Yes.”

At the weakly calling voice, Nataek turned onto his side toward Medeus. Medeus kept his eyes closed like someone talking in his sleep.

“Teresi is here, so don’t worry and sleep well.”

“Don’t go.”

“…Yes. I won’t go. Where would I go leaving Lord Medeus behind.”

But not long after Nataek said that, Medeus’s eyes reddened at the corners.

…Hey. Are you crying? Crying?

As the flustered Nataek tried to raise his upper body, Medeus stretched out his long arms and embraced him. The body propped on his arm was pulled straight into Medeus’s arms. Nataek’s face was full of bewilderment. Not knowing what expression on Medeus’s face meant or why, Nataek looked down at Medeus in that awkward posture.

“What’s wrong. Are you in pain? If there’s any discomfort, say—”

Nataek cut himself off. Medeus, who had buried his head in his chest, gave a slight shake as if to say it was nothing. The bright hair tickled his chest.

Why do that and make one’s heart feel bad. What part of what I said was so sad. Hm?

Nataek, who had tried to fathom Medeus’s heart, soon gave up on everything and hugged Medeus even tighter.

Sigh. He’s really nothing but a kid. A kid. Do people know this side of this bastard. No, wait. If they knew, that would be another problem in itself. Anyway… you’re really pitiful too.

Nataek patted, tap-tap, with slow hands, soothing the fading heart.

“Don’t worry and sleep well. Not going anywhere; will stay right here.”

Thus, the time of comfort on the bed continued for a long while. The more he saw Medeus clinging like a child, the stranger a sense of fulfillment rose. But the feeling couldn’t be defined as either comradeship or desire.

Nataek patted Medeus’s back until his breathing became even. Only after confirming that Medeus had fallen into a deep sleep did he get out of bed. He hadn’t slept a wink the whole night while running around to procure a potion, but there was no time to lie down.

“Under no circumstances should the place be left unattended. If he happens to look for me, say he should wait here because I said I’ll be right back.”

Nataek earnestly entreated the attendant to make absolutely sure Medeus could not leave the room, then headed straight to Agade. Today was the day the sentence for Ruhaljagesi would be delivered.

To think the day would come to see the end of the first villain and boss Nataek faced in Sununki be brought to order. He squinted against the bright sunlight. For a moment, Nataek could feel as though he was standing right before the ending.