I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 160

< 160 – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (5) >

“Greetings to His Majesty, the King of Jerusalem.”

“It’s been a while, Count Hartmann.”

I looked at Hartmann standing across from me.

Anger, shame, even embarrassment.

He still hasn’t gotten over his anger towards me.

‘Well, I can’t blame him.’

He was thoroughly defeated by me during the Italian campaign. His boastful appearance was still vivid in my memory.

[His Imperial Majesty will not simply overlook this matter! Not only the Pope of Verona but also the Prince will face due punishment…]

But the reality was the opposite. Emperor Friedrich knelt before me and the Pope.

“How is Emperor Friedrich doing?”

I asked with a faint smile.

“I heard there’s been some unrest in the northern part of the Empire.”

“It’s a common occurrence. How can a few foxes catch a lion?”

“Perhaps if the opponent is an old lion, it might be possible.”

Before leaving Europe, I supported Friedrich’s rival, Duke Heinrich the Lion. By now, Friedrich must be busy dealing with the Lion.

‘But he still managed to send an envoy.’

He must be that afraid of this council. What would happen to the Holy Roman Empire if the Western and Eastern churches were to unite?

The authority of the Holy Roman Emperor came from the Roman Pope.

Depending on the outcome of this council, the Holy Roman Empire could be reduced to the Western Roman Empire.

‘The Emperor couldn’t just sit back and watch.’

Friedrich had only two options left.

Launch an Italian campaign to subdue the Pope, or send an envoy to stop the council.

He couldn’t launch another campaign while Duke Heinrich the Lion was in revolt.

“Despite the past conflicts, Emperor Friedrich is still willing to support Jerusalem.”

Count Hartmann cleared his throat. He hid his emotions like a skilled diplomat.

“Knights recruited from all over the Empire are already coming to Jerusalem. If His Majesty permits, a new knightly order can be established in the Holy City.”

“A knightly order composed of Germans. An unexpected gift.”

“In addition to this, Emperor Friedrich has promised full support to Jerusalem. All the Empire asks in return is friendship.”

I looked at Hartmann. There didn’t seem to be any clever tricks.

They’ll support the knightly order, so they want us to side with them in this council.

The Teutonic Knights are appearing earlier than in the original history. Either way, it was beneficial to me.

There’s no reason to refuse free knights.

“Sometimes friendship is the most valuable price.”

“Everything depends on the outcome of the council.”

“I am aware.”

With those words, I smiled and rose from the throne.

“Let’s go to the conference room together. The other bishops and envoys are waiting.”

As we passed through the corridor, the herald who saw us hurriedly took out a piece of paper.

“The defender of the faith, and the glorious Kingdom of Jerusalem…”

Everyone in the room stood up and paid their respects to me. They all had different clothes, attire, and appearances.

From the bishop envoys from Rome, to the delegation of Patriarch Theodosius from Constantinople, to the black priests from Ethiopia and Egypt.

In the meantime, the Roman bishop and the Constantinople bishop were ignoring each other.

‘They look like kids who had a fight in the classroom.’

Then am I the teacher who reconciles the children?

“Welcome to the Holy City of Jerusalem, everyone.”

I said, looking at them one by one. Interpreters were with the envoys from Ethiopia.

“Thank you for the welcome, King Baldwin V.”

The bishop from Rome said.

“His Holiness the Pope was greatly pleased to hear the news of Your Majesty’s accession. Not only His Holiness but also the believers in Italy and all of Europe are praying for the safety and glory of the Holy City of Jerusalem. May this council…”

“Basileus (Emperor) was also greatly pleased to hear that Your Majesty has ascended the throne.”

Patriarch Theodosius interjected.

“He also sent gifts to celebrate this. That’s how much Basileus values Jerusalem.”

“Friedrich, the ‘Emperor’ of the Holy ‘Roman’ Empire, also opened the imperial treasury for the Holy City of Jerusalem.”

This time, Count Hartmann interjected.

Is it my imagination that he’s particularly emphasizing ‘Rome’ and ‘Emperor’?

The subtle war of nerves soon turned into a noisy quarrel.

“We in Constantinople have provided the fleet and even the migrants for the Egyptian expedition!”

“How is driving out the poor people you couldn’t handle to this Holy City considered support?!”

“Why didn’t the Pope come to Jerusalem in person in the first place?! Didn’t Theodosius, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, come in person?”

“Ecumenical Patriarch? His Holiness the Pope is the one who encompasses all patriarchs…”

Amid the shouts, only I and the priests from Ethiopia remained silent. I approached the black priests.

“I think I should apologize. I couldn’t even hold a proper welcoming ceremony.”

“The knights of Jerusalem shed blood and fought for the Zagwe Kingdom and King Lalibela.”

The interpreter stammered and conveyed the priests’ words.

“Our King wishes to expand exchanges with Jerusalem and other churches. He thought this council would be a good opportunity, but…”

One of the priests chuckled.

“It seems the divisions between the churches are deeper than I thought.”

“I think so too.”

I said with a smile. The bishops were fighting without yielding an inch to each other.

They’ve been repeating this for hundreds of years.

