Unable to run away or even kneel down to beg for his life, Nataek focused all his energy trying to assess the situation instead. Meanwhile, Lugalzagesi, unable to find a weapon, wrapped some rope from a nearby stall around his hand. Using it like a whip, he lashed the rope out at Nataek.
Nataek closed his eyes and raised his arms to his face. A few moments passed. His body curled up in the expectation of being whipped, but strangely, there wasn’t any pain.
Nataek slowly opened his eyes. A huge shadow stood in front of him.
“Medeus! How dare you!” Lugalzagesi cried.
“Brother. What are you doing in the middle of the market?” Medeus had seemingly appeared out of thin air. The whip that tried to reach Nataek was now wrapped around the sheath of the sword that Medeus was holding out.
“You’re the one who ordered for all of this to happen!” Lugalzagesi said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just passing by.”
“Passing by? At a moment like this? Look at what your slave did to me! He ruined my clothes!”
Lugalzagesi pointed to the stains on his clothes. Meanwhile, Tartarzi was trying his best to wipe off some of the fruit pulp from his master’s sleeve, causing juice to stain both their clothes.
Medeus looked down at the fuming Lugalzagesi.
“It seems like these stains were caused by the fruit rather than that guy. Why are you trying to pin the blame on an innocent person?”
“Wh–What!? Why am I blaming him!?” The man echoed the words back, his voice was full of disbelief.
“But if my brother is the one who insists on blaming me and my servant… Although we’ve done nothing wrong, we still must apologize. How can I go against what my big brother says?”
“You da–damn son of a… Everyone here saw firsthand what your servant did!”
“I apologize, brother. I’ll be sure to teach my servant a harsher lesson in the future.”
Nataek flinched at Medeus’s words.
…It was just an accident. What lesson was there to teach?
“By the way, what should we do about these dirty clothes?” Medeus slowly walked towards his brother. Tartarzi was still trying to clean the fruit juice off his master’s clothes.
Medeus’s hand reached in the nearby stall and his fingers brushed against a small jar of water. Lugalzagesi and Tartarzi were too distracted trying to get rid of the stain that they didn’t notice Medeus’s hand grabbing the jar and hiding it behind his back.
“I’ll help you clean it off.”
Splash…
The water from the jar was poured all over Lugalzagesi’s clothes. Both Lugalzagesi and Tartarzi froze at the same time.
“Did you think rubbing it a hundred times with those dirty hands of yours would’ve made any difference? You’ll only get juice on your hands,” Medeus said calmly.
“Medeus… You, you bastard… How dare you…”
Medeus softened his gaze using his puppy-like drooping eyes. Then he leaned over and whispered to his brother, “Don’t worry, brother. It’s not poison. There were no snakes or anything like that in the jar I just poured over you.”
Poison and snakes, the words struck Nataek like lightning.
Wait a minute. Does that mean Lugalzagesi was the one who instigated the plot to kill Medeus that night? This is the bastard that made Nataek suffer through that entire ordeal?
Medeus straightened his back. Lugalzagesi flared his nostrils before letting out a deep exhale through his nose.
“Medeus. I will be sure to denounce your impudent behavior in full at the council meeting.”
“My brother’s snitching will be on the main agenda then. Bringing up foolish matters in a place where national affairs should be discussed.”
Medeus clicked his tongue as if he was mocking Lugalzagesi. He turned away, shaking his head. His cold stare landed on Nataek, gesturing for him to follow.
Nataek kept his gaze on the floor as he followed Medeus. As Nataek was passing Tartarzi, who was still trying to wipe off the filth from their clothes, he noticed the stall that was right next to Tartarzi.
On top of the stall was a wooden barrel filled with small Gallu creatures swimming in muddy water. When dead, a potent medicine could be extracted from Gallu, but when alive, the creatures were regarded as a curse from the gods due to its hideous appearance. It was because of this that merchants who sold Gallu were treated similarly to butchers.
The moment Nataek saw the Gallu, he flash backed to his own close call when he almost got bitten by a poisonous snake. Any guilt that Nataek had felt vanished. There was no reason to hesitate. Nataek reached out and grabbed the edge of the cloth that was covering the stall. He continued walking, pulling the cloth while using his body to conceal the action from the eyes of the crowd. The wooden barrel was dragged with the cloth until it was caught on the standpost, tipping forward.
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.
Rjajfx delmxis gfifjrfv tlr uglq bc atf mibat. Sja rtla, tf atbeuta.
Sploosh–!
Ktf kbbvfc yjggfi mbcajlclcu atf Xjiie ofii bc abq bo Oeujihjufrl’r tfjv. Ufbqif ktb’v yffc obmerlcu bc Oeujihjufrl sfiifv lc regqglrf.
“Yt ws ubv, la’r j megrf ogbw atf ubvr!”
