I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 155

< 155. King of Jerusalem (5) >

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

I moved my feet in the suffocating atmosphere. The sound of bells echoed from all directions.

Dark clouds were sparsely visible in the sky.

‘Is this only the second time I’ve been here since the wedding?’

The atmosphere was quite different from then. Passing the knights and soldiers lined up on both sides, I entered the inner part of the church.

The central aisle was packed with people.

I glanced back and saw Theodora.

Unlike her usual attire, she was wearing a pure white dalmatic [a long, loose tunic with wide sleeves]. My clothes were similar to hers, but with intricate gold decorations. As I passed through the aisle, sacred songs echoed.

Patriarch Heraclius stood in the center, with Baldwin IV next to him. He was half-lying down, barely able to stand.

I turned my head forward again.

The coronation itself was not very complicated. The most important part was the anointing ceremony from the Patriarch.

The moment I received the sacred anointing, I would become king.

Two crowns were placed on the altar.

Theodora and I stopped in front of the Patriarch.

“The one who strengthens us with you in Christ and anointed us is God. God has put his seal on us and given us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee in our hearts.”

The Patriarch said. He dipped his finger in oil and applied it in the shape of a cross on my wrist and forehead.

“Do you swear to protect the people as the King of Jerusalem, and to fight to protect the kingdom’s charter, laws, and the Christian Church?”

“I swear.”

After receiving the gold ring, orb, and scepter from Balian, I knelt down.

Patriarch Heraclius held up the crown. A cold sensation touched my head.

“Then rise, Your Majesty.”

Theodora and I stood up together and looked at the crowd in the aisle.

“Long live the King!”

“Long live the King!”

The cry echoed. Joy, fear, awe, terror, hope, despair. All sorts of emotions flooded in.

I took a deep breath and looked ahead.

I felt like I was about to collapse at any moment.

At that moment, everything stopped. The noise that shook my ears, the emotions that shook my body, all disappeared.

“…What?”

I looked around. Everything was frozen.

Has time stopped?

Or am I finally going crazy?

“Unfortunately, that’s not it.”

I looked at the source of the sound. A crow.

A black-feathered crow was sitting on the window of the central aisle.

A sensation I felt for the first time.

Not human, not animal, but a strange sensation. It was in the form of a crow, but it wasn’t a crow.

“What are you?”

“Who am I?”

The crow cawed and came down from the window. The cry sounded mocking.

“If I had to say, let’s just say I’m the one who called you here. Well, not a person, though.”

“…”

Only a strange sensation persisted. A world that suddenly stopped and a talking crow.

I couldn’t understand any of this.

“You better answer properly before I grab that neck and twist it.”

I glared at it.

“What the hell are you?”

“Well.”

The crow stood in front of me and made a laughing sound again.

“Let’s just say I’m a god for now?”

* * *

“Of course, it’s a bit different from the god you guys are talking about.”

“…”

“Did you think you accidentally fell into the game world until now? Or is all of this just a midsummer night’s dream or something?”

The crow said.

“Unfortunately, that’s not it. You were the only one suitable for this time period. So we chose you.”

“Chose me?”

“Changing a predetermined fate is not something anyone can do.”

It said in an obvious tone.

“I’ve been watching you from a very close place. I’ve been observing you without missing a moment, even after you fell into this world.”

“Then why did you appear now?”

I glared at the crow. Is this kind of guy really a god?

The guy who threw me into this world?

“Why did you reveal yourself now?”

“I came to make you an offer. A very simple offer.”

It said.

“You’ve probably noticed, but the body you have now can’t last very long. The weakness is also a problem, but there’s also the Sixth Sense.”

The crow whistled.

“Do you know how great that ability is? In human history, the person who had that was… probably no one but you?”

“That’s quite an honor.”

“But the Sixth Sense is that strong of an ability. The more you use it, the more it eats away at your body. The pain also gets that much bigger.”

“…”

“Your lifespan will inevitably be shortened.”

I didn’t say anything. I thought what it said was right.

The more I used the Sixth Sense, the harder my body became. But the lifespan being shortened…

“You’re going to die in pain no matter what happens to Jerusalem.”

“So? What’s your offer?”

“I’ll let you go back to the world you originally lived in. To South Korea in the 21st century.”

The crow said.

Caw― The sound echoed in the quiet central aisle.

“As a bonus, I can make it as if you weren’t kicked out of the military academy. Then you’ll go back to your original life. Not as Baldwin, but as your life.”

“What’s the price?”

“The price is…”

A short silence flowed.

“There’s no price. You just have to want it.”

“You’re going to send me back to my original world without any cost?”

“Yes, and you won’t have to live a painful life here. The Crusades and the fight against Islam, the weakening body. It’ll all be a midsummer night’s dream.”

“Then what happens to the people here?”

I asked.

“What happens to these people if I leave?”

“What does it matter? It’s all going to be over hundreds of years ago anyway.”

The crow tilted its head back and laughed, caw―.

“In the first place, you’re not even a Christian. You’re not European or Middle Eastern either. These people had nothing to do with you from the beginning.”

“…”

I looked around. I couldn’t put my finger on the reason, but the crow’s words didn’t sit right with me.

