I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 6

Became a King of the Crusades – Episode 6 (6/215)

The Song of Departure (1)

* * *

When you contract cholera or enteritis, your body rapidly loses fluids.

That’s why dehydration occurs.

Strictly speaking, death results from the body’s immune response, not the bacteria itself.

The way to prevent this was very simple.

Oral rehydration therapy.

Mix a specific amount of salt and sugar in water to match the concentration of bodily fluids, and administer it to the patient regularly.

There was no need for injections or anything invasive.

A solution that helps the body withstand the symptoms of dehydration.

Was it in the late 20th century that this simple method became widely known?

“Are you saying that plain water won’t work?”

Garnier tilted his head.

How should I explain this?

I can’t just claim to know it…

I quickly racked my brain.

“I recently came across a treatment in a Greek medical text. It’s said to be very effective for patients exhibiting these symptoms.”

Yes, that should suffice.

Garnier seemed somewhat convinced.

I approached the sickbed and examined the water bottle beside it.

As expected, it was just plain water.

“What are you doing?”

Someone asked me in a testy tone.

It was the boy carrying the water bottle.

Slightly dark skin and a closely shaved head, not quite European.

He looks like he’s from Turkey.

Or maybe from Arabia?

The boy sighed deeply.

“Don’t bother me; I’m busy. Get out of the way.”

“Watch your mouth, Aig! Do you know who this is….”

I reached out and stopped Garnier, who was about to get angry.

I don’t have time for this right now.

“First, please prepare as much clean water as possible. No, it would be better to boil it. And I also need sugar and salt.”

“Sugar and salt?”

I nodded instead of answering.

What was the exact ratio?

I think I heard it in class.

‘Ion drinks with a higher osmotic pressure than blood can actually draw water away from the body. But oral rehydration solutions don’t cause imbalances no matter how much you drink. It means you can quickly replenish fluids during combat.’

I should start with a small amount and adjust the ratio.

The monks and people around me gathered one by one.

“I will assist you.”

“Everyone, come over here!”

They followed my sudden orders to prepare salt and sugar without question.

It’s convenient to be royalty in times like this.

‘If a street beggar said this, no one would listen.’

It only took a few minutes to prepare a bottle of oral rehydration solution.

I first instructed the children and the elderly to drink the oral rehydration solution.

“They should drink it little by little every five minutes. Don’t stop even if they vomit.”

The effect was rapid.

Most of the patients with severe dehydration recovered their energy within a few hours.

“We need more over here!”

“Tell the others quickly! Bring more salt and sugar! Not in small bowls, but in sacks!”

The monks and knights who saw that it was effective moved busily.

I did the same.

While boiling water and adding sugar and salt, Garnier asked.

“Your Highness, did you read anything else in that Greek medical book? Or could you just tell me the title of that book….”

“I’ll look for it when I return to the palace. For now….”

The surrounding scenery came into view.

Beds that were too close together, dirty blankets, and medical equipment that was used without sterilization.

You didn’t have to be a doctor or nurse to know there was a problem.

It seems like I have to change more than one or two things.

I sighed without realizing it.

“First, let’s try what I remember.”

***

The ‘hospital remodeling’ work that started unexpectedly continued for more than three days.

It wasn’t just the oral rehydration solution that needed fixing.

The hygiene level of this ‘hospital’ was appalling.

‘If Florence Nightingale [a pioneer of modern nursing] saw this, she would have been horrified.’

In fact, I only implemented very basic changes.

Frequently cleaning to prevent dust accumulation, washing medical equipment and tools with clean water, and regularly washing sheets and patient clothes.

The people who saw that the oral rehydration solution was effective followed my instructions without complaint.

The patients’ conditions also improved day by day.

“I’ve been working hard on the ship for the past few months. The doctors drew several pints of blood, but it didn’t have any effect.”

“You’ve only been on the ship for a few months. Are your teeth loose by any chance?”

“Yes, and my gums are bleeding.”

“When was the last time you ate fruit?”

“Fruit….”

“First, eat lemons and limes. I’ll tell the monks. You have to eat them no matter how much you dislike them.”

I said as I stood up.

My body felt as heavy as lead, probably because I had been sleeping late for two days in a row.

I didn’t know I would be acting like a doctor like this.

I’m glad I can easily treat things like scurvy [a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency].

“Your Highness, you were here. I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

When I turned my head, I saw Garnier’s face.

“Did something happen in the meantime?”

“I guess you could say that. Lady Sibylla has come to find you.”

Who?

“Mother came here?”

I roughly washed my face in the washbasin and headed to the central hall.

I think I know why.

I haven’t returned to the palace for several days and have been stuck here.

I looked at the hall.

As the oral rehydration solution recipe spread, the number of vomiting and diarrhea patients decreased significantly.

‘Actually, the oral rehydration solution didn’t directly cure the disease.’

Oral rehydration solution only plays a role in replenishing lost body fluids.

But that alone was enough to prevent dehydration.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

My mother, Sibylla.

“So you were here, Baldwin!”

Still a beautiful appearance.

It would be much better if she didn’t have that fierce look in her eyes.

“Staying outside the palace for days without a word. What were you thinking?”

She sighed with a relieved expression.

“In the future, please tell your mother before doing something like this. At least so I don’t worry.”

“I will keep that in mind, Mother.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

There is one person in this world who worries about me.

I felt at ease thinking that.

“There are so many things to help with here.”

