Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 95

Chapter 95

At the booming shout, the blacksmith’s shoulders flinched. Because of that, a single leaf fluttered down into the cauldron.

“What the—who are you?! How did you get in here?”

Nataek pointed to the blacksmith’s hand as he spoke.

“That thing you’re holding—are those Arianna leaves?”

“Yes, they are. But who are you to barge in like this?”

Nataek didn’t dare approach recklessly, worried the startled blacksmith might accidentally drop the herb into the cauldron. Raising both palms as if to calm him down, Nataek slowly walked closer.

“I heard about it from an herbalist. I’m not some shady character, please don’t misunderstand. I’d like to make a deal with you.”

“A deal? You’re a customer? Then wait inside.”

“Well, I am a customer, but… before that, could you put that down and talk with me first? No—no, wait! Don’t put it in the cauldron!”

“This?”

The blacksmith, not understanding what was going on, looked between the herb in his hand and Nataek. He was gripping it so tightly that the stems of the Arianna plant had been crushed under his strength. Fearing he might toss the herb into the boiling water, Nataek quickly pulled him back inside the forge.

Nataek had never been the type to obsess over material possessions. If something was too expensive to afford, he’d give up cleanly. And even if something was cheap, he wouldn’t buy it unless he had immediate use for it. Because of that, he had never experienced the process of fighting to obtain something he truly desired.

“I’m telling you, no.”

“Then I’ll pay four times the price. Please, sell it to me.”

“Do you know how long I’ve waited just to feed this to my wife?! And how long my wife’s been waiting too!”

Nataek felt a wave of despair. Clumsy bargaining or sweet talk wouldn’t work. The blacksmith had his own reasons—his own beliefs—for needing the Arianna herb. He believed, like a superstition, that if his pregnant wife consumed it, their child would be born gifted and clever. That kind of belief… couldn’t be swayed with money.

“Then two stems… no, even one stem—couldn’t you sell just one to me?”

“Ha! Really.”

The blacksmith glanced down at the herb in his hand and let out a disbelieving laugh.

“I only bought three stems. If I give one or two to you, what am I supposed to do with what’s left?”

If it were something his wife were going to eat, maybe Nataek could go beg her directly. But since it was for the child, there wasn’t even a way to ask for her understanding. Nataek didn’t like the idea of taking food from a pregnant woman, but he had a desperate reason he couldn’t turn away from.

Those three seemingly insignificant stems could become a miraculous potion for Nataek, one that would allow him to reach Uruk, and ultimately remain by Medeus’s side. The blacksmith wore an expression that made it clear he found Nataek’s persistence truly annoying.

“Please don’t be like this…”

When Nataek grabbed the blacksmith’s sleeve, the man’s thick arm brushed his hand off.

“Now, now! That’s enough!”

Neither persuasion nor negotiation was working.

Ha… What do I do now? Should I try threatening him?

Because he wasn’t wearing his priestly robes and was dressed as usual, the blacksmith hadn’t realized that Nataek was a priest. Maybe he should shout that he was a priest right now. If he threatened that the curse of Inanna would fall upon the man unless he handed over the herb immediately, perhaps he could snatch it right out of his hands.

But he wanted to leave that as a last resort. Even as someone from the modern era, Nataek didn’t want to completely sell out his own conscience.

“I’m not going to sell it to you, so stop wasting time and leave.”

The blacksmith turned to go out to the backyard again, but Nataek hastily grabbed his arm once more.

If he wouldn’t threaten, all that was left was to beg.

“Please, I beg you. Sell it to me. I need it in order to…”

What excuse could he give?

As the desperate look in Nataek’s eyes trembled, the blacksmith scowled. Despite his fierce appearance, the man prioritized his family over money. In that case…

I have to push the same way.

“It’s the only way I can protect my family.”

“…Your family? With Arianna leaves?”

That actually caused the blacksmith’s imposing aura to soften.

“How would this protect your family?”

He didn’t push Nataek away but instead stared at him curiously. In this ancient civilization, the one thing Nataek could confidently say he’d honed was his ability to lie. Acting came as a bonus. Like when he’d deceived Samuagon, Nataek poured every bit of his energy into this twisted narrative.

