I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 26

Became the King of Crusaders-Episode 26 (26/215)

The Greatest Bribery Scheme (1)

* * *

“The Genoese suck their grandmothers’ tits! The Pisan beasts roll around with their mothers…”

The sailors’ sea shanties echoed in harmony with the sound of the waves.

‘I guess it’s just like Venice.’

Even their sea shanties are mocking other cities.

I looked ahead.

One day since departing from Tripoli.

In just a few days, we would arrive in Constantinople.

‘It would have taken much longer if we had gone by land.’

It wasn’t for nothing that maritime cities played such an important role in the Crusades.

Without the navy, without ships, nothing could be done here.

“Thanks to you, we were able to set sail on schedule. Count Raymond wouldn’t even listen to our requests, but he changed his mind just like that. I don’t know how you persuaded him…”

Marco said in his usual exaggerated tone.

He waved his hand and added,

“You truly are a master.”

“I simply asked the Count for a favor.”

I said with a smile.

‘The benefit of helping me is greater than the disadvantage of not helping me.’

That was practically all I said.

And then there’s my trait.

The effect of [Innate Charisma] must not be ignored.

I wish I had this ability in real life too.

Life would be so much easier.

Looking around, I noticed something strange.

The fleet of ships that had been sailing with us until last night was nowhere to be seen.

“By the way, I don’t seem to see the other ships.”

“The waves were too high last night, and the distance between us increased. We’re scheduled to resupply in Alanya, so we’ll be able to rejoin them there.”

“So, until then, we’re the only ship.”

I muttered.

Traveling around the Mediterranean with only one ship in this era isn’t a good idea.

Egypt and North Africa are Islamic lands.

They constantly engaged in piracy in the Mediterranean.

Even in the game, merchant ships were easily plundered if sent without escort.

“The Eastern Roman navy constantly patrols this area, so you don’t have to worry.”

Marco shrugged.

At that moment, Hugh and Aig came up on deck.

“I told you, Aig, you should never approach those fierce horses from behind.”

“We see each other every day, so I thought we had become friends. And my name is Aig, not Egg…”

“Is there something wrong with Bullt, ‘Egg’?”

I smiled and approached them.

Aig sighed.

“I think he’s sulking because I gave him dry hay without soaking it in water. The captain told us to conserve water as much as possible, so I couldn’t help it…”

Aig added,

“Bullt seems to have an even bigger appetite since he got on the ship. He eats so much that just cleaning up his poop is a job in itself.”

“He’s always been like that.”

I said with a smile.

Bullt was an excellent horse, but his personality was, to put it kindly, ‘eccentric’ itself.

“I guess I have no choice but to bear with it.”

Aig sighed as if resigned.

At that moment, Hugh pointed to the land far away.

“I didn’t expect to see a beacon fire from this far…”

“A beacon fire?”

I turned my head.

I could see smoke rising from the mountains far away on the land.

In the 21st century, those would be port cities in southern Turkey.

“To be precise, it’s a beacon fire network. The Greeks (Eastern Romans) have dozens of those set up all over the border.”

Hugh said, clanking his armor.

“They say that if an enemy appears on the border, they can notify Constantinople in just a few hours.”

“A beacon fire… Well, that would be faster than sending a messenger.”

I said.

Beacon fires existed in ancient Greece, as well as in China and Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] in East Asia.

During Napoleon’s time, they used signal towers with mechanical arms, and after that, they used electric telegraphs.

“It would be easier to see with a telescope.”

“A telescope?”

Aig tilted his head.

“It’s nothing. I was just talking to myself.”

There weren’t any telescopes in this era yet.

How exactly does the principle of a telescope work….

I think they used convex lenses in some way.

I shook my head.

‘I should look for glass artisans in Constantinople.’

There were many glass artisans in the Eastern Roman Empire.

Maybe something will come out if I exploit a few artisans.

Lost in thought, a shout echoed from the stern.

“I see a ship over there!”

Everyone on deck turned their heads back.

Two ships were visible in the distance.

Too far to identify the flags with the naked eye.

“They seem to be coming towards us?”

Aig muttered.

“‘Seem to be coming’ isn’t the word, they are coming towards us. Sir, put on your armor quickly.”

Hugh said.

The atmosphere tensed in an instant.

