I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 48

Landless Crusader (3)

Landless Crusader (3)

* * *

Let me put it this way.

Eating in the Order of Knights’ dining hall is not a pleasant experience at all.

Is the food bad?

Not at all. The food wasn’t the problem.

The problem is that conversation is strictly prohibited during meals.

I would have preferred it if it were completely silent.

“Jesus Christ said….”

A knight recited the Bible from the center of the table.

In a voice loud enough to echo throughout the dining hall.

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never hunger.”

No other sound was heard.

Only the sound of quietly tearing bread and meat.

I had heard that the knights kept silent when they ate….

I didn’t know it would be this extreme.

Why did I say I would eat with the knights?

‘Curiosity kills the cat.’

That’s exactly the situation.

I looked at the long wooden table.

The knights all silently ate the food on their plates.

The candles placed around the table dimly illuminated them.

I guess I should be grateful that they don’t eat at right angles.

I grabbed a piece of bread and shoved it into my mouth.

It’s not bad with cheese on it….

My throat quickly became dry.

‘Did I already finish all the water?’

The glass in front of me was already empty.

I looked around for a water jug.

There was a water jug next to Aigh, who was sitting diagonally from me.

I signaled to Aigh.

Basic sign language I learned before entering the dining hall.

‘Fish’ was the motion of swimming with your hands.

‘Spicy’ was putting your index finger in your mouth?

What was water….

I racked my brain.

[Water please]

[Pardon?]

[Water]

Aigh tilted his head.

In the end, I gave up on sign language and showed him a pose of gulping down water.

He should understand this much.

The knight’s recitation echoed.

“Whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

God.

Am I this thirsty because I’m an infidel?

I’m going to die of thirst at this rate.

Aigh nodded as if he understood.

He picked up a bottle and handed it to me.

What I received was….

An elixir bottle.

Are you telling me to drink alcohol? From broad daylight?

I desperately signaled again.

[Not that, I want water]

[Pardon?]

[Wa—ter]

When I made the drinking motion again, Aigh was startled.

He finally understood.

Aigh gestured to the man next to him and received a bottle.

The man handed me the bottle with a bright smile.

Another elixir bottle.

Then why was he surprised?

Was he surprised that I asked for two bottles?

I stared at Aigh with the bottle in my hand.

Is he deliberately messing with me?

I can’t spit on a smiling face [show disrespect].

Oh well, I guess I have to give up.

I forced myself to chew and swallow the hard bread.

Then someone placed a glass of water in front of me with a thud.

When I turned my head, I saw a familiar face.

The person who came to pick me up in Eilat with Wigg.

It was Balian.

He gestured that he would be waiting outside.

After roughly finishing my meal, I immediately left the dining hall.

Did he arrive already?

“Sir Balian. I heard the news that you had departed, but I didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly.”

“Count Raymond provided a fast ship. Did you enjoy your meal?”

“I didn’t know if it was going in my mouth or my nose [it was so unpleasant].”

“That’s how they eat to reduce the pleasure of eating. Still, the knights eat meat often, so they are better off than the clergy.”

Balian gave a faint smile.

“The Benedictine Rule strictly prohibits eating meat.”

A meat ban.

So they can only eat fish?

I’m so glad I didn’t become a clergyman.

“Next time, I should eat with the Guardians of the Holy Sepulchre.”

Since they are Viking warriors, they probably only eat delicious things.

I also want to try mead [an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey and water].

“The Guardians of the Holy Sepulchre. My brother keeps cursing at a man named Ruark. I heard he is the leader of the Guardians.”

“That’s right, he was the commander of the Varangian Guard in Constantinople [the Byzantine Emperor’s elite bodyguard unit].”

“They sent the commander of the guard as the commander-in-chief. The Roman Emperor must be serious.”

Balian said.

He looked towards the sea.

“For the Empire and the Kingdom to be united in a blood alliance like this. There couldn’t be a more excellent diplomatic achievement than this.”

He added with a smile.

“You have done a truly excellent job, Young Lord. When the news of the assassination first broke, you have no idea how worried His Majesty was….”

“I was the most surprised.”

I said.

Princess Mani’s rampage was an overreach in itself.

If I hadn’t stepped in, the Emperor and Empress would have lost their lives.

If they had pinned that crime on our Jerusalem delegation….

I don’t even want to imagine it.

“In the end, things worked out well. Andronikos and the potential rebels were all eliminated.”

“Potential rebels. Princess Theodora could also be included in that.”

Balian said.

“His Majesty has decided to accept the marriage proposal. We will be able to hold the wedding in Jerusalem sometime next year.”

“I knew it would turn out that way.”

I said.

If it weren’t for leprosy, Baldwin IV would have married her.

It was difficult for leprosy patients to have children.

There was also a custom of prohibiting marriage in the first place.

So that’s why I got the opportunity.

The opportunity to marry a princess of the Roman Empire.

Marrying a beautiful imperial princess.

A sentence that would appear in a fantasy novel.

“How is the atmosphere in the kingdom these days?”

“Reynald is stuck in Kerak, and Guy is only in Ascalon. It’s been a long time since either of them showed their faces at the royal palace.”

Balian said with a smile.

“This is probably the most stable the kingdom has ever been.”

“They have no choice but to stay still.”

The more power I gain, the more their presence diminishes.

I’ll have to take care of them soon.

Since they are thoughtless guys anyway….

They might create an opportunity for me on their own.

But that’s something to think about later.

What’s important now is something else.

Saladin.

And Aleppo.

“His Majesty the King is already summoning the army.”

Balian nodded as if he had noticed my gaze.

“If Saladin moves, he will be able to put pressure on Damascus right away.”

