I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 22

Became a King of the Crusades – Episode 22 (22/215)

Let’s Make Money! (2)

* * *

Ayge squatted low, like a pigeon, his gaze sweeping across the sea of rooftops.

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon.

The night streets of Jerusalem were deserted, not a soul in sight.

Only Ayge darted across the dark rooftops, moving with the agility of a cat.

‘I never dreamed I’d be doing this again.’

Ayge shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips.

Volunteering for this task was entirely his own decision.

‘Shadowing Heraclius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem.’

Who would have thought he’d find himself doing something like this?

As he traversed the rooftops, Ayge’s mind drifted back to his childhood.

The harsh street life he endured before being taken in by the Knights Hospitaller [a Catholic military order].

A constant, grueling cycle of days where he had to steal to survive.

‘This is for the Young Lord. I’m just secretly following him.’

Heraclius moved through the streets below, accompanied by two guards.

His steps were purposeful and unwavering.

Ayge cautiously trailed behind, keeping to the shadows.

They came to a halt at a crossroads.

That’s when it happened.

“Hey, you there! Who’s on the roof!”

At the sudden shout, Ayge swiftly ducked out of sight.

Men carrying torches and clubs came rushing over, their voices echoing in the night.

‘Are they merchants from around here? A vigilante group, maybe!’

A vigilante group, likely formed by the local merchants to protect their interests.

Hiding behind a large clay jar, Ayge carefully peered out.

“Are you sure you saw someone up there?”

“I definitely saw someone! I saw it with my own eyes!”

“Then let’s take another look around….”

Ayge picked up a stone and tossed it towards the opposite side of the roof.

“It’s over there!”

The men surged towards the spot where the stone had landed.

Seeing that the distraction had worked, Ayge immediately stood up.

The Patriarch’s party had vanished in the meantime.

“Let’s see, they were right in front of me just a moment ago.”

Ayge muttered to himself as he climbed down from the roof.

Just then, he spotted two figures emerging from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.

The guards who had been escorting the Patriarch.

‘They left the guards behind? Just where are they going….’

It must be a very important place, he reasoned.

Baudouin’s words echoed in his mind. ‘He’ll probably only take a few trusted people with him as guards. You don’t need to take unnecessary risks.’

Just then, the Archbishop himself came into view, cloaked in the darkness.

A plain black robe with a concealing hood.

He glanced around furtively before entering a mansion.

Ayge threw another stone to draw the guards’ attention further away and cautiously approached the mansion wall.

As he crept closer to a window, he risked a peek inside.

A boy and a middle-aged man were inside the brightly lit mansion.

‘Does the Patriarch have a son…?’

Patriarch Heraclius.

He held the boy in his arms, whispering tenderly.

“I’m sorry I’m late; so many things came up….”

Ayge blinked in surprise as he watched them embrace.

“Okay, this I didn’t expect….”

* * *

Two days later.

“Welcome, Young Lord!”

It was around noon when I arrived at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre [a church in Jerusalem said to contain the tomb of Jesus].

As I approached the entrance, a group of priests came rushing out to greet me with obsequious smiles.

“The Patriarch and other bishops are waiting for you inside.”

I nodded and entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The tomb of Christ was enshrined beneath a massive, awe-inspiring dome.

Sunlight streamed down from above, bathing the entire church in a dazzling light.

‘Is this where they held a thanksgiving prayer after capturing Jerusalem?’

If you played as the Islamic faction in the game, you had the option to destroy this place.

Of course, doing so would enrage all of Europe, and a new crusade would be launched immediately.

As I ventured deeper into the church, I saw a group of bishops seated at a long, ornate table.

Heraclius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, was seated in the center, radiating authority.

Silk fabrics adorned the table.

Golden cups and cloaks added to the opulent display.

It looked more like the Emperor’s office than a bishop’s residence.

‘How much money would I get if I sold all that?’ I mused, a touch of avarice creeping into my thoughts.

“Young Lord, welcome.”

He rose from his seat and spoke in an exaggeratedly warm tone.

“May the Lord’s infinite blessings and grace be with you.”