Two ships suddenly approaching in the open sea.

The sailors also moved busily.

“This way, sir.”

I put on my armor and coat with Aig’s help.

We were both used to it now, so it didn’t even take a few minutes.

By the time I put on my helmet, the two ships were clearly visible.

The flag on the mast fluttered in the wind.

A red background with a yellow cross.

I’ve seen it a few times in the game….

“It’s an Eastern Roman ship!”

The captain shouted.

The sailors sighed in relief at his words.

“Everyone, prepare for inspection!”

He gestured to the sailors.

The oarsmen stopped rowing in unison.

The ship slowed down and then stopped completely.

I approached the captain and asked.

“Inspection?”

“It’s a common occurrence, sir.”

The captain said in a reassuring tone.

“There are usually many imperial warships patrolling this area. They’ll let us go without any trouble once they check our papers.”

“I see.”

The content I heard from Marco earlier.

But something’s strange.

I couldn’t shake off the strange feeling.

The ominous feeling emanating from those two ships.

I focused my mind.

At first, everything was faint.

But as the distance closed, I felt something.

The same feeling I had just before the Bedouin tribes attacked.

‘They’re this tense for a normal inspection?’

Hostility, anxiety.

They weren’t just coming for a simple inspection.

Are they pirates disguised as Eastern Roman ships?

I looked at the captain and said.

“Get away from those ships right now.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, keep your distance so those ships can’t approach. Right now!”

“But that would mean changing our course. Then they’ll misunderstand that we’re avoiding inspection.”

The captain frowned and said.

“That would only waste more time…”

“It doesn’t matter. This is an order.”

“Marco, tell the sir something. If we do that, the schedule…”

“Do as the sir says, Vitale.”

Marco approached.

He looked at me with a nervous expression.

“Is there something wrong, sir?”

“We’ve separated from the fleet and are alone.”

I said.

It would be better to give a rational explanation than just saying it’s a feeling.

Marco had accompanied me to Eilat, so he would believe me.

I was the one who noticed the Bedouin tribes first.

“What if they are pirates disguised as Eastern Roman ships? It’s better to avoid any possible danger.”

Just keep your distance so they can’t approach.

There aren’t any cannons in this era anyway.

“Let’s do as the sir says. Vitale, what are you doing? Give the order to the oarsmen quickly.”

When Marco joined in, the captain grumbled and gave the order as if he couldn’t help it.

The oarsmen rowed, and the ship moved forward again.

“They’re still approaching!”

A sailor at the stern shouted.

The two ships chased us with even more ferocious speed.

With the momentum of not wanting to miss us.

Just as we got close enough to see each other’s faces, something flew by with a whooshing sound.

“They’re shooting arrows!”

“Damn it, row faster!”

One ship was pushed back by the waves.

But the other ship quickly approached and stuck to our rear.

Now the situation was clear.

The bastards were trying to attack our ship.

“All hands, battle stations!”

“Battle stations!”

The shouts of the captain and sailors echoed through the waves.

* * *

“Why on earth are the Eastern Romans doing this to us…!”

“There’s no time to be talking now! If you’re not going to fight, go below deck, Marco!”

Hugh shouted.

Then Marco, as if his pride was hurt, flared up.

“R, run away! I’ll fight too!”

“Then shut up and load the crossbow!”

I approached the captain.

He was frantically giving orders.

“Can’t we still create some distance?”

“It’s already too late! We can’t go any faster because we’re going against the current.”

He stomped on the deck and shouted.

“Everyone, come up on deck! Draw your swords!”

The oarsmen rushed out.

They all had bows, swords, and crossbows in their hands.

The deck was crowded with sailors and oarsmen.

At least hundreds of troops.

“They’re coming!”

“Raise your shields!”

The soldiers of the enemy ship threw grappling hooks.

As they pulled the ropes, the distance between the ships narrowed.

Soon, long wooden planks were placed between the two ships.

“Stand behind me, sir!”

Hugh shouted, drawing his sword.

A few arrows flew and hit his shield.

Armed enemy soldiers rushed onto the wooden planks.

Soon, a fierce battle began.

Those who tried to cross the ship and those who tried to stop them.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

“Aig! Crossbow!”

“Here it is!”

I received the loaded crossbow.

Okay, do it calmly.

