I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 54

Assassin’s Creed (4)

* * *

Egypt

Waters off Damietta

Dozens of ships surrounding the harbor turned their bows towards the sea.

The opposite side of the harbor.

Wooden ships cut through the water, advancing.

Sailors shouted as they carried ropes and barrels.

“Prepare the fire!”

“Everyone there, be careful! Do you want to burn to death?”

“Don’t just worry about your side, carefully carry the things in the pottery!”

Seawater splashed onto the deck each time the ship rocked.

“Soon, over a hundred ships will clash. Doesn’t the thought alone make your blood boil?”

Luak muttered, gazing at the mast.

Water droplets dripped from the axe in his hand.

“Stop changing the subject and just admit it.”

Wigg shouted with a laugh.

“Wasn’t I right after all? As soon as we besieged Damietta, those guys came right back.”

“….”

Luak frowned.

“We couldn’t be sure until we sent out a scout ship. To bring it up like this….”

“A bet is a bet. Is a Viking, the warrior of warriors, going back on his word?”

“Fine, I was wrong. Are you happy now?”

Wigg shrugged with a playful smile.

Just then, a member of the Holy Sepulchre Guard approached them.

“The entire fleet is ready, Captain. We’ve been idle for days, so we’re itching for action. I gave the crew a drink to get their spirits up.”

He handed over a horn-made cup.

“I’ve kept one aside for you, Captain.”

“……I’m alright. I don’t feel so good right now.”

Luak replied, staring at the cup.

Wigg burst into laughter beside him.

“I haven’t felt this good in decades. Thank you, friend. Thank you very much.”

Wigg said to the bewildered guard member.

Luak sighed deeply and asked.

“Have you contacted the ships from Tripoli and Venice?”

“Yes. Thanks to the Eyes of an Angel [an early form of long-distance communication, possibly using mirrors or signal flags], we were able to form our formation first. They must have just discovered us now.”

The subordinate continued in an excited tone.

“We can ambush them while they’re hastily forming their ranks. Victory is as good as ours.”

“The training has paid off.”

Luak said.

He recalled the training in Cyprus.

Communication using the ‘Eyes of an Angel’ and building fleet formations.

That training was now paying off.

What could be a greater advantage than seeing the distance first?

“And with the Archangel Michael with us, how can we possibly lose?”

“The Lord only grants victory to those who are worthy.”

Wigg said.

“We’re the ones who will ultimately fight those guys directly. Keep that in mind.”

“Sir Wigg is right.”

Luak said.

He waved his hand and shouted.

“Don’t let your guard down! Last time in Cyprus, we had many casualties just from letting our guard down. We must not repeat that.”

“Blood has to be shed for victory….”

The subordinate lowered his head at Luak’s gaze.

He shouted.

“I’ll make sure to tell them. Now, let’s go, you slugs! Do you want to hear that the great Roman fleet is lagging behind those Tripoli and Venice guys?!”

“No, sir!”

“Then move quickly!”

Luak and Wigg both stood on the deck, looking ahead.

“It will be a tough fight.”

“I think so too. The Egyptian guys will do anything to lift the siege of Damietta. But just putting pressure here is as good as completing our mission.”

“Duke is probably in the Assassin lands by now. I wonder what he’s doing.”

Luak fell into thought.

How many years had it been since he left his hometown?

So many seas and cities.

And even Constantinople.

But he had never met someone like Baldwin.

Those eyes burning with desire and drive.

He knew the moment he first saw Duke.

I must follow this boy!

That’s why he volunteered to be the commander of the Holy Sepulchre Guard.

Wigg said with a laugh.

“He’s probably flying around here and there like a hawk hunting for prey. He’s been like that since Eilat.”

Just then, the sailors’ shouts shook the deck.

Seawater splashed everywhere again.

“If they come within range, burn them all without exception!”

* * *

A dark night.

Shadows moved through the bushes.

Steps without a hint of hesitation.

The clatter of chainmail faintly echoed.

“No abnormalities ahead.”

“Everyone, watch your surroundings carefully. This is enemy territory.”

The shadows stopped at one place.

On a hill overlooking the road.

“This is the place Brother Arnan spoke of.”

“The Saracens [a general term used by Europeans during the Crusades to refer to Muslims] will pass by here tomorrow. We’ll strike the weakest point in the convoy.”

