Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 115

Chapter 115

Originally, Medeus was also supposed to attend, but it was impossible to show him to people in that condition. Moreover, fortunately, since the news that Medeus had been injured had already reached Samuagon, Nataek was able to lock Medeus in the bedchamber and leave.

Guided by an attendant, the place of arrival was the platform of the arena. The deputy commander of the Third Army, who might still be in Uruk, and the chiefs of the First and Second Armies were not visible. Nataek stood beside the priest Heduan. The priest offered a light nod in greeting and quietly asked, “I heard General Medeus was very ill last night. Is he all right?” Nataek, who was about to answer immediately, faltered.

If he said he’d gotten better, they wouldn’t insist on calling him here, would they?

In the priest’s expression, faced slowly, a layer of false concern was cast. In response, Nataek also put on a gloom forged from falsehood and replied, “His symptoms have worsened, and he has suffered greatly. All we can do is hope the changed medicinal ingredients will be effective.” “How unfortunate… The ensi wished to call General Medeus to this place today no matter what. It is regrettable. He must recover swiftly.” Nataek responded to the priest with a silent nod. If he had said Medeus had improved, they really would have summoned him.

The corners of Medeus’s eyes, flushed bright red, and the gaze that had looked all the more delicate because of it, came to mind. He did not want others to see him like that. Nataek felt a deep relief at his own quick-witted handling.

It was at the timing when the two clerics’ conversation ended.

Thump, thump—!

The sound of guards stamping their spears and feet rang out. From the end of the path connected to the platform, Samuagon came walking. Entering with a long cloak billowing, Samuagon received the greetings of the nobles and stood at the center of the platform.

“Today is an auspicious day bestowed by Inanna.”

With the corners of his mouth stretched to his ears, Samuagon began a solemn speech. A clear sky and the blazing sun. It might have been an auspicious day for the Kishites and for Samuagon, but it was not for Nataek. Nataek’s head was filled more with worries left behind than with the joy of victory. As if he had left his secret hidden within the bedcovers, his mind was filled entirely with Medeus.

Even while Nataek was buried in worry, Samuagon’s speech continued.

“To think one would dare raise a defiant banner against the sky chosen by Inanna!”

Samuagon treated Luhaljageshi as a heinous criminal who had defied the will of heaven. People were deeply moved by his words, sometimes indignant, and listened with grave attention.

To believe those words so unshakably…

Watching the reactions of the audience, Nataek once again recalled Sununki’s memories: namely, that Samuagon possessed a stat value that innately made it easy to win others’ favor.

Before long, the speech reached its final stage.

“Upon the dog of Uruk who defied the god, a fitting punishment shall be meted out!”

The people responded with a loud shout. Samuagon opened the prologue to the final act.

“Bring forth the criminal!”

Clatter, the grating under the platform rose. From within, Luhaljageshi, fitted with a collar, was dragged out. The soldier who dragged him out wore a helmet and was fully armed. When the soldier yanked the collar roughly, Luhaljageshi fell prone on the floor of the arena. As he staggered to his feet, someone in the crowd hurled a jeer.

“How dare you covet the heavens!”

In that instant, a phrase seen on the puzzle platform of Uruk flashed through Nataek’s mind.

“Even if you lift your eyes to the heavens, your land cannot become the heavens.”

Power he sought to obtain even by killing his father and driving out Medeus, the defensive wall of Uruk. The heaven he desired could never become his land in the end. And the decisive reason for his failure was precisely that he had driven out Medeus. How could one be so foolish. It was all the bastard’s karma.

Samuagon came to the front of the platform and pointed at Luhaljageshi.

“A four-legged beast dares to imitate a human!”

“I—I am! The ensi of Uruk! Do you think you’ll get away un—unscathed after doing this to me!”

Luhaljageshi shouted lines brimming with bravado. But because of the voice full of fear, his hunched shoulders only looked all the more pitiful. Nataek folded his arms with a displeased look.

At a time when begging would hardly be enough, he’s putting on a show of bravado.

Samuagon seemed to think the same.

“Still unrepentant and daring to covet the heavens! A punishment befitting that fool must be delivered. Attend! Teach that man the gait of a beast fitting for him!”

At that command, a soldier kicked the back of Luhaljageshi’s knees. Toppling forward, Luhaljageshi set his four limbs on the ground. Whenever Luhaljageshi tried to rise, another kick followed. After forcing him to kneel like that, the soldier began to yank on the collar.

“Follow!”

A man who had once been Uruk’s high priest and ensi crawled on all fours like a dog across the arena. Laughter poured from the people toward him. Luhaljageshi’s face flushed red and blue.

