I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 42

The Fish-Catching Falcon (2)

* * *

The procession escorting me stretched out long.

From Emperor Alexios to the Dowager Empress Maria, and Princess Theodora.

Crowds thronged in front, and fifty warships followed behind.

Anyone would think I was invading another country.

“I wish you could have stayed longer.”

Alexios offered a wistful smile.

“As long as I am Emperor, the Empire will always welcome you, Prince Baldwin.”

“The Kingdom of Jerusalem will always welcome Your Imperial Majesty as well.”

I embraced him.

“The day I visit you might come sooner than you think.”

“Perhaps we’ll meet in Egypt.”

I replied with a smile.

Egypt, Saladin’s stronghold.

To conquer it, the Eastern Roman navy was essential.

Alexios’s reaction was positive.

‘First, I need to deal with the rebel fleet in Cyprus.’

One more reason to resolve the Cyprus situation.

I looked at the boy before me.

‘It’s a shame to part like this.’

In the game, affinity was just a number.

A simple system where high affinity meant favors were easily granted, and low affinity meant hostility.

But what I felt directly was different.

A friend of the same age.

‘Of course, I’m older in real age.’

I exchanged one last look with him.

Next were Dowager Empress Maria and Empress Agnes.

I exchanged light farewells with both of them.

Finally, there was Princess Theodora.

“Farewell, Prince Baldwin.”

She smiled.

“Our next meeting will be in Jerusalem, I presume?”

“That remains to be seen…”

I replied with a smile.

There was no reason for Baldwin IV to refuse the marriage proposal.

But marriage, huh?

I never thought I’d become a married man like this.

“I, too, hope to see Your Highness again.”

“You are always so composed.”

She said.

“‘Be cold, and everyone will follow you.’ I’ve never seen anyone suit that saying as much as you, Prince Baldwin.”

“To survive, everyone has to be cold.”

I replied.

If the Kingdom of Jerusalem were a house, it would be a collapsing one.

To catch the falling bricks and put them back, one had to move without rest.

For now, the Eastern Roman brick had been put back in place.

I waved one last time and headed to the docks.

The grand fleet unfolded before my eyes.

The fleet that would escort me to Jerusalem and occupy Cyprus.

Wig came up to me.

“Garnier and Ayg have already boarded. We can depart as soon as you arrive, Prince Baldwin.”

“The loading finished sooner than I expected.”

I looked at the ships.

All sorts of treasures and wealth received from the Imperial Family.

Along with the first detachment of the Holy Sepulchre Guard.

In effect, an entire military unit was moving.

“Soon, a branch of the Guard will be established in Jerusalem. It’s been decades since the Eastern Church has shown such a friendly attitude towards the Crusaders.”

Wig wore a thoughtful expression.

“All this time, Rome and Constantinople have been busy snarling and fighting with each other. Perhaps this could be the beginning of East-West integration.”

“Perhaps it could be.”

But that wasn’t my goal.

The division of the Eastern and Western Churches was a complex issue.

The fall of the Western Roman Empire, differences in various doctrines, and so on.

In fact, the core was simple.

Two children squabbling over leadership.

‘I don’t have the time to dig into the causes and reconcile them now.’

What I wanted was an immediate solution.

Things that could be fixed right away.

“Let’s take care of Cyprus first. We can worry about the rest later.”

The ship lurched and moved.

We left the harbor to the cheers of the citizens.

The ship began to rock…

Ah, damn it.

I turned my head so no one could see.

I think I’m getting seasick again.

Can’t throw up after posing so coolly.

And so, the long torture began again.

* * *

“I heard your knightly order maintains chastity. Is that really true?”

“Talking like you’ll stay chaste your whole life. I was a lord before I got leprosy, and a handsome one at that.”

Wig burst into laughter.

Two days since leaving Constantinople.

We were getting closer to Cyprus.

My seasickness had also improved to some extent.

“What on earth are you two talking about?”

I asked, approaching Wig and Ruarc.

The sea was covered in fog.

A sticky, damp feeling.

The only thing visible was the ship right in front of us.

“We were asking about the traditions of the Latin knightly orders. There might be something we can learn from them.”

Ruarc replied.

He had been appointed as the commander of the newly formed ‘Holy Sepulchre Guard.’

The first detachment consisted of about two hundred men, a large number considering they were purely combat troops, excluding support personnel.

He asked Wig again.

“Then what about that boy over there? I heard he joined the Hospitallers [a Catholic military order] when he was young.”

“That kid is already chasing after women. I can guarantee it. Isn’t that right, Ayg?!”

The two men burst into laughter at the boy’s blushing reaction.

The sounds of warriors laughing and chatting could be heard from all over the deck.

The smell of beer and meat.

And singing.

“Those who follow Prince Baldwin are all unique.”

Ruarc said.

His cloak fluttered in the sea breeze.

A golden cloak received from the Patriarch of Constantinople [the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church].

“A leper knight who was once a lord, an orphan Hospitaller page, and…”

He looked at Garnier, who was busy practicing swordsmanship.

I replied with a smile.

“He came on a pilgrimage, had an epiphany, and joined the knightly order.”

Not the youngest son of a noble family, but the second son.

He had given up the inheritance he would have received and joined the knightly order.

“What about you?”

I asked, looking at him.

Ruarc’s face was covered in scars.

A man who had clearly experienced many things.

“The story of how you came all the way from Denmark can’t be ordinary either.”

“My ancestors explored countless lands. I was born on a ship.”

He said.

With his characteristic indifferent expression.

“From Vinland to Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, and then Constantinople. But now I’m going to the Holy Land.”

Vinland?

I felt like I’d heard that somewhere.

“Are you talking about the southwest of Greenland when you say Vinland?”