‘Announcing that I received a revelation won’t solve the problem.’

The Lord wants the integration of the Western and Eastern churches!

Even if I claimed this, a fight would surely break out over the details.

This was ultimately a power struggle. A fierce battle where one side wins and the other loses.

Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox.

Neither side would give up their leadership.

On top of that, the Eastern Roman Imperial Family and the Holy Roman Empire were trying to drag me and the Kingdom of Jerusalem to their side.

If so…

‘I need to change my goal too.’

The council had to succeed no matter what. Then I had to change the preconditions.

I smiled and stood up from my seat. It was time to start another play.

* * *

Jerusalem

As the bishops arrived one by one to attend the council, the city of Jerusalem was filled with excitement.

The people showed their support for the council by attaching the Jerusalem royal coat of arms to shops and houses everywhere.

“Isn’t this Jerusalem the place where the first council was held? As the Apostle Paul said…”

“I heard these paintings were all made by the Knights. How many painters would it take to draw hundreds of these?”

“I think one person drew them all. Otherwise, the paintings couldn’t be so identical.”

The story of Renaud’s expedition, which was said to have gone to conquer Mecca, also heated up the taverns and streets.

In the meantime, news spread that Baldwin V had received a new revelation.

‘The Lord appeared before me last night and told me that this council will be successful!’

When his words were known, the people fell into a festive mood. But the atmosphere of the envoys from each country was different.

They immediately set out to grasp Baldwin V’s true intentions.

“He received a revelation that the council will be successful. Then which side does King Baldwin take?”

“Constantinople must have promised a bigger price! We can’t just stand still like this!”

“Baldwin V was crowned through the Latin Patriarch, not through the Bishop of Constantinople!”

“Is the Roman Church trying to bestow a new title again?”

“After all, Baldwin V is a king from the Latin Church. Isn’t the Kingdom of Jerusalem itself Latin?”

“Then which side does King Baldwin support?”

The Western and Eastern bishops suspected each other. There was no definite information.

Baldwin V simply attended the meeting and smiled.

He didn’t take any sides, and that pushed everything into further confusion.

As the days passed, the opening date of the council gradually approached.

The night before the opening.

The Roman, Constantinople, and German delegations all spent the night with anxious expressions.

“The fate of our Catholic Church depends on this council.”

“We must win this council to protect the future of the Empire and the Church.”

“Emperor Friedrich has ordered us to prevent church integration at all costs!”

The will of the gods collided, and the night deepened.

* * *

Eilat

“Are you saying we’re going to strike Mecca with only three ships?!”

Renaud shouted, stomping his feet on the deck.

“This is crazy. It’s crazy, I tell you!”

“We came here under the royal order to strike Mecca. So you better stop complaining.”

Luark growled. He and the Holy Sepulchre members came up on the deck with axes.

Renaud’s knights confronted them.

“Or is the mad dog of Kerak scared of just this much?”

“How dare a mercenary from Greece…”

Renaud said, his face reddening.

“You better watch your mouth. Even if you are His Majesty’s beloved hunting dogs, mercenaries are just mercenaries. If you wag your tongue wrong, you’ll be in big trouble.”

“We are not mere ‘mercenaries,’ Count Renaud.”

Luark replied.

“We are the Holy Sepulchre guards who protect Jerusalem and warriors who have fought all our lives. If you want to fight us, we’ll gladly accept.”

“You, who only care about money, protect Jerusalem? That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you since I was in Miklagard (Constantinople).”

Luark said.

“You attacked the island of Cyprus, which was imperial territory, stole money, and raped the nuns of the church.”

He added, raising his axe.

“Do you have the right to protect Jerusalem after doing such a thing?”

“Didn’t your Viking ancestors do the same thing?”

Renaud said with a smirk.

“Those who follow the Greek Church are no different from Saracens. You can kill Saracens as much as you want.”

“Then stop complaining and prepare to fight.”

Luark said in a cold tone.

“We’ll go fight the Saracens as you wish. Or do you have anything else to say?”

* * *

Jerusalem

“Your Majesty? The council will begin soon.”

Aig quietly knocked on the door of the office.

“Your Majesty?”

“Come in, Aig.”

Opening the door and entering, he was greeted by papers piled high on the desk.

Baldwin was getting dressed with the help of the servants.

“It’ll be over soon, so please wait a little longer.”

“Understood.”

Aig sighed, folding his arms. After a few seconds, he unconsciously tapped his feet.

“Your Majesty, please tell me now.”

“Tell you what?”

“Which side will you take in this council?”

Aig said. Once he opened his mouth, the words poured out.

“The envoys from Rome suspect that Your Majesty has taken Constantinople’s hand. Conversely, the Constantinople delegation suspects that Your Majesty is on Rome’s side.”

“Good. That’s exactly the situation I wanted.”

“The situation you wanted… Then which one is it?”

“The answer is simple. If I had to explain…”

Baldwin, dressed, strode over. Aig stared blankly at him.

“I should say I’m on Jerusalem’s side.”

He added with a burst of laughter.

“Now, let’s hurry up and go. We’ll be late for the council at this rate.”