Holding the crossbow, I aimed at the enemy soldier crossing the wooden plank.

Fix the bolt with your finger so it doesn’t shake.

Chain mail.

The other side was also wearing chain mail.

‘They’re not pirates. Then are they really Eastern Roman navy?’

I focused my mind.

I can find out about that later.

Even if it’s chain mail, the impact alone is enough at this distance.

“Archers, shoot arrows! Prevent them from crossing!”

When I pressed the lever, the bolt flew in a straight line.

The enemy soldier who was hit in the side groaned, staggered, and fell off the wooden plank.

A splash of water scattered among the screams and shouts.

I handed the fired crossbow to Aig and received the loaded one.

The enemy soldiers couldn’t easily cross the deck due to the constant firing.

From our deck, they swung spears and chopped down the wooden planks with axes.

“Don’t try to stab with the spears, swing them! Push the bastards over!”

Hugh shouted.

He cut down the enemy soldiers who had crossed the wooden planks.

The sticky smell of blood mixed with the waves and stung my nose.

The confrontation continued.

I shot the crossbow almost unconsciously.

‘Aim, fire. Aim, fire.’

About 15 minutes after the battle started.

The enemies, who had lost their initial momentum, began to waver.

It was then.

“ῥακά, ἀτέκνος, ον!!!” [Raca, childless one, you!]

A man with a massive physique came up from the enemy ship, swinging an iron mace.

A physique that seemed to be at least three times larger than the other soldiers.

The moment I saw him, goosebumps ran all over my body.

My intuition screamed at me to run away right now.

The giant crossed the wooden planks with a thud.

I and the other archers poured out arrows, but he ignored them as if they were nothing.

The arrows were caught all over his armor, making him look like a giant hedgehog.

When he swung his iron mace, at least three sailors were knocked away.

The other sailors, seeing this, hesitated and stepped back.

“What a bunch of cowards! Everyone, step back!”

Hugh cursed and rushed out.

“I’ll deal with him! You overgrown Greek mongrel!”

Soon, a fierce fight broke out.

Hugh dodged the iron mace swung by the giant at lightning speed.

But he also couldn’t land a effective hit.

After exchanging a few blows, it was clear that Hugh was losing strength.

“Sir, we’ll somehow…”

“Wait,” I said, aiming the crossbow.

The two were so close together that I couldn’t aim easily.

Then Hugh was pushed back and fell.

At the same time, only the giant remained in my line of fire.

The moment the giant was about to swing his iron mace, I instinctively pulled the lever.

The bolt flew in a straight line and…

Penetrated the eyeball between the helmets.

Soon, a scream echoed.

“Aaaaaagh!”

Hugh, who had fallen, stabbed the giant’s neck with his sword.

The giant body collapsed on the deck with a thud.

Our sailors shouted when they saw it.

“Waaaaaah!”

Now it was the enemies’ turn to be flustered.

When their strongest warrior fell, they all panicked.

When even the captain was hit in the shoulder by the bolt I shot and fell, they finally surrendered.

Thus, the battle ended 30 minutes after it began.

“Are you okay, Aig?”

I asked, panting.

Aig’s hands were trembling.

“Are you hurt?”

“I think I’m okay.”

Aig smiled, gasping for breath.

“Except that I can’t feel anything in my hands.”

“Thanks for working so hard to reload.”

“It was the sir who shot all the enemies. I wouldn’t have hit a single one.”

Aig muttered.

The deck was lined with the bodies of the injured and dead enemy soldiers.

The sailors prepared to gather the enemy corpses to one side and throw them into the sea.

The prisoners were sitting on one side of the deck.

“Why on earth would an Eastern Roman ship attack us? Just because we avoided inspection…”

“They wouldn’t have done that.”

I said.

There weren’t many people who would have done this.

The Emperor’s half-sister, Mani Komnini.

And his uncle, Andronikos Komninos.

Andronikos Komninos.

The old snake who staged a coup and killed his own nephew.

It must be one of the two.

‘Or maybe the two of them conspired together.’

With this incident, my goal became clear.

Go to the Eastern Roman Empire, protect the Emperor, find the bastards who did this, and ‘appropriately’ avenge them.

‘A very Eastern Roman conclusion.’

I sighed, looking at the red bubbles rising in the sea.