I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 61

Became a King of the Crusades – Episode 61 (61/215)

The Hero’s Return (1)

* * *

“In the end, we didn’t get to see the festival yesterday.”

“I know. I wanted to go out and see it too.”

Two young girls sighed as they looked out at the street.

Johanna and Sophia.

The twin girls rested their chins on their hands, gazing out of the shop.

A middle-aged man appeared in front of the shop.

“Uncle!”

“Hey, little ladies. Stop chattering and start getting ready for business. Are the skewers ready?”

“We finished them a long time ago, Uncle.”

“Then you two go inside the shop. I’ll take care of the customers.”

“Yes~”

They both stretched at the same time.

The sun rose, and the streets bustled with people.

The same was true in front of the shop.

Merchants shouted prices, enticing pilgrims and travelers from all over the world.

“Cheap, cheap! Expensive silks brought from the East….”

“A famous sword from Damascus! There’s nothing better in this Levant [historical region encompassing the Eastern Mediterranean]….”

The market and streets were filled with people, leaving no room to step.

The twins also became busy.

“Sophia! We’re out of skewers!”

“Already? Just a minute! I’ll bring a new one from inside!”

The two of them put meat on skewers and handed them to their uncle.

With practiced movements, he placed the skewers over the fire.

The meat cooked, emitting a delicious aroma.

Even the expensive spices were sprinkled on top.

Johanna sneaked up to the brazier and took two skewers.

“Hey, you brats! What are you doing eating what we’re supposed to sell?!”

“We’re caught! Run away!”

“It’s okay to eat a few!”

“You ate so much bread this morning, and now skewers too…!”

The customers who saw it burst into laughter.

Time passed like that.

The sun slowly set, and the number of customers dwindled.

Johanna and Sophia rested their chins on their hands again, looking out of the shop.

“I wonder when Dad will be back? Mom’s been worried all day too.”

“I know. There’s no one to play pranks on without Dad.”

Sophia looked at her uncle and said.

“Uncle’s no fun.”

“I don’t enjoy taking care of you either, you troublemakers.”

The man said with a laugh.

“Your dad will be back soon, so don’t worry too much. Lord Baldwin came yesterday, so he’ll be back with a hefty reward soon.”

“Lord Baldwin?”

“You didn’t go to the welcoming ceremony yesterday, so you wouldn’t know. I was too far away to see properly either….”

The uncle said, raising his hand.

His finger pointed across the sea.

“He’s going to marry the Roman Empire’s princess far over there. A fleet will be coming from Constantinople [modern-day Istanbul] soon….”

“Where’s Constantinople?”

“That’s the place Yusuf mentioned before. A place where everything from the streets to the palaces is filled with gold.”

“A princess….”

Johanna muttered.

“What kind of clothes do princesses wear?”

“Wouldn’t they wear really sparkly clothes? With jewels and gold too.”

“I want to wear clothes like that too.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. Both of you stop talking nonsense and start cleaning up. We need to prepare for tomorrow too.”

“Can’t we do that a little later…….”

At that moment, three men stopped in front of the shop.

The twins hid inside the shop and watched the three of them.

A man wearing a black coat.

A boy, also wearing a black coat but looking young.

The last person wore a robe like a clergyman.

“I can’t see their faces very well….”

“Me neither.”

The two girls whispered in small voices.

The man wearing the robe spoke.

A slightly youthful voice.

“How about here, Ayeg? Lamb skewers seem good.”

“Lamb skewers… Well, it might not be bad. I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”

“You won’t find lamb skewers as delicious as our shop anywhere in Tripoli!”

The uncle said, waving his hand.

“It can’t be bad with plenty of spices sprinkled on it.”

“Then give me two.”

The man in the black coat said.

A thick voice.

He looked older than the other two.

“Isn’t Lord Garnier eating?”

“It’s forbidden to buy food like this outside a restaurant. Besides, it’s a fasting day. Strictly speaking, the same goes for Ayeg….”

He sighed.

“He’s not a formal knight yet, so it should be okay. Keep this a secret, Ayeg.”

“Yes, I’ll get two skewers right away!”

The uncle sprinkled spices on the grilled meat.

Before long, two skewers were ready.

The man in the black coat took the skewers and asked.

“Shopkeeper, what’s the atmosphere like in Tripoli these days?”

“It couldn’t be better. There’s plenty of money, and merchant ships come in every day. A conscription order was issued recently, so there are fewer men….”

“You’re talking about the troops that went to Hama and Homs.”

“I don’t know exactly where. Anyway, my brother-in-law left his shop to me.”

He gestured behind him.

“With those troublemaking nieces of mine.”

Johanna and Sophia stuck out their tongues at the same time, as if they had promised.

“Those kids are being rude in front of the customers…!”

“It’s more delicious than I thought.”

The boy in the robe said.

He came over and handed a coin to the uncle.

A silver light.

It was a silver coin.

“If you give me a silver coin like this, I don’t have change….”

“I want to buy some more of these lamb skewers. Can you make them quickly?”

The boy asked.

“I’ll pay well.”

“O-Of course! But I’m out of spices, so I need to borrow some from the next shop. If you wait a moment….”

He came over to Johanna and Sophia and whispered.

“You two watch the shop for a moment. Don’t let those people go anywhere else.”

“Yes~”

The two answered at the same time.

The twins looked at the customers.

Unusual clothes and way of speaking.

The boy in the robe came inside the shop.

“Your father went to the conscription?”

“Yes, he went to the eastern mountains….”

Sophia answered as if muttering.

The boy put his hand inside his pocket and rummaged around.

A clinking sound.

He took something out and placed it on the table.

The coins sparkled in the twilight.

