I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 3

Deus Vult? (3)

* * *

“Come inside.”

Crossing the threshold, I was met with a strong fragrance mixed with the smell of pus.

The room was filled with books and papers.

A man sat behind a large table in the center.

“Come closer, Baldwin. It’s been a while since I last saw your face.”

Bandages wrapped all over his body.

I recognized him instantly.

King Baldwin IV, the Leper King.

The man known as the last wise ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

My breath caught in my throat.

It’s on a different level than seeing an illustration.

‘He dies of the disease in 1185, so there are still four years left.’

The king who roamed the battlefield even while bedridden.

He boasted high stats even in the game.

The only weakness was the leprosy that slowly gnawed at his life.

“I heard you’ve been cooped up in your room reading old books lately. Have you finally grown tired of falconry?”

“….”

What should I say?

It must be because of the [Rude Rascal] trait.

In the eyes of others, I was a good-for-nothing obsessed with falconry.

“After the fall from the horse…”

I carefully opened my mouth.

“I realized I’ve been wasting too much time.”

“So you’ve decided to pull yourself together, is that it?”

“Yes, so I started reading books first. That’s all I can do for now.”

In reality, it was closer to escaping from reality.

I could feel his emotions subtly changing.

From indifference to interest?

Or rather, was he curious?

I could only sense it, but I couldn’t pinpoint it exactly.

“Well, it’s about time you came to your senses. Then I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

He said as he stood up.

His eyes shone through the face stained with pus and scars.

“This is the current map of the Levant [historical region encompassing the Eastern Mediterranean]. With Saladin virtually unifying Egypt and Syria, our kingdom is surrounded.”

He pointed to one side of the map.

As he said, the Crusader camp was surrounded in both the east-west directions.

Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub.

Saladin for short.

The Sultan who won the Battle of Hattin in 1187 and captured Jerusalem.

“The peace treaty we have with Saladin. How long do you think it will last?”

“….”

My heart was pounding.

Okay, let’s think calmly.

Before me is the supreme ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

This is a test.

“Saladin will probably attack Aleppo and Mosul starting next year. Until then, he’ll be holed up in his palace in Cairo.”

I can recite this with my eyes closed.

What happens next….

“Only after completely unifying the north will he begin to gather his army in earnest. After that, he’ll wait until a division arises in our kingdom. That will probably be….”

“When I die, wouldn’t you say?”

Baldwin IV burst into laughter.

“That’s quite a plausible assumption. But even a child can talk about the future. What do you think we should do now?”

“First of all, we must conserve our strength as much as possible.”

This is also obvious.

If the Islamic forces are the sea, the Crusaders are a small puddle.

Unless a new crusade comes from the West, the manpower disadvantage cannot be overcome.

“First, we must establish a firm alliance with the Eastern Roman Empire.”

I pointed to one side of the map.

The area of Greece and Turkey.

Where the Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, was located.

The very people who first requested Crusader support from Europe.

Fortunately, the current Eastern Roman government is pro-Crusader.

‘The problem is that anti-Crusader sentiment will soon explode, leading to a coup.’

And the massacre of Latins perpetrated by the Eastern Romans.

I have to prevent that somehow.

“If we don’t take action in advance, Emperor Alexios won’t last until next year.”

“Are you so sure of the young emperor’s death? It would be difficult unless something happens.”

Something happens.

Being strangled to death by his uncle in a coup is definitely ‘something’.

“I heard that anti-Western sentiment is rampant in Constantinople [modern-day Istanbul]. If dissatisfaction with the emperor and the regency grows, people like Andronikos will try to seize power.”

“And we have to stop that?”

“Yes, but there’s something we need to do before that.”

The most urgent thing is to secure funds.

Without funds, it would be difficult to win over the Eastern Romans.

“We must rebuild the southern trading ports of the kingdom as soon as possible. Eilat would be the best.”

The trading ports in southern Jerusalem connected to the Red Sea.

Rebuilding these was the fastest way to make money when playing as a Crusader.

“If we rebuild these places, we can attract the spice trade route. If merchant ships passing through the Red Sea use this port instead of Egypt….”

“We can secure that much in tariffs. I didn’t know you were interested in trade routes.”

Baldwin IV stroked his chin with a surprised expression.

“But Saladin’s navy controls the Red Sea, doesn’t it?”

“As long as the peace treaty is valid, Saladin has no justification to attack first.”

I said.

There was no one who valued justification as much as Saladin.

“And most of the Egyptian merchant ships in the Red Sea will be unarmed. In the first place, there hasn’t been a need to wage naval battles for the past few decades.”

