“I wanted to learn how to tell them apart. It was necessary to know,” Medeus said, pulling out another leaf. A noble with gentle puppy-like eyes who secretly studied poisonous herbs in his free time…
In front of Nataek’s face, Medeus rubbed two of his fingers together. The leaf in between them twirled.
“…Do we have to learn this kind of stuff in Uruk?”
“Well, it’s not so necessary for other people.”
“…”
The words that Medeus uttered so casually carried a tone of someone musing about something as trivial as passing ants. As Nataek stared at the leaf, Medeus pulled out another. Both leaves were the same shape and color.
“What do you think?” Medeus asked.
“What do I think? They look the same to me.”
“Really? But this herb is used for medicine, and the other for poison. When you boil the latter in hot water, it becomes toxic.”
No matter how much Nataek looked at them, they seemed identical as if both were grown from the same plant.
Having given up, Nataek asks, “How do you tell the difference between them?”
Medeus used one of his hands to set down one of the leaves and then reached out to Nataek’s face. The tip of his long index finger tapped under Nataek’s chin.
“Open your mouth.”
“What?”
“Open it.”
Nataek, embarrassed, pressed his lips together. Medeus grabbed Nataek’s chin with his hand.
“Do you not understand?”
His jaw and cheek were gripped forcefully. Nataek’s mouth fell open involuntarily. Medeus wrapped the leaf, the one he claimed was poisonous earlier, around his finger.
“Don’t move,” he ordered.
Medeus’s finger entered Nataek’s gaping mouth. The top side of the leaf touched his tongue. Nataek remained stiff, only blinking his eyes. It was strange to feel a finger pressing and stroking against his tongue.
The more the leaf brushed against his tongue, the sweeter the taste became. It tasted like candy. Nataek’s eyes widened as Medeus pulled his fingers out.
“You can tell it’s poisonous if it’s sweet on your tongue, but it’s harder to catch if the leaves are boiled in water and that mixture is applied to date fruit.”
Medeus wrapped the other leaf around his finger. “Open.”
This time, Nataek didn’t resist and opened his mouth. Medeus’s finger scraped against his tongue. After rubbing it back and forth two or three times, a pungent and bitter taste invaded his senses. Startled, Nataek yanked Medeus’s hand away.
Nataek gagged. “Blegh…”
Medeus set the leaf down as Nataek spat out dry saliva.
“That one is used for medicine. Even after being boiled in water, the bitterness doesn’t go away, so you’ll always recognize it right away.”
Was making Nataek taste it firsthand really necessary? You could’ve just told Nataek that it was extremely bitter.
This time, Medeus took out a small bottle containing oil, shaking it in front of him.
“This is the oil extracted from a plant that induces hallucinations. It was difficult to import from Egypt. They use it there as a hallucinogen but it can also be used as an aphrodisiac when taken in larger doses. Yet, using it for a night of fun is more trouble than it’s worth.”
Medeus uncapped the bottle and held it under Nataek’s nose. Each time Medeus slightly shook the bottle, a strange scent he’d never smelled before filled his senses.
“Don’t even think about using this for any nighttime activities. It won’t turn out well.”
What the hell is this guy even saying?
Nataek felt like his pride was being trampled on for no reason. Why was Medeus bringing that up all of a sudden?
As Medeus pulled out another leaf, Nataek asked, “But why are you telling me this?
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“I thought you should at least have the bare minimum of knowledge.”
“Qtja xcbkifvuf?”
“Po sbe’gf jr lucbgjca jcv miefifrr jr sbe jgf cbk, sbe mbeiv ufa lcab jc jmmlvfca ilxf ijra alwf. Snfc lo sbe wfjc cb tjgw. P cffv yjrlm rjofuejgvr lc qijmf.”
“Pucbg…”
Ignorant?
“Vb, gfwfwyfg fnfgsatlcu P’w afiilcu sbe.”
“Jjc sbe ribk vbkc atfc?”
“Rb.”
“…”
Ktf yjatkjafg vlvc’a rffw lwqbgajca jcswbgf. Rffvlcu ab wfwbglhf jii bo atlr lcobgwjalbc cbk, cba fnfc uefggliij kjgojgf gfdelgfv remt jc lwqbrrlyif ajrx. Dea atfc, Rjajfx gfwfwyfgfv ktja tjqqfcfv fjgilfg lc atf vjs. Ktfgf kjr j rsrafw cbalolmjalbc atja qbqqfv eq ktfc tf wjvf fsf mbcajma klat atf wfgmtjca.
“This is called Blue Borage.”