Pelagius said.

His helmet and chainmail gleamed in the moonlight.

“Everyone, check your weapons and move behind the rock piles. Is the information about the convoy certain?”

“Only Saracens are at the center of the convoy. Duke Baldwin’s guards are only at the front.”

“We need to be sure. It doesn’t matter if we kill the Saracens, but….”

One of the subordinates approached him.

“Brother Pelagius. Even if it’s the Order’s command, this is drawing a sword against Duke Baldwin….”

“The ones we’re drawing our swords against are the Saracens.”

Pelagius said.

“We follow the Grand Master’s orders. There’s no need to think deeply. Understand?”

“…Understood.”

“Good, we must not leave any traces that we attacked. Everyone, wear black cloaks. We must appear as the Knights Hospitaller [a Catholic military order].”

Pelagius said.

“Burn all supplies that cannot be taken. No prisoners are needed either. Everything is for the Knights Templar [another Catholic military order].”

“For the Holy Land and the pilgrims.”

“For the Holy Land and the pilgrims.”

* * *

A faint sound of birds.

The carriage swayed from side to side.

“I feel like I’m going to throw up being like this all day.”

Joscelin said, stretching.

“I’d rather ride a horse.”

“Then those guys won’t come. They’ll probably see us from afar and run away.”

I said.

The swaying of the carriage was more bearable than I thought.

Compared to seasickness where you can’t even sleep properly, this is nothing.

The Knights Hospitaller, Joscelin, and even my direct knights.

Hunters to catch the Knights Templar.

We were hiding in the convoy carriages driven by the Assassins.

I looked at Count Joscelin.

I didn’t expect him to agree so easily.

As expected, he was a staunch royalist.

After hearing about Guiscard and the Knights Templar’s plot, he volunteered to join without any hesitation.

The trap itself was simple.

Intentionally create a vulnerable point in the convoy and lure the attack there.

When those guys take the bait, we, who are hiding, will catch them on the spot.

The important thing is to prevent information from leaking.

I only shared information with a few people whose feelings I had confirmed.

“I’m worried about arresting the Templars who were in the fortress. If the news that those guys were caught gets out….”

“It’ll be difficult for the raiding party to know the information that quickly.”

I said.

We had detained the Knights Templar inside the fortress just before leaving the fortress.

There aren’t many ways to communicate in this era.

We could send a carrier pigeon, but….

Carrier pigeons could only move to fixed locations.

The knights who had already come out to raid would not be able to receive the information.

“By the way, to do something like this just because they’re worried about the annual tribute being reduced.”

Joscelin spat out the window.

“I can’t believe it. I have to see it with my own eyes.”

“I guess money is more important than protecting the Holy Land.”

I said.

Considering the purpose of the Order’s founding, it was the complete opposite.

The Knights Templar’s official name was ‘Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon’.

The individual knights were indeed poor.

But the Order itself was different.

From managing territories to investing donations.

They reached out to anything that made money.

The deposit I proposed was the same.

“Does the Count think those guys will resist?”

“If we raid the scene, those guys won’t even think about fighting. It doesn’t matter if we kill the Saracens, but….”

Joscelin shrugged.

“Drawing a sword against someone as noble as Duke is a one-way ticket to hell.”

“Still, let’s prepare just in case.”

I said.

They were people who had already bent their beliefs once.

There’s no rule that says they won’t do it twice.

“You never know what choice they’ll make when they’re cornered. Tell the knights to be careful too.”

“Understood, Duke.”

I leaned my head against one side of the carriage.

It’s been a while since I’ve rested like this.

From Jerusalem to Eilat.

Constantinople, Cyprus, and even here in the Assassin’s mountains.

I feel like I’ve already done all the traveling I’ll do in my life.

How much more do I have to go?

Drowsiness washed over me.

I closed my eyes to the swaying rhythm of the carriage.

I woke up in the late afternoon.

My whole body was burning hot.
Tension, hostility.

Clear animosity.

I opened my eyes wide and stood up.

My whole body was already soaked with sweat.

“What’s wrong, Duke?”

“Those guys are right in front of us.”

“But how can you tell from inside the carriage….”

“I can just tell.”

I glanced out of the carriage.

The sun was setting.

Orange light dyed the mountains red.

The animosity was felt from the mountains on the right.