Five gold coins.

“Give this to your father. You can use it if something urgent comes up.”

“Uh… yes?”

The twins stared blankly at the gold coins on the table.

“Is it really okay to take this….”

“Just take it. Think of it as good luck today.”

The man in the black coat said with a smile.

Johanna and Sophia picked up the gold coins and put them in their pockets.

“Sorry for the wait! I’ll make them right away.”

The uncle ran over with the spice container.

Before long, the three customers left with a lot of skewers.

The voices of the three people’s conversation were faintly heard.

“You shouldn’t give money away like that on the street, Prince. What if someone recognizes you….”

“It’s the least I can do to compensate them. We wouldn’t have gotten Hama and Homs without the help of the citizens of Tripoli.”

The boy in the robe said.

“Let’s go back now. Count Raymond is looking for you.”

“Prince?”

“He said Count Raymond. Isn’t he a very important person?”

“Did you see his face a little too?”

“Yeah, he was very handsome.”

Sophia nodded her head up and down.

The two stared at the gold coins in their pockets.

“You two! Stop playing around and clean up! I’m going to collapse working alone!”

“Yes~”

The twins answered with a smile.

* * *

I looked at the ships approaching the pier.

Who will get off first?

“Your Highness!”

Wigge.

The first to jump off the ship was Wigge.

He approached, laughing heartily.

“I’m glad you seem to be safe!”

A more vibrant voice than before.

He pointed to Garnier.

“That guy Garnier seems to have protected you well.”

“You’d be surprised if you knew what we went through, Master.”

“We weren’t easy either. We had a proper fight with the Egyptians in front of Damietta.”

He said, waving his hand.

“They were burning ships with Greek fire [ancient incendiary weapon]….”

“I’m glad Lord Wigge is safe too.”

I smiled and looked around.

Many Tripoli citizens came to the pier to see the fleet.

I wonder how they feel.

The Roman Empire’s princess, who they fought like enemies until a few years ago, has come as a guest of honor.

I wonder if the twin girls I saw yesterday are in there too?

At that moment, a huge man stood in front of me.

A long beard.

An appearance that anyone could see was Viking.

It was Ruark.

He seems more haggard than before.

Is it just my imagination?

“Commander Ruark. It seems like a very long time since I’ve seen you again. Your complexion seems worse….”

“I’m fine, Your Highness.”

He glared at Wigge and said.

It seems like there was something between them again.

“All sorts of rumors were circulating. From Your Highness performing miracles and conquering the Assassins….”

He shrugged.

“There were also rumors that you single-handedly drove out Saladin’s army. Is that true?”

“It would take some time to explain everything.”

I answered with a smile.

At this point, rumors would spread that I performed miracles just by breathing.

Crates being unloaded from the ship came into view.

Endless crates.

Soldiers guarded the crates with stern expressions.

Is that all money in there?

‘Some of that will go to Raymond.’

Raymond provided the ships for the allied fleet.

So he also has the right to share the spoils of Damietta.

That’s why they held such a grand welcoming ceremony.

“I forgot to tell Your Highness. I stepped in myself because this stupid guy made a false move…!”

“Our guard corps made the biggest contribution in the battle!”

Ruark and Wigge glared at each other and growled.

This is the same.

A woman stepped between them.

“Are you two going to argue even in front of His Highness now?”

It was Theodora.

Ruark and Wigge quickly stepped back.

They look like puppies being scolded by their mother.

She looked at me and gave a faint smile.

“I heard that Your Highness occupied Hama and Homs. You’ve made a great contribution this time too.”

“Her Highness has also done a great job.”

I said, pointing to the growling Wigge and Ruark.

“Because she defeated the Egyptian fleet with those two.”

“Those two were in charge of fighting. I just helped a little from the side.”

“It would have been impossible without Her Highness.”

I said, looking at the two who were bickering.

Surrounding Damietta and winning against the Egyptian fleet.

Besides, they even got money in exchange for lifting the siege.

Saladin’s influence must have taken a big hit.

“The last news I heard was that Saladin’s army had surrounded Hama.”

Theodora came forward.

She put her finger on my palm and pressed down.

“I’m glad you’re safe. His Majesty the Emperor will be relieved to hear this news too. If anything had happened to you….”

“…….”

This is awkward.

I cleared my throat.

“By the way, there seem to be more things being unloaded than I thought. There are also many ships.”

“This is the first fleet. The second and third fleets are going to Beirut, Tyre, and Acre.”

“Yes?”

Beirut, Tyre, Acre?

The second and third fleets are going to the coastal cities?

“Ah, you probably didn’t know yet.”

Theodora said with a smile.

“These are gifts that His Majesty the Emperor has prepared with great care. You came to Constantinople and made all sorts of gift offensives….”

She added.

“His Majesty the Emperor is doing the same thing to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. It’s also a victory celebration.”

“I see. I already received a lot from Cyprus….”

I looked at the ships with a blank expression.

Is the situation in Constantinople somewhat stable too?

But so many supplies.

As expected of the number one economy, the Eastern Roman Empire.

In the 21st century, it’s like the United States.

It seems like it would be a lot of work to move all of that.

“And it can be said to be my wedding gift.”

Theodora said with a smile.

She looked at me and asked.

“So, are you going to Jerusalem now?”

“I have to go to Jerusalem.”

I answered with a smile.

How many people will be waiting for us?

Baldwin IV, Sibylla.

Balian and the nobles.

When I arrive, I’ll be dragged to all sorts of banquets and gatherings.

Just imagining it makes me see that I’m going to suffer.

But I don’t particularly hate it.

I turned my head south.

It was time to return to Jerusalem.