Medeus held up a blue leaf. Nataek stared into Medeus’s gray eyes.
Ding–
Just like that time, a system window popped up with a description of Blue Borage.
He should’ve known… It seems the only way to get new information was through eye contact. Similar to clicking on an NPC, you can acquire new knowledge by meeting the eyes of someone giving you information.
In Sununki, information acquired once could be retrieved at any time. The system here should work the same. After having triggered the system, Nataek quickly averted his gaze. He thought that if he continued to stare at Medeus in the eye, he might accidentally trigger something else.
It wasn’t the end of the world for him just yet. He had found another way to help him survive.
Half-relieved and half-suppressing his boiling anger, Nataek continued to lock eyes with Medeus. Really, to call Nataek an ignorant person and expect him to memorize all these plants in such little time. There was no doubt Medeus had been born under an unlucky star.
The lesson went on until it was late at night.
“Have you memorized everything?”
“…Yes.”
Well, to be more precise, it was the system that had memorized everything.
“Good.”
Medeus closed the box of herbs and walked over to a large bronze urn in the corner. He put the box in the urn and then lit a fire underneath..
Nataek suddenly got up and approached Medeus.
“Why would you burn it?”
You said it was something that was hard to get your hands on. You’re burning a box that was literally worth the price of several houses.
Medeus slowly turned around.
“What guarantee do I have that you wouldn’t use those herbs against me?”
“…”
First, Medeus subjected Nataek to a harsh lesson for the purpose of possibly saving him in the future. Then, he burned those expensive herbs because he was afraid that Nataek would use them against him. Nataek couldn’t figure out whether Medeus trusted him or didn’t trust him.
“I wouldn’t…” Nataek stuttered, “Killing people… is not something I would do.”
“Money and power are more than enough to change a person’s mind.”
The crackling sound of wood burning filled the room. Nataek managed to barely conceal his distress as he watched Medeus beside the burning urn, smoke pouring out from it.
* * *
Like always, a new day dawned in Mesopotamia.
Nataek, who was always up at the crack of dawn, woke up his sleepy body through exercise. His head was blank, but that was probably because he barely had time to sleep due to the sudden herbology lesson.
Nataek only came out of his room after completing a set of push-ups, squats, and sit-ups. As per Dudu’s instructions, he went to fetch water for Medeus’s morning ritual. As he passed through the kitchen, he overheard some servants talking.
“Are all the nobles of Uruk gathering?”
“Likely so. It was the same at the last meeting.”
“Ah, it seems like I’ll be breaking my back working again today.”
…All the nobles of Uruk are gathering in one place?
Medeus, who Nataek served, was also a noble. However, Nataek hadn’t received any special orders yet.
“There shouldn’t be any trouble this time… The third master didn’t even cause a stir in the last meeting, phew.”
Nataek’s slow footsteps came to a halt.
Medeus…This bastard seemed to be the center of attention everywhere. Everyone hated him so much. It made Nataek wonder how he managed to survive up until now.
Also, there were talks of a meeting between nobles today. If that was the case, shouldn’t Nataek as an attendant be preparing something too?
Who should he ask about this? Medeus? Or… Should he try asking the other servants…
While pondering, Nataek approached the group of servants engaged in conversation. It seemed better to ask them rather than Medeus. The two servants didn’t notice Nataek approaching as they continued to curse the third master.
“I…”
Before Nataek could finish, someone grabbed Nataek by the arm.
“Teresi.”
It was Dudu. Dudu brought an index finger to Nataek’s mouth and motioned his head toward the warehouse.
“Come this way.”
Nataek followed Dudu’s lead and was dragged to a corner behind a wall in the warehouse.
Nataek wondered why they came here, but then he realized that it was the spot with the tallest grass and trees grown in the area. The thick grass paired with the trunks of the date palm tree were enough to camouflage two grown men.
“You haven’t been told anything yet, have you?” Dudu asked.
Nataek nodded. Apparently, Dudu understood more about his relationship with Medeus than Nataek himself.
“I hear there’s a council meeting about to happen. What’s that about? I’ve never heard of it until now.”
“They have these meetings every so often. It’s where they discuss Uruk’s various matters, such as trade, war, and other things. Usually, the servants of the estate are supposed to inform each noble’s servants about the schedule ahead of time…”
Dudu lowered his gaze. It was probably true even though Medeus’s servant didn’t receive such information. No matter how much you dislike someone, isn’t it still necessary to communicate properly so they can do their part?
It was too basic to be even called rudimentary. This well-organized system within the Ninurta household that only left out Nataek.
Dudu continued, “The meeting is to be attended by one attendant per each noble. Since you’re the only servant that Lord Medeus has, you have no choice but to accompany him.