“I heard that the Patriarch was looking for me. I was just about to pay you a visit myself….”

I deliberately trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

There’s only one reason Heraclius would summon me.

‘He’s definitely trying to find fault with the brandy and elixir business,’ I thought, steeling myself for the inevitable confrontation.

I stared at him intently.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The highest-ranking leader among the Latin clergy in Jerusalem.

‘Besides, the clergy of this era are different from those of the 21st century.’

The clergy of this era wielded power and authority comparable to kings and nobles.

The German Emperor even knelt and prayed for days to have his excommunication [formal expulsion from the Church] lifted.

That was the famous Humiliation of Canossa [an event where Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, submitted to Pope Gregory VII].

Excommunication, and the interdict [prohibition of sacraments] that suspended all church services in the region.

With these two weapons, any king or noble could be brought to their knees.

‘Did they initially try to make Jerusalem a direct territory ruled directly by the Pope?’

If you played as a bishop or clergyman in the game, you could attempt this directly.

I think the challenge was called ‘True Saint.’

“I heard you did great things in Eilat this time, but without the Lord’s generosity….”

The tedious greetings continued, each word dripping with insincerity.

Meanwhile, I fell into thought, anticipating his true intentions.

‘Heraclius was greedy and avaricious.’

There’s no way he’d just let this lucrative business go without trying to get a piece of the action.

He’d try to squeeze money out of me somehow.

That’s why he called me here.

“Sadly, the Saracens [a term for Muslims during the Crusades] have completely surrounded us. Babylon to the east, Ashkelon to the west, and Damascus to the north.”

He waved his hand with an exaggerated gesture, painting a picture of imminent danger.

“Isn’t it precisely in difficult times like these that we should rely on the Lord’s mercy and his followers should unite?”

“You are right, Patriarch.” I replied, playing along.

“I know that the Young Lord is doing everything possible to protect holy Jerusalem, the Cross of God, and the Holy Sepulchre.”

He said, his voice dripping with false piety.

“But recently, I heard some disturbing news. I heard that the Young Lord ordered the creation of alcohol using Saracen devices. Is that true?”

He emphasized the word Saracen, clearly trying to paint me as being in league with the enemy.

‘Is it as Wigg said? Is he trying to use religious prejudice against me?’

Instead of answering directly, I simply nodded, acknowledging the truth of his statement.

“That’s truly regrettable. The Young Lord has been deceived by the wicked tricks of the Saracens. To sell such dirty and depraved alcohol to Christians.”

Heraclius raised his finger, his voice laced with condemnation.

“And for the Knights to manufacture such a thing. This is practically blasphemy. It is something that Christ would never allow.”

“…I understand.”

I barely managed to hold back a laugh, recognizing the absurdity of his accusations.

Heraclius had another characteristic besides greed, a secret he desperately tried to conceal.

Namely, [Male Affection].

Simply put, he was a homosexual, meaning he liked men.

‘There was no guarantee that all the characteristics in the game would be the same….’

But I was able to confirm it through Ayge’s report.

“I think I may have spoken too harshly to the young Lord. But I said it because I am so concerned about the Young Lord’s soul.”

He spoke in a soft tone, as if he had misinterpreted my silence as fear.

‘Does he think I’m scared of him?’

I felt a strange, unsettling feeling in the way he looked at me.

A sticky and disgusting feeling.

I swallowed the curse that rose in my throat and said.

“I would like to have a private conversation with the Patriarch for a moment.”

“Yes, of course.”

Heraclius said with a smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

At his gesture, the other bishops rose from their seats and filed out of the room, leaving us alone.

Now it was just the two of us left.

I slowly opened my mouth, my voice low and deliberate.

“I know very well what the Patriarch is worried about. In fact, I also had something to say to worry about the Patriarch’s soul….”

I grinned, a predatory glint in my eyes.

He seemed to be trying to extort money or benefits from me by threatening me with accusations of heresy.

But this level of threat is not enough to intimidate me.

“Someone came to me and told me that the Patriarch is committing the sin of male affection. And quite regularly.”

