I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 18

Heading Towards Jerusalem (3)

* * *

Two days after Duke Baldwin’s departure,

At the walls of Eilat.

The shouts of soldiers and knights shattered the dawn’s silence, echoing loudly.
The newly repaired walls trembled.

“They’re approaching the eastern gate!”

“Were the additional troops deployed to the gate as ordered?”

“Yes, sir, the conscripted soldiers have been positioned. Fortunately, they don’t seem to have any siege equipment.”

“It’s all cavalry. They must know they can’t take the city.”

Ganier muttered, gazing beyond the walls.

Hundreds of horses and camels circled the city.

It was a familiar sight.

“These are the same guys we ran into on the way to Eilat last time.”

The warriors of the Seawise Tribe.
The swirling sand they kicked up made it hard to open one’s eyes.

Inside the walls, a trumpet blared, signaling the call to arms.

Soldiers with bows and crossbows rushed onto the walls.

All with tense expressions.

“It’s just as the Ganier brothers said. The moment the Duke left, they attacked.”
A Hospitaller knight said.

“Now I understand why the brothers stayed here.”

“I didn’t decide anything myself. I simply followed the Duke’s orders.”

Ganier replied, pulling down his helmet.

“It was he who ordered me to stay in the first place.”

It was exactly what Duke Baldwin had told him a few days ago.

‘It would be better for you to stay here for a while. If nothing happens, we’ll meet again in Jerusalem then.’

He had said that Eilat might be attacked right after he left.

And as he said, the Seawise Tribe attacked.

It was too perfect to simply call it a lucky guess.

‘Did he foresee even this?’

Ganier let out a hollow laugh.

Then another knight muttered.

“Why bother when they can’t even get over the walls…”

“Even if they can’t get over the walls, they can still loot the surrounding villages and orchards.”

Ganier said.

“Our defense force alone can’t stop them.”

“So, are we just supposed to watch them burn Eilat to the ground? Especially now that reconstruction has just begun…”

“No need to worry. Do you think the Duke, who predicted this situation, wouldn’t have made any preparations?”

Ganier grinned.

He patted the shoulder of a subordinate knight.

“Go and light the beacon.”

Drawing his sword, he added.

“The Duke will soon come riding with the knights.”

“But didn’t the Duke leave for Jerusalem a few days ago?”
The subordinate knight tilted his head.

He gave the order, questioning.

“By now, he should be out of sight of the beacon…”

“Well, let’s just wait and see if that’s true.”

Ganier’s laughter echoed through the shouts and noise.

* * *

Northern Eilat.

Montreal Fortress.

“You’re wondering why we’re staying here?”

“Yes, sir.”

Aig sighed deeply.

He waved his hand as if frustrated.

“I thought we’d be able to sleep comfortably at headquarters in Jerusalem by now.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be able to go to Jerusalem soon.”

I said with a smile.

“And it’s not so bad sleeping here, is it? The food is decent.”

I popped a grape from the plate into my mouth.

Aig and I were not far from Eilat.

Montreal Fortress.

One of the Hospitaller fortresses in northern Eilat.

It wasn’t exactly cozy, but it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable either.

It was much better than sleeping on the ground over there.

“Think of it as taking a short break before heading to Jerusalem.”

“It’s not just my sleeping arrangements that are the problem. Jerusalem must be in an uproar by now.”
Aig sighed again.

The sound of knights training could be heard from outside the window.

“The Duke came here without any notice. Why do we have to hide here like criminals?”

“We’re not hiding. We’re waiting for the right moment.”

I looked out the window.

Although hidden by the hill, Eilat was right in front of us.

Would they move as I expected?

The answer would soon be clear.

“The right moment…”

“Well, let’s just say we’re waiting for Reynald to make his move.”
Aig tilted his head at my words.

Just then, someone shouted from outside.

“There’s smoke rising!”

“Smoke?”
The knights who were training buzzed.

Aig also ran to the window.

“It’s a beacon! From Eilat!”

“Why a beacon from Eilat…”
Aig looked at me with a look of realization.

“That’s why you left Sir Ganier in Eilat!”

“I entrusted Eilat to him. Not left him behind.”

I gestured towards my armor.

So, it’s come to this.

‘Never assume.’

Now that it had happened, the most important thing was time.

“Hurry and help me put on my armor. I’ll grab the helmet later.”

“Understood. I’m glad I prepared it in advance.”
Aig skillfully tightened the straps of the armor.

Just then, the clanging of metal was heard from below.

Hugh, Balian, and the other knights opened the door and came inside.

“I swear to God! It really happened as you said, Duke! How did you know?”
Hugh shouted.

