I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 10

Song of Departure (5)

* * *

“They abandoned all their goods? Is that true?”

Kurbuqa gazed at the valley ahead.

The echoes of camels, horses, and warriors’ shouts reverberated.

“Yes, that’s right. They’ve piled everything up in the Sahakan Valley. All the other tribes have already entered the valley.”

“There was a reason they stayed there yesterday.”

“The Franks [Europeans, often referring to the French in this historical context] probably had no choice. They couldn’t fight while herding sheep.”

His subordinate said,

“They must have held on as long as they could before finally abandoning their spoils and running away.”

“I suppose they could afford to pay this much as a toll. It’s a shame we couldn’t capture any prisoners.”

Kurbuqa muttered.

His tribe was starving due to the ongoing drought.

The Frankish fortresses nearby didn’t trade with the seafaring tribes, leaving them only with robbery.

“Did you say the other tribes have already entered the valley?”

“Yes, they all rushed in before the scouts could even finish their report.”

“There are no brothers or friends before a narrow path. There’s not a single thing wrong with that old saying.”

Kurbuqa clicked his tongue.

As he raised his hand, warriors on horses and camels followed behind him.

All of them had excited expressions.

A large-scale hunt that was happening for the first time in years.

Along with food and supplies to take back to their families.

If they didn’t hurry, there would be nothing left to gain.

“It’ll be prayer time soon. Let’s hurry before we’re too late!”

“Waaaah!”

They entered the valley.

From inside, they could hear the warriors of other tribes cheering.

Next to large wooden planks, food and valuable goods were piled up like mountains.

Spoils that could easily feed the seafaring tribes in the vicinity for a year.

“What are those wooden planks?”

“It seems the Franks were carrying a ship piece by piece.”

Some excited warriors shouted and danced in front of the pile of planks.

“They must have been planning to invade the holy city of Mecca. Saladin [A famous Muslim leader] will reward us handsomely when he hears this news.”

Kurbuqa muttered, looking around.

Something didn’t sit right with him.

“Are you sure all the Franks have retreated? The air feels strange.”

Kurbuqa stared ahead.

A premonition that something was about to explode.

“I guess it was just my imagination…”

At that moment, the warriors dancing in front of the wooden planks collapsed.

Long wooden splinters were embedded in their necks and limbs.

The sound of sharp wind.

“Arrows! Take cover!”

“Ambush! The Frankish bastards are hiding behind the planks!”

“Don’t fall back! Raise your bows!”

Then, stones rained down from above.

The startled horses reared up, and warriors fell to the ground one by one.

Kurbuqa lowered his head.

Arrows flying from the front.

Stones falling from above.

The situation was clear.

They had fallen into a trap.

“Don’t counterattack, turn back! Get out of the valley quickly!”

He turned his head and flinched.

Frankish cavalrymen in armor were blocking the entrance.

Kurbuqa and his subordinates stared at the suddenly appearing enemy.

A moment of silence passed.

“Chief…!”

“There aren’t many of them! Charge! Break through the encirclement!”

Kurbuqa drew his sword.

There were no other options.

If this was a trap, they had to cut off their legs to escape [a metaphor for doing whatever it takes to survive].

“Don’t just stand there, shoot your arrows! You idiots!”

* * *

“They’re escaping!”

“Block them! Don’t let a single rat escape from the valley!”

Gainier bit his lip tightly.

Until just now, everything had gone according to plan.

The seafaring bandits lost their minds at the sight of the spoils piled up before them.

They even started fighting each other to claim the spoils first, creating a chaotic mess.

And then the ambush began.

Archers from inside, and Jewish laborers throwing stones from the top of the valley.

The sea raiders, caught in the chaos, stumbled and trampled each other.

Victory belonged to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

But there were far more of them than expected.

“Block them! Throw spears or use your bodies, just don’t let them escape!”

“Lord Gainier! Behind us…!”

Gainier turned his sword and cut down the approaching enemy.

Red blood stained his armor.

He felled a few more enemy cavalrymen nearby.

But there were more escaping than he could cut down.

Like fish in a loose net, the enemies broke through the encirclement and fled.

“A significant number of enemies have escaped the valley!”

“Go to Lord Confucius right now! Tell him to come this way before they run into them!”

“Understood!”

“Prevent them from approaching Lord Confucius!”

Gainier’s roar echoed through the valley.

Blood soaked the sand as the battle continued.

* * *

“They noticed too quickly.”

I rose from the cliff.

A loud roar shook the ground.

The screams of people and beasts in agony.

The sound of arrows cutting through the air.

The metallic clang of spears and swords clashing followed.

I couldn’t imagine how chaotic it must be down there.

“It looks like we’ve won, Lord Confucius?”

“We’ve already won the battle. But what matters is what comes next.”

I said, looking at Aegir.

The original plan was to surround them on one side and accept their surrender.

But there were far more enemies than expected.

Already, dozens of enemy cavalrymen had broken through the encirclement.

Perhaps a complete encirclement was impossible with our numbers from the start.

One of the escort knights approached.