“Yes, that’s right. There lived the Skræling [Norse term for indigenous peoples of Greenland and North America], natives who didn’t know how to use iron. Their skin color was…”

“Reddish and slightly dark, right?”

“No, how did you know that, Prince Baldwin…”

“I’ve seen many sights. Vinland was one of them.”

I replied with a smile.

Right, these people advanced all the way to Canada.

Skræling must be Indians, Native Americans.

“As expected, you have foresight, Prince Baldwin. It might be a soul migration technique. Archangel Michael must be watching over you.”

“Perhaps he is.”

I said with a smile.

The waves crashed against the ship and scattered.

The fog was still thick.

“The fog isn’t clearing up as much as I thought.”

“Fog often forms near Cyprus, especially during this season. This isn’t even that bad.”

“I see.”

Should I bring it up now?

“There’s something I need to discuss with the commander. It’s about the issue of command.”

I said, looking at him.

He should know what I mean by this point.

Establishing clear command.

Nothing was more important than this in the military.

The fifty ships of the fleet were directly under the Emperor.

And the commander of the Holy Sepulchre Guard was Ruarc.

So who was the supreme commander?

Me? Or Ruarc?

“The Emperor said this: ‘Act in the direction that benefits Prince Baldwin and Jerusalem.’ We are only here to support you, Prince Baldwin.”

“I see.”

I nodded.

Strictly speaking, the Holy Sepulchre Guard was an organization under the Constantinople Church.

But the actual orders came from me.

‘The Hospitallers and the Knights Templar are also technically under the Pope.’

In reality, both were closer to military organizations under the King of Jerusalem.

I looked at the Norsemen.

Chainmail and axes.

It was hard to imagine them fighting in the desert regions of the Levant [historical term for the Eastern Mediterranean region].

‘It’s a relief they’re on my side.’

Most of the knights I had commanded so far belonged to knightly orders.

Except for those directly under the royal family, I couldn’t just drag them around as I pleased.

‘Wig, Garnier, and Ayg are basically my bodyguards, so it doesn’t matter, but…’

Then Ruarc opened his mouth.

“There is one minor issue. Norsemen only serve those they recognize as leaders.”

He added.

“That’s why I stepped up as the first commander myself.”

“I need to prove myself, then.”

“You already fought directly in Constantinople, so no one will question you, Prince Baldwin.”

Ruarc said.

“But we Norsemen are sensitive to honor and courage.”

“The Kingdom of Jerusalem is the same.”

I said with a smile.

In fact, it didn’t make sense for a fourteen-year-old kid to be charging on horseback.

But as royalty, there was no choice.

In knightly culture, cowards had no place.

Even if you were vile, you had to be brave to be recognized.

At that moment, a splashing sound rang out.

A desperate cry followed.

“Olhid fell into the water!”

“Damn it, stop rowing!”

Both Ruarc and I leaned out over the deck.

Nothing could be seen because of the thick fog.

“How many fell in?”

“Only Olhid! He was staggering drunk and…”

“Because of this damn fog…”

The sailors all shouted and called out to their comrade, but there was no response.

I guess I have to step in.

I raised my hand.

“Everyone, be quiet!”

The deck fell silent in an instant.

I focused my mind.

Emotions.

Amidst the surprised and panicked emotions, I felt something intense.

The fear of death.

The fear felt by someone who had fallen into the water.

“Port side! Ayg, get me a rope.”

“Yes, sir!”

As the ship changed course, the figure of the man who had fallen into the water could be seen faintly.

“There he is!”

He was barely staying afloat, flailing his arms and legs.

The man’s body slumped as if he had run out of strength.

“Everyone get out of the way! You frustrating bastards!”

Ruarc tied the rope around himself and immediately threw himself into the sea.

Shortly after, he threw the man onto the deck as if tossing him.

A pale face and a limp expression.

There was no sign of breathing.

“Do something!”

“Breathe air back into him!”

The Vikings kicked and slapped the man’s side.

This is driving me crazy.

I pushed them aside.

“Everyone, get back!”

There wasn’t anything I practiced as much as CPR in the military academy.

First, turn his face to the side to secure the airway…

Chest compressions.

I placed my hand on the man’s chest and pressed down hard.

And artificial respiration.

A disgusting smell of alcohol wafted out when I opened his mouth.

Perfect, perfect.

After repeating it a few times, the man vomited water.

His face also returned to its original color.

As he barely stood up, he saw the surprised faces of the people around him.

“Consider yourself blessed. Prince Baldwin breathed life into you himself.”

“How did you do that?”

I sighed.

It wouldn’t hurt to teach them CPR.

I briefly explained CPR to the warriors in front of me.

Even saying that it’s better to keep rhythm when compressing the chest.

They all nodded as they listened to my explanation.

Everyone looked as if they were watching something amazing.

I couldn’t help but smile.

I feel like a safety instructor.

“It’s okay to drink beer instead of water, but I will prohibit excessive drinking from now on.”

“I’ll manage it myself. A sailor falling into the sea is a bad omen, but…”

Ruarc said.

“Saving someone from the sea can be said to be a good omen.”

“Then we’re back to normal.”

I said with a smile.

The fog was gradually clearing, and the horizon could be seen in the distance.

Cyprus.

But we couldn’t go there right away.

First, resupply in a nearby city.

And we had to find out information.

“It’s starting now.”

I already had all the cards.

All that was left was to check the opponent’s hand.

“I can only hope Marco is doing a good job.”

* * *

Q: Doesn’t doing CPR like that always break ribs and kill the person?

A: Rib fractures are rare when chest compressions are performed in the correct position. Also, rib fractures do not necessarily lead to death (Source – Seoul Metropolitan Government CPR Education Q&A 7471)