I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 12

The Lion and the Bull Grazing (2)

* * *

“Merchant ships have started arriving in Eilat?”

“Yes, the harbor is already full. I don’t know how they did it, but there are also three ships assembled locally…”

“The Venetians must be behind it. Those guys would chew a lion alive for money.”

Renaud loosened the scabbard he was wearing.

As the scabbard clattered to the ground, the servants hurriedly picked it up.

“Where is the prisoner they caught today?”

“He’s in the next room.”

At the black butler’s gesture, soldiers dragged a man in.

The man’s body was covered in wounds, scars, and traces of torture.

“So, you’re saying you’ve been spying for those Saracens [a general term used by Christians to refer to Muslims during the Crusades] all this time?”

Renaud growled.

“A blacksmith who lived inside the fortress?”

“It’s, it’s a setup, Lord! I’ve been serving you and the Lord for the past few years…”

“You haven’t come to your senses yet.”

Renaud gestured.

“Spread honey on his wounds and put him on the ramparts. After playing with the flies for a night, he’ll confess his sins.”

“Lord! Please…!”

The man cried, his face covered in tears and snot.

“I have a wife and young daughters! Please, have mercy…”

“Really? You know very well what kind of punishment the families of spies receive, don’t you? If you confess, I’ll end it with just one or two limbs.”

“Aaaagh!”

The struggling man was struck with the scabbard and slumped down.

As he was dragged away, silence filled the room.

“By the way, they entrusted the reconstruction of Eilat to that little Baldwin…”

Renaud’s mustache twitched.

“The last time I saw him at the palace, he was a weakling, but he must have changed a lot in the meantime. His Majesty is entrusting him with such a big task.”

He snorted.

“Or is his mind wandering now because of leprosy?”

A blatant insult to the king.

But no one dared to challenge him.

“His Majesty is rebuilding Eilat, not Aqaba. Don’t you think it’s strange no matter how you look at it?”

The butler coughed and asked.

“If you had asked for help from the lord, you could have rebuilt Aqaba much faster…”

“You’re so clueless. They’re deliberately trying to raise that little prince.”

“Yes?”

“If Eilat is rebuilt and money flows in, the little prince’s status in the palace will increase accordingly.”

Renaud snorted again.

His gaze turned to the window.

“So that’s why that bastard is making such a fuss.”

Fortress towers engraved with lion statues.

Deep moats and steep cliffs.

A strategic point in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Kerak [a large Crusader castle located in modern-day Jordan].

This was the territory he was in charge of.

The forefront that would bear the brunt of Islamic attacks before anyone else.

“Didn’t you say that you ran into the sea tribe while going to Eilat last time?”

“Yes, that’s right. According to the Venetian merchants who were at the scene at the time…”

The butler carefully opened his mouth.

“They lured the sea tribe with loot and then ambushed them.”

“Luring the sea tribe with loot, huh? There must have been a knight with some brains.”

Renaud muttered.

After a moment of silence, he jumped up.

“Tell the sea tribes that this year’s tribute will be double last year’s.”

“But if you do that, they’ll resist…”

“The more they resist, the better for me. What reason would I have to refuse if they give me a reason to fight?”

He grinned.

“It’s about time for me to step in.”

“You mean…”

“Now that Saladin [a famous Muslim leader during the Crusades] is holed up in Cairo, it’s time to stab the Saracens in the armpit.”

Renaud raised his finger.

He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together as if to show off.

“Let’s take some money out of those guys’ wallets for the first time in a while.”

“But according to the treaty that His Majesty the King made with Saladin, there should be no hostilities until next year…”

“You stupid fool.”

Renaud growled.

“Why should I care about a treaty made with a mere infidel? Huh?!”

“O-Of course, you are right.”

The butler hurriedly bowed his head.

“Who else but you would protect this place?”

“That’s right, there’s no one else. That Raymond is just wagging his tail like a scared dog.”

He laughed heartily, then wore a thoughtful expression.

“He and I were captured by the Saracens together. 15 years.”

He muttered.

“I endured those damn 15 years in the Saracens’ prison. While receiving dried-up bread and ridicule.”

“…….”

“Go and summon the knights. Starting tomorrow, we’ll attack the caravans going from Damascus to Mecca.”

“But…”

“What is it this time?”

“What if Prince Baldwin in Eilat takes issue with this? If there is a problem with the reconstruction of the port, the responsibility…”

“Let’s see what that little prince does. Whether he’s a coward like Raymond, or a man ready to fight like this Renaud.”

He shouted, putting on his cloak.

“Summon the knights!”

* * *

Eilat

“Advance!”

The men swung their spears forward in response to the command.

Dozens of poles cut through the air with a sharp sound.

“One step back! Stop! Stop!”

Ganier shouted.

His voice echoed through the barracks.

“Everyone stop!”

The hesitant men stopped.

“You must follow the commander’s orders no matter what! If one person falters, everyone dies! I think I’ve said this several times already?!”

Ganier shook his head and shouted.

“Still, it’s much better than the beginning. I’ll end the training here today, dismiss!”

The men scattered.

They all burst into laughter as if relieved that the training was over.

At that moment, a boy approached Ganier.

It was Aigre.

“It’s much better than the beginning. You couldn’t even hold a spear properly back then.”

“It’s still not enough…”

Ganier smiled and sighed.

“At this rate, you might be able to fight back. That is, if you don’t run away as soon as the battle starts.”

Ganier took an apple out of his pocket and threw it.

“So, how are the archers doing?”

“I’m teaching them with crossbows for now. It’s much easier to learn than a bow.”