“But rebuilding the ports and shipyards will cost a lot of money. It would be difficult unless we collect a special tax.”

“We don’t have to spend our own money. Because there are people who will invest instead.”

“People who will invest instead?”

“The Venetians. According to a rumor I heard recently, Venetian merchants are planning to rebuild Eilat.”

I’ve played as Venetian merchants more than a dozen times, so I can’t forget.

Now is when they are showing interest in Eilat.

Just throw them a carrot and they’ll come right over.

And there was one more reason to go to Eilat.

‘The Crusader’s unleashed dog.’

Someone needed to monitor Reynald.

If I left him to attack Muslim caravans and pilgrims, the peace treaty could be broken.

If it goes according to history, I can just ignore it….

In Last Crusaders, things sometimes deviated from history.

What if Reynald makes a mess and Saladin declares war?

There’s no chance of winning if we wage war against Saladin now.

I had to stop Reynald somehow.

The right person to do both of those things….

What, it’s just me?

Even if I told these things to others one by one, they wouldn’t believe me.

Even if they believed me, they would try to use me for their own benefit.

It was better to step forward myself.

“If Your Majesty allows it, I will negotiate with the Venetians. And I will go down to Eilat to oversee the reconstruction process.”

“You’re going yourself? But you’re still….”

He swallowed his words.

I could feel surprise in his gaze as he looked at me.

I swallowed hard.

Will my words work?

No matter how much I’ve changed from before….

He wouldn’t have even considered entrusting such a big project to a thirteen-year-old.

[Innate Charisma]

[Grants a ‘large’ buff to all diplomacy and persuasion actions]

I had no choice but to trust the effect of the trait.

I did not avoid his gaze and stared straight ahead.

“Well, if you’re that confident, go ahead and negotiate with the Venetians. 20,000 dinars [historical gold coin].”

He finally opened his mouth.

“If you get 20,000 dinars from the Venetians as a port usage fee, I will allow you to lead the reconstruction.”

20,000 dinars?

That seems a bit high.

Whatever will be, will be.

I couldn’t take back the words I had already spoken.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

I bowed slightly.

My hands were trembling, probably because I was too nervous.

“There’s no need to be so formal, Baldwin. I crossed swords with Saladin at Montgisard around your age.”

He burst out laughing.

“Back then, my blood was boiling as hot as yours. Now all that’s left are rotting limbs.”

Right, this man was a king who charged on horseback at the age of sixteen.

The Battle of Montgisard was so famous that it was taught even in military academy classes.

“Then go now, Baldwin. I’ll tell the officials.”

He stood in front of me and patted me on the shoulder.

A faint breath felt beyond the mask.

“I was glad to see the changed you.”

I turned my back on him and left the room.

An unconscious sigh.

I think I managed to get through it somehow.

Is it just my imagination that things have gotten too big?

* * *

Back in my room, I collapsed onto the bed.

No, a terrible mattress that can’t even be called a bed.

If I can’t go back to the original world, I’ll die in a place like this.

God, Allah, Buddha.

What the hell did I do wrong to have to go through this?

Even if I shouted into the air, there was no answer.

Could it be because I cursed God in my heart?

Then I guess you’re being petty.

I sighed and looked out the window.

The scenery of an unfamiliar city.

‘If it goes according to the original history, it will fall into Islamic hands in a few years.’

And I, too, will be annihilated forever.

I don’t know exactly what annihilation is….

It’s practically death.

Unknowingly, my hand clenched.

Whether it was God or whatever who did this, I had no intention of dying obediently.

I was already upset about being expelled from the military academy, and now I’m being told to fall into the Middle Ages and die?

They can all eat shit.

The defense of Jerusalem.

I’ll do it as much as they want.

“Let’s see who wins.”

I got up from the mattress.

The things I had to do were decided.

Becoming the King of Jerusalem, succeeding my uncle, Baldwin IV.

To do that….

“I have to get today’s work done first.”

I knocked on the door and called for a maid.

“Yes, young master.”

“Send a messenger to the Venetian branch in Jerusalem. Tell them I want to discuss the reconstruction of Eilat.”

“I understand. Then right now….”

“Wait.”

Come to think of it, there was that guy.

The Venetian merchant I’ve played more than a dozen times.

It’s not even a big deal to win him over.

“Marco. Tell it to a man named Marco. He’s probably the representative of the Jerusalem branch.”

“I understand, young master.”

The maid bowed her head and stepped back.

I looked at the closed door and smiled.

There was no need to worry.

The reconstruction of the southern port.

That much was a piece of cake.

* * *