I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 74

The Blood on the Sand (4)

* * *

From afar, the sounds of horses and soldiers wailing echoed.

Al-Adil gasped for breath.

The taste of blood filled his mouth.

Now, only he and one guard remained.

There were no more troops to shake off the pursuit.

His subordinates’ words lingered in his ears.

“We will stop them. Your Excellency, please go first…”

Even such sacrifices didn’t last long.

No matter how he changed direction and hid, they relentlessly chased him.

The encirclement tightened from all sides.

Al-Adil panted and looked ahead.

A steep mountain range.

The guard spoke in a trembling voice.

“Governor, I will go and…”

“There’s no need.”

Al-Adil spat out.

“You alone cannot stop them. Rather, stay here and protect me.”

“Understood.”

The clinking sound of chainmail echoed from behind.

He muttered inwardly.

‘If only it were night…’

It would have been easier to escape in the darkness.

All sorts of thoughts raced through his mind.

‘They were waiting for us. How did they get here so quickly?’

It didn’t make sense.

Where did such a large force of over a thousand come from?

Moreover, the Franks were waiting right here in this valley.

He had chosen this passage only this morning.

‘Even if there was a spy within, how could they be this fast…’

He felt like he had been played by the Franks from the start.

He shook his head.

No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t find an answer.

He had to escape right now.

“There he is! Near the middle rock!”

The Franks shouted from behind.

Then, a black figure leaped out from the front.

A face that looked like it had just become a young man.

He wore chainmail and a black cloak.

One of the uniforms Al-Adil recognized.

It was a Hospitaller [a Catholic military order].

He drew his sword and blocked Al-Adil and the guard.

“Where did this brat come from!”

The guard raised his sword to meet him.

But the fight didn’t last long.

After a few exchanges, the guard, struck in the helmet, fell unconscious.

Now it was Al-Adil’s turn.

He drew his sword and glared at his opponent.

“I didn’t expect to fight a kid like you. Surely you don’t think you can capture me alone?”

He spoke in clumsy Frankish.

“Why don’t you wait for your brothers to arrive?”

“If you want to live, you should drop your sword.”

“So, you can speak our language.”

Al-Adil spat and said.

He stared at the enemy before him.

“Judging by your complexion, you don’t seem to be Frankish. Why are you fighting in a pagan knightly order that worships idols?”

He asked.

“Were your parents Christians?”

“If you’re just going to keep talking nonsense…”

Al-Adil seized an opening and swung his sword.

The enemy anticipated it, dodging the attack and closing in.

Al-Adil retreated and attacked again.

The two alternated between attack and defense.

As the fight continued, their swords grazed each other’s arms and thighs.

Blood dripped from the shallow wounds.

“Eigg!”

A rushing sound came from behind.

Al-Adil glanced to the side.

It was clear he would be caught if he stayed here.

“Eigg. That’s an interesting name. I’ll remember it.”

He put strength into his sword and swung it.

A final attack with all his might.

But the enemy twisted his body and easily dodged it.

He grabbed the blade with his gauntlet and struck with the hilt.

Al-Adil, hit squarely in the chest, gasped and fell.

“μην τον σκοτώσεις!” [Greek for “Don’t kill him!”]

Giant warriors with shields surrounded him as he fell.

They approached with round shields held to their sides.

A wall of massive shields.

Al-Adil stood up again and swung his sword, but it was useless.

The shield wall pushed him into the center and then struck his head.

A knight in a white mantle and cloak.

Five yellow crosses were embroidered on it.

Looking at that sight, Al-Adil fainted.

* * *

The battle was over.

As I dragged Al-Adil away, the knights cheered.

The first thing I noticed was the smell.

The acrid smell of blood stung my nose.

I looked at the battlefield.

It was different from looking down from above.

Limp corpses and severed limbs.

The most pitiful were the horses with arrows stuck in their torsos and necks.

They whined, desperately searching for their masters who would never come.

The knights knelt and offered thanks to the Lord.

Some knights and squires wandered the battlefield, checking on the wounded and prisoners.

“Hey, Eigg! I heard you caught the leader of those guys?”

Hugh shouted as he ran over.

The blood on his armor dripped like sweat.

“The timid guy actually did something. Is your arm okay?”

“It’s just a scratch. But why do you say I’m timid…”

“I was just joking. This guy is taking it seriously…”

Hugh patted me on the shoulder and continued.

Gaernier followed Hugh.

He approached me and asked.

“Did Eigg really capture Al-Adil?”

“He suddenly rushed out. There was no time to stop him.”

I said with a smile.

I was really surprised.

Eigg, who had rushed out, fought Al-Adil and bought time.

The Guardians of the Holy Sepulchre, who followed soon after, knocked him unconscious and captured him.

We almost missed him if he was unlucky.

He struggled to escape, buying time with his guards.

Gaernier smiled as he looked at Eigg.

“He’s been worried lately. I think he thought he wasn’t qualified to serve you, Young Master…”

“Such useless thoughts…”

Was he trying too hard to prove his abilities?

Gaernier looked at me and said.

“That’s not necessarily the case. Eigg has the qualities of a knight.”

He added with a smile.

“Christ made fish from fish. He didn’t make fish from stone. Eigg just got a chance to prove himself.”

Is that a Bible story?

The story of Christ feeding thousands with a few loaves of bread and fish.

I looked at Eigg.

I should take care of him more in the future.

“No one will question the signal towers anymore.”

Gaernier said.

“Gathering the southern forces in just a few days and achieving such a victory. It’s never happened before.”

“…”

I nodded instead of answering.