Xjiie kjr rqijaafgfv jii bnfg Oeujihjufrl’r mibatfr. Rb bcf tjv cbalmfv Rjajfx’r mecclcu mbecafgjaajmx. Oeujihjiufrl atgfk atf kbbvfc yjggfi jkjs nlbifcais, rmgfjwlcu, “Zfvfer!”
The man’s anger reached the top of his head. He stumbled backwards, clutching to his forehead. Tartarzi shouted, “Master!” and rushed to support the body of Lugalzagesi who was in the midst of collapsing.
Serves you right.
Nataek smirked when he glanced at Lugalzagesi’s miserable state, but he wiped the smile off his face when he turned his eyes forward again. Medeus was staring at Nataek.
“…”
Medeus, who may or may not have known what had suddenly transpired, merely burst into a light laugh.
“Follow me.”
* * *
Nataek silently followed as per Medeus’s command. There were a myriad of thoughts in his head, but among them, the memory of what happened in the marketplace took precedence above all others.
It was one thing to act like a bully towards your servants, but to act like that to someone you considered your older brother, no less in the middle of a crowded marketplace? It would stir up resentment. No, it would do more than merely stir up resentment. If Nataek had been the victim in that situation, he would’ve punched Medeus before the man could even finish his words.
But if it really was Lugalzagesi who ordered the hit on Medeus using poisonous snakes, then the previous insult suddenly seemed trivial in comparison.
Nataek didn’t know the exact details of what was going on between the two brothers, but there was one undeniable fact.
It was the fact that Nataek was caught in the crossfire and nearly died with Medeus as a result. There was also the fact that Medeus had intervened and saved Nataek from getting beaten. For that, Nataek felt like he should at least be grateful to Medeus for now. However, gratefulness was only a part of what Nataek felt towards the man.
The thoughts trickled in like a never-ending stream that wouldn’t stop. Nataek was only brought out of his trance when Medeus suddenly spoke up.
“Where is it?”
“Where is what?”
Nataek’s response caused Medeus to come to an abrupt halt.
“What did I ask you to do?”
‘Two coats and two cloaks will keep the wind at bay. Four or five leather flasks should be enough, and also get some dried fruit that won’t take up too much space. I’ll also need two lightweight yet sturdy leather cords. For transactions, show them my seal and they’ll leave a record in a clay tablet and some tokens.’
…He’d completely forgotten because of the fortune teller.
“The seal.”
“…”
Nataek tightly pressed his lips together. The seal that Medeus gave him was probably in the fortune teller’s hands now.
“Where’s the seal?”
“I’m… I’m really sorry… I, um… I lost it…”
“…Huh.” Medeus let out a hollow laugh. “Teresi.”
“…Yes?”
“This time, there’s nothing you can say if I try to slit your throat, right?”
Nataek was embarrassed, his mouth agape.
Shouldn’t have saved that bastard in the first place.
Nataek suddenly regretted throwing his own life in danger to save him. However, if he’d given up on saving Medeus and had just let him die, Nataek would’ve felt morally bankrupt.
Nataek hadn’t given up on his humanity just yet. But it seemed that Medeus had already given up his humanity since that evening. It was easy for Nataek to say things like “be a decent human being” even while participating in a caste system. He even considered himself Medeus’s benefactor in a way.
Nataek clenched his teeth. But what else could he do? On one side, it was a lone slave, and on the other side was a nobleman and said slave’s master. They say when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
First, Nataek had to apologize.
“I’m sorry. I’ll definitely get it back.”
If he could go back to that damn fortune teller, he could get the seal back. His hidden skill was to return after 24 hours, so if Nataek went to the fortune teller’s shop around this time tomorrow, he should be able to get it back.
“Where do you think you lost it?” Medeus asked, making Nataek tense up.
“I’ll get it back at any cost.”
“…Forget it.” Medeus responded nonchalantly with indifference, as if he was dissatisfied with Nataek’s reaction to his threat.
Was it alright to give up your family seal so easily? Well, Nataek would be grateful if it was, but…
Nataek looked Medeus in the eye, trying to gauge the man’s reaction.
Medeus said, “The seal belongs to the family anyway. Even if someone picks it off the ground, they wouldn’t be able to use it freely. But I can’t overlook your wrongdoings without asking some questions first.”
“…Yes.”
“But why the hell did you come out of that alley when you’d been sent on an errand?”
Nataek had been wondering when Medeus had shown up. It turned out that Medeus had been watching Nataek since he ran out of the alley trying to catch that fortune teller.
Nataek decided to use the seal as an excuse. “The seal… I was looking for it because I’d lost it.”
“In that specific alley?”
“Yes.”
“There’s nothing there but a fortune teller’s shop.”
“I went in. Just in case.”
Nataek broke out into a cold sweat. Medeus gave him a look full of suspicion before turning away. “You’re always getting into trouble.”
How is Nataek the one who always gets into trouble? Rather, trouble is the one that always finds him.
But Nataek couldn’t bring himself to say those words.