“Then Aleppo has to hold out as long as possible. To keep Saladin tied down in the north.”

“That’s right. In a way, you are taking on the most important role, Young Lord.”

Balian said.

“Count Raymond is fully cooperating. It’s only natural since you prevented the attack thanks to you.”

I nodded instead of answering.

I’m glad I made them owe me a favor.

If it weren’t for my help, Tripoli would have suffered great damage.

No one was unaware of that.

“We are already making all the preparations we can. Constantinople has also promised support.”

I said with a smile.

I had several cards to pressure Saladin.

The Roman Navy was one of them.

I looked at Balian and added.

“When the time comes, I will go to Tripoli myself.”

Then a voice calling me echoed.

It was Aigh.

He ran up, panting.

“Young Lord! I’m glad you didn’t get drunk.”

“Drunk?”

Is he talking about the elixir?

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t worry, I’m not drunk. Did something happen?”

“A fleet is scheduled to arrive from, from Constantinople.”

“A fleet from Constantinople?”

I asked.

It doesn’t seem like something to be so surprised about.

“Princess Theodora is coming here in person….”

Balian and I looked at each other.

Hmm, it seems like something to be surprised about now.

* * *

Cyprus

Venetian Branch

“Hmm—hmm—hmm.”

Marco hummed as he passed through the office.

He nodded to the workers he encountered as if greeting them.

Each time, the workers all looked at him with surprised expressions.

It wasn’t just the workers who were surprised.

“Was Marco always like that?”

“He used to be a gloomy guy, but he seems to have completely changed.”

Fellow merchants also looked at him and whispered.

“I heard he almost died here in Cyprus. It seems like he changed after that?”

“Hey, Marco!”

“Oh, it’s you guys! What’s up?”

Marco replied with a bright smile.

“I heard you’ve been having frequent meetings with Lord Baldwin these days. What did you do here to receive so much love from the Young Lord?”

“Yeah, tell us your secrets too.”

“It’s nothing special, my friends. I just worked hard.”

“You’re pretending to be humble. There are more than a few people praising you in the home country as well. You, who would normally be boasting and making a fuss….”

“Of course, I would have been like that before. But isn’t the most important thing working for the national interest of Venice? Listen, friends.”

Marco said with a smile.

“Let me ask you. How happy would you be if you could know your destiny?”

“Why are you suddenly talking about destiny?”

“Are you going to know your destiny from now on?”

“I see. You called a witch and had your fortune told. I heard that in the upper neighborhoods, they throw dice or sticks to tell fortunes.”

“Isn’t that something the church prohibits? You might get into trouble again….”

“Don’t worry. I don’t believe in such crude superstitions.”

Marco said.

“I can’t tell you the details, but anyway, I found out my destiny. It was a revelation from the high heavens.”

He said with a smile.

“I’ll give you each a position if you become my disciples. So try to look good to me from now on.”

“If you’re a disciple, then I should be the Pope.”

At the words of one merchant, all the colleagues burst into laughter.

They all waited for Marco’s reaction.

But Marco just laughed heartily.

“Who knows the Lord’s will? You might become the Pope.”

“Marco has finally gone crazy.”

The colleagues looked at him and shook their heads.

“I thought he was being humble for once, but a disciple. His nose is piercing the sky [he’s become arrogant]. Piercing the sky.”

“Anyway, let’s go back to work. We were confirmed for overtime today, weren’t we?”

“It will take forever just to process what Lord Baldwin ordered.”

The merchants chatted and returned to their offices one by one.

Only Marco remained.

He stretched out with a happy expression.

“Then shall we start working slowly today?”

* * *

May 1182.

A rumor shook the Levant [a historical geographical region encompassing the Eastern Mediterranean].

‘Saladin is summoning an army to pacify the north!’

It didn’t take long for the rumor to be revealed as fact.

The armies of the Emirs (feudal lords) flocked near Damascus.

Tents and siege equipment were placed outside the walls.

The sandstorm they caused made it difficult to see ahead.

Poets and judges came forward and recited poems praising Saladin.

“Glory to the commander of the brave warriors! Curses on the infidels and idolaters!”

But not everyone shared that passion.

Some muttered in small voices.

‘Muslims should not attack Muslims in times like these!’

‘Weren’t our enemies the Franks in Al-Quds [Jerusalem]?’

But these voices were quickly drowned out by cheers.

The citizens loved their Sultan, Saladin.

A ruler of mercy and tolerance.

A guardian who brought order to their chaotic land.

As Saladin marched through the city, that atmosphere reached its peak.

A grand procession marched through the center of the city.

Two knights on white horses at the front.

And Saladin in the center.

A black silk robe and chainmail.

A long sword hung at his side.

Flute players and poets sang of his achievements to the beat of drums.

The citizens all watched the grand procession and admired it.

“O Sultan! Bring us the victory of glory!”

Saladin reached out and answered them.

“I will bring the brothers of the north who reject the Jihad [holy war] back into the embrace of Allah!”

“Waaaa!”

The shouts of the citizens of Damascus echoed off the walls.

Another time of upheaval was coming.

I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]

I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]

십자군의 왕이 되었다
Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] In the heart of the Holy Land, where faith and steel collide, a kingdom teeters on the brink of annihilation. Jerusalem, 1181: a city besieged by the clash of Crusader fervor and Islamic might. Amidst this maelstrom of war and intrigue, a royal heir finds himself thrust into a desperate struggle for survival. Witness the epic saga of a kingdom's last stand, and the rise of a king forged in the fires of the Crusades. Will he become the savior his people desperately need, or will he be consumed by the very conflict that threatens to engulf them all?

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