Nataek clicked his tongue inwardly. This is all getting back what you did. If you hadn’t killed Kushanna. No, if you hadn’t driven out Medeus like that.

At the very least, Uruk would not have fallen, and there would have been no scene of Luhaljageshi crawling like a dog across the land of Kish. Until the blood flowing from Luhaljageshi’s knees drew a round circle on the arena floor, the lesson in gait continued.

Even the tedious spectacle was finally nearing its end. Around the time Samuagon’s guffaw turned into a yawn, he once again walked to the front of the platform.

“I shall now punish the tainted seed that defied the will of the god. Let the four-legged beast of Uruk offer up his neck and blood to the heavens and beg forgiveness!”

“Inanna cannot do this to me!”

Hearing Luhaljageshi’s scream, Nataek furrowed his brow.

It feels like watching a play… If this were a game, it would be a one-hundred-percent skip.

At that moment, Samuagon suddenly turned his body toward Nataek.

“Messenger of Inanna. That beast dares utter the goddess’s name with his mouth. What is to be done!”

Following the natural flow, Nataek thought they would kill Luhaljageshi; but the moment a question suddenly flew at him, his eyes lit up bright.

What sentence shall be issued upon Luhaljageshi?

[1. Severely punish]

[2. Forgive]

[3. Negotiate]

As if time had stopped, everyone around Nataek froze exactly as they were. Even the floating dust motes stayed suspended in the air. Narrowing his brow as he looked at the wavering surrounding scenery and the system text floating above it, Nataek thought,

I’m to choose?

Severe punishment… would obviously be the death penalty. Forgiveness—what would that be. Does it mean sending him back as is. In any case, one thing is certain: he would be kept alive. Negotiate—what is to be negotiated? Though the process is unknown, this too felt like it would head in a direction of sparing Luhaljageshi.

Is it better to keep the bastard alive, or eliminate him.

As he hesitated, events to date flashed swiftly through Nataek’s mind. Trying to screw over Medeus, or trying to screw over himself. Or trying to kill the both of them, and so on.

It’s certain he’s dangerous if left alive. Must he really… be killed.

Nataek, fixing his gaze on option 1, hesitated. A death sentence to be handed down by his own choice. It was not a matter to decide lightly.

Option 1… is the best… Huh?!

Just then, the frozen scenery gradually began to regain its pace.

What, there was a time limit? No, wait! Something like this should give more time to think!

But the system was merciless. Before the wavering Nataek could give a definitive answer, the box marked with 1 flickered briefly. The system text slowly vanished, and the surrounding scenery that had been halted began to flow with time again.

“Indeed. The goddess Inanna would not forgive such a beast either. To think he who coveted the heavens would even dare profane the very name of the god!”

Samuagon raised one hand.

“Cut off the bastard’s neck and burn it!”

Then three soldiers, who had been waiting at the far end of the arena, approached. They bound Luhaljageshi’s limbs and forced him to his knees. It was only natural that Luhaljageshi screamed at the top of his lungs and thrashed.

One executioner drew a sword. Sunlight glinted dazzlingly off the metal blade.

“Inanna! Inanna cannot do this to me—!”

Thud—!

Thump.

The scream cut off at once. On the arena where Medeus’s veil had been stripped away, the blood of the beast spread. Nataek squeezed his eyes shut. Even for Nataek, it was difficult to take in the present situation fully with his eyes. Inanna caused Medeus to bloom upon this land and forsook Luhaljageshi.

Even if you lift your eyes to the heavens, your land cannot become the heavens…

While Nataek, head bowed, mulled over the phrase on the puzzle once more, the system displayed a guidance message.

The [God’s Execution Ground] quest has been completed.

The conquest of “Uruk” has succeeded.

Around the words of light, multicolored fireworks burst.

[Main] The story “Dog Howling at the Heavens” has been completed.

“Uwoaaaaaa!”

The people’s shouts stung the eardrums.

The conquest of Uruk. At those words, complicated emotions surged. Nataek strove to steady his pounding heart.

Hey, Medeus. The bastard who tormented you so much has finally vanished from this world. If this news is heard, will your heart feel even a little lighter. It would be nice if so.

Medeus, left behind in the bed, came to mind. A wish arose that he would be the one to deliver this news first, and that he would also be the first person to capture that reaction with his own eyes.

The destination where consciousness flowed and flowed to reach was also Medeus. His head was filled with nothing but Medeus, to the point he felt a compulsion to go see him right this instant.

Ah… I want to go quickly.