His green cloak fluttered from side to side.

“I’ve heard that there are Saracen [Muslim] witches in the Levant [historical geographical area of the Middle East] who can read the future…”

“I predicted it, not read the future. And it wasn’t from a witch either.”

I replied with a smile.

Actually, it was thanks to the ominous feeling I had when I left Eilat….

‘Who knew [Sixth Sense] would be such a cheat ability in reality?’

The insurance I had set up was simple.

Instead of going straight to Jerusalem, I would stay near Eilat for a while.

No one knew we were staying here except for the Hospitallers of this fortress.

Not even the Jerusalem royal family.

“I don’t think we have time to explain everything now. Let’s go rescue Eilat right away. Prepare the knights and horses.”

“Duke, but we haven’t even grasped the exact situation yet. We don’t even know who is attacking Eilat…”

Balian shook his head and interjected.

I looked at him and said.

“There’s no need to check separately. It must be the Seawise Tribe.”

“The Seawise Tribe? Why would they attack Eilat? I’d rather believe it’s Saladin [famous Muslim leader] or another Saracen emir’s [commander or prince] army…”

If you think rationally, Balian is right.

The Bedouin tribes must have suffered great losses in the last battle.

But what if someone was instigating them from behind?

“What if Lord Reynald is using them?”

“Lord Reynald, you say?”

“His influence in this area cannot be ignored. And Reynald is the only one who would benefit from this attack right now.”

I said.

The Seawise Tribe wouldn’t gain much from this attack.

But it’s a different story for Reynald.

My reconstruction of Eilat and the escorting of pilgrims and merchants had greatly damaged his position.

He had lost a battle of wits to a mere thirteen-year-old, and his pride must have been hurt.

‘He’ll do anything to regain control.’

It was entirely possible that he instigated the Seawise Tribe to attack Eilat.

Lost in thought, Balian frowned and asked.

“Are you saying that Reynald helped the Seawise Tribe to capture the city? Reynald wouldn’t support the infidels to that extent.”

“He probably told the Seawise Tribe that he would let them loot the city. Or he may have offered other conditions. But either way, he won’t intend to keep those promises.”

If Eilat were completely captured, it would be too much of a political blow to Reynald as well.

Rather….

“If they fail to capture the city, the Seawise bandits will loot and burn the surrounding area.”

I continued.

“Right then, what if Reynald, the Lord of Kerak, quickly brings his army and stops the attack?”

“He would become a hero who saved Eilat from the Saracen hands.”

Balian muttered.

His expression showed that the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place.

“The Jerusalem royal family, Venice, and the Duke would all be indebted to Reynald.”

“Exactly.”

I smiled.

If that’s what he’s aiming for, then it makes perfect sense to bring in the Bedouin tribes.

‘There were similar situations in the game a few times.’

That’s why Last Crusaders was notorious for its extreme difficulty.

Every character in the game used every method possible for their own benefit.

‘Literally every method.’

They even changed their beliefs and ideologies to suit the situation.

I’ve played for over thousands of hours, so I should be able to predict this much.

“Anyway, shouldn’t we just go and crush those guys right now? I didn’t even think we’d be fighting when we left Jerusalem…”
Hugh laughed heartily.

His silver mask shook up and down.

“Well, who knows the Lord’s will. Let’s go down and summon the knights now.”

“We’ll leave as soon as the summons is over.”

I nodded.

It was only a few hours from here to Eilat.

‘Unless Reynald is moving with the Seawise Tribe, we’ll arrive first.’

Seeing us like that, Aig sighed as if he couldn’t help it.

“So, that’s why you wanted to stay here.”

He whispered to me.

“But what if the Seawise Tribe didn’t attack Eilat?”

“Then we could have just gone back to Jerusalem. Either way, we wouldn’t have lost anything.”

I said with a smile.

Staying at this Montreal Fortress was a kind of insurance.

If Reynald had stayed still, we could have just gone back to Jerusalem.

I stood up and put on my helmet.

“The most important thing now is speed. We need to arrive in Eilat before Lord Reynald takes his army there.”

I asked with a smile.

“And give Lord Reynald a warm welcome.”

“His expression will be worth seeing when he finds out that the Seawise bandits have already fled.”
Hugh laughed heartily.

“I never thought this old and sick heart would beat like this again, haha.”

The sound of a trumpet was heard.

I took the lead and went down the stairs.

Balian brothers, and Aig followed me.

When I came out of the fortress, I saw hundreds of knights lined up.

I raised my right hand and waved.

It was time to shatter Reynald’s clumsy plan.