“M-My family… Among them… my only sibling is a military soldier.”

It wasn’t entirely untrue.

“I can’t explain in detail, but I need to be by my brother’s side. He…”

Don’t talk to me like that…

For some reason, he recalled that helpless, puppy-like expression. The way he rubbed his cheek against him, and the scent of the crown of his head—those memories resurfaced. Because of that, Nataek’s false plea gained an undercurrent of real sincerity.

“He’s been away from family for a long time, and he’s struggling to endure military life alone. He always says he’s fine, but he’s a soft-hearted person, and I’m terribly worried about leaving him by himself. So… I’m trying to enlist in the same unit. But to do that, I need to rapidly improve my archery skills.”

Along with his plea, Nataek offered an alternative.

“The herbalist said he’d be returning to Delam in twenty days. I’ll pay him multiple times the price if I must, and beg him to secure more Arianna leaves then. So please, sell me the ones you have now… and delay giving any to your wife just a little longer.”

“Good grief… This is troubling.”

Where once he’d sternly rejected Nataek, now the blacksmith simply said he was troubled. There was hope. Nataek leaned in closer.

“Does your wife have a favorite dish? Something she’s craving? Or maybe something she’s wanted? I’ll find it and bring it to her. So please… please, sell me the Arianna leaves.”

There was a time when Nataek lamented that he had to go through every first-time experience in life because of Medeus. Now, here he was, developing an obsession over a mere handful of grass—an emotion he’d never once felt before. The thought amused him for a moment. But only for a moment. To him, those leaves now looked like a sharpshooter’s potion. The blacksmith glanced at Nataek’s desperate eyes and sighed.

“Damn it all… Fine. It’s not just anything—you’re doing this for your family, after all… I suppose there’s no helping it.”

“Th-Thank you!”

It worked!

“In return, if you bring me what I need, I’ll sell this to you.”

“What do you need? Just say the word.”

The blacksmith carefully placed the herb in a reed basket beside the box and continued.

“My wife, actually… she recently lost a bracelet by the riverside—a gift she’d received. She was really upset about it. But I’ve got work to do, and I can’t go searching the river all day. So if you find her bracelet, I’ll gladly part with the herb.”

No sooner had the blacksmith finished speaking than a bright light flashed before Nataek’s eyes.

Do you accept the blacksmith’s request?

[Yes / No]

The system was asking for Nataek’s choice. Up until now, it had never once asked for his input when it came to quests related to the main story. For the first time, it was giving him a say—and that moved him. But it was ironic that it happened at a moment when he had no real choice.

“If I bring it back, you really will give me the herb, right?”

“I will.”

Nataek tightly closed his eyes. He reflected on why he’d always avoided side quests while playing Sunoonkey. In that game, most side quests were like training a mutt. But now… he had no choice. He had to do it. Nataek nodded firmly.

“I’ll find it. I promise.”

“Good! Then I’ll keep the herb safe until you return.”

Almost as if scripted, the blacksmith replied. In that instant, yellow light spread before Nataek’s eyes like paint. Amidst the heavy sound of dudung, the system effect shimmered as text appeared.

‘Trade with the Blacksmith’

As the effect and letters vanished, Nataek’s vision lit up once more. The quest titled [Covert Negotiation], which had branched off from the main story, was pushed upward, and beneath it, yellow text appeared.

[Side Quest] Trade with the Blacksmith

Retrieve the blacksmith’s wife’s bracelet.

As Nataek exited the forge without delay, the blacksmith called out one last clue from behind.

“She lost it by the river flowing west of the castle! It’s a round metal bracelet glazed with blue enamel, so please take care!”

As those words were spoken, a yellow glow appeared ahead to indicate the river’s location. Even for a side quest, it seemed the system was going out of its way to be considerate. Although he couldn’t open a map like in a game, a glowing waypoint floated in his vision. Nataek headed straight for the direction indicated by the system.

Near the riverside, fishermen bustled about after a busy round of fishing.

In the shallow waters of the long Euphrates River, a yellow glimmer flickered. It blinked faintly as if confirming Nataek had found the right place. Gazing out over the vast river, Nataek let out a hollow laugh.

So… I’m supposed to find a bracelet here, huh…