I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 77

Holy War and Relief (2)

* * *

Constantinople

“I’m not sure, Father.”

Andreas took a deep breath.

He looked at the priest.

“The Levant [the region encompassing the Eastern Mediterranean], isn’t that land too far from Constantinople?”

“It is a distant land, but also a place of opportunity,” the priest said.

“Your family is a very special case, even in this poorhouse. You and your wife violated the rules of chastity,” he continued.

“And now you have two children.”

“I am eternally grateful to you, Father. If you hadn’t recognized our marriage…”

Andreas bowed his head and replied, “We would have been kicked out of the poorhouse. We would have starved to death on the streets.”

“The Lord always forgives and offers opportunities. Some say He only judges…” The old priest smiled.

“Anyway, my point is this: your family needs a fresh start. How long will you drift between shelters and poorhouses?” he continued. “There is no hope in that life. Your son will become a petty thief, and your daughter will end up selling her body. Do you want such a fate for your children?”

“…”

“If you migrate to the Levant, you will be given a house and land to farm. In addition, you will receive tax breaks and settlement support for several years. His Imperial Majesty has also promised support.”

“So, you mean we can really just go? If they give us land and a house for free…”

“It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Otherwise, why would so many people want to go? Some are even willing to pay to go.”

Andreas closed his mouth and fell into thought.

Even if it was a distant land, they would give him land and a house.

A voice whispering that it didn’t make sense echoed in his head.

“Let me be honest. It’s not all good news,” the priest sighed and said. “The Kingdom of Jerusalem is at war with the Saracens [a general term for Muslims used during the Crusades]. Even with support, settling down won’t be easy. And if a war breaks out, you may have to take up arms and fight.”

“…”

“But if you succeed in settling down, you will get land to pass on to your family. This is a rare opportunity.”

“I came all the way to Constantinople because I had no land to inherit. But there were no opportunities for me here either,” Andreas said.

Third son.

He had no land to inherit.

Those like him didn’t have many options: join the army or mercenaries to earn money, start a business, or become a priest.

But he hadn’t succeeded in any of them.

Even in Constantinople, where he came to find a job, he was just working as a laborer.

The occasional income was far from enough to support his family.

“You have a few days to think about it. But I have to submit the list of applicants soon…”

“Thank you, Father.” Andreas thanked him and left the office.

He walked through the hall.

Many people passed by him.

All of them lived in this poorhouse.

A huge dome surrounded them.

A city within a city.

Those who entered here could not easily leave, either reciting prayers for the rest of their lives or, if they were lucky, raising enough money to become independent.

Only one of the two.

The voices of people around him could be heard.

“Jerusalem? Are there really people going all the way there?”

“Isn’t that where the Varangians [elite Byzantine soldiers, often of Norse origin] went this time? I heard they made a lot of money in Damietta…”

“How much was the loot per person?!”

“I heard Cyprus isn’t bad either…”

Andreas shook his head.

Soon he arrived at his room, the place where his family stayed.

A young girl greeted him.

“Father!”

“Yes, our Irene. Have you been listening to your mother?”

He picked up his daughter in his arms.

“Yes!”

“Good girl. Now, go and watch your younger sibling for your mother.”

He smiled as he watched his daughter run away.

A woman approached Andreas.

“You look troubled. Did something happen…”

“It wasn’t like that. It was about our family…” he said with a smile. “You know where Jerusalem is, right?”

“How could I not? Everyone around here is talking about it. Does that mean…”

“The priest said he would put us on the list of volunteers. Of course, we have to agree first. What do you think? If you’re okay with it…”

His gaze turned to the window.

The magnificent buildings of Constantinople filled the window: the Hagia Sophia [a grand cathedral, later a mosque and now a museum], the Hippodrome [an ancient chariot racing stadium], and many other churches and buildings.

There was no place where they could be comfortable in such a vast place.

“We might be able to go to the Holy City.”

* * *

“This way, Prince Baldwin. His Majesty the King is waiting for you.”

“Thank you.”

The return to Jerusalem was as quick as the departure.

The city and the royal palace were calm.

I went straight to Baldwin IV’s office.

“I’m getting used to celebrating your victories now,” he smiled and stood up. “To capture Al-Adil. You should have seen the faces of the envoys when they heard the news.”

“I can’t imagine,” I replied with a smile. How surprised they must have been.

“It was decided at the recent royal council to expand the signal towers to the north and east.”

“The preparations are already underway,” I nodded. Well, it’s a natural result. This battle has clearly proven its effectiveness. No one will say it’s a waste of money.

“And a telegram came from Rome a few days ago. No, I should say Verona,” he coughed and said. “That’s where His Holiness the Pope is taking refuge now.”

The Pope is in northern Italy?

Was he even kicked out of Rome?

The event of the Pope being kicked out of Rome happened often.

“His Holiness has officially recognized that you received the revelation of the Archangel.”