“Tell the lead carriage to stop slowly. Like there’s a problem with the wheels.”

“You’re trying to lure those guys in.”

“Yes, we have to look as appetizing as possible.”

Just then, Garnier approached the back of the carriage.

He was wearing Assassin attire.

“I’ll order the soldiers to get out of the carriage. Of all times, those guys are here when the sun is setting….”

“Not yet.”

I waved my hand.

“We have to wait until those guys get close.”

They were still a bit far away.

If we showed ourselves, they would run away.

We had to wait until those guys got as close as possible.

The important thing was timing.

The carriage slowly came to a stop.

I focused my mind on my senses.

The smell of dry soil and weeds around me.

I could feel the ground getting colder as it cooled down.

In between, excitement and hatred.

The smell of sweat was faintly felt.

I slowly opened my eyes.

All the knights and soldiers were holding weapons, waiting for my signal.

Just as I was about to open my mouth….

A shout rang out.

A sound close to an animal’s roar.

“Deus Vult!” [God wills it! A Crusader battle cry]

“God wills it!”

Latin and Orcish.

As expected, they were Knights Templar.

Deus Vult, my ass.

They bring up God for everything, but isn’t this a bit much?

As I gave the signal, everyone rushed out of the carriage.

I jumped out of the carriage as if diving out.

The sound of swords clashing was heard.

Count Joscelin shouted.

“Everyone, stop!”

Suddenly, silence fell.

The sound of birds was faintly heard.

I looked at the raiders.

Black cloaks and coats.

Knights Hospitaller attire.

Were they trying to frame the Knights Hospitaller for the attack?

They really do all sorts of things.

They all looked flustered.

They probably didn’t expect allies to suddenly pop out of the attacked carriage.

“You foolish bastards! And you call yourselves knights who protect the Holy Land!”

Joscelin broke the silence and moved.

He took large strides and shouted.

“Everyone, drop your weapons! We already know you’re the Knights Templar!”

His voice echoed through the mountains.

The raiders all flinched.

“To disguise yourselves as the Knights Hospitaller and commit such a low act. Did you really think you would be safe after doing something like this?!”

“Knights Templar? What are you talking about?”

The man at the front said.

An unexpectedly calm tone.

But his emotions were fluctuating like an explosion.

“We came here after chasing Saracens who attacked a nearby fortress. Count, why are you protecting these heretics….”

“To have chased the Saracens from a nearby fortress all the way here. Ha! Which fortress did you come from to this far away place?!”

“If you don’t move aside, I’ll assume that the Count is also in league with these heretics.”

“Now you’re even threatening me.”

Joscelin scoffed, making sure he was heard.

He gestured towards me.

“Do you really not know who this person is?!”

I took off my helmet and approached them.

Even if they disregard Joscelin, they can’t ignore me, a member of the royal family.

Garnier and Aig followed me as if guarding me.

A soldier raised the Jerusalem royal flag.

“Duke Baldwin?”

The raiders who saw my face buzzed.

I glared at them head-on.

“If you’re prepared to kill both a Count and a member of the royal family, I’d like to praise you.”

“….”

“You all already know the story about me. Archangel Michael told me a few days ago….”

I said.

There were probably no more religious people than the knights.

Shall I add a little exaggeration?

“That there are apostates who have turned their swords against Christ. Did you really think I wouldn’t know your plans?”

“….”

My acting was effective.

The raiders all flinched back.

The sun slowly set and disappeared below the horizon.

The orange light that illuminated the ground gradually faded.

A shout rang out through the silence.

“Re, retreat!”

“Everyone, retreat!”

“What are you doing! Catch those guys right now!”

The raiders turned their backs and ran away.

Knights and Assassin members chased after them.

Some of those in the front were caught as they were.

But over dozens of raiders fled over the mountains.

A terrain difficult to chase on horseback.

Both the fugitives and the raiders took off their armor and ran.

Joscelin approached and said.

“We won’t be able to chase for long in this darkness. This area is a mountain range, so….”

He added.

“I think we’ll have to give up on catching them all.”

“The night is long, Count. Tell the soldiers to prepare torches.”

I looked at the darkness before me.

It didn’t mean much to me that it was dark ahead.

“Even if I have to run around all night tonight….”

Let’s see how far you can run.

I focused my mind on my senses again.

“I will catch every single one of them.”