I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 11

The Lion and the Bull Grazing (1)

* * *

The battle concluded completely after several dozen minutes.

Our side sustained minor damage.

One horse lost, no fatalities.

A total of four minor injuries, including myself.

It was a small price to pay compared to the camels, horses, and armaments we seized as spoils.

After spending the night nearby, we resumed our journey.

With the Bedouin tribes having vanished, Eilat finally came into view in the distance.

“My lord, Eilat is right ahead,” Garnier said, pointing to the shimmering Red Sea.

The knights and soldiers cheered, but the Jews were the most jubilant.

“Home! We’re home!”

I smiled at the sight.

I’ll leave the port reconstruction to the Venetians and laze around until something happens.

‘Now I can finally rest a bit.’

It didn’t even take two days for my hopes to be shattered.

Not even a mere two days.

* * *

“Has the verdict been reached?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Garnier nodded and stood up.

Everyone in the room watched him with tense expressions.

“We have determined that the Venetian merchant, Reynald, has no right to demand additional payment from the Jewish farmer.”

“Then let the judgment be made accordingly. Any objections?”

With those words, I stretched languidly.

Was this the third trial today already?

It’s harder than I thought to suppress a yawn.

“But, my lord!”

The merchant jumped up, pointing at the farmer beside him.

Both of them looked extremely agitated.

“This man only paid for one goat. There was a kid [baby goat] in its belly, so naturally, there should be an additional fee…”

“If you feel wronged, you may choose a trial by combat, or you can undergo the water ordeal.”

I said.

Both are simple.

In a trial by combat, the one who wins the fight is the victor.

The water ordeal involves being thrown into a water tank; if you float, you’re guilty; if you sink, you’re innocent.

“Choose whichever you prefer.”

“I don’t mind a duel,” the farmer said, rising to his feet.

The difference in physique between him and the merchant was clear at a glance.

The merchant frowned and shut his mouth.

“…….”

“Then I’ll take it that you accept the verdict. This concludes this trial.”

I yawned and stood up from my seat.

Playing the role of a judge doesn’t suit me at all.

I never thought I’d end up doing something like this.

As I stood, the scenery outside the window came into view.

A massive port and pier.

In front, the emerald sea.

The surroundings were vast plains.

I could hear stevedores and sailors shouting from the docks.

Even the sight of merchant ships entering one or two at a time.

Looking at the surrounding scenery, it felt like I was on vacation.

Of course, the reality was the exact opposite.

Three weeks.

It had already been a month since we settled in Eilat.

‘Things are unfolding faster than I thought.’

Thanks to the Jews who came with me, there was no shortage of manpower.

From the start, Eilat only lacked residents; the basic buildings and environment were already in place.

‘On top of that, the supplies and food needed immediately were supplied from the surrounding fortresses….’

The half-collapsed walls had now been almost completely restored.

And that wasn’t all.

Muslim merchants from the surrounding areas were flocking in one by one upon hearing the news of the port’s reconstruction.

As merchant lodgings were established and pilgrims gathered, the port regained its vitality.

Of course, that didn’t make my job any easier.

Listening to petitioners’ requests all day and presiding over various trials.

There were countless things to resolve.

I never knew playing royalty would be this annoying.

‘With great power comes great responsibility.’

But why do I only have responsibility without any power?

Lost in thought, Garnier approached me.

“You’ve worked hard today as well, my lord.”

“You’ve worked hard too, Garnier. The trial ended late today, so there’s no need to do swordsmanship training…”

“A sword that isn’t used easily rusts. Then let’s make it shorter than usual today.”

“…Understood.”

As expected, it wouldn’t work.

I sighed.

It feels like the training intensity has increased since the last battle.

Garnier and I continued to train and hunt even after coming to Eilat.

Shooting bows and crossbows, charging with spears, cutting with swords, stabbing with daggers, and so on.

There was a reason why the knights were called combat machines.

All they do all day is eat and train, so there’s no way they can’t fight.

“As you mentioned before, I’ve set up several watchtowers and temporary fortresses on the outskirts of the city, but the fundamental problem remains.”

Garnier said.

“There’s no immediate solution to the lack of troops. Defense will be even more difficult after we leave.”

“It’s enough to hold out until support comes from the surrounding fortresses,” I said.

Even though it’s under reconstruction, Eilat has been abandoned for the past few years.

It would be difficult to make this place a defensive stronghold right away.

“In an emergency, we can conscript Jews as defenders.”

“I’m not sure. The Jews were a great help when fighting those sea bandits last time, but…”

Garnier paused.

“They will choose to flee rather than stay here. They’ve done it once before. People don’t change easily.”

“Anyone would have to run away if they haven’t received proper training,” I said.

Under Islamic rule, non-Muslims were prohibited from owning weapons and riding horses.

That ban lasted for hundreds of years.

So it’s no wonder they ran away instead of fighting.

“Let’s talk to the tribal chiefs first. If there’s no major backlash, I’ll leave the training to the Hospitallers [Knights Hospitaller, a Catholic military order].”

“Well, we won’t lose much even if it fails. I’ll make them warriors once,” Garnier nodded.

“Still, there won’t be any major problems for the time being. The sea bandits must have suffered heavy damage in the last battle. They wouldn’t even dream of attacking a port like this.”

“I hope so,” I muttered in a small voice.