“Baldwin, you volunteered to work in a place like this. Really….”

She trailed off.

I could guess what she was going to say next.

She’s probably going to say it’s not like me.

A brat who used to be obsessed with falconry is volunteering at a hospital.

“You suddenly seem like an adult after falling off your horse.”

“Every boy becomes a man someday, Sibylla. That’s only natural.”

A man with brown hair approached.

Full body chain mail and a red cloak.

A face like a statue and a mustache.

I had never seen him before, but I immediately recognized who he was.

Guy of Lusignan.

Sibylla’s second husband and my stepfather.

And the man who would later become the King of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

“It’s good to see you look healthy, even though you’ve been holed up in the relief center, Baldwin.”

He smiled and patted me on the shoulder.

I looked at him.

‘He was the one who defeated the Crusaders in the Battle of Hattin [a major military defeat for the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem].’

A battle in which a large army of 20,000 was absurdly annihilated due to an unreasonable expedition and a forced march in the desert.

It’s a skill to ruin a country with just one battle.

“I heard you’re getting swordsmanship training from the Knights Hospitaller [a Catholic military order] these days. Are you even going to join?”

“Just say that much, Guy.”

“Okay, okay. I can’t even make a joke.”

He raised both hands as if to surrender.

A subtle tension was felt between the two.

‘I thought they were in love.’

Sibylla herself chose Guy as her husband, despite the opposition around her.

Later, she even hands over the throne of Jerusalem to him.

But this reaction now….

“Lady Sibylla, the Commander wants to express his gratitude in person.”

“Okay, I’ll go now. Wait a moment, both of you.”

Sibylla went inside the hall, leaving only Guy and me.

“I heard you want to go to Eilat yourself, Baldwin. You should think again. No matter how much you’ve made up your mind, you’re still young.”

Guy said.

“And it’s too dangerous for children to run around Jerusalem. Taking Jerusalem’s forces separately for your whims….”

“I see. Thank you for the advice.”

I answered with a smile.

You’re trying so hard to discourage me.

But I know one of your secrets.

A very big secret.

I chuckled and approached him.

“You should also reconsider embezzling money from the royal treasury.”

“What?”

His brow furrowed.

And shock.

I could vividly feel his embarrassment.

Is this thanks to my sixth sense?

“H, how in the world……!”

I already know your secrets.

Guy of Lusignan.

Caused trouble in Aquitaine [a historical region in southwestern France] and was exiled by Richard I [King of England].

After that, he came to the Kingdom of Jerusalem and luckily married Sibylla.

By now, he must be stealing from the royal treasury to buy off nobles and lords.

I was able to find out that information and attack Guy in the game.

“You know what I’m talking about, right?”

He probably didn’t know that a thirteen-year-old brat would know that?

Don’t talk nonsense and behave yourself.

If this guy publicly opposes the reconstruction of Eilat, the problem becomes complicated.

“I believe you will help me since you are my stepfather.”

“….”

Guy muttered, snorting angrily.

“It just so happens that the lord near Eilat was Reynald. He is a close friend of mine, so he will gladly help you. I’ll send you a letter before you leave.”

“Thank you.”

I answered briefly.

Reynald.

It seems like he’s trying to attack me with that guy.

It doesn’t matter anyway.

I’m going to stop that guy too.

Then Sibylla came back.

“Everyone here is only talking about you, Baldwin. I don’t know exactly what that ‘solution’ is. You’ve done a really great job.”

She gave a soft smile.

“Now let’s go back to the palace together. His Majesty is looking for you.”

“I understand, Mother.”

I smiled and replied.

Has the [Rude Brat] effect disappeared a lot now?

It wasn’t intentional, but it turned out well.

As I headed out of the hall, monks and knights approached.

They all smiled brightly and saw me off.

“Thank you for your hard work for the past few days, Your Highness.”

“We’ll be waiting until you come back!”

I waved my hand at them.

This is a bit awkward.

“Please let the other hospitals and branches know what I told you.”

“Of course! Other monks are already….”

Yes, I’ve done enough.

I can tell them later if I think of anything else.

As I passed through the streets under escort, the main palace of Jerusalem came into view again.

Sibylla came to my side and whispered.

“Baldwin, if you’ve changed your mind, I can still solve the Eilat problem….”

“It’s okay, Mother. I asked His Majesty directly.”

After saying that, I glanced at Guy next to me.

He was still looking at me with a displeased look.

“Then I’ll tell the treasurer, Luyom, to take out some funds. You’ll have a lot of things to spend money on in Eilat.”

“Thank you. Oh, and….”

Sibylla probably doesn’t know that her husband is embezzling money yet.

I looked at Sibylla with a smile on my face.

“There’s something I want to tell you, Mother.”

Guy will definitely try to become king himself or make me a puppet.

I have to stop that in advance.

* * *

Q: Is oral rehydration solution that effective?

A: According to the WHO [World Health Organization] and UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund], oral rehydration solution (ORS) reduced the ‘under-five mortality rate due to diarrhea’ by more than 75% in 2008 compared to 1980. It would have been even more effective in the 12th century, when there was no basic concept of hygiene.

Q: Wasn’t sugar very expensive at the time? Honey is a substitute, but honey was also a precious commodity in that era.

A: At the time, sugarcane cultivation and sugar refining took place in the Jordan Valley and Crusader cities such as Tyre and Acre, and this was exported to Europe. In addition, honey was also one of Jerusalem’s main products and exports.