Aigre jumped and caught the apple.

The crossbow and bolt pouch hanging from the boy’s waist shook.

“Time is running out, but the work keeps piling up. The repair of the walls is not finished yet.”

“But we have beacons, so we can ask for help from other fortresses.”

Aigre said.

“Even if we are attacked, we only need to hold out until reinforcements arrive.”

“You can do that right now. But in the future, such temporary measures won’t work.”

Ganier shook his head.

His gaze turned to the empty barracks.

“There are too few men to fight. That’s not just a problem for Eilat here. There is a shortage of knights and soldiers throughout the kingdom.”

“Isn’t that why so many fortresses were built? No matter how many troops they bring, they can’t easily break through the walls.”

“A fortress is just a fortress. It can’t defeat the enemies by itself.”

Ganier said.

“What if the enemies ignore the fortress? What if they burn crops and steal livestock in front of your eyes?”

“Then shouldn’t we go out of the castle and fight them?”

“Then the castle will be defenseless. What if the enemies hiding there take the opportunity to surround the castle?”

“Then…”

Aigre scratched the back of his head.

“I don’t know. I have no choice but to pray to the Lord to let us win.”

“Yes, that’s all we can do. If the heavenly army comes, it will definitely help.”

Ganier smiled.

He reached out and stroked Aigre’s head.

“Muslims think that losing Jerusalem is a hardship and test from their god. Maybe it’s our turn to go through such trials and tribulations.”

Abyss and darkness.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem was caught between the two right now.

How many more wars will break out in the future?

Holy Land, Holy City.

The center of the world.

This Jerusalem was a land of glory and a battlefield stained with the blood of countless people.

God and demon.

True believers and false infidels.

Life and death.

Before joining the Knights, everything was clear.

But the sandstorm of the Levant [a historical geographical area roughly equivalent to the modern Middle East] scattered everything.

“I’ve been saying too many useless things. So, what’s it like serving the Prince?”

“It’s hard to say, but I’d say it’s different from what I initially thought. There are many times when the Prince does or says strange things, but…”

The boy continued.

“Most of the time, it ended well. He always took care of me.”

“Most of the time, it ended well, huh? Yes, I think you’re right.”

Ganier muttered.

He had been with Baldwin for the past few weeks.

The salt-sugar water that saved many patients in the infirmary.

The courage and response he showed during the sea tribe’s attack.

Even the reconstruction of Eilat, which is progressing smoothly under his command.

Prince Baldwin was the opposite of the rumors.

“By the way, I don’t think I’ve seen the Prince for a few days…”

At that moment, a knight in a monk’s robe approached them.

“Brother Ganier. Prince Baldwin has summoned all the knights.”

“The Prince summoned us?”

“He said it was an urgent matter. Go to the conference room as soon as possible.”

“Okay, I’ll go right now.”

Ganier smiled, looking at Aigre.

“I think you’ll have to come with me too, Aigre.”

* * *

“Renaud is going to attack the Saracen caravans soon. How did you know that, Prince?”

Ganier asked.

The staff conference room in the central building of Eilat.

Many knights and officials were sitting around the table.

I looked at Ganier.

“Let’s just say I have an ‘acquaintance’ on that side. It’s information secured from an insider.”

Actually, there is no such informant.

I can know this much with my eyes closed.

I’ve been pissed off by that guy more than once while playing the game.

Renaud.

The ultra-hardliner of the Crusader camp.

He, who plundered Byzantine Cyprus in his youth, was now the lord of Kerak.

Even in the game, he frequently violated agreements and attacked Muslim caravans and pilgrims.

Each time, the regional stability was greatly reduced as a bonus.

Sometimes, Saladin or the Islamic forces, unable to bear it, would declare war.

‘The chances of winning are too low if we wage war now.’

I had to prevent such a situation at all costs.

One of the reasons I came to Eilat in the first place was to stop him.

“Even if it’s Lord Renaud, I thought he would be quiet while you were in Eilat, Prince.”

Ganier sighed.

“It seems the hunting dog can’t break its habit. If that happens, the peace treaty itself will be shaken. Saladin won’t stand still either.”

“That’s exactly what Lord Renaud wants.”

I nodded.

What Renaud wants is to wage an all-out war with the Islamic forces right now.

“We must stop it somehow before things get serious.”

“But there is one problem, Prince. Lord Renaud’s actions are a clear violation of the agreement, but…”

Ganier said.

“Renaud will argue that the agreement with the infidels itself is invalid. In fact, Rome has made such judgments many times. The only way is for you to lead the army yourself and escort the caravans, but…”

“That would rather cause misunderstandings from others. I understand what you’re trying to say.”

I said.

For the Jerusalem royal family to protect Muslim merchants from the Crusaders?

Whatever the reason, the hardliners would definitely latch onto it.

It’s obvious without even looking.

‘They’re protecting the Saracens for the money of the dirty infidels!’

‘They betrayed Christ! The shame of the Crusaders!’

Hmm, the situation is more complicated than I thought.

If I leave Renaud alone, he will definitely make a mess.

But there is not enough justification to intervene.

Once the frame of traitor and infidel is set, I will be pushed back in the public opinion war.

“…….”

“…….”

No one in the conference room readily opened their mouths.

As I was racking my brain, something came to mind.

‘There’s no rule that I have to use only the methods I used in the game.’

An absurdly simple answer.

Why haven’t I thought of this until now?

“Then how about we do this?”

I asked with a smile.

“We attack the Saracen caravans and pilgrims before Renaud does.”

“Yes?”