Medeus’s hair fluttered in the light breeze that blew between them. The red handprint left from where Nataek had slapped him on the cheek was still visible. Nataek felt a momentary pang of regret upon seeing the mark, thinking he should’ve gone at least a little easier on Medeus, but the feeling passed quickly. Why did it matter, it wasn’t like he was beautiful or anything in the first place…
Still, he couldn’t stop being bothered by the ugly mark left on that puppy-like face.
* * *
It’d been a long day. Well, it wasn’t like there was ever a day that hadn’t felt “long” since Nataek got there, but today in particular felt especially exhausting.
What made it even worse was the realization that Nataek still had work to do even after having all his energy drained from the whole marketplace fiasco. Such was the life of a slave.
“I’ll go fetch the bathwater,” Nataek said, taking Medeus’s cloak for him.
Nataek bowed. Just as he was about to leave to go fulfill his duties—
“Teresi.”
—Medeus had called out to him.
“Close the door and come over here.”
Why are you calling me over? Given how unpredictable Medeus was, Nataek didn’t have a clue. He had a bad feeling about this.
Nataek closed the door and slowly approached Medeus with caution.
“Closer.”
A tense Nataek took two more steps toward Medeus, who was standing in front of the bed.
Medeus leaned down and reached his arm under the bed, lifting the rug that was there, revealing a long groove in the floor about the size of two large bricks. Medeus inserted the blade of his sword in the groove and lifted the floor tile.
It was like a scene out of a movie. In the hole where the floor tile had been, there was a small box.
Medeus took the box out, putting the floor tiles back in place and covering the secret spot with the rug. He sat on the bed and gestured to Nataek. It was clearly to signal for him to sit by Medeus’s side.
On the bed of a noble… will Nataek be allowed to sit down and still have his butt attached to him afterwards?
Nataek glanced at the sword attached to Medeus’s hip for a while before eventually sitting down. The mysterious box was placed between them.
“So, what is…”
Nataek was about to ask what was in the box before stopping himself. Slaves were forbidden from asking questions, he reminded himself.
“These are herbs that I’ve been collecting.” Medeus opened the box.
The large box was divided into small, evenly-sized compartments, almost like a grid. Each compartment contained vials and peculiar-looking leaves.
“Some of these leaves are worth the price of a house, others are leaves from a flower that only blooms once every ten years. The two I’m about to show you came from Egypt and they were difficult to get a hold of.”
Was he… trying to show off? From what Nataek has observed over the past few days, Medeus doesn’t seem like the type who’d be bringing this up just to brag about it.
As Nataek struggled to grasp the sudden situation, Medeus picked up one of the leaves and held it in front of Nataek’s eyes. It was a type of leaf Nataek recognized.
“Um… Isn’t this Ludocho?”
It was the herb that Nataek had seen in the marketplace earlier that day. The same herb that was in the incense burner that damn servant brought him.
“Exactly. You remember correctly.”
Putting the Ludocho back, Medeus took and held out another herb in front of Nataek.
“This is the leaf from a flower called Moniho. When you apply it to your skin, it will temporarily numb your sense of pain.”
Like an anesthetic…?
“In the right hands, it can be used as medicine, but it can also be used as poison. For example… Let’s say you soak the herb in water and apply the mixture to an arrowhead. If one were to be pierced by the arrow, the toxin would spread throughout their entire body. If you’re hit by a Moniho-poisoned arrow, breathing will become difficult. At least until all the poison leaves your system.”
After listening to Medeus’s explanation, the “treasure” box seemed to be more like a “bomb” box. Why the hell would someone be storing all these dangerous things like they’re part of a treasure trove? Was it just for a collection? The items in question seemed to be quite dangerous to be considered collectibles.
There were so many questions in his head that Nataek wanted to ask, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak. There was one rule of life that Nataek was getting used to—
A slave was nothing. Asking questions is forbidden. It was frustrating to be in a situation where he couldn’t act like
Nataek pursed his lips and let out a silent sigh.
Medeus, who’d been watching his reaction, broke the silence first. “If you have questions, you’re free to ask. I’ll allow it.”
…Now, Nataek was certain. Today’s Medeus was more docile than yesterday’s. Nataek was not one who would let this opportunity slip through, so he didn’t hesitate to ask a question.
“Why have you been collecting all of this? It seems quite dangerous.”
Edited by An Zheee
T/N: Hey guys, sorry for the small break. I’ll try to keep maintaining the pace from July for now, but school is about to start up again. We’ll see how it goes.
Thank you for the update! Medeus being compared to as a puppy (◕દ◕)
He is the most golden retriever ML ever :3
Please tell us! When will our MC find his System Card? (The one that shows his info like the fortune teller guy).
Still, I like this story. 10/10 TFTC
Thanks for the chapter!
I fell for this story like I did for a certain pup’s survival Guide ~~
Tooo shorrttttt… Thanks for the update!😍
This story has so much potential. Can’t wait for the next update
I feel like a noble kid sulking right now because of the cliffhanger 😤😭❤️
Thank you!! It was really interesting, I cant wait for the next chapter!! 🙂