“Lord Confucius, it might be better for us to join them. If, by any chance, those who escaped from the valley come this way…”

“Wait.”

I held out my hand.

Something caught my eye.

Some of the Saracen [Term for Muslims during the Crusades] cavalrymen who had escaped the valley were running towards the main force.

I frowned without realizing it.

All that was in the main force now were non-combat personnel like merchants, women, and children.

They were practically defenseless.

What would happen if they were to rush into the main force like this?

People screaming.

Blood, and pillage.

Severed limbs.

I pulled down my helmet.

We were the only ones between them and the bandits.

“We’ll have to intercept them.”

“But Lord Gainier said, no matter what…”

“It is I who am giving you orders now. Not Lord Gainier in that valley.”

I said, looking at the knight.

There was no time to be treated like a child now.

“Then we’ll go and stop them. You’ll stay here, Lord Confucius.”

“No, I’m going too.”

There were only six knights here.

We’d need even one more horse to drive them away.

“There’s no need to worry. I don’t intend to overdo it either.”

I’m just a thirteen-year-old kid anyway.

I’m just going to ride a horse and run.

I couldn’t send the other knights out and sit here alone.

That would be even more dangerous.

I climbed onto Bhult.

As I put my foot in the stirrup, he rubbed his front hooves in the sand as if he had been waiting.

Aegir also climbed onto the horse next to me.

“Aegir, you can stay back.”

“I’ll go with you. If Lord Gainier finds out I sent you alone, he’ll try to kill me. We’ll be running behind you, but just in case…”

Aegir handed me a spear.

A black pole with a steel spearhead.

“When using a spear, you must never swing it. You must hold it tightly to properly deliver the impact.”

I took the spear.

It felt heavier than I thought.

It sagged slightly downward unless I put force into it.

Anyway, a cavalry charge.

I never thought I’d be doing something like this in my life.

“Lord Confucius is with us! Charge!”

“Charge!”

The horses sprang forward all at once.

My body couldn’t keep up with the acceleration and momentarily leaned back.

I barely managed to get my body back to normal and looked ahead.

Fortunately, there weren’t many enemies heading towards the main force.

About thirty to forty.

They weren’t so much aiming for the main force as they were desperately trying to escape.

Sand carried by the wind entered my helmet.

I tried to ignore the gritty feeling in my mouth.

“Everyone, raise your spears!”

“Raise your spears!”

Then the enemies spotted us.

I could vaguely hear them shouting in Arabic.

They haven’t changed direction yet.

“Don’t let them get close to the main force!”

We spread out in a long line.

As I tapped my feet, Bhult slowed down slightly and naturally fell back.

“Maintain the formation!”

“They’re shooting arrows! Shields!”

A few arrows fell around us with a thud.

Half unconsciously, I raised my shield.

My arm trembled, unable to bear the weight.

I’d probably collapse from exhaustion rather than from an arrow.

In the narrow field of vision, I could only see the hazy sandstorm.

Please don’t hit me, please don’t hit me.

“Charge! Don’t stop!”

As we continued to charge without stopping, the enemies finally changed direction.

Like sheepdogs herding sheep, we drove them away from the main force.

‘Is it over now?’

Just as I was about to let out a sigh of relief, something blunt hit my face.

My body twisted backward and touched the saddle.

The first time I’d ever experienced such a sharp pain in my back.

For a moment, my mind went blank before returning to normal.

…….

Okay, what happened?

My feet are still hanging in the stirrups.

My body seems to be dangling beside the saddle.

My body shook every time Bhult kicked the ground.

But at least I haven’t dropped the spear yet.

“Lord Confucius has been hit by an arrow!”

“Stop the charge!”

I could feel Bhult stopping.

Someone ran up beside me, panting.

“Lord Confucius! Lord Confucius! Are you alright?!”

It was Aegir.

He jumped off his horse and shook my body.

“Yeah, I’m still alive.”

“Where were you hit?! Can you hear me?!”

My eardrums are going to fall out first.

I said with a smile.

“Untie the stirrups first, Aegir.”

Aegir carefully untied the stirrups.

At the same time, my body fell downward.

Thanks to falling onto the sand, the impact wasn’t great.

“I’ll help you up.”

“It’s okay, I can get up on my own.”

I slowly raised my body.

It didn’t seem like anything was broken.

My jaw felt numb, as if I had been punched.

Even the bitter taste of blood in my mouth.

Perfect, perfect.

As I turned my gaze, I could see the enemy cavalrymen disappearing far away.

“Are you really alright?”

“What are you going to do if I say I’m not alright?”

I smiled and took off my helmet.

The jaw area was slightly dented.

The arrow must have hit my jaw and bounced off.

I saved my life thanks to the great helm [A type of medieval helmet].

“I’m so glad you’re safe. What if something had happened to you, Lord Confucius….”

“Aegir, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, except for almost having a heart attack.”

Aegir looked down at me and smiled.

We looked at each other and burst into laughter.

The other knights also gathered around one by one.

I could feel the armor slowly getting hotter in the sand.

Looking at the sun, I muttered to myself.

‘I’m never doing something like this again.’