As expected, the most important thing in battle is information.

Identifying the enemy’s location and size.

The swift dispatch of marching orders to each city.

Plus, the ambush and close combat.

If even one of these was missing, victory would have been difficult.

The signal towers and my abilities combined to create a synergy effect.

If either one was missing, we would have missed Al-Adil.

Now, the Muslims will roughly understand what the signal towers are.

We had to keep running to avoid being caught up.

“Where is Lord Balian?”

“He’s currently checking on the wounded.”

“I should go and help too.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

I went deep into the battlefield with Gaernier.

I no longer felt intense emotions.

Only pain and calmness.

Fortunately, there was no massacre.

I looked at the prisoners gathered in one place.

There weren’t many corpses in complete form.

Burst intestines or severed limbs were basic.

The corpse with a sword stuck in its mouth looked like it had died biting steel.

Shredded pieces of flesh and teeth.

Those who were severely injured had to be killed.

The same went for the horses.

Still, most of the survivors surrendered without resistance.

‘If you surrender, you won’t be killed…’

Franks and Muslims alike didn’t kill prisoners.

If they did, they couldn’t collect ransom.

A very obvious logic.

In addition, the commander was a golden box himself.

Capturing powerful figures and extorting money was a long-standing tradition in the Levant [historical region encompassing parts of the Middle East].

The same went for Al-Adil.

I recalled him being dragged away, bound.

An appearance that seemed to be in his late thirties.

Saladin’s brother.

What was he thinking as he was being dragged away?

“It’s a pity we can’t take this opportunity to strike Egypt.”

Gaernier said.

“Now that Al-Adil is gone, it would be the perfect opportunity.”

“We can’t right now. Saladin remains in Syria…”

The main force of the Egyptian army is the same.

We only defeated a thousand cavalry this time.

Tens of thousands of troops still remained in the Egyptian region.

To capture fortresses and citadels, we would need at least tens of thousands of troops.

It would be difficult as long as Saladin was watching for an opportunity.

“A better opportunity will come next time.”

I turned my head and looked at the wounded.

“First, we need to transport the wounded to nearby cities. I’ll talk to Lord Balian…”

Speak of the devil.

Balian approached us with his escort knights.

“Young Master, you were here. I have something to report.”

“Did more enemies appear?”

“Not enemies, but…”

Balian smiled faintly.

I could feel that he was amused.

What happened that he’s so amused?

“Lord Renaud has arrived with his troops. His knights seem quite exhausted.”

Ah, now I understand.

Renaud, who arrived late at the scene.

This is a very familiar situation.

I opened my mouth with a smile.

“Then I should go and welcome him myself.”

* * *

Renaud’s emotion can be summarized in one word.

Rage.

I could feel burning rage.

An intense emotion that could burn just by feeling it.

It’s been a while since I felt something like this.

“It’s a similar situation to the last time with the sea tribes. Don’t you think so, Lord Renaud?”

I said with a smile.

That’s why I hate guys with no learning ability.

Especially when they have arrogance and a competitive spirit.

“You have done a great service this time. If you hadn’t driven the Saracen [a term for Muslims during the Crusades] bastards, the ambush wouldn’t have been successful.”

“I and my men suffered great damage fighting those Saracen bastards. And we even rescued Eilat.”

Renaud growled.

“If you had told me you were going to ambush here…”

Still, he’s not completely stupid.

He realized he was being used.

I looked at Renaud.

You’re not in a position to say that.

Because this guy suddenly came forward, I almost missed Al-Adil.

The ambush here was also an improvisation.

“When hunting…”

I said.

“Hunters drive the fox. But the king is the one who catches the fox in the end. Not the hunter.”

If you understand, just shut up.

I’ll deal with the 기 [likely refers to a negative or competitive spirit] first and then send you off nicely.

“And ignoring the King’s orders. Isn’t that practically an act of treason?”

I looked at the knights behind Renaud.

They looked exhausted, probably because of the chase for several days.

Some of them were injured.

They must have been ambushed while chasing recklessly.

Islamic cavalry, like the Mongol army, was used to feigning retreat and counterattacking.

I looked at Renaud again.

He must have rushed to make a contribution before I arrived.

But in the end, I defeated the Egyptian army and captured Al-Adil.

“Let’s go back to Kerak. I will report to His Majesty how much you ‘contributed’.”

I watched his face turn red and purple.

He turned away and returned to his men.

“He’s been like that since Montgisard…”

Balian frowned.

“He’ll cause a big accident someday.”

“You don’t have to worry. Even if it’s a disobedient wolf, its skin is useful.”

I said with a smile.

He and that 기 guy are very similar.

This incident has given me a justification.

I’ll be able to skin him soon.

“By the way, Saladin’s delegation was in Jerusalem.”

I said to Balian.

Al-Adil was captured by me.

I wonder how the delegation will react when they hear this news?

No, I’m more curious about Saladin’s reaction.

“We need to get this news to Jerusalem as soon as possible.”

“I’ve already sent a messenger to the nearest signal tower.”

Balian nodded.

“The troops will be ready by the end of the day. Then back to Jerusalem…”

“No. Let’s go back to Eilat first. Recovering from the damage there is the priority.”

I fiddled with the Damascus dagger in my pocket.

A cold sensation.

I first got this in Eilat.

The orchards and pastures, and the buildings outside the walls must have been burned.

We had to rebuild it.

Fortunately, there were more than enough people to work.

I looked at the prisoners being dragged away in a line.

“They should rebuild what they destroyed with their own hands.”

* * *

Gustave Doré – Crusaders (Public Domain)