One word.

With one word of accepting the offer, I could return to the 21st century.

‘I can go back to the military academy and live my life again.’

What I want is…

What do I really want?

What I really want is…

“It’s not a bad offer, but it’s too late for that now.”

I looked at the crow and smiled.

“I’m going to see this to the end. Whatever the ending may be.”

“What?”

The crow stopped laughing. It shook its tail as if it were serious.

“You didn’t come here because you wanted to! I gave you a chance to go back to your original world!”

The caw sound continued.

“I’ll tell you in advance, this opportunity is only once, only now. It will never happen again in the future. Even if you protect Jerusalem, if you can’t go back…”

“I don’t care.”

I smiled at it. I felt relieved for the first time since falling into this era.

“No matter what you say, I’m now the King of Jerusalem. A king can’t abandon his kingdom and run away.”

I added with a smile.

“And I’m married now.”

“Is power that good? Huh?! You’re just like those stupid monkeys who only have a lust for power.”

When the crow shook its body, black feathers scattered in all directions.

“Then how about this? I’ll let you enjoy power even if you go back to your original world. You’ll be able to get high authority and pretty women.”

It said, standing in front of Theodora.

“If you like this woman, I’ll give her to you as is. Even with the personality you want.”

“I think you’re mistaken… You shouldn’t talk to the Queen like that.”

When I turned my head, I saw many people.

Theodora and Baldwin IV, Sibylla, Raymond, Balian, and many nobles, lords, knights, and soldiers.

These weren’t all.

There were also those who fought and died for me.

[Protect the Kingdom of Jerusalem]

This was the choice I made myself.

“I’m their king. What more could I want than this?”

“A more comfortable life? A peaceful death? A chaebol’s [conglomerate owner’s] life that you can enjoy on a jet? How about these?”

“I’ve already rejected your offer, Crow.”

I said. I stared straight into its eyes.

“If you could force me, you wouldn’t be arguing with me like this. So, whether you’re a god or whatever, get lost.”

“…”

The crow moved its feet, keeping its mouth shut.

“This is a bit unexpected. This is a bit unexpected. You’re the first guy to make that kind of choice.”

Silence flowed, and the crow opened its mouth again.

“I guess you need to be alive a little longer. Yeah, it would be bland if you died too early. Until the fate of Jerusalem is decided and you become miserable…”

It said.

“You won’t die from weakness. You won’t feel burdened when you use the Sixth Sense. This way, you won’t die in vain.”

“That’s quite a gift.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“While you’re at it, why don’t you extend my lifespan too, huh?”

“I’m not trying to help you.”

The crow stood in front of me and looked up at me.

“I’m just curious to see how you’ll end up. I want to see you sobbing in despair.”

I reached out to grab it, but failed. The crow, escaping my grasp, cawed.

“I gave you a choice. And you rejected it. You’ll never see me again.”

“That’s a relief.”

We glared at each other. Soon, it spoke again.

“Since I came all the way here, I should take one life in advance. Goodbye, King of Jerusalem.”

I watched the crow flapping his wings and flying away. Emotions poured in again.

The world moved again.

* * *

“Baldwin? Baldwin?”

Theodora asked, shaking my body. Worry, fear, terror.

She grabbed my hand.

“Are you okay, Baldwin?”

“I’m okay, just a little dizzy…”

People with worried expressions were gathered around me. After regaining my senses, I looked around.

The crow that was talking to me was nowhere to be seen.

‘Was it really something that happened?’

What I saw may have been a hallucination. A hallucination caused by the pressure of the coronation.

“Long live King Baldwin V!”

“Long live the King!”

The cry continued to echo. I exchanged glances with Theodora. She sighed, as if relieved.

“I thought you were suddenly collapsing.”

“I can’t do that on coronation day.”

I said with a smile. Anyway, I was here now. As the King of Jerusalem.

That was all that mattered.

“Long live the King!”

Now it was time to go outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, ride a horse, and go to the Temple Mount.

I passed through the aisle, receiving everyone’s cheers.

Behind me, Balian was supporting Baldwin IV. I noticed something was wrong.

Irregular heartbeat. Faint breathing.

‘Since I came all the way here, I should take one life in advance.’

The crow had definitely said that.

Life. Whose life is it going to take?

“Your Majesty!”

A scream echoed. People’s gazes turned behind me.

I turned my head.

Baldwin IV was lying on the ground, sprawled out. Balian shouted, shaking his arm.

“His Majesty has collapsed!”

“Bring a doctor quickly!”

“…I’m okay. Baldwin. Where is Baldwin?”

Baldwin IV said in a faint voice. His breath was like a flickering candle, as if it would go out at any moment.

I ran to him.

“I’m here, Your Majesty.”

“You must go to the Temple Mount with Theodora. Go and finish the remaining coronation ceremony.”

“But…”

“This is the last order I give you as king. Do as I say.”

He gasped.

“Thank you, Baldwin. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to die so peacefully.”

“…”

“Now, go quickly.”

Sibylla approached him and knelt down. I got up, turned my head, and walked out of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

A drizzle fell, soaking Jerusalem.