“Who told the Young Lord such outrageous nonsense?!”

Heraclius shouted, jumping to his feet, his composure shattered.

His eyes blazed with anger and a hint of fear.

“No matter how young the Young Lord is, you cannot say such insulting things to me, the Patriarch.”

“Insulting? Of course, it may be just speculation. If so, it would be my mistake….”

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

I could feel his embarrassment and growing panic.

‘He probably didn’t expect me to bring this up so suddenly.’

In this era, homosexuality was considered a heinous crime and blasphemy itself.

It was forgivable for a clergyman to have a lover or children, but male affection was a completely different matter, punishable by severe consequences.

‘He probably used every method to hide his lover….’

If you know the answer, it wasn’t difficult to figure out the process.

All I needed was to find out the location and name of his lover.

Ayge volunteered to carry out that mission, and he had succeeded admirably.

“His name is Ibn Qadi, a boy from Albi. Have you ever heard of him?”

His eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly at my words, betraying his shock.

He had an expression of disbelief, as if he couldn’t comprehend how I had discovered his secret.

“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about at all. If you continue to make such absurd insults, I will immediately….”

“Then we can send someone to the house where that boy lives right now to check. Or we can take soldiers with us and conduct a thorough investigation.”

I said, rising from my seat, my voice firm and unwavering.

He seems to be trying to bluff somehow, hoping I’ll back down.

It won’t work.

“Would the Patriarch like to come with us now?”

“….”

He stared at me in silence, his mind racing.

His gaze seemed to be gauging my true intentions, trying to determine how much I knew and how far I was willing to go.

‘In fact, the homosexuality trait is quite common in the game….’

Thanks to that, all sorts of strange and unexpected things often happened in Last Crusaders.

‘There was even a case where the Pope became lovers with the King of France and showered him with all sorts of titles, fiefs, and permissions.’

Maybe it was possible to seduce Heraclius now and use his affections to my advantage.

But unfortunately, I’m not into that.

“What the Young Lord said is a very absurd speculation….”

The middle-aged Patriarch spoke in a calm, measured tone, trying to regain control of the situation.

“Even if it’s just speculation or rumors, we should avoid such unnecessary controversy. For the sake of the kingdom’s prestige and the reputation of the Church.”

A tone that clearly signaled he wanted me to state my demands.

I smiled at him, sensing his desperation.

“I heard that there were many noises and controversies when the Patriarch rose to his current position.”

I said, pressing my advantage.

“If the Patriarch watches my back and supports my endeavors, I will watch the Patriarch’s back and ensure his secrets remain safe. What do you think?”

“….”

He stared at me intently, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Wait, I feel something strange in his gaze.

No, you crazy bastard. Don’t get any weird ideas.

That’s not what I meant by watching each other’s backs.

I coughed loudly, breaking the awkward silence, and he opened his mouth in surprise, startled by my sudden interruption.

“I have always been dedicated to the interests of the Young Lord and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. If I think about the church, the holy Lord, and the children of Jerusalem, I can just let this trivial matter pass.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Having said that, I crossed my arms, adopting a more relaxed posture.

That’s not enough. I need to solidify this agreement.

“As it happens, there are a few more things I would like to ask the Patriarch to do for me.”

* * *

That Patriarch Heraclius is a homosexual is purely the author’s fiction.

However, there is an opinion that Patriarch Heraclius gained the favor of Baudouin IV and Agnes, the biological mother of Sibylla, and rose to the position of Patriarch.

Later, when he went to Europe to request a crusade, he bought the backlash of Europeans with overly flashy clothes and an envoy.

(Source – Alison Weir , W.B. Bartlett )

Q: Homosexuality may have been ridiculed at that time, but it would not have been cursed. There were many homosexual nobles and royalty, but I have not heard of them being excommunicated or punished for it.

A: In the case of homosexuality, it was declared a serious crime at the Third Lateran Council in 1179, and a decree was issued that if this fact was discovered, clergy would be excommunicated and public officials would be removed from public office (Source – History of Catholic Church and homosexuality – English Wikipedia)