Medeus, you bastard… You weren’t planning on mentioning even a word of this until the day of the actual meeting?
It was unbelievable. But Nataek didn’t have the time to stay mad. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to clear his agitated state of mind.
“When you go, you’ll understand… Even there… You’ll have to sit in the seat of thorns.”
“What? Why?”
“You’ll know when the time comes, and you’ll also get a sense of what kind of position Medeus is in….”
“…I already have a pretty clear idea.”
From the way they treated Nataek to the way they freak out at just the sight of Medeus. It was impossible not to notice unless you were an idiot. If Nataek continued like this, it’d be troublesome for him. He needed to establish a safety net to provide him with information, even if it meant using bribery or persuasion.
No matter how you look at it, it seemed that Dudu was the only suitable candidate.
“Dudu, I have a favor to ask of you…”
“Shhh—!” Dudu interrupted Nataek with a gesture for him to be quiet. Nataek blinked, following Dudu’s lead and listening carefully to the sounds coming from outside. The two servants were approaching the warehouse with baskets in their hands. Nataek and Dudu crouched down, huddling close against the wall.
“Have you done the bedding and arranged the vases?”
“It’s all done already. Do you think we’ll get whipped again for not doing it in advance like last time?”
“The first master is really something. It’s not that we didn’t do it in advance, but the guests came early.”
“It’s important, I guess. Besides, I’m sure he took out most of his anger on the third master that day.”
“Why does Lord Medeus act like such a fool all the time?”
“Why, how else would someone with the blood of a barbarian act? I just hope he doesn’t cause a scene this time.”
“That scoundrel will likely behave himself. I personally think we should tie him to a colt and send him out of Uruk. He keeps causing unnecessary sparks to fly for us.”
Nataek’s brow furrowed as he listened silently. Once again, it was gossip about Medeus.
Nataek might not have the greatest impression of Medeus, but he didn’t feel good about the fact that the master he served was being cursed literally everywhere he went. Was having “the blood of a barbarian” a reason to receive so much hate?
Of course, Nataek didn’t think that that was the only reason, but…
“Sometimes, I think that rather than being a master or a servant, it’d be better if he just died on the battlefield instead.”
How can you wish for someone’s death so casually?
It was hard for Nataek to comprehend, going against every bit of his common sense.
Even if it was just an afterthought… the insensitive comment crossed a line.
Listening in to conversations like a rat wasn’t Nataek’s style. Moreover, if bad rumors continued to spread, it would eventually affect Nataek too.
Nataek quietly stood up, feeling like he should say something. Even though he only slightly straightened his back to see beyond the thicket of greenery, the slight shift in position allowed him to see a person stroking a large beast in the corner of the stable opposite to them.
Nataek couldn’t help but stare in surprise. That striking light brown hair… It was Medeus.
What had that bastard been doing over there since this morning?
The two servants were busy talking their heads off, they didn’t notice Nataek nor the stable. The gazes of Nataek and Medeus, who were both awkwardly hiding themselves, met. Medeus nodded slightly.
“…”
Was he trying to say hello to me?
Nataek, bewildered, nodded his head slightly in response. But as soon as Nataek moved his head, Medeus took out a bow and arrow from the saddle strapped to the beast.
…Medeus’s gesture wasn’t a greeting. It was a signal to take cover.
Nataek’s eyes widened. Was Medeus trying to shoot him now? Where was he aiming? Was he really going to fire an arrow at a time and place like this? Did he overhear their conversation?
Medeus was the type of man who would really take a shot at Nataek.
Nataek, who’d been frozen for a while, quickly mouthed some words.
‘I didn’t do anything, I swear. I was just passing by.’
First, he had to let Medeus know that he wasn’t here to do anything suspicious. Even after reading Nataek’s lips, Medeus started to aim his bow, ignoring what Nataek had to say.
A panicking Nataek caught sight of Medeus’s lips moving to mouth back a message…
‘I know.’
Edited by An Zheee
Seriously, when will he find his Profile card? I wanna know what this boy has in terms of ability!
Also, is it just me or is Medeus just a tad sus? How the hell does he just happen to know where our MC is every chapter when he isn’t there?!
10/10 TFTC
Sorry, I forgot to reply that it happens fairly early in the story, before chapter 30
I’m eagerly awaiting to seeing his Profile Card
….THATS A GOOD QUESTION NOW IM CURIOUS 😲
👀 hehehe shot them!😈
i forgot to mention, also, this TL is really good. bless you trash panda 🙏💕
awh they’re… bonding?