When attacked by the Bedouin warriors, I felt a strange sense of desperation.

‘They weren’t just out for plunder.’

But that doesn’t mean I can just hand over my neck.

“If something like that happens, the Venetians will also take up arms. That’s why we gave Venice the exclusive rights to the port in the first place.”

No matter how much a truce has been made, the Red Sea is Muslim territory.

It could turn into a battlefield at any time.

‘When it comes to naval power alone, Venice is much stronger than other maritime cities.’

The merchant ships of maritime cities have free citizens as rowers.

These people immediately took up arms and fought if they encountered pirates or enemies during their voyage.

The same goes for landing battles fought on land.

Three hundred to five hundred combat personnel per ship.

It was a huge numerical advantage compared to Muslim ships rowing with slaves.

‘On top of that, the Venetians acted collectively, unlike other maritime cities.’

The Fourth Crusade led by Venice even occupied Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

“The Venetians would never give up the profits from this place. They’ll probably try to protect it by any means possible.”

“Then did you deliberately meet the Venetians considering this situation?”

Garnier’s eyes widened.

He looked surprised.

“At such a young age… you’re really amazing.”

“I didn’t think of all this from the beginning,” I said with a smile.

Well, it’s not a lie.

Because I didn’t think deeply about it from the start.

It was closer to something I unconsciously acquired while playing Last Crusaders over and over again.

A true spinal reflex play.

At that moment, Aig entered, opening the door.

He shouted with a bright expression.

“My lord, the Venetian merchants have brought sacks full of money!”

“Sacks of money?”

Ah, come to think of it, today was the day to pay the balance.

I got up.

“It seems we’ll have to postpone today’s training a bit more, Garnier.”

“Then I’ll be ‘waiting’ at the training ground until you come.”

“I’ll make sure to go without forgetting.”

I sighed and headed to the office with Aig.

As I entered the room, piles of money boxes greeted me.

“20,000 dinars is about this much. It’s quite a lot.”

The money Venice had to pay additionally today was 20,000 dinars [a gold coin used in various Middle Eastern countries].

The soldiers were constantly carrying money sacks and boxes with groans.

The money given to officer-level mercenaries was about 3 to 5 dinars per month.

It’s a decent amount.

“It’s really amazing. Even if I saved my whole life, I wouldn’t have even half of this,” Aig muttered.

Well, it’s not common to see this much money.

I picked up a few coins and threw them to Aig.

“Why don’t you start with these few?”

“How can I take this money…”

“You ran with me when we fought the sea bandits last time. Think of it as a reward for that,” I said with a smile.

“Don’t worry, I have to share it with the other soldiers anyway.”

“T, thank you!”

Aig received the coins with a dazed expression.

I grabbed a handful of coins.

“I want to give some to Garnier too…”

He probably won’t accept it anyway.

The Knights Hospitaller may be wealthy, but the knights themselves had no private property.

From the start, the condition for joining was to give all their property to their family or the Knights Hospitaller.

The most affluent organization with the most austere members.

I turned my head back to look at the boxes and pouches.

How much would this be worth in 21st century terms?

It would be enough to buy several buildings at least.

Yet, even with such a large sum of money in front of me, I didn’t feel much.

What’s the point of having a lot of money in this medieval era?

I can’t ride a sports car or buy a yacht.

The most expensive things are just silk or gold ornaments.

‘But that doesn’t mean I don’t need money.’

Rather, money is the most important thing.

‘I have to win the favor of other countries, build new fortresses, and pay the soldiers’ salaries….’

Just like in the 21st century, everything required money.

It would be nice if I had a cheat key that could print money indefinitely.

But I didn’t even have a status window, let alone such a system.

Status window!

As expected, there’s no response.

I thought it would be there in this kind of third-rate web novel situation.

“Now that we’ve got a good amount of funds, should we hold a festival to commemorate the reconstruction?” I asked with a smile.

The easiest way to increase the favorability of citizens and soldiers in Last Crusaders.

That was to hold a festival.

It doesn’t cost that much money, so it seems like a good idea.

Reputation and favorability would increase in reality as well.

“If it’s a festival…”

“Everyone’s been working for a month. They should still have a chance to rest.”

“We can drink a lot of alcohol too. Considering that even the surrounding Muslim tribes will gather, we should start making wine barrels from now on…”

“Wait, aren’t Muslims not supposed to drink alcohol?”

“It varies depending on the interpretation. Some say that elixirs made from wine are okay.”

“That’s how it is everywhere people live.”

I laughed at Aig’s nonchalant words.

There were a few Muslim kids who came as exchange students among my classmates at the military academy.

They all went out and ate pork belly with soju [Korean distilled spirit].

There’s no reason why it would be much different now.

It’s not like Christians don’t cheat.

“Then let’s slowly plan the festival.”

“Will you be returning to Jerusalem after the festival?”

“I probably have to, but there’s one thing I need to resolve before that…”

The problem to be solved before the festival.

Reynald, the lord of Kerak.

Soon it would be the time for him to go on a rampage.

‘He’ll massacre Muslim merchants and pilgrims going to Mecca or Medina and provoke Saladin.’

I have to stop that somehow.

Fortunately, I was in Eilat.

With plenty of knights and soldiers too.

I patted Aig’s shoulder, who was tilting his head, and left the room.

I could hear Garnier swinging his sword.

Should I finish the training first?