Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 167

Chapter 167

For a time, Nataek could not exhale.

The final battle…

The guiding text had disappeared, and the cinematic vision faded. Nataek bit his lip while gazing over the vast land below.

The scouts probing the border—indeed, they were the Hittite vanguard.

Could it be today? No, it wouldn’t be that soon. Then tomorrow?

One thing was certain: the Hittite army would tread this land within days.

“Teresi, do you have a worry? Tell me.”

Medeus asked calmly, as if reading Nataek’s mind. Their hands remained linked. Although Medeus had heard his mother’s prophetic words, he too was a person of this civilization and era. Secretly, he may have agreed with the ancient people at the meeting.

But Nataek knew the inevitable future. If he said the Hittites would strike soon… would Medeus believe?

Nataek slowly met Medeus’s gaze.

Even if Medeus might not believe, he would at least listen. The problem lay not with Medeus, but with the many ancient people wishing to avoid conflict with the Hittites. They believed they could avoid war by playing it safe.

Yet war with them was inevitable…

“Tell me. What’s wrong? Why such a dark look?”

Medeus gently shook Nataek’s hand. Nataek watched it a while, then asked,

“Medeus, when I told you I had to build the canals, what did you think?”

“Hmm. Though a new technique, I was impressed to see how it could be used.”

“But did you think it unnecessary?”

The trap formed in the swamp was no simple defense, but part of a formation to repel the Hittites. Yet the ancients believed it merely a vague new fortification—not preparation for the coming war, but for a distant, unlikely future.

Medeus thought deeply before speaking.

“Strengthening defenses is always necessary. I didn’t think it unnecessary.”

Nataek felt the need to reveal the trap was a preparation for an imminent Hittite war—at least to Medeus. His hesitant heart flickered in his fingertips, but Medeus noticed and turned him to face him.

“Teresi, why can’t you speak of your worries?”

“Well…”

Nataek blinked at Medeus, bit his lip. Yes, he must speak—surely.

“Medeus.”

“Don’t just call my name. Tell me.”

Medeus smiled softly while stroking Nataek’s hair. Following the touch, Nataek frowned.

“What I’m about to say may be hard to believe.”

“Believe me.”

Medeus’s hand moved to Nataek’s cheek.

“I believe anything you say. So speak freely.”

Such absolute trust emboldened Nataek. Looking again toward the border, he said,

“Most likely… no, certainly… a clash with the Hittites is unavoidable. It will happen very soon.”

The system message had confirmed, and Nataek felt certain.

“The Hittites will invade soon. Bringing an army and new weapons.”

“The Hittites?”

Nataek nodded.

“Yes. Probably the reason scouts are coming and going. I’m certain of it. They may attack today or tomorrow, or at most by the week’s end.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“Uh…”

The excuse of an Inanna revelation would not hold. Hesitant, Nataek gave up fabricating stories.

“No one told me. I just know. I knew that when Kish unites, the next step is their invasion. So before going, I commissioned the soothsayer to start the canal works.”

If anyone in Agade had heard that, they might suspect a rebel or spy. Kish was in no mood to believe baseless certainty.

Yet Medeus took Nataek’s words seriously.

“The Hittites’ invasion is near…”

His gaze turned to the border.

“They use weapons of iron. Uncomparable in strength to Kish’s bronze. Their chariots are also far sturdier. My insistence on strengthening northern defenses and the strange marsh canal method were all to prepare for this.”

Medeus fell silent, then looked back at Nataek.

“Have you told anyone else this?”

Nataek shook his head; he recalled the soothsayer’s face but didn’t mention it. That one would flee first if real war came.

Medeus finally released Nataek’s hand and folded his arms.

“Telling this plainly is dangerous. Without clear evidence, Samuagon and other nobles might misunderstand you.”

Nataek gripped Medeus’s sleeve, asking,

“And you?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Do you believe me, even when I say this?”

Medeus gave a faint smile and nodded,

“I once said you resemble my mother. Not often, but she sometimes spoke like she foresaw the future. And it did come true.”

“…”

Medeus’s sudden words made Nataek fidget with his pocket. The gathered fragments seemed to form clear proof. Medeus went on.

“But ironically, I was the only one who believed her. People thought her prophecies were creepy and shunned her. My mother wasn’t an Inanna messenger, so there was no foundation for trust.”

Medeus bent to meet Nataek’s eyes.

“But with her steady, confident gaze, everyone had to believe. I saw her look and was sure the stories were true. And that’s what I see in you. Even if I hadn’t seen your eyes, I would have believed you.”

Absolute faith uplifts a person.

“…Thank you for believing.”

“It’s natural. You’re my lover.”

Medeus touched his forehead to Nataek’s with a soft ‘bonk’, then got up.

Nataek said,

“But seeing the mood in the meeting, it seems hard to bring this up. Everyone seemed to want to avoid fighting the Hittites, so if I argue for preparing for war…”

“Even if you are Inanna’s messenger, this time it won’t be accepted easily. The damage from recent wars is too great.”

Knowing what would come, they could not force people. The sole tool, the Inanna pretext, had been overused and mistimed.

“Is there no way?”

Medeus was silent a long time while Nataek sighed and bit his finger. Medeus then softly took Nataek’s finger and spoke.

“There is a way.”

Nataek raised his head quickly.

“What way? What is it?”

“It’s a bit reckless… but the only way if we assume the Hittites will invade.”

“What?”

“We capture Hittite scouts.”

“Eh?”

Surprised by the unexpected, Nataek’s voice rose. Clearing his throat, he lowered it.

“Capture scouts?”

“We catch one to get confirmation that the Hittite army will invade. Then Samuagon and the nobles must prepare.”

“That’s true, but if the scout doesn’t talk?”

“We make him. We must. And even if he won’t, if no scout returns, the Hittites will know their plan’s exposed.”

This meant catching a scout would bring war sooner. Despite the recklessness, who could do it?

“Who would?”

“Who else but me.”

Medeus grinned.

“I’ll go.”

Watching the confident Medeus, Nataek clenched his fist.

“I’ll go with you.”

Medeus nodded quietly after a moment of silence.

Over long journeys, Medeus began to accept Nataek as an equal partner—not someone weak needing protection, but a companion to face the future together.

Footnotes:

1. Historical context — The northern border and Hittite threat reflect common Mesopotamian regional conflicts.