I nodded instead of answering. I guess he was afraid that I would side with the Eastern Roman Empire.

No one would object to the Pope of Rome’s recognition. The possibility of being branded as a heretic has disappeared.

“And he wants you to come to Italy in person.”

“Did His Holiness request that directly?” I tilted my head and asked. He wants me to come to Italy?

“He said it was to verify your abilities and give you a blessing. But that’s probably the superficial reason,” Baldwin IV said. “The real purpose is to use you to seize the initiative.”

“The initiative…”

A royal family member of Jerusalem, the Holy City, who received the revelation of the Archangel.

If I went to Italy and met the Pope, it would establish his legitimacy and authority. It would be a good image to promote to the public.

“But I don’t think there’s any reason to refuse,” I said. Anyway, I need support from Europe, like England and France. Then I can get help from the Pope.

England, France, the Holy Roman Empire.

To target these three countries, I needed the Pope’s help.

It would be nice to get help from Spain too… But they’re already fighting against Islamic forces, so it’ll be difficult.

“You let you go to Constantinople willingly. But this time the situation is different,” Baldwin IV said. He looked at me for a moment without saying anything. Silence fell.

“I’m going to make you king, Baldwin.”

“…”

I was speechless for a moment. I don’t think he’s ever said it so directly.

“You have made many achievements in a short period of time: Constantinople, Eilat, Cyprus, Hama, and Homs. Even if you didn’t do it alone, these things would have been impossible without you.”

“…”

“But you can’t get the throne with military achievements alone,” he raised his index finger.

“You have to show your strength here in this palace. This place is also a battlefield. Everyone is always looking for prey and opportunities,” he added. “New alliances are formed and enemies are made. Even an excellent general can lose power in an instant. I have no intention of handing over the throne to anyone who is even slightly weak.”

“I understand what you mean,” I nodded. He’s telling me to prove that I’m qualified to lead the pack of wolves.

“And I don’t have much time left to help you,” he coughed. “Adam lived to be 930 years old. Methuselah lived to be 969 years old. But I’m going to die before I even turn thirty…”

“Nothing will happen right away,” I felt a complex emotion. A man who gave everything for the kingdom until the very end. Baldwin IV. He was telling me that he would give me the throne.

“You don’t have to comfort me, Baldwin. I know my body best,” he burst into laughter. “My vision has been getting blurry recently. The Saracen doctors have also given up. The bizarre herbs I’ve been eating haven’t worked either. I didn’t expect them to in the first place.”

“…”

Blindness is a terminal symptom of leprosy.

He died in 1185 in the original history. That’s less than two years from now.

“What I want to say is…” Baldwin IV stood up again. He said with his arms crossed, “I don’t have much time to give you strength. You have to stay here in Jerusalem to lay the foundation with my help.”

“But if we don’t get support from Europe, the Kingdom of Jerusalem…” I swallowed hard. I couldn’t back down either.

“Will perish. Even if I ascend to the throne.” An egg cannot beat a stone, a law that doesn’t change no matter how hard you use an egg. The Kingdom of Jerusalem is that egg right now. If we don’t get manpower, it’ll be hard to win no matter how hard we try.

“And I’m the only one who can get support from Europe.”

“…”

It was Baldwin IV’s turn to be silent. He stared at me.

“You’re always so sure. If you believe that…” he said, “I’ll give you a chance. If you successfully complete one task, I’ll allow you to go to Europe.”

“If it’s this task…”

“You know there’s been a big commotion since you caught the Knights Templar [a powerful Catholic military order],”

“Of course,” I nodded. The Grand Master Toroas was removed. A fierce battle of nerves was taking place over the subsequent punishment. Only the lower-ranking knights and squires are suffering.

“I was able to remove Grand Master Toroas, but there are still many people in the kingdom who support the Knights Templar,” Baldwin IV said. “Simple support doesn’t matter, but it’s another thing to defend the crimes they committed. We have to put out the fire before it spreads.”

“If we touch them rashly, the backlash may only get bigger,” I nodded. The words that will come out are obvious: ‘Only some members committed the problem!’ ‘The king is suppressing the sacred knights on the pretext of trivial matters!’ Because they will come out with such an ignorant offensive.

The Knights were not an organization directly under the Jerusalem royal family. Strictly speaking, it is a complicated relationship directly under the Pope.

“I’ll leave the handling of the Knights to you. In order for a pack of wolves to survive, they must bite the necks of traitors. We have to get rid of them now while we have time,” Baldwin IV said. “If you successfully complete this task, I will allow you to go to Europe.”

“……I understand. If Your Majesty entrusts it to me…” I nodded. My head has been spinning since the moment I first heard the word Knights.

The Pope of Rome, Patriarch Heraclius, the royalist faction within the Knights Templar. As always, there was a way. The problem is finding it.

“I’ll take care of it.”